Posted on 07/29/2012 1:25:08 PM PDT by trussell
HELP PLEASE. My laptop computer suddenly went blue screen of death with a message that some error was detected and windows was being disabled (or shut down) to protect my computer. I rebooted, same thing. I unplugged, pulled the battery and waited, then plugged it all back in and again, same message. I tried to start in safe mode...an option came up to "repair your computer", I chose that option. It says "windows is installing files", then the "microsoft windows" with the scrolling lights, then the same blue screen message. So, I tried in safe mode again, only choosing safe mode instead of the "repair your computer" option. Same response.
This response has been the same through all the attempts.
I pulled the hard drive and put it back in...I pulled the memory chips and reset them. Please. All of my work search files (resumes, cover letters, work history etc...) are on that computer. All of my Parole board files from the attacker on parole are on that computer. All of my pictures, are on that computer. I use to have an external hard drive, but something happened and it quit working. I can't buy a new computer because I am looking for work. and I can't look for work if my computer is gone :(
Please...I know there are many computer savvy people here. Please help me if anything can be done.
Wimfsf.sys is the Windows Image Media Filesystem driver. It used by the WinPE (Windows Pre-execution Environment) to unpack the actual Windows files for copy to \Windows.
Stop 0x50 is PAGE_FAULT_IN_NON_PAGED_AREA.
Something went sideways very early in the Windows installation/repair process. The DVD disc might be damaged. See http://forums.techguy.org/windows-7/1004922-solved-installing-windows-7-blank.html
Very early errors like this are also commonly due to hardware problems, like a bad memory DIMM.
Try using a different install disc. Also try running a bootable memory diagnostic like MemTest86.
http://www.frys.com/product/5466019?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
This is a tool I have that will let connect most drives to a computer as a usb device.
Many laptops have build in diags for hd and memory. You get to these by press a key when the computer is first turned on. Some dells it is the esc or F9 .
Take heart, all your files are probably safe on your hard drive! At worse you’ll just have to get help getting to it.
BTW I looked up at Dell and they suggest:
“ If the error happens during the startup process, try booting to the Last Known Good Configuration. “
I don’t know if you’ve ever gotten that option.
Good luck.
This is kind of post-barn-door-closing, but get a bunch of DVD’s (or invest in a high-speed cord & backup device) and back up everything. I just did this a few weekends ago and took about 25 DVDs: cost = $30 bucks and a rainy weekend.
Set up a restore point & backup disc.
Buy & keep updated some firewall, virus, trojan, ad-aware, etc. software (there’s plenty of free stuff at cnet).
Good luck
I’m learning a lot from the people who are answering your request, because I am unfamiliar with the current generation of laptops. I had one three years ago. I dropped it once, and that killed it completely. Shattered something inside it, and turned it into expensive junk. But when it comes to desktops (Compaq Windows 7), I know that you can click F11 repeatedly for about 20 seconds, and that usually clears up blue-screen problems. And when you do get your computer up and running, you need to go to the Control Panel and uninstall as many unnecessary programs as possible. There are programs in there that you don’t need and don’t even know are there, and some of them have viruses, trojans, and unwanted cookies.
“The last Windows that would boot to a prompt was Win 98SE.”
LOL. You are so wrong. All Windows versions can boot to command prompt. Here is example for Vista (see method 2): http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html
Trussell, pop ‘em in and see what happens. What have you got to lose? When you buy a new computer, it comes with an on-screen tutorial that shows you how to burn a restore disc with a blank dvd. And you can get 10 blank dvd’s for five bucks at WalMart or the Dollar Store. Chances are, you’ve found the restore discs. Try it.
I think you are mixing up booting, and switching to.
If windows is down, you cannot get to a dos prompt in anything since 98. (although you can use various universal recovery disks)
Rule #1: Always protect your data.
You can always reinstall software or replace hardware.
I get NO options when I turn on the computer. If I try to boot in safe mode, it ignores that command and loads up the BSOD
I already did...with no results. The disc was ignored and the computer still loaded the blue screen error message.
You really don’t know Windows. 1) You can boot to a command prompt in safe mode if the system goes into automatic recovery mode; 2) you can boot to c:\ from a boot disk or the installation disk; 3) you can set up boot options ahead of time to allow you to boot to c:\ any time you restart; 4) you can access a c:\ prompt in safe mode by logging on as another user; and 5) you can go to a command line from a system window. The last 2 require being in windows, but the first 3 can be done when you are cold booting or windows in not accessible.
