>
> ---
> Question
>
> Subject: Windows XP Pro Clean Boot
> Category: Computers > Operating Systems
> Asked by: wmjordansr-ga
> List Price: $35.00  Posted: 05 Oct 2003 19:50 PDT
> Expires: 06 Oct 2003 10:26 PDT
> Question ID: 262996
>
> How do I correct a "STOP:C0000221 {Bad Image Checksum}" error message
> that I get when I attempt a Clean Boot?  Additional info given is:
> "The image oleaut32.dll is possibly corrupt.  The header checksum does
> not match the computer checksum."  (We have had a 5 week period when
> thunderstorms were marching across Tennessee on a daily basis.  We
> sometimes lost power 2 or 3 times a day, and on one day 11 times!).
>
> I get the error message on a blue screen immediately after the entire
> installation process has run; at least, as best as I can determine.  I
> was able to EXPAND a fresh copy of oleaut32.dll from my Windows XP Pro
> Installation Disk, renamed the old oleaut32.dll as oleaut32.old, and
> then copied the freshly obtained copy of the file to the same
> location. I still got the same error message.
>
> MS Knowledge Base Article 326687 mentions it, but it deals primarily
> with the error in connection with upgrades.  I also looked at MS
> Knowledge Base Article c0000221 but I couldn't see how it applied to
> my situation.
>
> I am basically a novice user, althought my professional background is
> that of a Ceritified Public Accountant.  Computers weren't that
> prevalent with the small business clients I worked with at that time.
> (You know, kind of know enough to get myself in serious trouble from
> time to time).  However, I can easily follow clear, concise
> instructions to the letter.
>
> I've tried several sources for help but haven't received a response.
> I am 65, retired, and, because of some health problems, living on a
> low fixed income.  I can't afford to hire a Tech to come to my home to
> fix the problem, and I have a herniated disk in my back, so I can't
> carry it to a repair station.
>
> Because of the 2 extra hard drives, which I use to clone Drive C, I am
> still up and running, but encounter "glitches" from time to time.
> With a Clean Boot, I can clear out all of the erroneous settings and
> data and start from a clean slate.
>
> For your information, I have a custom assembled system, OS Windows XP
> Pro, AMD Athlon 2000+ 1.66 ghz, 3 hard drives of 80gb each, 512mb RAM,
> Mainboard AD77rev.a+, BIOS Phoenix Tech v6.00PG, NVidia GeForce MX/MX
> 400 v45.23
>
> I would appreciate any help anyone would be willing to share.  If I
> have left out any information essential to solving the problem, please
post them to Google Answers
>and I will endeavor to answer
> them.
>
>
> Thank you
>
> William Jordan Sr
>
>

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Request for Question Clarification by denco-ga on 07 Oct 2003 14:22 PDT

Howdy William,

Have you tried either an in-place upgrade, or reinstallation,
of Windows XP (this is also called a repair installation) or 
the use of the Automated System Recovery (ARS) process?

Thanks!  denco-ga

---

Request for Question Clarification by feilong-ga on 08 Oct 2003 07:19 PDT

Hello William,

There are times when a defective hardware or incorrect hardware
setting will produce weird results.

Based on your given specs, I'd like to ask if you have correctly
followed your motherboard's manual for the CPU setting.

Is your AMD Athlon 2000+ really a 1.66Ghz CPU or should it register as
2Ghz? Personally I think your Athlon 2000 should be running at 2Ghz
and your motherboard's (mobo) frequency should be set at 266Mhz-- that
is if I'm not mistaken. Check all relevant documentation.

Read your mobo's manual carefully for the correct setting of your CPU.
Both the Host Bus and the CPU Core frequencies should be set
correctly. Make sure that when testing, the heatsink and fan should be
securely attached to the CPU so BE VERY CAREFUL when doing this.

Also, check the heatsink and fan if these are the correct
specifications for the CPU. Excess heat in the CPU can also produce
weird performance. I had a client once who regularly experienced
BSOD'sand Windows protection error messages. It took me quite some
time to finally trace the problem to the heatsink and fan. Once we
changed the heatsink and fan with a bigger one, the problem was gone.

If everything is okay, check your RAM if the contacts are clean and
that it is securely attached to the slot.

Finally, since your area is prone to thunderstorms, better get a surge
protector and AVR or UPS to protect your system against electric
spikes.

If this helps, please let me know and I'll post an answer. Thank you.

Regards,
Feilong

---

Clarification of Question by wmjordansr-ga on 08 Oct 2003 13:20 PDT

Sorry to be so slow in providing the info requested.  I have been in
Doctor's offices for the past 2 days.  That just wears me out.

To:  denco-ga

Yes, I have tried a repair installation. XP Pro calls it and upgrade,
but that  is essentially what it is.  This didn't work either.  I got
the same identical "CheckSum" error as before.

You mentioned something called "Automated System Recovery".  I have
not yet run across that term or procedure, so I don't know what it is.

Thanks - William Jordan Sr.

---

Clarification of Question by wmjordansr-ga on 08 Oct 2003 13:29 PDT

To: feilong-ga

I will investigate your suggestions as soon as I can.  It might take
me a while because I have never done any of those things.  However, I
do keep my motherboard up-to-date by visiting the web site
periodically.  My motherboard is VIA Hyperion 4IN1 v449vp2.  I spend a
lot of time keeping drivers and applications current.

Thank you for your suggestions - wmjordansr-ga

---

Clarification of Question by wmjordansr-ga on 11 Oct 2003 09:15 PDT

To:  Feilong-ga

You are correct.  My motherboard is set at 2.66ghz.  I've forgotten
where I found the information, but it has to do with settings that
double 1.33ghz, the result being running at 2.67ghz (2 channel
something?).

