Can't get XP Professional to boot

[marriedhsdad]

I'm operating XP Professional with the latest updates, I guess that is
Service Pack 2. My installation CD is the original XP disk.

My motherboard is Micro-ATX with an AMD 3400 (I earlier said a 2400, but I
was mistaken). It is the RS482M-IL Board.

In trying to Boot from the installation CD I wanted to repair the Windows
installation. I went into the Bios and reset the Bootup sequence to A: then
CD then C: When booting to CD, the computer begins to install the drivers.
This is noted on the small line at the bottom of the blue page with the small
XP logo at the top right. It looks more like a DOS screen than the regular
Windows screen. When the drivers are installed, the message across the bottom
says that it is installing Windows. That's when it freezes.

 

[Walt Thatcher]

I'm operating XP Professional with the latest updates, I guess that is
Service Pack 2. My installation CD is the original XP disk.

Current is SP3. You can't install from a disc that is a "lower"
version... i.e., that is lacking the SP level that your installed
system has.

I'm surprised you didn't get a message to that effect.

 

[Anna]

Anna,
Quite on the contrary. I went into the Bios and changed the booting
sequence. It now checks A: then CD then C: When I boot it from the CD, it
goes through installing the drivers and then at the very bottom, it says
it
is loading Windows. All of this is on a blue screen with a small XP logo
at
the top right, but more DOS looking than Windows. After a few seconds of
the
notice that Windows is loading, the computer freezes. This happens when I
boot to the CD or to the A: drive, when it asks for the next disk several
times.
I'm operating XP Professional with the latest updates, I guess that is
Service Pack 2. My installation CD is the original XP disk.
My motherboard is Micro-ATX with an AMD 3400 (I earlier said a 2400, but I
was mistaken). It is the RS482M-IL Board.

HSDad:
I'll assume you've correctly set the boot priority order in your BIOS so
that there's an initial boot to the CD-ROM (whether or not if follows the
floppy disk drive) and *not* an initial boot to the HDD. I stress this
because you state, "I went into the Bios and changed the booting sequence."
which sort of infers the *original* boot order did in fact indicate an
initial boot to the HDD. So when you did change the boot priority order
you're certain that you saved the BIOS setting changes when you exited the
BIOS, right? I raise this because I've experienced numerous instances where
a user *thought* he or she changed a BIOS setting but actually failed to do
so because they failed to actually save the new setting before exiting the
BIOS. Please understand I'm not trying to "talk down" to you since it's
obvious you're an experienced user but I just wanted to raise this point
"just in case"...

Have you checked out the HDD with the diagnostic utility from the disk's
manufacturer? While from your description of the problem it doesn't sound as
if it's a problem affecting a defective HDD there's always that chance, slim
as it might be.

Since you have a couple of other desktops is there any chance that you spare
a HDD (PATA or SATA) from one of those machines and attempt to install XP on
that drive to determine if it is a HDD problem?

I really don't know what else to suggest at this point. It doesn't sound to
me like a hardware problem (excepting a possible defective HDD as noted
above) since you're obviously getting power as well as getting a screen
display without any indication from the system that something may be awry
hardware-wise.
Anna

 

[Daave]

I'm operating XP Professional with the latest updates, I guess that is
Service Pack 2. My installation CD is the original XP disk.

The most recent Service Pack is 3. (Eventually you will need to upgrade
to SP3.) We now know that the Service Pack level of XP on your PC is 2.
But what Service Pack level is your installation CD?

My motherboard is Micro-ATX with an AMD 3400 (I earlier said a 2400,
but I was mistaken). It is the RS482M-IL Board.

In trying to Boot from the installation CD I wanted to repair the
Windows installation. I went into the Bios and reset the Bootup
sequence to A: then CD then C: When booting to CD, the computer
begins to install the drivers. This is noted on the small line at the
bottom of the blue page with the small XP logo at the top right. It
looks more like a DOS screen than the regular Windows screen. When
the drivers are installed, the message across the bottom says that it
is installing Windows. That's when it freezes.

You are not successfully booting off the CD-ROM drive. That's not a
function of Windows. The problem is with your PC. Perhaps there is
something wrong with the CD-ROM drive. Or maybe you're missing a step in
the booting process. On some motherboards you need to press the sapce
bar at the right time. Otherwise, it will still boot off the hard drive.

