Reformatting Hard Drive

Before I get the typical responses for reformatting a hard drive, here's a little background.

This morning I tried to upgrade my laptop from XP Home to XP Pro. I inserted the CD and as it was loading the drivers, I got the dreaded "blue screen" informing me that there was an error with "vobid.sys" and would auto restart the installation procedure. Well, after about 10 attempts... it just cycles through the same error and attempts to restart the installation.

It's evident that this "ain't going to happen," so I used the friendly F8 key to determine my options, namely reformatting the hard drive and guess what? That's not an option! It will give me the usual "safe mode" functions, "start windows normally ", "reboot," etcetera, but all in the Windows XP Pro environment. So, reformatting the hard drive from XP Home is impossible.

Is there any solution to get around this? If there's no option to get to the DOS command how can the laptop be reformatted?

Note: I'm fully aware that reformatting the drive will wipe all my files, but at this point, its either keeping the files on a non-working computer or having a naked computer that works. Not a tough choice the way I see it.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

Disable USB in the BIOS and do the install. Then you can re-enable it if you choose.

 

That was my guess. Guess I should have suggested it.

 

My laptop is a Sony Vaio with one drive... E (CD), no "A drive" or I would have used this method (a blank floppy) to try and shoot for the DOS prompt and format from there.

The laptop came with a pre-installed XP Home, so no disc. I have a licensed copy of the XP Pro.

From where the OS allows me to go (see above), I have no idea how to disable anything, since I can't run in Safe Mode and either attack the hard drive from the DOS prompt or Control Panel.

Next problem is the desk top has a readible CD and floppy drive; the laptop has the readable/writable drive and no floppy... am I ******* or what!

What's my option now?

(and as always, thanks for the input)

 

The BIOS change doesn't require access to the hard drive or the Operating System.

On a Sony, press the F2 key as soon as you see the initial splash screen when first powering up. If that doesn't get it, try the F3 key.

You'll have to hunt for the proper area to disable the USB since I don't have a Sony to coach you from.

 

F2 takes me to the PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility. Within are the titles

Main: (only editable items are system date and time)

Advanced: (only editable items are LCD screen expansion, network boot (disabled), speaker volume and Vaio Logo.

Security: machine password, user password, etc.

Boot: Optical drive, Floppy disk drive, Hard disk drive (sub-section notes: IC25N040ATCS04-0-PM and Network.

Exit: self-explanatory

That's it... no USB, unless I'm missing something. From memory, the USB should be in the Advance section, under peripheral configuration, but none exists... hmm.

Sorry guys, but my level of frustration has exceded 10.

And again, I thank you all for the input... but, there's got to be a way.

 

Apparently your BIOS version doesn't support legacy usb devices so that isn't your problem after all. I almost wish it had been for your sake.

Since you have a full version of XP Pro, it is bootable and has all the tools you need to perform a format and clean install. Your BIOS is set to boot from the CD first so you're all set. Stick the CD in the drive and power it up. When you get through the introductory items, you'll be offered to install over the existing system that has been detected or wipe it clean and start anew.

I won't both telling you about backups, etc.

Good luck.

Edit: I just had a terrible thought. Did you mean that the system errors out when it's trying to load the drivers for the install CD? If so, I see why you are upset. Assuming you had all peripherals unplugged when doing the install, that would look like your install cd is flawed. Not good unless you have access to another.

 

As far as I can tell vobid.sys driver is connected with some product and possible cd/dvd device from a company named "Pinnacle ". If you can get back into home version can you uninstall any application software that is connected to this in anyway? Try renaming the vobid.sys driver apparently located in the system32 folder. Exactly how this can be done at this point, I am unsure, I seem to have suffered brain block out of empathic panic and frustration sympathy for the poster. I will think on this and get back....

See:
http://www.pinnaclesys.com

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/wwwmenu.asp?Langue_ID=7

==========
I wonder why you haven't been given an ini choice at bootup to use xp home or xp pro installation? If the installation was still in progress and never completed you should have had this boot choice. Hmmm.. Have you tried a total shutdown and a reboot?

You need c: prompt access, darn it!!!! grrr......

A bootup from the cd to a recovery console?

