Serious HDD problem

**MVP** · 10-06-2007, 01:47 PM

Dell Inspiron 6000
OS: Windows XP Professional
1.25 GB RAM
1.3 GHz Intel Celeron Processor

I received a stop error on Thursday, so I rebotted my PC. Then Windows could not boot because there was a system32 file that was corrupt or missing. I was at work at the time, so my boss and I took a look at it. We couldn't boot into safe mode. I had to go to class, so I left my PC with my boss who was trying to boot from an XP CD. When I got back I had another stop error and she told me that my hard drive was probably dead.

Now when I turn it on it automatically goes to an XP Installation page. I put the Windows XP Reinstallation CD I got from Dell, and during the setup process a window pops up saying:

An error has been encountered that prevents Setup from continuing.

Setup failed to install the product catalogs. This is a fatal error. The setup log files should contain more information.

I told to do this in the command screen:

C:\WINDOWS\system32>rename CATROOT2 catold
But all I got was an access denied message.

I ran a Pre-Boot System Assessment Diagostic which tested the hardware and it looked like everything passed until the assessment stopped and all I could see was a blank blue screen.

I also tried to boot up from an Automatic System Recovery file I burned to a CD, but I was just brought to the XP Installation screen. It seems the computer is stuck automatically trying to install Windows.

It seems like I've done everything short of reformatting I need to know if any of this sounds familair to anyone and if there's anything I can do about it, or if my hard drive is totally dead and I need to replace it.

**sadio8** · 10-06-2007, 05:46 PM

1. Try installing another operating system on the computer, if possible and see what happens. (if anything, you'll have another operating system on and your files will hopefully not be lost)

2. Take your Hard drive out and put it into another computer and backup your files, then format your hard drive

Sorry that is all i can think of. have never ever had this problem before.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823303

**Vietnamese Crippler** · 10-06-2007, 06:11 PM

I'd opt for sadio's 2nd option, if you can't pull off your files, then it's pretty much determined that your HDD is done for.

**sadio8** · 10-06-2007, 06:31 PM

I'm thinking that either way, its better to just backup your files and whatnot and format the hard drive. I mean, even if you get it fixed or whatever, i can see it maybe causing problems down the road without a format?

10-06-2007, 01:47 PM	#1
MVP Mas Vagina Porfavor Posts: 11,343	Serious HDD problem Dell Inspiron 6000 OS: Windows XP Professional 1.25 GB RAM 1.3 GHz Intel Celeron Processor I received a stop error on Thursday, so I rebotted my PC. Then Windows could not boot because there was a system32 file that was corrupt or missing. I was at work at the time, so my boss and I took a look at it. We couldn't boot into safe mode. I had to go to class, so I left my PC with my boss who was trying to boot from an XP CD. When I got back I had another stop error and she told me that my hard drive was probably dead. Now when I turn it on it automatically goes to an XP Installation page. I put the Windows XP Reinstallation CD I got from Dell, and during the setup process a window pops up saying: An error has been encountered that prevents Setup from continuing. Setup failed to install the product catalogs. This is a fatal error. The setup log files should contain more information. I told to do this in the command screen: C:\WINDOWS\system32>rename CATROOT2 catold But all I got was an access denied message. I ran a Pre-Boot System Assessment Diagostic which tested the hardware and it looked like everything passed until the assessment stopped and all I could see was a blank blue screen. I also tried to boot up from an Automatic System Recovery file I burned to a CD, but I was just brought to the XP Installation screen. It seems the computer is stuck automatically trying to install Windows. It seems like I've done everything short of reformatting I need to know if any of this sounds familair to anyone and if there's anything I can do about it, or if my hard drive is totally dead and I need to replace it.

10-06-2007, 05:46 PM	#2
sadio8 Posts: 1,980	1. Try installing another operating system on the computer, if possible and see what happens. (if anything, you'll have another operating system on and your files will hopefully not be lost) 2. Take your Hard drive out and put it into another computer and backup your files, then format your hard drive Sorry that is all i can think of. have never ever had this problem before. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823303

10-06-2007, 06:11 PM	#3
Vietnamese Crippler Unnecessarily awesome Posts: 8,323	I'd opt for sadio's 2nd option, if you can't pull off your files, then it's pretty much determined that your HDD is done for.

10-06-2007, 06:31 PM	#4
sadio8 Posts: 1,980	I'm thinking that either way, its better to just backup your files and whatnot and format the hard drive. I mean, even if you get it fixed or whatever, i can see it maybe causing problems down the road without a format?