I've done it now (PC won't boot)

[dewi1219]

If any of you IT types saw my previous post, I was attempting to set up a home network. After successfully installing my wireless router, I tried to setup the network to share folders and a printer. I had problems and realized I had XP service pack 1 installed on my desktop. So I attempted to install service pack 2. Near the end of the installation I encountered an error so I uninstalled sp2. Rebooted the PC, and now I get a BSOD with error "STOP: c0000135 {Unable To Locate Component}
This application has failed to start because winsrv was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem."
It continuously reboots now. I tried safe mode and last known good configuration, but the rebooting just continues. I cannot get into the bios setup either. I contacted Sony tech support since it's a Vaio PC, but the technician immediately told me my only recourse was a complete reinstall. I have also been google searching for a couple of hours, but if there is an answer that works it's way over my head.

Are there any other options? If I do have to do a complete reinstall, can I install the HD temporarily as a slave in another PC to salvage some of my files? Or could I install it temporarily in another PC and repair/replace the winsrv file? As always, all help is appreciated.

[radhak]

The winsrv.dll file on your machine has got corrupted, and you need to replace it. If you are lucky, this should resolve well.

Okay, let's see -
(a) Do you have a bootable CD for Windows XP? If not, you need to make one on another machine. You could google on how to make one.
(b) And yes, you need to get the winsrv.dll from another machine. I am guessing you could use anybody's; i could email you one.

once you boot the PC from CD, you should rename the winsrv.dll (in C:\windows\system32), and copy a better copy of the dll into the same folder. you could use a USB drive or a floppy for copy the file. While at it, you could check that file's version number, just to be sure you replace it with something similar. My version is 5.1.2600.3100.

Yes, placing the HDD as secondary in another PC should also work, if that works better for you.

[OpaDC]

Not sure if I understand, will it boot up in safe mode? If so you can boot in safe with network to possibly retry update. Not sure because it's late and I can't think straight. But yes you can install in another computer to copy your files then rebuild computer. Have done it more than once myself.

Found these when I googled winsrv.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885523

http://www.anetforums.com/posts.aspx?ThreadIndex=29066

[pbui3057]

Do you have the original Windows XP cd? You could try going through and doing a repair of your windows installation. http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Or you could try this
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885523

To resolve the Stop c0000135 error after it has occurred and to remove T.V. Media, follow these steps.
Back to the top

Step 1: Use Recovery Console to remove Windows XP SP2
Remove Windows XP SP2 from your computer by using Recovery Console. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base, and then see the “Use Recovery Console” section:
875350 How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 2 from your computer
Back to the top

Step 2: Remove T.V. Media or install Critical Update 885523
Use one of the methods in the "Workaround" section to remove T.V. Media or to install the Critical Update 885523 compatibility fix. For more information about installing Critical Update 885523, see the "Resolution" section.
Back to the top

Step 3: Reinstall Windows XP SP2
After you have removed T.V. Media or installed the Critical Update 885523 compatibility fix, reinstall Windows XP SP2. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...S;windowsxpsp2

[Nilt]

Yes, copying the files with the drive in another PC should work fine before you reinstall everything. Unfortunately, a failed SP install is rather tough to recover from, as it indicate Windows was wonky, at best, before starting the SP installing. It may actually take less time to reinstall everything, if you can back up your data and have the ability to reinstall any programs as well.

If you're lacking a Windows CD, PM me. I can mail you a CD that'll work which would have SP3 pre-installed once you're done, saving you a heck of a lot of time installing stuff. I use them all the time when I have to reinstall Windows for a client (I'm a self employed IT guy). Before anyone asks, it's not piracy to provide install media for Windows ... the install key is still required. We geeks use slipstreaming a lot to save time in this manner.

[dewi1219]

(a) Do you have a bootable CD for Windows XP? If not, you need to make one on another machine. You could google on how to make one.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that. My PC didn't come with a disk, but I made one on my laptop. Problem is, my wonderful Vaio desktop doesn't have the boot order set up to read from the CD drive first. And I can't enter the Bios setup to change the boot order. It should be F2, but when I hit it I get nothing (I also tried F1, F3, F4, etc.).

Not sure if I understand, will it boot up in safe mode?

