Stuck on black screen at startup

[v2p]

I've been having a problem with my computer with a few BSOD.
One time my computer was only running firefox and then completely froze out and I couldnt open task manager, switch users or anything. I let the computer sit there for a while not wanting to click anything thinking it would unfreeze by itself in a short while, and then suddenly a noise started coming out at regular intervals. Then the computer just switched off.

On restart I got a BSOD that i wrote down but ive lost the paper for the error message now. I ran chkdsk from the XP CD and it finished and then I got another BSOD, this time saying

"UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME"

I googled it and ran chkdsk again, with it completing and then this time I got another BSOD message.

"Stop:C0000135 (unable to locate component) This application has failed to start because USP10.dll was found. Re-installing the application may fix this"

I ran chkdsk again a few times and still nothing happened, still getting the same BSOD message.

After more googling I found out to run a repair installation, the website I used just told me to "continue with on-screen instructions". So I ran the repair installation and the first time I ran it, the computer restarted and I thought it had been fixed. Windows XP appeared to be installing itself for the first time and I paniced because I thought I had accidentally pressed the wrong button and chosen to fresh install a copy of windows. I immediately held the power button to power-down my computer.

I now realise that it was supposed to happen, because everytime I try to repeat the repair installation again, the computer restarts but before it gets to that blue windows setup screen, it remains on an all black screen with a functioning mouse.
If I try to boot the computer normally, or in safe mode, it will load the Windows logo with the green bar and then after that, it will stay on the black screen with a mouse.
If I repeat the repair installation, when the computer restarts it will follow the same steps as above and reach the black screen and I cannot get back to that blue windows setup screen which would've been the next part of the repair install.

What should I do now?

[Allan]

I don't know what "I ran chkdsk means", so let's make sure you're doing it correctly.

Boot to the XP CD and choose the first repair option, which will take you to the Recovery Console. Once there, run chkdsk /r

[v2p]

hi thanks for the response.
yeah ive been running chkdsk /r using the recovery console from the disc, however i have not tried it since the black screen problem, i will run it now and post back with the new outcome
Thanks

[Broni]

"UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" error often means hard drive issue.

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287 (or http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28744&hl=hard+drive+diagnostic)
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.
For Toshiba hard drives, see here: http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Path=ServicesSupport/FujitsuDrivesUSandCanada/SoftwareUtilities#diagnostic

[v2p]

I don't know what "I ran chkdsk means", so let's make sure you're doing it correctly.

Boot to the XP CD and choose the first repair option, which will take you to the Recovery Console. Once there, run chkdsk /r

OKay I've ran chkdsk /r and I am still getting the same black screen on startup. However I am no longer getting any BSOD anymore.

"UN"MOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME error often means hard drive issue.

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287 (or http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28744&hl=hard+drive+diagnostic)
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.
For Toshiba hard drives, see here: http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Path=ServicesSupport/FujitsuDrivesUSandCanada/SoftwareUtilities#diagnostic

I only got the "UN"MOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME error once, and then the BSOD message changed. And now I no longer get any BSOD but get stuck on a black screen, should I still follow your instructions?

[mustdie]

Go to safe mode and try remove unknown items in your startup.
May be virus or your hard disk.
If this not help try reinstall windows.

[v2p]

Go to safe mode and try remove unknown items in your startup.
May be virus or your hard disk.
If this not help try reinstall windows.

I can't get into safe mode, and ideally I'd like to access all my files again and not reinstall windows.

[patio]

Slave Drive Tutorial][url=http://www.dtidata.com/resourcecenter/2007/04/23/how-to-slave-hard-drive/]Slave Drive Tutorial[/url]

[Broni]

should I still follow your instructions?

Yes, or follow patio's reply.

[v2p]

Okay I found out my hard drive is a Maxtor, so I downloaded the relevant Maxtor tool and burned the .iso to a CD.
When I ran the CD on my computer, it loaded and this appeared:

Starting Caldera DR-DOS...

HIMEM.SYS 2.34

Caldera DR-DOS 7.83
Copyright (c) 1976, 1998 Caldera, Inc.  All rights reserved.

A:\>fdrpowermax.exe -no log

That screen stayed up for a few seconds, then another black screen that looks like a command prompt opened up and remained saying:
A:\>
A:\>hhhhh

The second time it said:
A:\>
A:\>fdr

Then the third time it said:
A:\>
A:\>gg

It appears to just be putting random letters up each time I retry.

[Broni]

Which Maxtor tool did you use?
Are you booting from created CD?

[patio]

Your HDD is failing...
Backup what you need immediately...you may not get a 2nd chance.

[v2p]

Hey thanks for the help so far everyone.


I used the Maxtor PowerMax 4.23 Bootable CD .ISO image file and yeah I was booting from a created CD.

Okay so should I be looking to slave drive now.

[Broni]

You may as well...