BSOD on boot-up

[Athas]

My brother's computer hits BSOD when trying to boot into normal mode but doesn't have trouble going into safe mode. Was just going to do a repair install, but anything else I could do first?

Spoilered for huge:

Spoiler: show

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/2523/dsc01216q.jpg

0x0000007e (0xc0000005, 0x00000296, 0xf78a2498, 0xf78a2194)

[njitjk68]

It would help if you listed OS and can remember any changes (if any) made to the PC, such as new devices, drivers, updates, etc. from just before the problem started occurring.

You can find a list of causes for the error at the following link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330182

Of course those aren't all the causes. It can also happen from bad RAM or even Service Packs not getting along with certain devices.

[Mafai]

Windows XP Stop Errors

0x0000007E SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED

A driver is incompatible or it is damaged.

How to troubleshoot hardware and software driver problems in Windows XP

[Athas]

OS is XP, professional I believe. Shouldn't have been any changes since the last time I had to fix it some months ago. >.>

[Athas]

So I went though all the step and it suggested I ask someone I know for help. >.>

[Bikpik]

Try a system restore (if it's turned on).

Boot into safe mode,

Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore

Go back to a date that it was working properly.

[Athas]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that. Tried earier, didn't work.

[Kriz]

Treat it like a virus, http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/78291...s-malware.html

If that doesn't work (it may not), you can use an XP CD to do a system repair, its not the first option for repair (that'd be recovery console), but the second one. Basically it'd reinstall the OS components over the current OS.

If that doesn't work, it may be a bad sector on the hard drive that causes the machine to die as it's looking for a critical driver (that it skips on Safe Mode). I suggest SpinRite, running at level 2 or 4, to run overnight and hopefully fix any HD errors.