Can you get to a bios screen? If you can, check to see if your hard drive is listed there. Also change the boot order in the bios so you boot off of the CD/DVD drive first. This may allow you to boot up off the disc.
The error is coming during the earliest part of the repair/install process. The faulting module (Wimfsf.sys) is not installed in C:\Windows as far as I know, unless you are running the Windows Automated Installation Kit [WAIK], which is used only by experts doing automated Windows deployment.
Check for a bad memory DIMM. Try booting and running the built-in memory diagnostic on the install disc. See http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winre/repairmemorydiags/
If you have bad memory and you can’t fix it (some laptops have physically soldered DIMMs), then recovery of your date may require the physical removal of your hard disk from the laptop. You don’t want copy files through bad memory as it might corrupt your files during the transfer process.
As long as the HDD isn’t physically damaged it should very easy to recover your files. Take your laptop to someone you trust who knows how to remove the HDD from the laptop to recover your data for you. Try Geek Squad.. other Freepers can probably recommend other places. Or find a tech friend who can insert the HDD into an external USB enclosure (typical cost $29-$39) that you can plug into another PC.
At the One Time Boot menu, press the Down arrow key to highlight Diagnostics, then press Enter to begin PSA.
Write down any error codes listed.
Use the list provided in the next section to see what the error code means... "
I haven’t any idea how to get to a bios screen. I’ve tried to boot to safe mode, safe mode with command prompt, and “repair your computer”. All of these commands were ignored
Running the diagnostics now...
Back when it’s done with the results
Error code 0142
Msg: error code 2000-0142
Msg: Hard Drive 0 - self test unsuccessful. Status: 79
The given error code and message can be used by Dell Technical support to help diagnose the problem. Do you want to continue testing?
One thing I didn’t think to mention.
The computer has (3 times in the past), made me reseat the hard drive. I tried that yesterday with no change.
It finished, the message I posted above was the only one until just now, I got “Booting Dell Diagnostic Utility Partition. Press any key to continue”
Another diagnostics shows error code 0F00:1332
MSG: Disk - Block 384: Interrupt request (IRQ) did not set in time
This was during a SATA Disk S/N = WD - WXH1A10J6134 - Confidence Test
Performing the drive’s internal self - test. Performing a read test at the beginning of the media ?? (can’t see the rest of the comment. It’s behind a scroll bar that won’t scroll)
Damaged software can be repaired but if the drive electronics fail to respond I will repeat my previous suggestion — before doing anything else get the data off the hard drive!!
I don’t know how, and I don’t have the money to pay anyone to do it. I’m lost :(
Many of the suggestions here might help but responders often advise the use of tools that they know how to use. None of us knows your level of expertise and I am reluctant to suggest a self-help solution without more info.
You don’t understand.
If you can get into safe mode, windows is not down, you’ve just lost a necessary driver, usually the video, and that’s no problem.
Using a boot disk doesn’t necessarily give you access to any part of the hard drive; it depends on what is damaged.
I repeat, win 98se is the last version that actually gives access to the commanf line from a normal boot.
You don’t understand.
If you can get into safe mode, windows is not down, you’ve just lost a necessary driver, usually the video, and that’s no problem.
Using a boot disk doesn’t necessarily give you access to any part of the hard drive; it depends on what is damaged.
I repeat, win 98se is the last version that actually gives access to the commanf line from a normal boot.
From your recent posts, it appears that the rotating speed of your hard drive is not constant, which is what is causing the errors.
That means that you will probably have to send it to a recovery facility to salvage your data. The shaft bearings might be failing.
On a Dell, the bios screen is reached by pressing F2 at the beginning of the boot sequence (when the “press F2 to go to setup” shows at the top of the screen)
>> “but if the drive electronics fail to respond I will repeat my previous suggestion — before doing anything else get the data off the hard drive” <<
This is a case where if A is true, B is impossible.
Neither you nor I can see what's happening.
Ouch. It’s the HD, the HD controller or cable. Probably the HD.
Well, consider what you really want.
The more you try to run the computer the more likely you are to destroy data on the hard drive.
Now, you may be able to get the computer to work for a few minutes by super-cooling it.
Have access to a meat locker or other very cold area?
The old trick was to put the hard drive in a baggie and put it in the frrezer overnight.
Supposedly that would help about a quarter of the time. It worked for me once years ago- long before laptops- the drive was only 250 MBs and the size of a large bible!
That would give you a chance to grab info off the hard drive, If you have access to a camera you could tape what’s on the screen while you’re running through the info you need and maybe get quite a bit.
