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Before Windows XP loads (after having reinstalled Windows XP), boot fails with a warning prompt: Buxmpfile.bmp or something of its variation is missing.

I’m going to explain a bit about the .bmp file format and offer a few suggestions here for you. Basically, you seem to be receiving a startup error message stating that you are missing a necessary file. You’ll need to try and repair/retrieve it in order to continue. Read on and see if this makes sense for you.

What is the BMP file format?

The BMP file format is also referred to as a bitmap file. It is a file format that holds an image usually referred to as a bitmap digital image. Most often, .bmp files are used with Windows operating systems and programs. With an installation of Windows XP, certain .bmp files are needed in order to incorporate certain images used in the operating system such as the Windows logo, systems tray icons, etc. Without the particular .bmp files that you need, Windows XP will fail to boot up with an error message.

Troubleshooting missing buxmpfile.bmp file: Boot up in Safe Mode

See if you can get into Safe Mode and from there, you are going to see if you can run the chkdsk utility using the directions listed below. Start with the computer turned off. To get into “Safe Mode,” turn the power on and immediately start to press the “F8″ key. If you are using your laptop and the “F8″ key doesn’t work, try using the “F2″ or “F12″ key. Make sure that you use “Safe Mode” as your choice. Hopefully this will allow you to boot up and you can use the directions listed below for the next troubleshooting option.

Troubleshooting missing buxmpfile.bmp file: run chkdsk

The first step here is to see if you can retrieve the missing .bmp file using the chkdsk utility tool. If the file is recoverable, this strategy should put it back where it belongs, allowing you to continue on. Follow these directions:

1)      Navigate to the “Start” tab in the lower left-hand corner.

2)      Click on “Run.”

3)      Type in “cmd.”

4)      Press “enter.”

5)      Type in the following without the quotes “chkdsk volume:/r” to try and retrieve the missing file/files.

Run the System File Checker

After you finish with the chkdsk utility, run the System File Checker or sfc /scannow tool using these directions:

1) Insert your original Windows Installation disk.

2) Click on “Start.”

3) Click on “Run.”

4) Type “cmd” in the box.

5) Click “OK.”

6) Type “sfc /scannow” in the box.

7) Select the “Enter” key.

These steps should replace the missing file for you and get your computer working in proper order.

I try to install Windows Update but I get Error 80070436. What is Error 80070436? How can I correct this error?

Windows Updates Driver Errors

This error is most often, if not always associated with Windows driver updates. When you are choosing the Updates that you want to install, you can most likely avoid this error message by taking note of the device drivers that Windows is suggesting updates for, and then getting them manually directly from the manufacturers’ websites. Windows Updates is fantastic for getting touch-of-the-mouse updates for Microsoft software and devices, but not always the best approach for third party products.

Double Drivers = Windows Updates Errors

If you are trying to install updates for devices like controllers, sound cards etc., then the error will most often tell you that a file of the same name already exists. In this case, you already have the update that Windows wants to install, and the Updates program isn’t sure what to do about it.

Manually Update your Drivers

A manual driver update is pretty easy to do, and gives you increased control over your system. You can leave Windows Updates active and use its notices as times to check for new drivers, but keep in mind that the Updates program is sending updates to millions of people, and doesn’t always know how new or up-to-date your device is.

If you get a Windows Update for an ATI serial controller, for example, you can first use Device Manager to check the details of the device. Click the Start button, then Control Panel. Choose System, then Hardware, and then Device Manager. Scroll through until you find the listing that the Windows Update was referring to. You can see the driver status here too. Click on + signs to extend the sections. Then you can visit the manufacturer’s website and find the drivers and downloads page. Here find the right driver for your operating system and download it to your desktop. Then you can double click to open and run the program and install the driver on your system. It’s a few more steps then Windows Updates, but it gives you more control and prevents error messages like these for third party devices. I hope that this works out for you, good luck!

I keep getting a wuauclt.exe pop-up error box and no matter what I do (click on the send error report, don’t send, or debug buttons), it keeps popping back up. I don’t know what wuauclt.exe is or how to get rid of these pop-ups. I have Windows XP Home Edition. Please help.

What is the Wuauclt.exe?

