I can't get a Windows NT workstation to boot. It goes to a blue screen and performs a physical memory dump, and the screen freezes. I tried a downloaded set of recovery disks and get further, but the same message then comes up. Any ideas?

Has this system run been running OK, then this occurred?

Have you added any new software/hardware that could be related to this problem?

Will it start up in Safe Mode?

Restart the computer, then at the first screen, repeatedly press the F8 key until you see the Windows Start Menu. Select Safe Mode (use the arrow keys to navigate) and press Enter.

If it will start up in Safe Mode and if you have recently added a new software or hardware component:

1. Uninstall or remove it.

A. Hardware: In the System Properties/Device Manager window select the hardware item and then click Properties. See if the device is working properly. On the main System Properties --> Device Manager screen, select the item and choose "Remove".

B. Software: Control Panel --> Add-Remove Programs uninstall the new software product.

2. Once completed, try a normal start up.

If it will then start correctly, try researching the item and see if there are any alternative installation suggestions or software patches available. Verify the System Requirements are met for the new item.

If you haven't added anything, and it will start in Windows Safe Mode, try using the Diagnostic Startup option. If you have MSCONFIG added, you can access it with:

1. Start
2. Run
3. Type: msconfig
4. OK
5. Diable all startup items and restart. Restore one startup item and restart. Keep repeating this adding back one item at a time unitl the system fails to restart. Start in Safe Mode again and remove that item from Startup and restore the rest. The disabled item must be the startup problem cause.

Have you a Windows NT Emergency Repair Disk? Try using that.

See if this page offers any useful information: Win NT Workstation Troubleshooting Startup and Disk Problems

I hope something here will help!

Dwight

If none of the previous suggestions make any difference, I would suggest checking the hardware. For this perhaps a repair shop may be your best method. They can test the RAM cards and the mother board and power supply etc.

If all the hardware checks out, and if you have your data backed up, they can try reformatting the hard drive and then reinstalling the Operating System.

If you don't have good backups, you can ask them to copy the hard disk data before wiping it so that you don't lose your data files.

Dwight