T61: "Error loading operating system" after reboot with Windows XP SR3

So here is my problem: Occasionally, after reboot I get "Error loading operating system" right after the Lenovo screen (the one where you can press ThinkVantage button). After that the only thing I can do is shut down the computer and fix the windows boot (see bellow… .

I'm running Windows XP SR3, clean install based on Arkit3kt's XP Clean Install Guide ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=188992), using a CD made from the I386 folder that came installed on my computer ( http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml) . I can't find any pattern for when it happens. Sometimes it reboots fine and sometimes not.

I've had my T61 for 6 months now and I've had this problem about 8 times so far. Obviously this makes my T61 unstable and is becoming a major problem (I like to shut down the computer before taking it anywhere, and I don't really use Hibernate).

Solving the boot is very easy and takes 3 minutes… But the Win XP CD is needed for the fix and I don't want to carry it around with me everywhere. And anyway this is annoying and makes my T61 crippled…

To fix the problem:
1 Change AHCI -> Compatibility in BIOS.
2 Boot using the Windows XP CD (the one I made for the clean install).
3 Enter the Recovery Console (press R).
4 Use "fixboot" to write a new boot sector.
5 Restart ("exit").
6 Change back to AHCI in Bios.

After that the computer works perfect until the next time… Things I have tried so far:
1 Installed latest Bios for T61.
2 Checked firmware for HD (WD Scorpio WD1600BEVS) and it's the latest.
3 Installed all windows updates for Windows XP.
4 Installed all latest drivers for T61 (specifically checked the Intel Matrix Storage Driver and it's the latest).
5 Checked computer for Viruses, malware, etc. with a few scanners. It's clean.
6 Updated some of the programs that I thought might be causing problems: Avira , PerfectDisk 2008, TrueImage Home…
7 Checked HD with WD Diagnostics tools - no problems.

I am out of ideas Something is corrupting the boot sector occasionally when I shut down the system. But I can't find why or under what circumstances it happens… The only thing I didn't try was a completely new clean system install, a thing which I REALLY don't want to do. Except for this problem the system is great, very stable and I'm very happy with it.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

Could be a virus that writes/destroys the boot sector. Tried system virus scan?

 

I doubt it... I checked with Avira Antivir and with AVG (both latest and updated). I also checked with Trend Micro HouseCall online. I always have an Antivirus installed - Avira for the past month AVG before that, always updated and I do regular scans. I am also very careful with what I download and what I install. I really don't think it's a virus...

 

After further investigation, I know that the problem happens sometime during using windows and not upon restarting... When it does happen I can no longer use chkdsk - it gives the following error message:

"The type of the filesystem is RAW.
CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives."

Which means it's a problem with the MBR/Boot Sector. As I said, to fix this is simple... I also tried using both FIXMBR and FIXBOOT commands in the recovery console. But still I get the same error once in a while.

I have used 2 more antiviruses through a network, I'm certain it's not a Virus. Does anybody have any ideas what could be causing this?

 

install all updates that are in the SWTOOLS folder. I made my CD with that link and initially had some problems too ..

I did post a link about "how to make a bootable XP CD for clean install" somewhere on here, search it up, I think I posted which update was needed.

edit: I did mine with SP2 with all drivers working, and then uploaded SP3 though

 

Sounds like your HDD is starting to fail. Have you checked it using PC Doctor. Some sectors might be starting to get damaged and so those boot problems.

 

I don't think it's a HD problem. The computer is only 6 months old. I checked the HD with PC Doctor, twice with WD's Data Lifeguard Diagnostic Tool (the HD is the WD Scorpio WD1600BEVS) and numerous times with chkdsk. There are no errors and no reason to think it's a faulty HD (no noises or other signs).

I already installed all the updates that came in the SWTOOLS folder about 6 months ago... I did a clean install right after receiving the HD. I am 100% sure I did not miss any of them.

At the moment I've reinstalled the Intel Matrix Storage Drivers (before I just checked that they are the latest). I've also disabled Active Protection System (I am shooting in the dark...). I have manually checked the boot.ini file, no problems there. I have also found while googling that the problem might have to do with a registry entry concerning HDs bigger then 137gb. I double checked that entry and it's correct. So at the moment I'm waiting to see if all these changes correct the problem... I'll keep you posted. Any other ideas will be much appreciated.

cheers.