My 4 y/o Dell PC seems like it has finally bitten the dust. Everytime it boots up and gets to the windows xp login screen, the screen is just black and lets me move the mouse around. This error is displayed also:

lsass.exe - Application Error
The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000006). Click on OK to terminate the application

Upon clickage, computer screen remains black allowing the cursor to be moved, but that is all. I've been getting other errors but was waiting until I got my FAP pay from the Marines to do anything about it. A lot of important files that I don't want to lose are on my harddrive. Can anyone help me as far as getting them into an external harddrive or just getting my pc working again?

12/5/2008 3:27:34 PM

Your files are probably fine, but it would be a good idea to get them off asap. Can you boot into safe mode? If so, you should be able to copy them off onto a flash drive or something. You could also pull the hard drive out and put it into an enclosure (or another computer) to make your backup. As for fixing the lsass.exe, I don't really know what to tell you other than it's an important windows file (unless you picked up a virus). lsass is for the "Local Security Authentication Server" which validates logins.

12/5/2008 3:37:27 PM

try repairing with windows install cd?

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 3:58 PM. Reason : maybe sasser virus?]

12/5/2008 3:52:31 PM

Quote :

"A lot of important files that I don't want to lose are on my harddrive. "

12/5/2008 3:54:08 PM

"important files"

"FAP" pay

hohoho

12/5/2008 4:00:40 PM

FAP = Financial Assistance Program

I dunno how to boot it into safe mode, or even if I can...

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 4:06 PM. Reason : gahhh]

12/5/2008 4:05:20 PM

http://letmegooglethatforyou.com/?q=windows+safe+mode

12/5/2008 6:20:38 PM

12/6/2008 3:41:53 AM

I've come across how to fix the error, however, it requires me to reinstall Windows XP. Is there any way that I can get my files off of my computer before I do this? Like running my PC in DOS and looking at the file tree?

12/9/2008 4:03:53 PM

I don't know if i'd call this "epic"

12/9/2008 4:51:17 PM

Can't you just boot from the windows cd and install xp again without deleting your files? I'm pretty sure I've done that with my laptop before, but it's been a while.

What V said

[Edited on December 9, 2008 at 5:12 PM. Reason : HAHA I just remembered you telling me about that]

12/9/2008 5:07:45 PM

Quote :

"You could also pull the hard drive out and put it into an enclosure (or another computer) to make your backup."

Or download Knoppix and boot it up. Then use a USB drive or burn a CD/DVD of your files.

[Edited on December 9, 2008 at 5:09 PM. Reason : ^That sometimes works, but it makes a mess of windows.]

12/9/2008 5:08:48 PM

How would I download Knoppix if I can't get on my computer?

12/11/2008 2:01:44 PM

Magic.

12/11/2008 2:15:50 PM

^^ Use a friend's computer to download it. All you need to do is get it and burn a copy, then delete, so I doubt they'd care.

12/11/2008 3:06:20 PM

installing windows isn't going to erase everything unless you tell it to format that partition. i've said this at least 3 times today in other threads.

it will move everything on your desktop and in my documents to another folder but they won't be deleted.

i didn't see a response about whether you can get in under safe mode but if you can you can just burn the most important shit to CD or something..assuming you have a burner. or any of the other 10 suggestions in this thread.

[Edited on December 11, 2008 at 3:29 PM. Reason : what version of windows btw?]

12/11/2008 3:14:52 PM

It's XP Student or Home edition or some weird ass version of that. I don't read any of the posts in this thread, I mainly stay in chit chat, so I didn't know about what you had posted. I do appreciate all of the suggestions here, though, and am sorry for not being a computer guru. Why do you guys think I went here first? Lawl

12/12/2008 12:19:08 AM

see if you can create a new partition and then install windows on that

12/12/2008 12:25:18 AM