 

This is one of those things that hurts my head.

I can't believe that some software on the HD can prevent a clean install or prevent the drivers from loading from the CD for an install. That just isn't logical.

What is logical is either the CD is flawed or some hardware is flawed, such as the cd rom drive.

Perhaps if you get the setup diskettes (6 I think) from MS or bootdisk.com and use them for the setup drivers source, it would work. I think that you can only do a clean install that way and not an upgrade.

Then, if you are resigned to losing your data, you could boot with a Win98 boot disk that has the normal dos utilities (from bootdisk.com) and run the fdisk command and wipe the partition/partitions off entirely. The NTFS will be shown as a non-dos partition and fdisk can only delete it (not create one). Then with a slick drive, you can retry booting to the XP install CD to see if it works.

The problem with doing that is, if it still doesn't work, you have sacrificed your data for little returns. You would know it wasn't some HD data file causing the problem. Your data, your choice.

 

Now you guy's are seeing my dilemma...

1. My original issue began with difficulty getting my laptop to connect to my home network. I had tried several times (like maybe 15) to release and renew my IP ( "ipconfig /release" and "ipconfig /renew "), all of which was unsuccessful.

2. I assumed it was possibly a conflict with SP2's security features (which I had installed a few days ago), so I uninstalled the program (I use ZoneAlarm Pro, Kaspersky, McAfee QuickClean, Webroot Spy Sweeper and XoftSpy). I swept the laptop and found zero malware, spyware, trojans, keyloggers, etcetera.

3. Later, I received an IE error regarding a conflict noting "spoolsv.exe" and "ntdll.dll" and hence, this was the begining of my frustration.

4. Since XP Home was pre-installed with the laptop (no disk), I thought the conflicts were getting tiresome and decided to simply upgrade to XP Pro (assuming that the errors would be corrected/overwritten)

5. I selected the "upgrade" feature in XP Pro and 2/3 of the way through installation of the drivers, I got the "blue screen" with the error "vobid.sys "

6. I then contacted you fellas for insight and attempted the Bios route.

7. Now I find myself filled with desires to take a small amount of C4 to my computer, but with all this adrenaline coursing through my veins, I'd have a tough time lighting the fuse. Maybe after I get a good night sleep? Hmmm...

My apologies for being a pain in the arse, but any other thoughts........?


Thanks again for taking the time.

 

Hi BlackOpps
Lets try to start from scratch. What happens when you boot your lap top up, with no cd.rom in. Can you get to your desk top at all. If not, at what point does the system stop. What does it say on the screen.
Stitch

 

1. The system boots up and automatically goes into the installation mode ( "setup is being restarted... ") of XP Pro.

2. Requests the insertion of the disk into the drive:
a. if I use the disk, the computer goes into "installing devices" as far as the the "vodis.sys" error.
b. if I don't use the disk and click "cancel," I get a system setup error log. The error log notes: "Setup encountered an error while while trying to set system security. An extended error has occurred. "

I've used the disk in several installations, so I know it's not the XP Pro and it's a registered copy, not a warez.

I'm stuck in the installation mode in a neverending loop of disappointment.

 

When you try a Safe Mode boot, does it boot up to the Desktop or does it do the failed install attempt there also.

If you can boot to Safe Mode, then you could try deleting or renaming the vobid.sys file?

You could also try editing, renaming or deleting the boot.ini file and the autoexec.nt file.

There are still many possibilities as long as you are bootable (even if only in Safe mode) and can view the files.

 

BlackOps,
Last night I found a help file for Installing WinXP Pro.

I tried to post it but it's to big.
I tried to send it to ya but that failed also.
If you have access to a working computer do this:
Boot up and get to the desktop.
Insert the Windows XP Pro CD.
Click on "Learn more about the setup process "

Should pull up your browser and display a help file for problems installing WinXP Pro. There's a section on what to do if you get error's like the ones you are getting.

Maybe you allready tried this but thought it was worth posting anyway's

Good Luck
Rockit

 

If I start the computer and use F8 to enter the safe mode, the only selection of OS is XP Pro, there's no selection for the original XP home.