It will not repair your hard drive. but it’s a trick that sometimes works just to get brief access to what’s on it.
For a laptop, I’d try putting it in front of an AC and running it there. If that didn’t help I’d try putting the laptop in a baggie after cooling it in front of the AC and stick it in the freezer overnight.
Consider moisture will condense on and in the laptop when you take it out of the freezer.
I think, in toto, your best bet would be to get a new used computer and usb enclosure and then do the freeze trick with the enclosure to get the old info.
I’m not a tech, see if others have better suggestion.
Yes, these computer panic threads can be frustrating for their lack of info.
we are trying the frozen HD overnight...we tried it for a few hours today, but same results.
How could it pull up the windows is loading files and the microsoft corporation screen if the HD was bad? Is that possible?
A tech could explain it much better, but the HD is tested by writing to it and when that isn;t what’s read back-or parity bits don’t add up- then the program shuts down.
Your HD works some- like the ‘utility partition’ with these tests on it.
According to the test something is wrong though.
First off, I’d put the whole laptop in the freezer.
If you don’t have a baggie that big, go to an air-conditioned room and put it in a plastic grocery bag,push out all the air, and tape it shut airtight.
The problem could be with the controller on the motherboard and the extra heat-sinking may help.
Also you’ll be starting up more quickly.
Also holding the laptop upside down or sideways may help.
Obviously this is just ‘why not try this it may work’ stuff.
If you just need to ger some info off the computer real quick then before you give up do take your laptop to a mom amd pop computer repair shop and beg for mercy. You never know- there are still very generous people in this world.
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?&docid=DSN_155502&isLegacy=true
Are you able to ‘Exit to MS-DOS’ ? CHKDSK may be able to help you but it’s very chancy.
Yup, and I have while following their step-by-step instructions. But I found the problem - a particularly nasty virus my commercial anti-virus software couldn't touch - and ripped it out by its roots. Worked...
Yes. HDs generally do not "fail" all at once. Performance starts to degrade and intermittent errors pop. Sometimes the drive can recover, sometimes it can't. The data you want may be accessible but the operating system to run the machine cannot be properly loaded.
that is a very good suggestion (among other options also mentioned)
sometimes re-seating your memory solves problems but if you have more than one, take them out one at a time to see if one of them is bad (it would do this behavior)
on a PC (desktop) pull out and re-seat all the boards that you can - it is surprising how often this works
clean off the contacts gently
bm
I’ve got bad news and I’ve got good news. The bad news is, it’s the HD that went. A very nice man at a computer services business said he could put it in an external case for $25 if it was ok...he told me to bring it in and he would check it and then let me decide if I could come up with the money to do it. He checked it and the motor wasn’t turning...so it’s bad. The data could be recovered, but it would have to be sent out and the cost was excessive...about $600
He told me the HD was notorious for going bad and sometimes the company way replace it even out of warranty. He had never heard of them doing a data recovery. I called the company, poured my heart out to them...and they are going to recover the data for me! That is...as long as it’s still recoverable.
I have to say, People sure can surprise you with their heart. I am pleased!!! I prayed the drive would be good...instead of answering that prayer, God chose to show me the kindness of strangers!
Good for you!
Wow, that is very cool of them to do that for free! As you saw, that is NOT a cheap proposition, typically.
Sorry, I can’t help you. I’m an Apple person.
I am very glad to here this :)
I hope you don’t have any other troubles, may not turn out as well next time >.<
If you are certain the motor is not running and it is the hard drive and you have EXHAUSTED ALL OTHER OPTIONS then...
you can try a DISK SLAM
YES, I am serious...
Take the drive out...
Lay it on a sturdy flat surface, and raise it off the table 4 or 5 inches and briskly whack it FLAT on the surface. You have to whack it sharply and flat (no corner hits the table first)
This will sometimes dislodge whatever is preventing it from turning
THIS IS A LAST RESORT- just before you are ready to toss it in the garbage ONLY. If you have plans to send it off to a data recovery company, then dont do this.(at least not too hard)
I have seen this work more than once
did you even read what I wrote in the message I sent you? I was letting you know the results because you had posted in the thread, and I thought you might like to know. Sorry, it appears I was incorrect!
I will back-up from now on...I have learned my lesson!
I’m sending it off...the maker of the unit is paying for a data recovery for me.
>> I prayed the drive would be good...instead of answering that prayer, God chose to show me the kindness of strangers!<<
Something for all of us to learn there.
I am pleased that you ended up with the possibility of getting your data back and that God revealed Himself in such an interesting manner.
Great news!
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