Computer will not boot up & when it does it crashes after 2/3 mins

[Welsh Wizard]

My sister has a Mesh Matrix M-Series Inspire + pc. Runs Windows Xp with
latest updates, Amd 64 3000+ processor, 512ddr memory, 160gb hard drive
(maxtor).

She is having big problems with her pc as one of these three situations
occur - situation 1 and 2 are the most frequent so i will start with those

Situation 1

Switch pc on, starts to boot up and message "scan devices please wait"
appears.

Then we get these messages:

CH0master:no device

Serial CH1master:maxtor 6Y160M0

reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot
device.

At this stage the Pc will not allow del or f12 to access any setup menus.

Situation 2

Switch pc on, flashes through 1st loading page (unable to del or f12 as it
wouldn't allow access to setup screen) , then:

as before we get

Scan devices please wait

then

hardware initiate failed please check device

and then

Bios does not be installed (!!!!!)



press g to continue



When g is then pressed we get



reboot and select proper boot device

just like in situation 1

when i accessed the setup utility and went into the drive info i got

IDE Primary master:not detected (i think this is where it should've said
maxtor 6Y160M0 as its her hard drive. The dvdrw was listed as IDE secondary)


Situation 3

Switch on pc, pc starts up and notes its starting up after a serious error.
Continues to load up so windows starts and you get the main start screen
where you can access your files etc however after 2/3 mins the screen will go
black , mouse pointer will stay in one spot on screen , power is still
getting to tower and monitor etc nothing will appear on the screen and end up
having to resart from restart button or switch off at tower.


Hope someone can help us get to the bottom of this


Many thanks for reading


Paul

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was 2/5/2008 3:00 PM, and on a whim, Welsh Wizard
pounded out on the keyboard:

My sister has a Mesh Matrix M-Series Inspire + pc. Runs Windows Xp with
latest updates, Amd 64 3000+ processor, 512ddr memory, 160gb hard drive
(maxtor).

She is having big problems with her pc as one of these three situations
occur - situation 1 and 2 are the most frequent so i will start with those

Situation 1

Switch pc on, starts to boot up and message "scan devices please wait"
appears.

Then we get these messages:

CH0master:no device

Serial CH1master:maxtor 6Y160M0

reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot
device.

At this stage the Pc will not allow del or f12 to access any setup menus.

Situation 2

Switch pc on, flashes through 1st loading page (unable to del or f12 as it
wouldn't allow access to setup screen) , then:

as before we get

Scan devices please wait

then

hardware initiate failed please check device

and then

Bios does not be installed (!!!!!)



press g to continue



When g is then pressed we get



reboot and select proper boot device

just like in situation 1

when i accessed the setup utility and went into the drive info i got

IDE Primary master:not detected (i think this is where it should've said
maxtor 6Y160M0 as its her hard drive. The dvdrw was listed as IDE secondary)


Situation 3

Switch on pc, pc starts up and notes its starting up after a serious error.
Continues to load up so windows starts and you get the main start screen
where you can access your files etc however after 2/3 mins the screen will go
black , mouse pointer will stay in one spot on screen , power is still
getting to tower and monitor etc nothing will appear on the screen and end up
having to resart from restart button or switch off at tower.


Hope someone can help us get to the bottom of this


Many thanks for reading


Paul

Hi Paul,

Could be the hard drive failing, the hard drive controller, or even the
hard drive cable. You can change out a cable easily for testing.

--
Terry R.

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[DL]

Visit Maxtor site and download their bootable disk checking utility, it runs
from either a floppy or cd.
Chances are the maxtor drive has failed