Black screen after windows XP loading screen

[notme]

Like the title says, its been black for ages now. Any ideas what this could be? Ive googled and got different answers from video drivers to corrupted boot files. Also my chipset fan doesn't work - I don't think it would be related. I've been getting than Chkdsk message after startup for a few days too. Any ideas?

Just got a blue screen: TOP:c0000218 Unknown Hard Error
Unknown Hard Error

Guess it is taking about the hardrive.

Thanks for any help

EDIT: Im currently running chkdsk through the recovery console. Okay after chddsk it has booted. What should I do now? Will it be okay?

[patio]

I would replace the chipset fan immediately...trust me it's related.

[notme]

It has been like that for months. Ill try and replace it this week - it is hard, is it simply just taking the old one off and sticking a new one in?.

[Richenstony]

It has been like that for months. Ill try and replace it this week - it is hard, is it simply just taking the old one off and sticking a new one in?.

It can be if you dont know what your doing.....

1.) Remove ALL the connections from the motherboard and try and remember where everything is. (If you can tell me your motherboard, I may be able to send you a PDF which shows you where the connections go)
2.)Remove the 6/9 screws that hold your motherboard to the chassis.
3.)Flip it around. There you should see two pins holding the chipset fan into place. You will need to GENTLY use some plyers and press the pin together to release them. Do it to both pins and it should slowly pop out.
4.)Get the new one, remove the sticker from the thermal pad and pop it into place.
5.)Screw the board back to the chassis and put the connectors back in its place.

[patio]

Before you follow the above instructions post the MBoard model # and the CPU you have in there...many boards do not neccessarily need to be removed from the case to replace a heatsink fan...

[notme]

ASUS A8N-SLI *S939 - Motherboard
AMD XP3700 64 BIT - CPU

Thanks for all the help so far, I'm really bad with hardware, really appreciate it.

[spiderlucci]

This is the meaning of your bugcheck code.

0xC0000218: UNKNOWN_HARD_ERROR

A necessary Registry hive file couldn’t be loaded. The file may be corrupt or missing (requiring either an Emergency Repair Disk or a Windows reinstallation). The Registry files may have been corrupted because of hard disk corruption or some other hardware problem. A driver may have corrupted the Registry data while loading into memory, or the memory where the Registry is loading may have a parity error (turn off the external cache and check the physical RAM).

First test your ram using the Memtest86+ programme from HERE (http://www.memtest.org/)

This is another option Guys! spider

[notme]

Thanks Spider if I can find a disk I will try that.
EDIT:Ran the memtest for 5 passes and no errors.

[patio]

I would still be far more concerned with a CPU fan failing than i would any registry errors...
Visit the ASUS site and DLoad and read the instructions for replacing that fan...
But if the registry is a priority then go for it.

[notme]

Its just freezing on the windows xp screen now. Works in safemode but slow. Im getting the chipfan replaced tormorrow. Do you think it will work after I get it replaced?

EDIT: Im just gonna take it into my local computer shop. Is the anyway I can boot into linux to backup my files? Safemode is now borked. I ran chkdsk and it booted then I got a message saying cant validate license key?!?!?!?! 

[spiderlucci]

Notme, do what patio said, what I told you was Just another option!

considering where not in front of your computer.
spider

[notme]

I think it is not just the chipfan which is broken. I was wondering if the is a way to backup my files? Through linux?