Won't Boot [Solved]

Hi,
 
If you need to run this in Safe Mode please do so and once complete please let me know how your system is running.
 
[external image: ttLR1ki.jpg]
 
Run OTL.exe

• Copy/paste the following text written inside of the code box into the Custom Scans/Fixes box located at the bottom of OTL
   
  

  :Services
   
  :Files
  C:\Downloads\cbsidlm-tr1_14-Steam-SEO-97526.exe 
  C:\Downloads\playalotgames_d146490.exe 
  C:\Software\AVStoDVD_251_Install.exe 
  C:\Software\dvdburning_d165404.exe 
  C:\Software\m4a-to-mp3-converter.exe
  D:\Documents and Settings\Bob\Local Settings\Temp\AskSLib.dll 
  D:\Software\m4a-to-mp3-converter.exe
  ipconfig /flushdns /c
   
  :Commands
  [emptytemp]
  [start explorer]
  [Reboot]

• Then click the Run Fix button at the top
• Let the program run unhindered, reboot when it is done
• Then run a new scan and post a new OTL log ( don't check the boxes beside LOP Check or Purity this time )

Jeff, It seems like I can tell immediately when I reboot if it will come up normally or not.  When I get the initial Dell screen just as the boot process is starting, if I have any artifacting at all, it won't boot normally.  Now, it will go to safe mode, even with the artifacting.  I've just shut down OTL and rebooted again, trying to bring it up normally and it has frozen on the Windows XP splash screen.

Bob

First open a command prompt > Click Start > Run > and type cmd and press Enter.
This will open the command prompt.
 
Copy the contents of the code box > right click in the command window and select paste >> Press Enter (do one line at a time if there are more than one)

chkdsk /r /f

Follow and accept any prompts.

Close the Command Prompt box.

Let me know exactly how your system is running.  

Jeff,  Ok, had to boot into safe mode (video resolution seems to now be fixed at 640x480 and cannot be changed) to get to the command prompt.  Ran chkdsk /r /f and received the response of:

The type of file system is NTFS

Cannot lock current drive.

Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process.  Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)

That is the first time I've ever seen a response like that from Chkdsk…

Thanks again for your help.

Bob

Just go ahead and select Yes and then chkdsk will run on a reboot.

Jeff,  Entered Y and then closed the command window and restarted (normally).  System got to the Windows splash screen and then just went black.  Cycled power to it and selected safe mode with command prompt.  Pages of "greek" characters scrolled past and then stopped with various of these greek characters just randomly blinking.  The HD does appear to be doing something though, so I'm just letting it run doing that until I see something else come up or I hear something from you. 

Thanks again, Bob

Hi Bob,

Please reboot your system and let me know exactly what happens.

Jeff, Rebooted the machine and allowed it to try and come up normally.  At the very inital Dell screen, had pincushion artifacts, then various greek characters interdispersed with the normal text upon bootup (dos screen), then the windows splash screen appeared with some artifacting while the progress bar was moving left to right.  Progress bar then froze and the screen went black and remains that way. No activity on the HD LED currently.

Bob

I just want to clarify…you can not boot to Windows at all now?  

Jeff, Just rebooted again (with all the standard artifacting and greek characters) and selected safe mode with networking.  Got the full page of text interdispersed with greek characters that shift and flash.  The HD LED is active, so I'm thinking that it was/is still attempting to run the chkdsk and I just didn't give it enough time before before rebooting the past few times.  So, as of right now, it does not appear that I can even get into safe mode, at least not at the moment.  I'm going to just let this run for awhile and see if anything changes unless you want me to try something else.

Thanks again, Bob

No let it run for a bit and see what happens.  

Jeff, It ran for over an hour and then froze at the artifacted windows splash screen.  It sat on that for probably 10 minutes or so before automatically rebooting by itself.  I was able to get it into safe mode during that boot cycle and that is where I sit currently.  Still also not able to change my resolution from 640x480.

Bob

Ok I am wondering if we are dealing with a failing hard drive.  
 
Let's check that out.  
 
Please download HD Tune (the free version not the trial), run an error scan on your primary harddrive (full not quick) and report back if any blocks aren't green. It tests your hard drive for bad sectors.

Jeff, Ran the HD Tune on both drives in my system and they both came up with every block green. Possibly RAM?

Bob