Delayed Write Failed - and now it can't start Windows

Question

Help!
I'm in big trouble! I was using my Tecra 9100 (running XP Service Pack 2) and was looking at some of the files I had stored on my memory stick. I selected 'safely remove hardware' and pulled my memory stick out when I was finished. All of a sudden my laptop starts to run slowly and an error message popped up saying 'Delayed Write Failed'.
This is a first for me, and I don't know why this popped up. I read what it had to say below the error - 'Windows was unable to save all the data for the file \Kaspersky (can't remember the exact name but it was to do with Kaspersky). The data has been lost. This error may be caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection. Please try to save this file elsewhere.'
My laptop became so slow it was unresponsive (although I could move the cursor around) and remained so for 10mins. I tryed Ctrl-Alt-Del, nothing happened. As I could't shutdown Windows, I was forced to hold the power off button for a few seconds to immediately switch it off. Upon switching my laptop back on, I noticed my bootscreen took about 15sec more than before and the blue screen showed up saying 'Windows needs to check your disk for constincency.'
An hour or so later I logged back into my computer and noticed my cursor was rather jumpy and not as smoothe as before. It just wasn't right and about an hour or so later the same error popped up again and my laptop froze. After another power off, the blue screen showed up again saying 'Windows needs to check your disk for constincency' and this time I waited around 4 hours!
When it was finally done, my laptop restarted automatically and the blue screen showed up again! This time cancelled the disk check and when straigh to the log in screen. I logged in and noticed the laptop wasn't up to speed as it was usually with the mouse being jumpy still. I decided to restart the laptop only to see the blue screen again.
I let it go this time and just waited for it to scan. after about 20mins nothing appeared to be happening in the scan so I powered off. Now my computer is seriuosly messed up. When I switched it back on the screen which says Last know good configuration and start windows normally showed up.
Now no matter what I select my laptop just restarts and says cannot proceed due to corrupt or damaged file in \Windows\System. You can attempt to repair this problem by inserting the Windows set-up disk.' Whats the Windows set-up disk?
My laptop is second hand and came with no recovery disks ect. and has XP Pro already installed so i dont have disk. what on earth shall i do?
help will be very appreiciated. thanx.

Answer 1

Sounds like a mean software crash to me. I understand you need to rescue your data before you delete all your files and proceed with a recovery.
What I would do in your situation (did it actually some days ago on a friend's notebook), is:
1) remove the hard drive from my laptop (it's not that hard to do it yourself)
2) purchase an empty external housing for a 2.5" drive to USB (about 10 US$)
3) Install the removed drive into that new housing
4) Backup all my important data at my Office/Friends Computer through the new adapter (you have access to all data areas of the hard disk through USB). Keep the HDD even leveled during this procedure as it might be a damaged drive due to wear and tear of the motor bearing... In such incidents you can hear a changing noise while altering the level of the drive during operation. Maybe you have to keep it in a vertical position to minimize the noises during the final rescue process of your data.
Finally once everything is restored, I would:
5) reinstall the Drive back into the notebook (in order to test its functionality) and do a proper recovery-CD installation.
6) Purchase a new spare drive and have it ready, just in case the old drive reveals as broken.
This is the easiest and most safe way to rescue your data.
You might ask yourself: What caused this to my notebook:
Here are some possible reasons:
- a Virus/malware/incompatible program (30 % chance)
- a broken hard disk (does it sound strange (noisy) lately?) (45 % chance)
- a HDD controller/motherboard problem (10 % chance)
- bad moment like an instant power loss or another undefined reason (15 % chance)
Good luck,
electroch@in
BTW, my friend was very happy to have his broken 60GB Toshiba drive replaced with a new more silent 120GB Samsung drive.