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Computer crashed, need Promise driver -- possible data loss -- PLEASE HELP

C

Compuwiz

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jun 16, 2003
Messages
277
Problem: My computer was working completely fine, AIM and surfing the net. I clicked on a link to open a PDF file (i was trying to look at the black friday ads as posted here in the HotDeals section), and then immedately my computer turned off. :eek: :eek: !! It turned off faster than normal, I turned it back on, and it went straight into the login welcome screen, which made me think that it went into Hibernate stage. I did not click any buttons, there was no power surge, etc. I tried to login to my computer, nothing. Restarted computer, and then it went through POST and got an error: "Could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \windows\system32\config\system" It also mentions how a windows repair would fix it using the windows XP CD.

Situation: I tried going into Safe Mode, nothing. I tried Last Known Good Configuration, nothing. I restored all defaults to my BIOS, nothing. I have an Asus K8V SE Deluxe motherboard using the Promise FastTrack 378 version 1.00.0.37 and the status is functional, so my array is still good. When Safe Mode starts (or tries to) it lists the files that it is loading, so when it did this, it verified that the HDs are working, but the OS is corrupt. I am using a RAID 0 configuration -- two Raptor 36.7GB 10,000RPM HDs (which I know is dangerous to begin with, but I like the speed). I JUST got back home for thanksgiving break from school, Radford University, 5 hours away. I left all of my CDs with drivers and such back at school.

Here is what im thinking: If I can get a floppy with the Promise FastTrack 378 drivers on it, I can then pop in a Windows XP CD, load them when asked at the F6 prompt, hopefully windows will recognize the hard drives and the pre-installed windows, and will be able to do a repair on it and all will be fine. However, all my CDs and floppies are at school, and the ASUS website only lists the 64 bit edition drivers. Does anyone know where I can go, or have the 32 bit edition drivers that came on the CD? Or, does anyone know a way how to fix this problem using something else? Windows repair will not work without the RAID drivers - this is my best bet to fixing the problem.

Note: My family computer upstairs, any floppy I put into the drive does not work. I get an error: "No ID address mark was found on the floppy disk." I see that one solution is to try formatting the disk(s) using full format, well I tried that and that does not work at all either. If it comes down to it, I might just have to download the drivers and load them on a floppy on a friend's computer. This is a minor inconvenience.

PLEASE HELP!!
 
The first link you gave me, the download on their website links to Promise's website which does not have a download link (doesnt show FastTrack 378 either). I was able to download from the 2nd link you gave me, which I think is the correct version.

Now I just need to find a computer that has a working floppy drive and internet access so I can put it on the floppy and try on my computer. =/ Thanks
 
....I really wish Microsoft would update their technology to not depend on FLOPPY DISKS anymore! Any word on if Vista is going to have this ability?
 
Okay, so here is where I stand so far. I was able to find a computer with a working floppy disk and put on the FastTrack 378 drivers (THANK YOU drizzt81!!), loaded them and then repaired windows using a Windows Pro CD.

Well, the CD I used originally on the computer is at school 5 hours away, so I had to use a different XP CD (different version also). It repaired fine, and it brings me to the welcome login screen, and when I click on my user, it goes through "Loading your personal settings" for a while and then comes up to an error saying that I need to activate windows first before I can login. If I do not, it logs me out. If I say yes, it tries to log in, it shows my previous desktop background but does absolutely nothing. Nothing loads, and no activation window comes up.

I tried going into Safe Mode, nothing. It will not let me sign in there either, and it says that activation is only good in Normal Mode. So now I have a half-working computer that is better than it was before, but still not functional.

How do I go around this? Thanks!
 
Well, I used a pre-boot CD and was able to verify that my data was still there. I went to CompUSA and bought an external HD and backed up all data and did a wipe and reload. Data loss avoided *phew*. Problem solved. Thanks guys for all of your help!
 
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