Nope, won't boot up in safe mode or in last known good config.

If you're lacking a Windows CD, PM me. I can mail you a CD that'll work which would have SP3 pre-installed once you're done, saving you a heck of a lot of time installing stuff.

PM sent - I am lacking a CD, other than the one I made which I'm not 100% confident in. Is there any other way to get to the Bios setup so that I can change the boot order? Thanks everyone.

[Stytooner]

Is it under Windows control for booting to bios? Sounds like what a new computer was doing to me. It turned out to be some of the fancy settings in the hard drive in the bios, BUT i could boot to bios, just not much past it. It would keep cycling past the post cycle to reboot.
I had another computer case that would make it boot often and at any time. Turned out the reset switch had a hair trigger and even temperature or sound vibrations effected it. Good for some things, but certainly not there.

You can test it to see if it is hardware related by using any windows CD I think. Even 95 or 98. Just push cancel once you see it doesn't want to reboot. Then you would know it's a software thing.

[crokett]

I found this on changing boot sequence on a Vaio:

on a Sony Vaio, the BIOS access key is either f2 or f3,
 if the post goes by too fast, try hitting the pause key to read the text, 
if you get  the Sony Logo try hitting escape key to see the text

.

I also found another post that says to 'tap the F2 key numerous times when booting'. So I would just keep pressing the F2 key.

[dewi1219]

I found this on changing boot sequence on a Vaio:

on a Sony Vaio, the BIOS access key is either f2 or f3,
 if the post goes by too fast, try hitting the pause key to read the text, 
if you get  the Sony Logo try hitting escape key to see the text

.

I also found another post that says to 'tap the F2 key numerous times when booting'. So I would just keep pressing the F2 key.

Thanks David. I *think* I tried tapping the F2 and escape also, but I'll try it again tonight. Didn't try the pause.

[crokett]

I would just keep mashing the key till either it works or the PC gets annoyed and beeps at you.

Your other option if this doesn't work is to pull the HDD and put it in an external enclosure, then hook it up to your laptop and replace the file that way. Normally I would say your quickest way around this is a temporary parallel install of XP on your desktop except that you can't get the machine to boot from CD.

[dewi1219]

Normally I would say your quickest way around this is a temporary parallel install of XP on your desktop except that you can't get the machine to boot from CD.

Plus, my HD is basically full. Being a 6 year old PC it came with a small drive to begin with, and I've deleted and uninstalled every file or program I can get by without. But there still isn't much space left. A bigger or external HD was next on the list of upgrades. Now may be an opportune time to do it if I have to tear it all apart anyway...

I assume the HD has a SATA interface, guess I need to check to be sure.

[parnelli]

Plus, my HD is basically full. Being a 6 year old PC it came with a small drive to begin with, and I've deleted and uninstalled every file or program I can get by without. But there still isn't much space left. A bigger or external HD was next on the list of upgrades. Now may be an opportune time to do it if I have to tear it all apart anyway...

I assume the HD has a SATA interface, guess I need to check to be sure.

6 years? It'll be PATA. Any idea of the size? I might have something unused that's bigger

[just started]

You can always get into the bios by removing the backup battery so it loses the date and goes back to the default. It will then stop the boot process so you can set the correct date and time.

[dewi1219]

6 years? It'll be PATA. Any idea of the size? I might have something unused that's bigger

Sorry, that was a typo - I meant PATA. Size is 80GB. If you have something bigger that you aren't using I'd be interested in buying it - see below.

You can always get into the bios by removing the backup battery so it loses the date and goes back to the default. It will then stop the boot process so you can set the correct date and time.

Really? That's pretty cool. I'll try it.

I went to Best Buy today at lunch and bought a cheap (if you can call it that - $60) external enclosure so I can put the drive in it as suggested and copy the file from my laptop. Once this ordeal is over I'll get a bigger drive to go in the enclosure to use as backup / extra storage.

[Nilt]

Sent you a PM, Dewi. An 80 GB drive is plenty for Windows itself (heck, a 4 GB would do) so it's all the other stuff that's cluttering it. You might be surprised how little hard drive space you actually fill back up after reinstalling XP and your basic apps.

Anyhow, check your PMs.