Computer won't boot - Cd Rom Not Working???

[gal]

This is my first time posting to the forum. I hope someone can help.

My wife's Emachine T1742 will not boot. Windows XP can not load because the following file is missing or corrupted: System32\DRIVERS\pci.sys

I retrieved a lot of useful info on the internet regarding how to solve the problem. However, I can get none of the soultions to work. After wasting a lot of time with Emachines Tech Support I found from my wife that the CD Rom has not been working.

So now I can not use the Restore CD for example. Can anyone tell me how I can trouble shoot the CD Rom in light of the fact that I can not boot the machine?

Thanks so much,
GAL

[GrandDad]

Welcome to WD gal .

Go to ;
bootdisk.com

and download the one for Windows98 or XP and extract to a floppy disk ,
then (with PC off) put the disk in PC and start it and watch and see if it finds the CDdrive and what letter ,
if it does find it put XP cd in and type the letter its using for CDdrive
(like this E: or F: ) hit ENTER
and then type setup and hit ENTER and go from there to restore or repair or just reinstall XP .

If it doesn't find a CDdrive then it is dead and will need new one .

[eboyjones]

GrandDad is correct. If Win98 boot disk doesn't find it then the drive is ither dead, as they often do or you might, slim chance, have a bad connection.

You also need to go into bios setup and switch the boot sequence to boot from the "A" drive 1st. And to boot from the Win disk you have to have the CDROM to boot 1st, that is if the cdrom is working or you get a new one.

Cdroms go out quite often.

[gal]

Welcome to WD gal .

Go to ;
bootdisk.com

and download the one for Windows98 or XP and extract to a floppy disk ,
then (with PC off) put the disk in PC and start it and watch and see if it finds the CDdrive and what letter ,
if it does find it put XP cd in and type the letter its using for CDdrive
(like this E: or F: ) hit ENTER
and then type setup and hit ENTER and go from there to restore or repair or just reinstall XP .

If it doesn't find a CDdrive then it is dead and will need new one .

Hello GrandDad,

I downloaded the XP Setup Boot Disks (6 disks). I started with Bootdisk.com and ended up at Microsoft where I downloaded the disks.

I installed the 6 disks. Then it asked for the XP Home CD. I never received the full software CDs from Emachines only a Restore CD. I loaded the Restore CD with no success. The Restore CD did nothing which leads me to believe that the CD ROM is not working.

Even though the CD may not be working, is it possible that it is not the main problem here. I am a bit confused. Can't Windows start even if the CD Rom was inoperational? My wife said that the CD has not been working for awhile now but it always started.

My problem is this corrupt or missing file System32\DRIVERS\pci.sys Is it possible that the hard drive is the problem? If the hard drive is ok, wouldn't I be able to run some type of diagnostics to determine the problem and replace this corrupt file?

How can I access DOS so that I can look at files etc.

Also, in your message you said download a boot disk for Win 98 or XP. I tried the Win 98 Start Up Disk that I have for another computer and seemed to get lots of information and directions. Can I actually use the Win 98 disk to boot the XP computer? I was leery of using the 98 disk.

Thanks,
Gal

[gal]

GrandDad is correct. If Win98 boot disk doesn't find it then the drive is ither dead, as they often do or you might, slim chance, have a bad connection.

You also need to go into bios setup and switch the boot sequence to boot from the "A" drive 1st. And to boot from the Win disk you have to have the CDROM to boot 1st, that is if the cdrom is working or you get a new one.

Cdroms go out quite often.

Hello eboyjones,

Would you be so kind as to see the reply I made to GrandDad and let me know what you think. I was not able to follow exactly his instructions.

I did go into the BIOS setup but I may have made incorrect changes. The priority was as follows:
CD ROM
Removeable Devices
Hard Drive
Network Boot

I changed to:
Removeable Devices
Hard Drive
CD ROM
Network Boot

Thanks,
Gal

[GrandDad]

I did go into the BIOS setup but I may have made incorrect changes. The priority was as follows:
CD ROM
Removeable Devices
Hard Drive
Network Boot

I changed to:
Removeable Devices
Hard Drive
CD ROM
Network Boot

Thanks,
Gal

Do you have (and what is it) "Removeable Device" attached ?
If you do and its not needed at the moment unplug it for now .

Yes try the 98 boot disk (it will boot it), we need to know if CDdrive is working , other wise Recovery CD is no help .

For now in BIOS have boot devices in this order ;
CD-rom
HardDrive

others don't matter for now

If Cddrive is screw'ed up bad enough (short'ing out or other) it could stop it from booting or caused corrupted files .

It may be possible to replace some files without CDdrive working but it depend partly if the Partition was 'Fat-32' or NTFS' , but NooNoo or somebody would have to explain (if possible) it .

[NooNoo]

If you are using the 98 boot diskette, you must set the bios to boot from floppy first. First thing to ascertain is whether the cdrom drive is bad or not. If it's bad, there is nothing you can do except replace it.