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Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
 
Windows XP, Dell, computer, about 5 years old now refuses to start up. It gives a C000021A Fatal System Error message. The computer had been behaving a little oddly before; for instance, GMail couldn't send out letters, although it could recieve. "Word" wouldn't open normally; only in safe mode.

The only modifaction before the crash was rhapsody.com and clearing of the cache.

Any advice getting it to work again? Much appreciated!

[ February 03, 2007, 07:39 PM: Message edited by: Phanto ]
 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
Honestly? If it's five years old and you're getting a "fatal system error," I'd reformat.
 

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Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
 
I'd love to, but it has information that I need to back up first. How can I back up the computer (I have a USB drive thingy) if I can't load it? ^^;;
 

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Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :
 
Several options:

1) Take out the hard drive, get a friend to mount the hard drive and backup the data

2) Instead of reformatting, just reinstall Windows in a new directory.

3) Get a new hard drive, install Windows on it and grab the data from the old hard drive

4) Boot to a bootable Linux distribution like Knoppix (instruction guide here and backup your data that way
 

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Posted by Boris (Member # 6935) on :
 
If you happen to have Norton GoBack installed, it will cause this problem apparently. Microsoft Support article.

Assuming you don't have GoBack, try booting into safe mode (Hit F8 before the windows boot screen pops up and select Safe Mode), then visit Windows update. Here's the other problem associated with that error. I've seen a lot of problems associated with GoBack (and pretty much anything else that bears the Norton label, with the singular exception of Ghost), so if you do have it, disable it according to that support article and remove it when you can boot.

If none of that works (can't get into safe mode, for example) then I'd recommend formatting once you are able to get to your data. Of course, you could try re-installing windows without formatting. Not as good as a full format/reinstall, but you'll be able to get to your data.

And Tom, for shame. Suggesting a format without any investigation.

Though formatting is probably a good idea to clean up any other errors you might be experiencing. If it's easier to get to your data than pulling hardware around or getting ahold of a linux distro, I'd go for it, and both the options I've recommended are fairly easy fixes.


 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 

quote:

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And Tom, for shame. Suggesting a format without any investigation.

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I keep all my data on a separate partition simply because I like formatting my machines on a yearly basis; it helps clear out the crud. Of course, it helps that I now have .isos of my standard image, too.
 

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Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
 
So how would I re-install windows without formating? Sorry if I come off as a tech-idiot; computers just aren't my thing right now ^^.

Thanks to you guys so much for helping me so far .
 

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Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by TomDavidson:

quote:

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And Tom, for shame. Suggesting a format without any investigation.

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I keep all my data on a separate partition simply because I like formatting my machines on a yearly basis; it helps clear out the crud. Of course, it helps that I now have .isos of my standard image, too.

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