By the way, my computer was assembled by a very knowledgible Tech.  He
works for himself now, but last worked the help lines for Dell
Computers.  As best as I can tell, there is nothing about any kind of
computer setup that he doesn't know.  He works on systems that are 10
times more complex than my simple Home Compter setup.  Graduated
college (not Junior College or Tech Schools, full University status
institution), majoring in Computer Science.

I don't think heat would be a problem, as he specifically emphasized
the need to keep thing cool.  He installed 2 extra fans in my system
to be sure.

Yes, I do have a surge protector.  It cost about $25-$30 at Sam's
Wholesale.  Maybe I should consider buying a more substantial surge
protector.  We only have thunderstorms like that in the spring, and
this year was unusual.

It's time for me to clean the dust from the inside of my computer
(canned air).
I will do some studying about heatsink and fans and will check to be
sure that they are securely connected and that the fans are working. 
Same thing for RAM.

Thanks for your suggestions.  So far, I still have the problem I
described.

I may be out of circulation for 3 to 4 weeks.  I am having cataracts
removed from both eyes later this month, still going to physical
therapy to improve muscle tone and maybe relieve pain from bone spurs
on spine, and I also am having an ecdoscopy (look in my esophagus to
determine whether I have some kind of blockage causing trouble
swallowing).  All of this in October and early November.

I will post a note when I am able to get back to chasing the solution
to my boot problem.  If my 30 days runs out, I will probably repost
the question for one more 30 session.

Thanks -  wmjordarsr-ga

Howdy William,

You might want to check out the following Microsoft Knowledge Base
article, Automated System Recovery Overview in Windows XP, but it
might not be applicable in your case.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;818903

Good luck!  denco-ga

To Feilong;

AMD's CPU Model number since they released their AthlonXP line no
longer directly correspond to the CPU's actual speed.  His Athlon XP
2000+ CPU is correctly configured to run@ 1.667 Ghz with a Front-Side
Bus of 266 Mhz (Check out this Athlon rating table at
http://www.geek.com/procspec/amd/palomino.htm).  Though he should
still be concerned about his CPU core voltage settings.

William, in order to assure that your settings are correct, I would
perform a CMOS Reset on your Motherboard.  Your manual should describe
how to do this, though it usually just consists of you moving a jumper
for 15 seconds and then moving it back.  When you power back up your
MoBo should automatically configure itself to run your CPU.  You may
need to make adjustments to other settings, but I would leave any CPU
settings alone.

The error you are receiving, however, seems much more indicative of an
actual file or disk problem.  I would put the blame on bad
sectors/clusters on your Hard Drive.  In either case, if you are able
to boot up windows from another hard drive, I would run CHKDSK /F on
the hard drive you are trying to install Windows on.  If you are
unable to boot up to windows, I would use the FDISK utility on a DOS
Boot disk to repartition the drive, then Reboot, then run FDISK
/FIXMBR, then reboot, then try installing Windows again, choosing the
option to have Windows format your hard drive as NTFS (not a quick
format).

If none of the above has helped, I would say the CD you are installing
from has a corrupt version of that file on it.  Try using a different
CD.  Hope your recovery goes smoothly.

Don Spaulding
MCP (Windows 2000 Pro and Server)

To: Don Spaulding

Thanks for clarifying the confusion over the speed of the AMD Athlon
2000+.  I found the list where I got the information, and sure anough,
a little further down the page there is a listing for "Host Interface,
Front Side Bus Speed:
2 x 133mhz (266 mhz data rate).  Your description sounds so much
better than mine!

From the beginning, I've had the feeling that my problem was somehow
coming from corrupted data.  The problem is, I don't know of any way
to deal with that, other than just do a clean "boot".  If I can find
good detailed information about a certain problem, I can usually deal
with it, as I read and understand directions well.  (Anybody who can
read and understand the Internal Revenue Code is either a very
meticulus, methodical, detail by detail reader or maybe just plain
crazy!) I am a retired CPA, so I have the background for that.  I
tried again last night to reinstall, and after the entire installation
process had run, I got the same "checksum" error.

I am able to run the CHKDSK utility without problem.  I have run it
numerous times on all of my drives, but no errors were reported.

When I attempt a new installation, it, of course, wipes out all of the
data on that disk.  I use Western Digital's "Data Lifeguard Tools"
floppy to re-partition the disk and copy from one of my clone disks
(both of them have the system on them).  It takes about 2 1/2 hours,
but I am back to where I was before the failed re-installation
attempt.

I have several Maintenance application programs which I run regularly.
 They remove junk files, repair broken short cuts, clean the system
registry (3 as each seems to deal with a different aspect of the
registry), remove invalid uninstaller information, Diskeeper
Defragmenter, and Norton System Works (one button checkup).  They all
work very well, and I have never had any kind of problem resulting
from using any of them.

I have also wondered whether I had somehow damaged my installation CD,
but I don't know of a way to replace it without purchasing a new one,
and I don't know of a way to check the CD to determine if it may have
errors.  I am hoping to avoid buying a new CD because of the cost, but
I may have "to bite the bullet" and get a new one.

There is one other problem I encountered during the same time period. 
My cable modem (Toshiba PCX2200) was damaged  by the lightning from
the thunderstorms or just failed.  I have replaced it with a new
Toshiba PCX2500.

I will do as you suggested.  I will study my Motherboard Manual and
find out how to do a CMOS Reset.  Also, there are several Web sites I
can go to for help.

Thanks very much for your comments.  Although, I don't yet know if
they will solve my particular problem, they are very informative, and
I have learned some things just by reading them.


Thank you very much - wmjordansr-ga