Resolved have just background screen

I am in a big dilemma, Windows xp home sp3... nothing comes up on the screen except the background picture ... get a "system cannot run %1" then error loading newdev.dll" ... first load comes up with "ordinal 681 could not be found in the dynamic link library iertutil.dll" ... I have tried to reinstall to no avail ... any help will be greatly appreciated ... (Itried to upgrade to windows xp pro also and it would not install)

 

Sounds like registry & possibly HD corruption to me (can't rule out malware though).

Can you boot in safe mode?

 

Thanks for the reply ...

No boot in safe mode, I don't get that screen, I tried F8 (nothing happens)... system starts after a while and loads the welcome screen with the audio then the background screen with the arrow ... no tool bar etc. but it loads up with the afore mentioned quotes and sits there ... I have to power down with the on/off switch ...

Mant thanks for your time ...

 

Ok, if you know the manufacturer of your HD, I'd start by downloading their diagnostics to a CD and run them (they are self booting no need for windows).

If you're not sure where to start post the manufacture (of hard drive not system) and we'll talk you through it.

 

Thanks wildfire: I copied the program onto a cd ( Western Digital WD1200 data lifeguard diagnostics v.5.03) I printed and followed the directions on the web site and tried to run it ... nothing happens ... the cd drive will run but nothing comes up on the screen ... I also put it on a floppy and it's the same ... nothing but the background screen with the arrow ... I can move the arrow around on the screen but thats it ... I believe the HDD is bad? ... I still get "ordinal 681 could not be found in the dynamic link library iertutil.dll" and "system cannot run %1"

Thanks for all the help you have given me , it is greatly appreciated ... I will try another HDD from a friend and see what happens then ... again many thanks ...

 

Did you go into your BIOS settings and set the CD/Floppy drive as the first boot device?

 

Yes I tried the settings for both cd/floppy ... still the same ... I am getting a bit annoyed now with this thing ... this machine is not connected on line so it can't be a virus ... I use it for recording ... I guess I might as well give it up and junk the thing ... it is a home built machine that has been very good to me and I don't want say to say I'm licked LOL ...

Thanks again for your time my friend ...

 

Up and running again ... I replaced the HDD and reinstalled XP Pro ...
booted right up with no problems ... many thanks again wildfire for you input ... it did help ... I will eventually put in a bigger HDD but for now it is working and that is what counts ...

Thanks ....

 

Thanks for letting us know.

Since you have the system up and running now it may be worth reconnecting the suspect drive and running diagnostics now.

I believe WD have a windows version of Data Lifeguard.

They do...

Data Lifeguard for windows

 

Many thanks ... I'll give it a go ...