The pop-up message is: "Windows XP Setup cannot run under Safemode. Setup will restart now. "

The OS selction of XP Pro is also the only option under all other selections, such as Safe Mode with Command Prompt, etc. -> same pop-up message.

 

Oh, and another point... the Sony Rescue Disc will restore my "factory settings" but will wipe the hard drive of everything...

are there any other suggestions before I nuke my past for immediate gratification?

 

I think you're pretty much stuck and will need to do as I suggested with using a Win98 boot floppy. Once you use fdisk to wipe all partitions, reboot to the install cd and it will allow you to partitionand format the drive for the new install. The install cd has all the tools needed for that.

The factory Restore is also an option. Your choice but it'll probably take longer to do the Restore and then the upgrade as opposed to a partition wipe and clean install of XP Pro.

 

File copy error during Setup
Suppose Setup stops when copying files, and you see a message like this:

Setup cannot copy the file <file_name>. Press X to retry, Y to abort.

Here are some possible causes and solutions for this problem:

Your Windows XP CD is scratched, smudged, or dirty. Clean the CD with a soft cloth, insert it into the CD drive, and then click OK.
Your CD drive is not working properly or the CD might be vibrating too much for the laser to accurately read the data. For more information about this problem, consult your hardware documentation, or contact the CD drive manufacturer.
If you are using multiple CD drives, your computer might be trying to locate files on the wrong drive. If your hardware has a feature to disable CD drives that are not being used, disable the CD drives that you are not using.
Note: To disable a device in Windows 95, right-click My Computer, click Properties, open Device Manager, and then clear Original Configuration (Current). In Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition, select the Disable in this hardware profile check box in Device Manager.

If required, re-enable the device after upgrading to Windows XP. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 283658.

There is a virus on your computer. Run a virus-scanning program to check your system and identify needed repairs.
Note: If you experience problems during installation, you can use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to test your computer's random access memory (RAM). This tool helps determine whether installation problems are caused by failing hardware, such as RAM or the memory system of the motherboard. To use the tool, follow the instructions on the Windows Memory Diagnostic (http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp) Web site.

For information about several more technical issues that might be causing the problem, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 310064: How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation.

If you can rule out all of the causes listed above, and you continue to receive the error message, copy the i386 folder from the CD drive to your local hard disk, and then try to run Setup from your hard disk. Here's how:

The Smartdrv.exe tool will speed up the process of copying files from the CD to your hard drive. To use the Smartdrv.exe tool, make sure the Smartdrv.exe file is present on the startup disk.
If you don't have Smartdrv.exe, file copying will take much longer but it can still be done successfully. Verify that the following entries exist in the following files on your startup disk; add the entries if they do not already exist:

In Autoexec.bat, add this line:

smartdrv.exe

In Config.sys, add this line:

device=himem.sys

Note: For information about modifying the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 232558.

Insert the startup disk into your computer's floppy drive, and restart the computer.
When the DOS prompt appears (it looks like this: C:>), type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each one. Substitute the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive for the letter D, if yours is different.
D:

cd \i386

winnt

When Setup begins, follow the prompts on your screen.

Note: There is no option to boot to a command prompt on the initial startup menu in Windows Millennium Edition. However, you can boot to a startup floppy disk and then type C: and press ENTER to access the hard drive, as long as the startup disk uses the same file system as the hard disk.

Your computer hangs or stops responding and displays a black screen
When you try to upgrade to Windows XP, your computer might stop responding (hang) and a black screen might be displayed. This is usually caused by hardware or software that is incompatible with Windows XP.

Note: Before beginning Setup, you should compare your system's hardware to the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL). You can also find information about each of your computer's devices (such as printers, scanners, and so on) at the device manufacturer's Web site, in the Windows Catalog:

Text version of the HCL (for all operating systems)
(https://winqual.microsoft.com/download/default.asp)

Text version of the HCL (for Windows XP only)
(https://winqual.microsoft.com/download/display.asp?FileName=hcl/WinXPHCLx86.txt)

The Windows Catalog
(http://www.microsoft.com/windows/catalog/)

You can get to all of the above from Windows Hardware and Driver Central (http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx)

If your computer stops responding and displays a black screen during Setup, follow these steps:

