stuck in loop, repair not working

[BDoll]

My vista sys is stuck in loop. It goes from Windows recovery error (Safe mode, normal mode etc.) to Problem detected (on a blue screen) to Service ATA achi, Dell start-up then back to Windows recovery error. I may not have the sequence exact here as these screens come up quickly. As best as I can recall this prob. started after I tried to download a current driver/ sys. Update for my multifunction printer.
I can get to a screen called “Boot Device Menu” by tapping on the F12 key during the loop. From the Boot device menu I have run the “onboard or USB CD-Rom” option. This runs the re-install disk from which I have performed the “Repair your computer “ 4 times and done the re-start. However my machine remains stuck in the loop.

Would any of the other options on the Boot Device Menu fix my issue?

I’d like to do a restore of my machine w/o losing my docs and pictures.

 

[nate88]

My vista sys is stuck in loop. It goes from Windows recovery error (Safe mode, normal mode etc.) to Problem detected (on a blue screen) to Service ATA achi, Dell start-up then back to Windows recovery error. I may not have the sequence exact here as these screens come up quickly. As best as I can recall this prob. started after I tried to download a current driver/ sys. Update for my multifunction printer.
I can get to a screen called “Boot Device Menu” by tapping on the F12 key during the loop. From the Boot device menu I have run the “onboard or USB CD-Rom” option. This runs the re-install disk from which I have performed the “Repair your computer “ 4 times and done the re-start. However my machine remains stuck in the loop.

Would any of the other options on the Boot Device Menu fix my issue?

I’d like to do a restore of my machine w/o losing my docs and pictures.

It sounds like what you are experiencing is the Blue Screen of Death due to a driver problem. If you've repaired the computer correctly it should bring it back to the original settings before the driver was installed. Try to follow these instructions to disable the driver.

First we boot to the Recovery Console. To do so, we put in our OS CD, and reboot the machine. Assuming the boot order in the BIOS has been setup correctly, we then Press a key on the keyboard when prompted. Then when setup is done loading, we press 'R' for Recovery Console. Upon logging in with your Administrator password (or none if one isnt set), then we are presented with the C:\Windows prompt.

First Step (optional)

At this prompt, we type:

Listsvc

Press Enter.

This will list each and every service and driver that can be disabled from here. We then locate the filename in question in the list to verify it can be disabled.

For example, the BSOD is caused by ntio256.sys file. Then, under the list of services, we would attempt to locatentio256.

Second Step

At the C:\Windows prompt, type:

Disable ntio256

Press Enter.

If you receive no errors, it worked. If you do receive an error, check your spelling, and verify the service/driver was listed under listsvc. We then type 'Exit' to reboot.

Attempt to boot your OS again.