Any computer help would be appreciated...

[jonharky]

There are 2 separate issues...

First we have a Toshiba satellite l305-s5955 that we are having trouble booting up. When starting the computer it comes to a black screen with the arrow that we can move. We have tried accessing the hidden partition by holding down 0. It just goes to the black screen with arrow and doesn't pull up the restore menu. The computer does have Vista on it.

The second issue deals with our desktop a gateway that also runs Vista it was given to us by my gf's sister because of issues with it. It is giving us a memory management bsod. We have done a full factory restore on it. It still does the memory management bsod.

If anymore info is needed I can get it.

Thank you in advance!

[jonharky]

Ran the memory diagnosis tool on desktop and there are no issues with the memory

[kingcobradude]

with the first one I would zero the hard drive and reload windows

what do you mean by bsod?

[jonharky]

With the laptop it didn't come with a disk to do that
Bsod = blue screen of death and all I can really catch is the memory management part before it restarts

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by kingcobradude

with the first one I would zero the hard drive and reload

Only as a last resort.

Have you tried to boot up in Safe Mode?

[Silound]

The first thing I would do is use another computer to create a bootable anti-virus disc/USB drive. Clean both computers out now while you have a chance and you're working with things.

For the laptop, after you run a full scan on boot, try to boot to safe mode. If you cannot get into safe mode, then the next thing I would do is lay hands on a Vista disc and boot to the recovery options and repair your install, which should handle common problems. If that doesn't work, if there are no files you want to keep, I would do what kingcobradude recommended and do a fresh install. There's little point in wasting numerous hours troubleshooting a Windows install when a fresh install will only take 3 hours including updates. If there are files you want to keep, then you, or someone who is knowledgeable, needs to remove the hard and connect it to another computer to back up the files before proceeding with a fresh install.

For the desktop, all BSOD's list what is known as an error code, which is a hexadecimal string that usually looks like 0x00000000. That error code might be more descriptive of the problem. Which memory diagnostic tool did you run on the computer? The accepted standard of most system builders and technicians is Memtest86, which is available as a free download and can be burned to a bootable CD. I would take a minute and open the case, vacuum out all the DUST (dust kills!) and carefully re-seat the memory sticks after blowing them clean with compressed air. Memory gets extremely HOT, just like processors, and if there isn't sufficient airflow around the sticks, that can cause overheating which would cause erratic failures like a complete shutdown or a BSOD. The less favorable options would be that you possibly have a major failing component or a failing power supply. Those can be diagnosed later in other ways.


Let me know if you try any of this what the results are.

[jonharky]

I did try booting in safe mode all that comes up is the black screen with safe mode in the corners and the arrow

I will have to set the desktop up to not restart after failure to get those codes and whatever else it says with the memory management. Also there is nothing on the laptop to save so if we have to do the total clean that would be
alright

The diagnostic used on the computer was through booting up the computer and hitting f8 if I remember correctly

[Silound]

I'm somewhat familiar with the black screen problem. Typically it's one of several Windows services trying to run with improper credentials. The problem is, that usually happens as a result of a virus, so the best thing you can do is make a bootable virus scan and check the computer out. After that comes up clean, running the repair feature on the Windows installation media should fix that problem quickly.

Let me know about the stop codes.

[dwoodward]

If your getting the boot screen with the arrow but nothing else, that very often indicates virus activity. At this point, you need to run a boot time antivirus scan and see what happens. You probably wont get back in still so next a system repair "might" help.

I'd suggest wiping the drive, would be a lot faster.

As for the 2nd PC. Try taking out a stick of memory and seeing if that fixes it, if it doesn't, put the stick back in and take another stick out. Basically see if one of your sticks is this problem.

[G G]

You also might try to find the Hirens boot cd. It has all sorts of scanners and stuff that I find helpful to get to the bottom of problems like this. You download it and put it on a disk as an iso image and boot from it into mini xp mode.

[jonharky]

Was able to get somewhere with hirens Windows boot mgr error on the laptop 0xc00000e9 file \Windows\system32\config\system windows failed to load because system registry file missing or corrupt

[jonharky]

Also found that window32\Hal.dll is missing or corrupt on the laptop

But still can't get it to start up...still trying

[jonharky]

I have decided to work the laptop and put the desktop on hold until we get this one fixed

[Silound]

Originally Posted by jonharky

Also found that window32\Hal.dll is missing or corrupt on the laptop

But still can't get it to start up...still trying

hal.dll is a driver file that tells windows how to discover and communicate with basic hardware present in any computer (hal = Hardware Access Layer/Level).

You can restore the file fresh from an installation disc using the following instructions:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixthe...torehaldll.htm

[jonharky]

I will give it a shot thanks