xmasbus.sys prevents XP from booting, SOLVED

So my dad's PC (XP) refuses to boot.


When you switch it on, it goes until the XP loading screen and loads halfway, then bluescreen for a splitsecond and restarts.
When loading in Safe Mode, it says "Esc to stop loading xmasbus.sys", but no matter if you press Esc or not, the same result as with normal boot: bluescreen + reset.


I googled xmasbus.sys and according to various forums it is a driver that comes with "Alcohol 120%" and can sometimes be corrupt, but the solutions vary and aren't very clear and mostly also just assumptions.


So, don't tell me "google for it" because I did that and did find some solutions, but all of them are different, so I'd like to know if anyone of you had the same problem and tell me how he solved this.

Thanks.

use a live linux disk. and use the partition editor and format the drive, and reinstall windows.

I'm looking for a solution to save the data.
Obviously formating and reinstalling windows is the last resort if everything else fails.

use the live cd to transfer all your needed data to an external storage device.

First of all, know what you're talking about, Bip. Don't bother with reinstall. What service pack is it? If you have another computer with the same service pack, you could copy the file from that computer and use an Ubuntu CD or something to copy the file to the not-booting computer.

This post has been edited by RetroXYZ on Sep 13 2009, 11:15 AM

Using a Live CD will not work, as all Live discs use the RAM for storage.
Pop in the Windows XP disc, see if you can repair the registry.

xmasbus.sys is not a system file. It's a driver that usually comes with a program called "Alkohol120%" (as said in first post), and it is also the cause of the error (its existance) according to various sources on the web.
My dad says he had this Alkohol thing on the computer ages ago, and it appears that this file is still there and just now started to cause the problem.

I need a way to get my hands on the file and get rid of it, which I could probably do by booting in an alternative way like you said, but that's what most of the web sources said on that anyway, so yeah, we'll probably have to do that.

I was just hoping for someone having had the same problem already and having found a better way to bypass xmasbus.sys.

.sys is a system file. The program most likely messed up and set itself to start on boot. Start by renaming it, first, that way if you need it in the future you still have it.

It's not a file that's part of Windows. Because you suggested copying the original file from an other windows XP computer. This is not possible, because xmasbus.sys is not part of every system, but only of those who once had Alkohol 120% installed.

And also, once I have access to the file, I know what to do.
I want to find an easy way to get the access that doesn't involve installing a new OS or formatting the drive, as those are the two options I do not want to take if it can be avoided.

And you are certain xmasbus.sys is the file references on the bluescreen itself?

From the Windows XP Recovery console (you can get there by booting off the XP CD), there are commands for disabling services or drivers.

http://www.practicalpc.co.uk/computing/windows/xprepair5.htm

This guide might come in handy, thanks!

Thank you RII, with this guide we could get a hand on the system and remove xmasbus.sys.
The computer works perfectly fine again.