Re: hardware or software problem??

When booting from the cd, how far do you get? Do you get to the first
menu where is says "Press enter to install Windows or press R to repair
using recovery console" ?
If you can get to that menu, which options have you tried?
If you cannot get at least to that menu, then it doesn't look very
good.
Ultra.sys is a driver file (looks like a maxtor driver)

If you get to the first menu, you can try replacing the ultra.sys file
from the windows XP disk. First, select the first R prompt at the first
menu (R to repair using recovery console) at the next screen press 1
and then enter...type in the admin pass or just enter if there is no
admin password.
At the dos prompt type: expand e:\i386\ultra.sy_
c:\windows\system32\ultra.sys
This command is provided that your cd rom is drive E: and windows is
installed to c:\windows...adjust yours accordingly.

Another command you might want to run from this screen is chkdsk /r
that is a disk scan, but it will take a while to run.

When looking around for ultra.sys errorrs, I noticed quite a few virus
hits pop up, and the symptoms you described in your initial post could
indicate a virus..so I still think that format/clean is the best course
of action here.

Also - if that error came up during a format/clean (and not a repair
install) then you might want to look into some drive diagnostic tools
from the hard drive manufacturer as it is possible that the hard drive
itself has failed.

one other note - do NOT borrow a disk from a friend as was suggested
above to do a repair install...not unless you are sure that both
versions are the same (service pack 1 or 2 on your original disk and
OEM vs retail) as the product keys are not interchangable, so you could
end up with invalid product key errors, and have to repair again.
Although, it sounds as if you have the disk already.

Good luck!

.

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