Wuauclt.exe is a Windows program file that is used for automatic updates. Its official name is Windows Update Automatic Update Client. As with any computer program, this program occasionally becomes corrupt, can’t function properly, or generates error messages.

Solutions vary depending on the error message. For example, if you are receiving a wuauclt.exe error message that says, “Generic Host Process for Win32 Services has encountered a problem and needs to close” you would need to stop several services on your computer before going in and renaming a bunch of related DLL, EXE, and CPL files as described in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article. Other users have reported errors with wuauclt.exe and McAfee software’s buffer overflow protection which requires turning off buffer overflow protection while in Safe Mode.

Since I don’t know the exact error that wuauclt.exe is generating, let’s go through some basic steps that could resolve the problem for you. If none work, let us know the exact error message.

What does Clicking on Send Error Report Do?

First, your popup box is giving you several options: Send Error Report, Don’t Send, and Debug. This is a nifty utility known as Dr. Watson. Try the Send Error Report option one more time and confirm your choice if prompted to allow the information to be collected and sent to Microsoft. Once sent, this information is compared to a large database. If a solution exists, a new window will appear telling you what to do to fix the problem. If not, we’re on our own. Since you’ve already done this, it’s likely that no solution exists, but let’s try one last time just in case a solution has been posted between then and now.

Update Windows

Since the automatic update tool is generating errors, it’s likely that your operating system hasn’t been updated in some time. Go ahead and update Windows manually. Doing so will secure your computer with the latest security patches as well as apply any new hotfixes developed by Microsoft. Who knows? This may even solve this pesky wuauclt.exe error.

Update Windows Update Agent

Microsoft’s update Web site (http://update.microsoft.com/) should automatically install the most current Windows Update Agent on your computer.

After the update and after applying all Windows updates, do you still receive the error? If so, let us know the exact error message so we can further pinpoint the problem. While some users get around problems related to automatic updates by turning automatic updates off, doing so ignores the problem and leaves your operating system vulnerable.

I have been having problems starting my Sony VAIO laptop. It will go straight to a black screen with startup options, but when I choose one, it won’t work.

Since you are seeing activity with the laptop, at least you know the power supply is good. Small comfort at this point, but it does give us a starting place.

Safe Mode Won’t Work: Overheating Issue

Overheating can lead to quite a few problems. Can you hear the fan on the laptop? Is the laptop in need of some cleaning? Perhaps a can of compressed air can be used to clean the area around the fan.

Safe Mode Won’t Work: Disk in Drive

Although this is a long shot, can you check the CD/DVD drive to see if you accidentally left a disk in the laptop? There are those occasions when a laptop or desktop will not boot up properly because the disk is interfering with the process. Once you take the disk out, start over and you should be able to get into normal mode if this is the problem. Another point to consider is whether you recently added any hardware. If you did, disconnect it safely and try to boot up the laptop.

Boot up with Installation Disk

If Safe Mode isn’t working as an option for you, you can try to boot up using the Windows installation disk. Turn the laptop on, insert the installation disk, and press first the “ESC” key and then the “F1″ key once you see the words “Check System” on the screen of the laptop. This should allow you to boot up using the disk and hopefully, it fixes the problem for you.

Safe Mode Won’t Work: User Entry

If your Safe Mode options won’t work and you can’t get the installation disk to work or don’t have one available, perhaps you can kick start it by calling it up instead of letting the computer do it. Try this- turn the power to the laptop on, immediately begin to press the “F8″ key until you hear/see the laptop booting up. (You might need to use the “F2,” “F12,” or F10″ key.) It should take you to Safe Mode. Try and access one of the options. If it works, great! If not, move on to the next option.

Hard Reset

If nothing else has worked, then it is time to power down the laptop and give it a hard reset. Make sure that your laptop is disconnected for the power outlet. Next, disconnect all peripheral devices, USB mouse, speakers, printers, etc from the laptop. Gently turn the laptop over so you can access and remove the battery. Hold the power button in for a full 60-second count. Replace the laptop battery, reconnect the power, reconnect the peripherals, and power up.

I have a Dell Dimension 2400 that will boot up but will not respond to any commands. I tried to do a restore by using ctrl=f11 but got no response. Help?

Windows Safe Mode

The first thing that you can do to gain some control over your system is start by booting into Safe Mode. Safe Mode starts the computer using only limited programs and processes, reducing the chances of running into problems and allowing you to boot up and troubleshoot the problem.

