Windows will not load

When I turn on my computer, the Compaq screen loads then it goes to a screen that says "We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this.................. "

When I try to start windows normally, it does nothing. The HD light blinks for a second and that's it.

When I try to start in safe mode, it begins to load but freezes on:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\tiumflt.sys

Any suggestions?

 

Have you changed any hardware or downloaded new software recently? Did you allow updates to install recently? Instead of Safe Mode have you tried Last known good configuration?

 

No new hardware and no new software that I remember. If I do try last known configuration, will I lose anything on my computer like pictures bookmarks and stuff like that?

 

Anything in your My Documents folder, including My Pictures and My Music will be left as is. Go ahead and try Last Known Good Configuration.

 

No luck. It just goes to a blank screen.

 

Do you have the recovery CD or a WinXP CD that you can borrow? I would boot with the CD into the Recovery Console and run chkdsk /r.

If that fails I would take the hard drive out and place it as slave in another computer and scan it for malware. I would also back up any important document, pictures and etc. after scanning. Once this was done you could put in back in your computer and do a repair install or reinstall of XP.

I would suggest in the future to stop using P2P programs. These can be a major source of infections and other problems.

In fact you never did finish following up with your last HJT log posted back in December.

http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=60175

 

I will have a look for my CD's I know I have them somewhere. I haven't used a P2P program for quite a while. I must have forgotten to post those scan results.

Also, my computer is a laptop so can I still put my HD into another computer as a slave to scan it?

 

You can pick up an adapter to put a laptop HDD in a desktop PC.

 

I run chkdsk /r and it said it had fixed one or more errors in the volume but it still won't start. Where is the best place to get the hard drive adapter?

 

Also, what is the adapter/cable called? I'm not sure what to look for.

 

Its a 40 to 44 pin adapter and should cost anywhere from $3-$10 depending on one's shopping skills.

 

Which is mine a 40 or 44? Can I use this adapter?

 

Here you go. You don't need the rails but you do need the adapter.

 

But if I used this adapter could I scan it on another laptop? Reason is, we have 2 laptops and it would be easier to scan it on our other computer than to use someones desktop. Thanks

 

Given enough time to think about this, I'm confident that you'll retract that comment. edit: On second thought, I'll retract my comment. The device you referenced will probably be easier for you to use but it is still going to involve removing your hard drive from your laptop. Some laptop drives are easy to access while others present a real challenge. You may be best advised to seek some professional help instead of trying this yourself. One can destroy a laptop hard drive just by squeezing it inadvertently.



additional edit: I re-read this thread and your earlier Malware thread that Whiskeyman linked to. A quick online search indicated "tiumflt.sys is a Texas Instruments driver located in the folder C:\Windows\System32\drivers. Known file sizes on Windows XP are 7552 bytes and 8448 bytes. Some malware camouflage themselves as tiumflt.sys, particularly if they are located in c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 folder. " Although yours appears to be located in the right folder, anybody running Kazzaa, Limewire and Bearshare along with a bit torrent downloader is asking for trouble. I would strongly suggest you consider taking this machine to a professional.

 

That's what I was afraid of.