When your Windows XP does not start, then there could be various hardware or software related problems behind it. Some problems can be sorted out using some or the other workaround while some of these problems are so rigid that these can only be corrected by reinstalling the operating system. However, in such cases there is always the risk of losing your data. In such desperate circumstances, I would advise you to use a professional data recovery software to safely recover all the valuable data.

Let's consider a situation wherein you are not able to start your Windows XP system. The following STOP error is displayed in the process:

"STOP 0x0000000A (0xBFD14AAC, 0x000000FF, 0x00000000, 0x8000F67C)

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

• **Address 8000f67c has base at 80001000 - hal.dll"[/b]

Cause:

This kind of error message appears when any one or all of the following conditions is true:

The system tried to touch the pageable memory at a reasonably high process internal request level.

A hardware driver is using an incorrect memory address.

A device drive is incompatible with the operating system.

There is a general hardware error that is causing the issue.

There is an incompatible software that is having conflicts with Windows XP. Resolution:

In such situations, you should perform the following methods to fix the problem:

Troubleshoot third-party driver problems: If there is any problem with the third-party drivers, then you should perform the following methods:

Analyze third-party software that are recently added: If a third-party software is causing this problem, then try to remove or disable it.

Analyze third-party hardware that are recently added: If you have added a new hardware that is causing the problem, remove it and see if it solves the problem.

Restore Windows: You should try to bring Windows to a former state using the following methods:

Use the 'Last Known Good Configuration' feature: This feature brings the system to the state when it started successfully.

Repair the Windows XP installation: If the previous method does not work, then try to perform a parallel Windows XP installation.

Use the 'Rollback Driver' feature: Try to start the system in Safe Mode. Then, see if you can replace the existing driver to the previous one that worked.

Use the Windows XP 'System Restore' feature: Try the System Restore method, if you are able to start the system using Safe Mode.

If the system does not start even after doing these methods, then the situation calls for a third-party data recovery software to recover data. These data recovery tools possess rich user interface that makes it easy for the user to easily understand its features.

One such data recovery utility is Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery that recovers lost or trapped data from inaccessible storage media. Able to recover data from NTFS partition, FAT, and exFAT file systems, this file data recovery software is compatible with Windows 7, Vista, Server 2003, XP, and 2000.