Boot into Safe Mode

To boot into Safe Mode, power your computer down and then, when you turn it back on start pressing the F8 key. This will open the Advanced Options menu, press Enter. Now, at the Startup Menu, use your keyboard arrow keys to select Safe Mode and to highlight your operating system installation, then press Enter. Your computer will automatically boot into Normal Mode the next time you turn it on so there is no need to undo this process.

Run CHKDSK

There is a Windows tool called Chkdsk - Check Disk - that will scan your system for errors and repair them when possible. To use Chkdsk, you need to log on as an administrator, then follow these steps.

1. Click twice to open My Computer and choose your hard drive - C:
2. Choose Properties, then Tools
3. Under the Error Checking section, choose Check Now
4. A Check Disk Options dialog box will open - choose Scan for and Attempt Recovery of Bad Sectors
5. Click Start
6. You will most likely get a message telling you to schedule the scan because a system volume is in use. This is ok - just click Yes, then reboot your computer and the scan will launch.
7. Chkdsk uses a numeric code to report the results. 0 means there were no errors found, 1 means errors were identified and repaired.

Repair your Operating System Installation

If a hard disk scan doesn’t solve the problem, a software repair might. You will need your original Windows CD for this process - to repair the Windows installation.

1. Put your Windows CD in the disk drive and then turn the computer off
2. Turn the computer back on and it will boot from the disk.
3. At the Windows Setup page, press Enter to setup Windows - not R for a recovery console.
4. Choose F8 to accept the license
5. Use your keyboard arrows to highlight your operating system installation, then press R
6. Now follow the on-screen commands to enter your product key and verify your information.

Once this is done, you should run a full system virus and malware scan to try and find out what caused your crash in the first place. Run the scans until they come back clean and follow the program’s advice to deal with any threats. I hope this helps, good luck!

After a hard reboot my computer starts with a Windows blue screen and does a scheduled check disk every time? What has precipitated this action and why can’t I control it? The computer doesn’t respond until it completes 5 steps?

What is a Blue Screen Error?

Blue screen errors often reflect problems with the hard drive or corrupted files. Quite often, this behavior is caused by a virus infection or improper shut downs. It is indicative of a system failure, which is why the computer keeps rebooting to a blue screen and a check disk scan. What we need to do here is try and do away with the reason behind this activity so it will stop.

Resolving Blue Screen Errors: Boot Up in Safe Mode

The first step that I am going to have you try is to boot up in Safe Mode. This method bypasses some of the drivers and applications that might be leading to the blue screen error. It is the most basic way to start your computer. Just follow these directions:

1. Turn the power button for the computer on.
2. Immediately press the “F8″ key on the keyboard. Do this continually until the computer begins to boot. You might need to try this more than once if it doesn’t go to Safe Mode for you the first time. It takes a bit of timing to get it right.
3. When the options appear, select the one for “Last Known Good Configuration.”
4. Follow any prompts that show. This strategy is designed to put your computer’s operating system back to a previous time when everything was working properly.

Resolving Blue Screen Errors: Scan for Viruses

Now that you have completed the first step, it is time to scan for spyware, viruses, and Trojans. This is important not only since any of these forms of malware could be creating the blue screen error, but also since their presence puts your computer and personal data at risk. If you have an anti-spyware/anti-virus application already, check for updates for it and then run it with a full scan. If you don’t have an anti-spyware/anti-virus application, I can recommend that you try Anti-Virus PLUS.

Resolving Blue Screen Errors: Insufficient Memory

Is there any chance that you are running low on resources? Have you been installing a lot of programs, files, photos, games, etc and forgotten to keep up with your memory? If this is a possibility, consider upgrading the amount of RAM that you have on this particular computer.

Resolving Blue Screen Errors: Faulty Downloads and Installs

If the blue screen error began after a recent installation or upgrade to one of your applications, perhaps the installation is faulty. If you think this could be the root problem here, you can always uninstall the application and reinstall it.

Resolving Blue Screen Errors: Peripheral Incompatibility

Along the same lines as the above, have you recently added any peripherals that might be incompatible with your operating system or other peripherals? Access the Device Manager through the Control Panel and see if any yellow flags appear indicating that you have a problem.