How are you entering Setup? Are you entering the Setup Menu (DEL, I
believe) or the Boot Menu (F11, I believe)?

If you need the manual, I believe this is the one:

http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloadfile&dno=4033&type=manual

 

[marriedhsdad]

Annan,

Yes, I DID save the changes.

Now I've run into another problem. The other day when I turned off the
machine, I could not start it again. I went out and bought another power
supply. I put that in last night. I hooked everything up and hit start.
Nothing. No power...no nothing. I got a new power switch today. After cutting
the wires on the old one, I realize the new switch is not the right size for
the machine...too big. I'm so frustrated, I'm about ready to go out and buy
another case with a new mother board and processor. I can't go on like this
and it's been too long without the machine.

This type of thing seems to happen about every three years. I wish someone
would create a machine that wouldn't fail and that you wouldn't have to
constantly upgrade the operating system. Maybe in a world without Microsoft!

Sorry for venting. I appreciate all you're doing and the suggestions you've
made. The "extra" hard drive is a great idea if I was still getting power to
the machine.

 

[marriedhsdad]

I've installed all the updates that Microsoft has released. That must mean
I'm working with #3. But if once you upgrade you can't restore your system,
what are you supposed to do? I've heard too many stories about Vista.

 

[Daave]

I'm afraid I probably won't be able to help you, HS Dad. You didn't
address my main point: you apparently were *not* booting off your CD-ROM
drive (even though you believed you were).You didn't even mention
whether or not you tried F11 to access the boot menu. Plus, with the
information you recently posted to Anna, it looks like you're adding far
too many valuables to this equation by changing power supplies and power
switches, cutting wires, etc.

I still don't know what Service Pack level your installation disk is at.
When you say things like "I guess" and "that must mean", I can't help
you because in order to do so, I need factual information. Educated
guesses aren't going to help.

Anyway, good luck!

 

[Anna]

Annan,

Yes, I DID save the changes.

Now I've run into another problem. The other day when I turned off the
machine, I could not start it again. I went out and bought another power
supply. I put that in last night. I hooked everything up and hit start.
Nothing. No power...no nothing. I got a new power switch today. After
cutting
the wires on the old one, I realize the new switch is not the right size
for
the machine...too big. I'm so frustrated, I'm about ready to go out and
buy
another case with a new mother board and processor. I can't go on like
this
and it's been too long without the machine.

This type of thing seems to happen about every three years. I wish someone
would create a machine that wouldn't fail and that you wouldn't have to
constantly upgrade the operating system. Maybe in a world without
Microsoft!

Sorry for venting. I appreciate all you're doing and the suggestions
you've
made. The "extra" hard drive is a great idea if I was still getting power
to
the machine.

HSDad:
Well *now* it sounds as if it is a hardware-type problem if you're saying
what I think you're saying. After getting a new PS and that not working what
makes you believe it's the power switch? While a defective power switch
could be the cause of the problem you describe, it's a rare occurrence in my
experience.

Could simply be a defective motherboard. The only realistic way to determine
if it is that (or some other major component that has failed or is failing)
is through substitution of the component(s) on a one-by-one basis. I really
don't know if you should invest any more money in that machine. Given the
precipitous drop in the cost off-the-shelf desktop PCs that we're currently
seeing, maybe it's time to just purchase a more up-to-date system assuming
of course that you can bear the cost.

But if you want to pursue the problem re your current machine...

Disconnect all peripheral components from the system and just work with the
PS, motherboard, processor, heat sink, RAM module(s), graphics card,
keyboard & mouse. Nothing else. No sound card, no HDD, no external devices -
nothing else but those basic components. Ensure that all connections are
proper & secure.

Power on to determine you get a screen display with no unusual BIOS-type
messages. Access the BIOS to determine if all the settings are proper with
no untoward entries. Let the system run for a few hours before powering off.
Perform this routine a number of times.

If nothing to seems be amiss, add your HDD. As I previously suggested use a
different HDD from one of your other desktop machines. See if you can
install the OS from the XP installation CD. If you're able to install the OS
without any problems then add whatever other peripheral devices you're
using.

If it does turn out to be a defective motherboard I would seriously consider
a new machine if at all possible.
Anna

 

[marriedhsdad]

I bit the bullet. I ordered a new case, and a new mother board with a new
processor. I picked up the parts Saturday a.m. and took all day getting the
system back together. I also bought 4G of RAM, a new DVD/RW (SATA) and a
1000G Hard Drive.

