Help diagnose flakey boot issue?

[technology_guy]

I've got a new XP box. About 3/4 of the time, it does not boot into
normal mode. Instead, you see the keyboard ack flash, the loading XP
msg, the screen blank, the loading XP msg, and the screen (and
keyboard) seem to go dead.

100% of the time, it can boot into Safe Mode (so, we're talking maybe a
h/w or s/w driver problem?)

If I try to bring it up in Boot Log or VGA mode, it dies as above.

Is there a way I can log the booting process to see where it's getting
hosed? If so, what do I need to do to turn it on and how can I get to
the log file?

Can you suggest any online resources which help guide you through the
requisite detective work?

 

[Randy]

Make yourself a Bart's PE disk to boot and diagnose your system (chkdsk,
virus scan, etc.) without going through Windows. It's available via
http://nu2.nu free of charge, but requires you own an MS Server OS install
disc (incl. demo/trial).

I'd also advise unplugging all non-essential peripherals, especially those
that are USB-attached.

 

[Tony Sperling]

I think you should reveal a little about the internals of that machine -
Motherboard; BIOS version; Graphics Card; HD System - anything you know is
there, and specifically, something about the steps you have been taking to
make sure everything has 64bit support, by way of drivers - and maybe you
shouldn't be cross-posting to all those unrelated NG's?
Could end up being more confusing than helpful.


Tony. . .

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Try comparing the sequence of reports in the System section of Event
Viewer for differences between that for a successful boot with one for a
failed boot. Of course it cannot work if the error occurs before the
logging of events starts. Note the precise time the Error occurs making
sure the computer clock and your watch are synchronised.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Administrative Tools,
Event Viewer. When researching the
meaning of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and
Description are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;enus;308427&Product=winxp

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Double click the button and close Event
Viewer. Now start your message(email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. This will paste the info from the Event Viewer Error Report
complete with links into the message. Make sure this is the first paste
after exiting from Event Viewer.

At the moment I am experimenting with a system for analysing event log
and using a log such as yours might further my work. Could you send a
copy by email to my address, which is given below removing dump from the
address.

(e-mail address removed)

To obtain a copy of the log please select Start, Administrative Tools,
Event Viewer and place the cursor on System. Click on Action and select
Save Log file as. Enter file name as systemguy, in the Save as Type box
select Text, click on My Documents to left and click on Save. You can
then retrieve the log from My Documents for emailing.


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Using invalid email address

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please tell the newsgroup how any
suggested solution worked for you.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Rick]

QUIT BEING AN ASS BY POSTING TO SO MANY GROUPS AT ONCE!!!

ONE POST PER GROUP!!!!

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THEN DON'T POST AT ALL!!!

 

[Alias]

QUIT BEING AN ASS BY POSTING TO SO MANY GROUPS AT ONCE!!!

ONE POST PER GROUP!!!!

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THEN DON'T POST AT ALL!!!

Capslock broken? Ever hear of "practise what you preach"?

Alias

 

[Alias]

QUIT BEING AN ASS BY POSTING TO SO MANY GROUPS AT ONCE!!!

ONE POST PER GROUP!!!!

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THEN DON'T POST AT ALL!!!

Posing in all caps is considered rude. You just did what you accuse the
OP of doing.

Alias

 

[Rick]

SO WHAT DID YOU JUST DO???

Rick, self appointed net nanny, posted in four newsgroups at once and
wrote:


Capslock broken? Ever hear of "practise what you preach"?

Alias

 

[DL]

Use msconfig to disable all start ups.
reboot, then its a process of illmination - many reboots

 

[John Barnes]

Since you are booting using boot log, in safe mode, read your ntbtlog.txt
file. Usually it is one of the last two entries causing the problem.

 

[John Barnes]

Also, the point you have problems, to me, seems to indicate the probability
of video driver problems. Since you die in VGA mode, that suggests that you
may have settings wrong in your video driver. Check them out in safe mode,
especially refresh rate and resolution. Make sure they are correct for your
display.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I don't think he has a 64-bit system. He just crossposted to everything xp.

 

[Tony Sperling]

Yes, I very much suspected that myself - thought I would pass it on gently.

Tony. . .

I don't think he has a 64-bit system. He just crossposted to everything xp.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

I think you should reveal a little about the internals of that machine -
Motherboard; BIOS version; Graphics Card; HD System - anything you know is
there, and specifically, something about the steps you have been taking to
make sure everything has 64bit support, by way of drivers - and maybe you
shouldn't be cross-posting to all those unrelated NG's?
Could end up being more confusing than helpful.


Tony. . .