Help! NT authority\system error and system just reboots repeatedly

Question

I have an XPS600 w/ WinXP and a Raid1 configuration.  Last night I downloaded/installed some updates from the Dell Drivers and Downloads page.  This included Dell Support 3.2, Nvidia Nforce networking controller (R104929.exe), nVidia 256mb GeForce 6800 drivers (R117537.exe), and Dell Desktop system software(DDS) (R121089.exe).   My system then went into a tailspin.  It goes into a restart loop.  After it reboots, if I leave it idle on the WinXP user login page, after several minutes an error message pops up that says 'The system is shutting down.  .....  Shutdown was initiated by NT AUTHORITY\system'.  Windows must now restart because the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service terminated unexpectedly'.  A 60 second countdown timer activates and the system reboots to do it all over again.   If I select a logon after the reboot, no applications will run, although I can see icons on the desktop and access some menus (with no functionality).  I get two Symantec error messages about reloading my anti-virus software, then a Generic Host/Win32 error message and an nVidia Raid Service error message window.  (I copied down the additional details info for both)  Within a few minutes, the above 'NT AUTHORITY\system' error pops up and again the 60 second countdown begins.   I have tried a system restore to no avail.  I can't run it from Windows, and when I ran it from a safe mode command prompt, it didn't fix the problem.   Can anyone tell me how to fix this?  Is there a way that I can access the files I downloaded from Safe Mode and remove them?   Thanks a bunch for any help you experienced users out there can provide.

gator6x4 · Answer

The W32.Blaster. Worm usually leaves this error message. Go to the link below and download and run Fixblast.Exe. The times that I have used Fixblast I have downloaded it to a floppy and then ran it from their. Xp-SP2 was supposed to eliminate this problem. If your system does not have a floopy good instructions are provided on how to download and run for the desktop.     http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2003-081119-5051-99

BELL BOY · Answer

If your PC is clean & problem started just after installing driver updates

Work off-line & disable AV software

Can you get into Device Manager & rollback drivers in Safe Mode?

If that doesn’t work try using Resource CD (Drivers & Utilities) in Normal boot, if not try in Safe Mode

Follow the instructions from your XPS 600 User manual

Or click here, if required change Windows OS to XP & click Go

Ignore the “After Reinstalling Windows” title

Then scroll down to the section “To install drivers from the Drivers and Utilities CD”

But if it still doesn’t work then you probably will have to do a Windows clean reinstall :smileysad:

mnvron · Answer

When I log in to Windows 'normally', I get two Symantec errors in addition to the others.  They talk about failures and having to reinstall Norton AV.  I can't get NAV to run so I can't disable it.  I tried a driver rollback from safe mode and still no joy.  I really don't want to do a reinstall of XP, but I'm starting to think I'm headed that way.  Is there a way to copy my files (i.e. the 1000's of photos we've taken over the years of family, vacations, etc and never backed up [yeah...we feel stupid now!]) to an external firewire hdd or to CD while in Safe Mode?  I tried to copy some tonight during the 2-3 minutes I have between boot up and automatic restart but most programs are unresponsive.

mnvron · Answer

Thanks Gator.  I'll try that tomorrow, though I have kept my Symantec files up to date and think the system was clean.  I've tried just about everything else I can come up with however.  My last ideas are to try and remove a program called nVidia Firewall that must have been included in one of the updates I loaded the night this crashed (I don't remember selecting it on purpose!).  Trouble is i can't find an uninstall.exe, and it doesn't show up in the add/remove programs menu. The other plan is to try and move all my important files to an external firewire hdd, but I don't know if I can do that in safe mode.   More fun for tomorrow....

BELL BOY · Answer

Did you try using the Resource CD (not the WXP OS CD)?   Are you saying the Nvidia ForceWare Firewall is turned ON??

mnvron · Answer

The nVidia firewall appears to be configured at a 'medium' setting, but I am unable to modify any settings.  The buttons on the console are active, but nothing happens when I select them.   I have tried the resource CD, but short of reinstalling XP, I'm not sure what I can do with it.  I attempted to rollback the drivers but that has not corrected the problem.  If I boot up normally, since the programs are all mostly locked up, I am unable to copy the important files over to a firewire external HDD, even though I can see the individual files.

mnvron · Answer

Thank you to all who offered suggestions and expertise.  In the end, I exhausted all I was comfortable messing with then took it into a local technician.  After some detailed examination, they were able to determine that the nVidia Networking Controller download that was recommended for my computer's service tag on the Dell site caused a massive conflict with other applications, corrupting a number of items.  They were unable to find a way to uninstall it or otherwise remove it, short of attempting to disable the onboard networking chip and program, then install an accessor ethernet card and new drivers.  Rather than purchase more hardware, I'm just going to reformat and reinstall WinXP.   Thanks again.

Windows General

Help! NT authority\system error and system just reboots repeatedly

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