Wait at the black screen for 10 minutes to make sure that the computer does not continue with the Setup procedure. Watch the hard drive indicator to see if there is any disk activity. Setup might resolve the problem on its own.
Restart the computer to see if it stops again at the same place during Setup. Occasionally, Setup will proceed farther than the last time it stopped responding. If this occurs, restart your computer several times so that Setup will finish.
If steps 1 and 2 don't work, to revert back to Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition, restart the computer and choose the option to Cancel Windows XP Setup. If canceling Windows XP Setup is not an option when you restart your computer, see step 5.
After you revert back to Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition, uninstall all virus protection programs, uninstall all boot manager programs (such as GoBack), and then perform a clean boot of your computer.
If the upgrade fails again, there might be a hardware incompatibility issue. You can try to disable ACPI functionality. To do this, when your computer restarts, watch for an option to press F6 to install SCSI drivers. On this screen, press F7 (not F6).
If Setup continues to stop responding, disable any unnecessary hardware. Remove any USB devices, remove or disable network cards, sound cards, and serial cards, and then restart Setup.
If you continue to receive this error message, you might need to flash (update) the BIOS on the motherboard. Please refer to the manufacturer of your computer or to the motherboard Web site for information about how to flash the BIOS.
Warning: Do not attempt to flash the BIOS unless you are an advanced user. Doing this incorrectly can make your computer unusable.

If a BIOS update does not resolve the issue, or if you are unable to obtain an updated BIOS version for the computer, you might want to install Windows XP with a Standard PC Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL). To do so, press F7 (not F6) when you are prompted to press F6 after Setup restarts the computer for the first time. For more information about how to force the Standard PC HAL, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 299340: How to Force a HAL During Windows XP Setup.
You receive an error message or Stop message during Setup
If you receive one of the following error messages during Setup, refer to the appropriate Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

311562: 'An Unexpected Error (768) Occurred at Line 5118@ind:Xp\Client\Boot\Setup\Setup.c' Error Message During Windows XP Setup

311564: 'Stop 0x0000000A Irql_Not_Less_or_Equal' Error Message During Windows XP Upgrade

311442: Error Message: Setup Cannot Continue. Please Contact Microsoft Technical Support. (Error: 3E6h)

Troubleshooting other errors:
Note: If you experience problems during installation, you can use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to test your computer's random access memory (RAM). This tool helps determine whether installation problems are caused by failing hardware, such as RAM or the memory system of the motherboard. To use the tool, follow the instructions on the Windows Memory Diagnostic (http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp) Web site.

Problem Solution
A program or a device doesn't work after upgrading to Windows XP. First, try reinstalling the program or device. If that doesn't solve the problem, check with the manufacturer for a newer version of the software or hardware that is designed to work with Windows XP. If this is an older program, search Windows Help and Support for the word "compatibility" to see instructions for running the Program Compatibility Wizard.
Message: Incomplete file copy Refer to the file copy troubleshooting section in Microsoft Knowledge Base article 310064.
Message: NTLDR is missing If you choose to update files at the beginning of Setup, this will be fixed automatically. See Microsoft Knowledge Base article 322069. For troubleshooting this error, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 314057.
Message: Error 127 or error code fffffdf0 in catroot2 folder Rename the Windows\System\Catroot2 folder and run Setup again. See Microsoft Knowledge Base article 307153. This has been fixed in Dynamic Update 1.3. Run Setup again and download the updated Setup files when prompted.
Message: "File not found: ASMS" For troubleshooting tips, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 311755.
Setup hangs during "finalizing settings" phase. This error is usually caused by virus protection software. Cancel Setup, disable your virus protection software, and then start Setup again. (Or, if you choose to update files at the beginning of Setup, this will be fixed automatically.)

 

Surferdude:

I agree... I have racked my brain for the last few days for an alternative to formatting the hard drive and the Rescue disc will allow me to do that.

Rockit: can't gain access to the control panel (safe mode unavailable) or DOS prompt. Bios access is limited. Appreciate the effort though.

Well, I guess it's time to nuke the platter. I'll lose all my data, but the darn thing will atleast work.

Again, many thanks for the time and energy put into assisting me with my problem, it's not a common practice in most of the forums I belong to.