Vaio laptop won't boot or load original OS

[Royk]

Went to turn on Sony PCG-F650 laptop and got the message:



"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:



system32\DRIVERS\pci. sys



You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM.



Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair. "



If I follow those directions, I never get a screen where 'r' is an option, but Windows Setup starts and finally gives me:



"File setupdd. sys could not be loaded.

The error code is 4

Setup cannot continue. Press any key to exit. "



This is all I can get. It is a vicious circle. OS is XP Home.



Any ideas?



Roy

 

[gregdoerfler]

I had that happen to my desktop a few months ago but i did get the R and pushed it and all reloaded fine, the a few weeks later got the same thing but same as yours would not do anything.

then i tried to reload windows in from the disk and it said something like could not find the harddrive (not in those words). so i figured i got some sort of virus. and bought a new computer.

hope yours is not that bad.

 

[nickleinonen]

if you have the time, try a full reload... format the drive and reinstall windows. . boot from the cd and go into the repair part, format c: drive and reboot with the cd and do a fresh install. . i just had to do that with my other computer



oh, make sure you backup everything you want to keep, and download the latest drivers you need for audio, video, network. . [i backed up my stuff, but failed to d/l the drivers, and had to run back and forth from one pc to another downloading the drivers]

 

[MBFARMS]

See if the Laptop has Hard drive diagnostics. If it does run them. You may be experiencing a bad Hard drive. If your laptop does not have diags, go out on the web and look for a free set.

 

[TowPro]

Its easer to fix if its a desktop. At work I can do the laptop hard drives on our forensic box.

Most times the register has been destroyed. I will hang the hard drive off a cable in a known working desktop. then follow this microsoft paper



there is always a backup register file, what you do is change the name on the bad one, and rename the backup file to the name of the one that was destroyed.

 

[Philip]

Drop the XP CD in. Boot the computer off the disk. Tell it new install at the prompt. At a point later on it will see the old install of XP. It will ask if you want to repair it. Select yes. It will save all your programs and files.



Then after it has repaired itself. Check the HDD with the MFG test program. The program belaric advisor will most likley give you the name of the HDD MFG.



http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html