Boot to OS fails, sometimes!

[Tony Batchelor]

I have an odd fault that I can't understand.
I have XP Pro sp3/IE7

When I start my computer after switching on the power, usually, but not
always, it gets as far as the XP "3 blue dots travelling from left to right"
loading bar. and then freezes. Sometimes without any blue dots appearing, but
also with the blue dots stuck halfway across.

Now for the strange thing - if I press the power reset button on the PC
itself, it starts again, but completes the XP boot and I can use the PC for
the rest of the day.

Where do I start looking? I have checked Event Viewer, but I suppose that is
no use as for the first failure the event log has not yet started.

Tony
PS What is LightScribeService? Event Viewer show it starting normally, but
I had not heard of it before.

 

[Malke]

I have an odd fault that I can't understand.
I have XP Pro sp3/IE7

When I start my computer after switching on the power, usually, but not
always, it gets as far as the XP "3 blue dots travelling from left to
right" loading bar. and then freezes. Sometimes without any blue dots
appearing, but also with the blue dots stuck halfway across.

Now for the strange thing - if I press the power reset button on the PC
itself, it starts again, but completes the XP boot and I can use the PC
for the rest of the day.

Where do I start looking? I have checked Event Viewer, but I suppose that
is no use as for the first failure the event log has not yet started.

Tony
PS What is LightScribeService? Event Viewer show it starting normally,
but I had not heard of it before.

This sounds like a classic case of a failing power supply. While other
hardware components could be failing, I'd start by swapping out the psu for
a known-working one. What happens is that there isn't enough "juice" to get
the hard drive up and spinning the first time. The drive's own momentum
will get it going when you try again.

LightScribe is a function of your optical drive. A quick Google is the place
to look for questions like that:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=what+is+LightScribe&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

Lots of good links there.

Malke

 

[Tony Batchelor]

eThanks

It is a brand new PC, so the psu should be OK. The monitor shows all the
voltages correct.
Next time I start I will have to chack again to see if the HDD light flashes.

Tony
PS Fascinating about LightScribe - I wonder why it appears as an
application when the supplied hardware isn't lightscribe featured <G>

 

[Bill Sharpe]

eThanks

It is a brand new PC, so the psu should be OK. The monitor shows all the
voltages correct.
Next time I start I will have to chack again to see if the HDD light flashes.

Tony
PS Fascinating about LightScribe - I wonder why it appears as an
application when the supplied hardware isn't lightscribe featured <G>

Is it an HP or Compaq computer? LightScribe, if corresponding hardware
is installed, can label your DVD's or CD's, but you need to buy blank
discs that are marked for that process.

Bill

 

[Lem]

eThanks

It is a brand new PC, so the psu should be OK. The monitor shows all the
voltages correct.
Next time I start I will have to chack again to see if the HDD light flashes.

Tony
PS Fascinating about LightScribe - I wonder why it appears as an
application when the supplied hardware isn't lightscribe featured <G>

If it's a brand new pc, get in touch with the vendor or manufacturer for
warranty service.

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

 

[Tony Batchelor]

I have tried a few general tidy up procedures, and can definitely say that it
is not a psu problem.

Now what usually happens is that I get as far as showing a full desktop on
the first boot, and after a minute everything freezes.

After a reboot, then all is well for hours!

Except that yesterday I suddenly got a blue screen with the message
STOP: 0x000000c5 (oxoa250005, 0x00000002, 0x00000001, 0x805515a1)

Hasn't happened today though.

Tony
PS Lem asked about what computer I have - it is an Acer T661. Acer don't
have anywhere to get answers. Not even a Forum. Their after purchase support
is appalling!