pci.sys error

Question

Please help this computer illiterate!  I have a Dell Dimension computer. Got the blue screen yesterday and  called Dell technical support. They had me boot with the XP reinstallation disk and run 'chkdsk /r'  after running it twice I am getting a message that a pci.sys file is corrupt (sorry don’t remember the exact wording). The Dell Tech at this point told me that I have a software problem and he cant help me any further. Of course software problems aren’t covered by warranty. Can anyone direct me in simple terms as to what I can do to fix this? I would appreciate any help that I can get.

jmwills · Answer

SP1 or Service Pack 2?

cappsd · Answer

I am not sure, how would I tell?

jmwills · Answer

Right Click My Computer and go to properties.  The service pack level will be indicated on that dialog box.

cappsd · Answer

nothing on it that would be a disaster to lose although I would love to be able to get  through this without losing anything.

jmwills · Answer

So  you do not even know whcih level of Windows you are running?  Is there any critical data on the machine worth saving?

cappsd · Answer

I cant get windows to open at all (normal or safemode), anything I do will have to be done without windows

maxd · Answer

This page might be relevant. Check to see if you have any peripherals that are not included in the acceptable MS list (see their link). I doubt if you added any PCI cards or memory to your system since you purchased it, right ?

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=330181

Does this look like the message you're getting ?

See if you can access the Recovery Console; perhaps you can replace the pci.sys file from your XP cd and see if that helps.

btw, have you had a virus lately ?

cappsd · Answer

I have not added any hardware to the system. I was running virus software (Bellsouth provided package) and never picked up a virus alert.  I tried to replace the pci.sys file from my XP cd using:   expand d:\i386\pci.sy_ c:\windows\system32\drivers /y   I got the message:   pci.sys         1 file(s) expanded     tried a reboot and it brought up the 'windows could not be started' message, got down to 27 seconds on the countdown to restart and froze.   At this point I tried and In-place Upgrade from the CD, pressed enter to install, accepted the license agreement, it detected my installation and I pressed R to restore.  At some point in this restore I started getting messages 'setup cannot copy the file....' for numerous files.  When I cancelled all of those out and it completed I tried to reboot again. Now it acts as if Windows is going to open, get to the 'please wait' screen and it freezes.   At some point in this mess I have run an IDE Drive Diagnostics from the Boot Device Menu and received the following message:   Primary SATA       Drive 0: Maxtor 6Y160M0 - Fail. Return Code: 7   Someone from another board informed me that this means the hard drive has failed and needs to be replaced but the Dell Technician that I spoke with knew that I got this code and was adament that I had a software problem and not a hardware problem.   Someone previously on this board asked about what service pack I was running and I didnt know. I noticed last night that the XP reinstallation CD says SP1A. As far as I know I was current on windows updates, had it set to automatically check and download so I dont know if service packs are automatically upgraded or not. Really dont know that much about what I am doing, just struggling through it.  Really getting kind of frustrated, hardware is under warranty thru Sept. so if it is indeed a hardware problem I need to get it taken care of.  Thanks for all the help I am recieving here, it is appreciated!

maxd · Answer

It appears that your hard drive has failed. Since we know now that pci.sys is not corrupt or missing since you manually installed it AND the fact that your system will not run a Repair Install I would presume that it is your hard drive. Dell's own diagnostics has confirmed that.

I would attempt to run chkdsk /r; run it twice if you are able. If no go call Dell and ask for the procedure to request a new drive. Check out this page and ejn63's comments.

http://forum.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_harddrive&message.id=92683

btw, we're you always getting a countdown on bootup ?

cappsd · Answer

Was not always getting a countdown on windows, that is new to the problem. thanks for all of your help, will now have to get firm with Dell I guess and try to get my warranty parts.

cappsd · Answer

thank you, will try those tonight

maxd · Answer

Getting the countdown is probably incidental to your troubleshooting attempts. *Sounds like* in attempting to do a Repair Install you added another installation of XP or something like that. I say that cause, to my knowledge, you any get a countdown when you have another OS installed or the Recovery Console is installed.

You could see how many Windows installations you have by entering this command from the Recovery Console:

bootcfg /scan

You can then set the default installation to be booted to (if there actually is 2 or more showing) by this command:

bootcfg /default

Two other commands you could try before you request the new hard drive (or perhaps you should place the order first and then fiddle) are:

fixboot and fixmbr

hells3000 · Answer

I am also having this problem the thing with me is when i install the software i am doing a brand new installation and the old has been taken off I hear i needed to reformat my driver but how?

Windows General

pci.sys error

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