XP doesn't load, XP CD doesn't either

Hen_Dawg · 29 Jul 2009 at 19:53

Hi
Someone I know has the following issue. It came after a major crash where she turned the system off at the back. Now XP will not load up, not from 'Start normally', safe mode or 'last know config'.
I was then suggesting to repair the boot.ini but she puts in her XP CD and it tells her to boot from CD.. She presses any key and then just gets the black screen with a small cursor and nothing after that.

So, what to try now?

brummie · 29 Jul 2009 at 20:59

Check for disk errors first

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

Hen_Dawg · 29 Jul 2009 at 21:44

Cheers. Thought there were some tools that can boot up and fix things. I'll get her system and give that a go

Hen_Dawg · 2 Aug 2009 at 16:59

So I have spent a while on this. Ran some HD test which brought up a bad sector.
Then put an old HD of mine in there and to my disappointment it gives the same error when trying to load the Windows CD. It pop's up at exactly the same time as the original HD. 'Press any key to start windows' -> 'Windows is inspecting your hardware...' then bam, I get the screen below;

I'm running a memory test at the moment but that's not broough anything up yet. I've also switched the RAM to the other slot which didn't help.

What could this be then? :confused:

theheyes · 2 Aug 2009 at 17:18

Hmm, just check the CPU is seated correctly.

izzy eckerslike · 2 Aug 2009 at 17:25

Presumably it's not an old PSU with dual voltage switch on the back that might have been set at 110v when she messed about on the back of the PC ?

Hen_Dawg · 2 Aug 2009 at 21:22

PSU is fine, as seems the CPU seems set very firmly. My guess is heading towards the mobo as I've eliminated the HD and RAM. Suppose the CPU could still be at fault they tend not to fail as much.
Either way I think I'll tell her a new purchase is in order unless there is anything else I can try/test?

Is there a way I can find out if here OEM XP key will work with a new mobo? Or will she need to call microsoft for a replacement?

CaptainCrash · 2 Aug 2009 at 21:54

Hen_Dawg said:
My guess is heading towards the mobo as I've eliminated the HD and RAM. Suppose the CPU could still be at fault they tend not to fail as much.
Either way I think I'll tell her a new purchase is in order unless there is anything else I can try/test?

If you google for the Trap 00000006 error, it's a very common issue which can be caused by a multitude of things. Dodgy hardware is a distinct possibility, but before assuming the motherboard is fubared, you could try booting from a different installation disc and/or optical drive - it might be entirely unrelated to the original crash/boot failure, and you don't want her to go shelling out for a new mobo only to find the installation medium was faulty all along.

If you don't have an alternative Windows disc, try a Linux live CD and see what happens.

bledd · 3 Aug 2009 at 11:21

reset the cmos and try again, worth a shot