When I put the system together, I booted up and the thing just started up. I
had to re-register my Windows installation since so many changes had taken
place. Formatting the new hard drive took hours, but I now have 5 hard drives
on the machine (2 IDE's and 3 SATA). I agree, the motherboard must have been
defective, especially since I could access all my files when I put the C
drive on another computer.

The new processor is an Intel dual 3GHz and is running about three times the
speed of my old machine.

Daave never understood my situation. I know what I'm doing on the machine,
at least to make myself a little dangerous.

I appreciate all you've done to help me. The process has been quite
frustrating, but you've helped alot. Thanks again.

HS Dad

 

[Anna]

I bit the bullet. I ordered a new case, and a new mother board with a new
processor. I picked up the parts Saturday a.m. and took all day getting
the
system back together. I also bought 4G of RAM, a new DVD/RW (SATA) and a
1000G Hard Drive.

When I put the system together, I booted up and the thing just started up.
I
had to re-register my Windows installation since so many changes had taken
place. Formatting the new hard drive took hours, but I now have 5 hard
drives
on the machine (2 IDE's and 3 SATA). I agree, the motherboard must have
been
defective, especially since I could access all my files when I put the C
drive on another computer.

The new processor is an Intel dual 3GHz and is running about three times
the
speed of my old machine.

Daave never understood my situation. I know what I'm doing on the machine,
at least to make myself a little dangerous.

I appreciate all you've done to help me. The process has been quite
frustrating, but you've helped alot. Thanks again.

HS Dad

Good, I think that was the way to go. Sounds like a very nice (read "fast"!)
machine.

What puzzles me, however, is why it would take four hours to
partition/format your 1 TB HDD. I can't tell from your post whether this HDD
is serving as your boot drive and you installed the XP OS onto that disk,
using the XP setup routine to partition/format the drive, or whether the 1
TB HDD serves as a secondary HDD in the system and if so, did you undertake
the partitioning/formatting through Disk Management?

In any event (using your new system) it shouldn't have taken four hours to
complete this job (even in view of the large capacity of the disk)
regardless of the process you used. As a precaution, it might be a good idea
in the meantime to check out the drive with the HDD diagnostic utility from
the manuf. of the disk. (If you purchased the disk as a retail, boxed
version the utility will be included on the accompanying CD, otherwise you
can download it from the website of the manuf.). What is the make/model of
that disk? Also, (out of curiosity) what was the make/model of the
motherboard you purchased?

Anyway, should the new 1 TB HDD be serving as a secondary HDD in your
system, do you think it might be a good idea to configure that drive as your
boot drive? I would guess that way you'd get some added "zip" from the
system in comparison with using one of your older HDDs as the boot drive
(although I can't recall the "ages" of your older drives). On the other hand
if it's important that you use the 1 TB drive *exclusively* as a storage
device, so be it. But give some thought of configuring that drive as your
boot drive if it's not already thus.

I can't recall if during the course of the thread there was any discussion
of a disk cloning/disk imaging program and you used such for backup
purposes. Assuming you use one of those types of programs it would be a
relatively simple matter to clone the contents of your boot HDD to the 1 TB
drive so as to easily create the latter as your boot HDD (assuming it's not
already). As you may have noticed from previous postings of mine on this
subject we are strong fans of the Casper 5 disk-cloning program (it's not a
disk imaging program such as the Acronis True Image program) for routine
basic disk-to-disk cloning for comprehensive backup purposes.

Good luck with your new system.
Anna

 

[Richie Hardwick]

I can't recall if during the course of the thread there was any discussion
of a disk cloning/disk imaging program and you used such for backup
purposes. Assuming you use one of those types of programs it would be a
relatively simple matter to clone the contents of your boot HDD to the 1 TB
drive so as to easily create the latter as your boot HDD (assuming it's not
already). As you may have noticed from previous postings of mine on this
subject we are strong fans of the Casper 5 disk-cloning program (it's not a
disk imaging program such as the Acronis True Image program) for routine
basic disk-to-disk cloning for comprehensive backup purposes.

Casper is a fine program IF you do a lot of cloning, which the average
user does not.

If you will only be needing to clone infrequently, it makes no sense
to go with Casper when ATI will clone AND image your drive, and will
ALSO image any directories/files you select to backup.

Casper can only clone.

Richie Hardwick