Unable to boot - Safe Mode stops after crcdisk.sys

We solved this problem on a Windows Vista HP laptop exhibiting the following symptoms:

In normal mode, hanging on the Windows busy bar

In safe mode, hanging after the CRCDISK.SYS line

System drive booted fine in another laptop

Another working hard drive with Windows 7 hung in similar fashion when installed in this laptop

Answer:

The problem was a bad optical drive, which we'd identified earlier in the process but didn't think to pull. Instead we had connected a USB drive and attempted to install a clean OS on a test drive; but after successfully loading the clean OS it exhibited the exact same symptoms.

We replaced the optical drive and the original system drive booted perfectly, no data loss.

Moral:

If you think you've seen it all, wait until tomorrow...and don't be in too big a hurry to blame any one thing.

Are you nuts? WHY on earth would you give someone 20 things to do as a fix? That's not helpful at all. Plus you didn't read the askers post through because he's already tried at least 3 of the ones you put in there. Talk about overwhelming someone.

Then you have the nerve to put "Most Helpful Reply" in giant letters at the top. Really? Because when you answer a question you're supposed to at least be know what you're talking about instead of throwing everything in, including the kitchen sink!

I see it again and again in this forum. Some of you people think the most important thing is getting  help votes never mind that you really don't know the answer just throw in a bunch and you'll get what you want.

Exists there a solution for the "hanging post-crcdisk.sys issue"? My XPS DELL Laptop (Fista Ulitmate (32bit)) is able to boot in normal mode but fails booting in safe mode. But in normal mode the system hangs after a minute or two - scheduled scan for chkdsk does not work: cannot open volume for direct access

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

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MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

The link you provided just gives me a 404 page ^^ (wow, how helpful is that!?)

Having the same or similar issue since yesterday on my Fista Ultimate (32bit). It fails to boot in all safe modes (stopps always after crsdisk.sys) but is able to boot in normal mode! But after a minute or two Windows seems to be unable to accessing the hard-drive!

Scheduled run of chkdsk does not run:

cannot open volume for direct access

Used original Fista-Ultimate-CD and DELL Diagnostics utility which found no error on the hard-disk! It took me hours running such tests but hard-disk has no bad sectors or other erros!?

Why is it possible that Fista is unable to boot in safe mode but boots in normal mode!?

I though that "safe mode" means that only Microsoft drivers etc. are loaded etc. (but just google for "vista unable boot safe mode" and you'll find tons of entries ...)

I haven't changed any hard or software ... The problem just appears on a reboot ...

I'll try using msconfig for disabling all non-MS services/drivers (BTW, silly "bug" in msconfig which does not disable all MS services since sometimes developers in Redmond to not know where they are working: Microsoft or Microsoft Corp or Microsoft Corporation ^^ - already done feedback to MS - or just look at Add/Remove panel and you'll maybe seen that this company has more than one names - funny when like to sort by company name ...)

"Software quality" isn't a term I bring together with Microsoft. Just search via Google (not Bing, since it won't give you useful search results) and you'll see millions of trouble with Windows ....

Sorry for my bad works but I am really angry and very disappointed by Windows Vista Ultimate (that's why I call this "OS" Fista Ultimate .....)

--Harald-René Flasch (aka hfrmobile)

PS: of course "system restore" does not work