How do I reboot w-o a reset button

[George Newton]

Many new case designs have eliminated the reset button.

On occasion, I have had to use the reset when the systems
hangs on booting, or when I would get erroneous messages
about a missing ntoskrnl, etc.

So I have some questions:

1. When the system hangs on booting and the keyboard does
work, does the reset automatically use the previous os
settings? .. or what?

2. Will a hard power down cause any problems to the system
if that is the only option when it hangs?

3. Will a hard power down automatically cause the system
to use previous os settings? .. or what?

4. How hard is it to install a reset switch? I would think
it would be too much...

 

[&re]

Many new case designs have eliminated the reset button.

On occasion, I have had to use the reset when the systems
hangs on booting, or when I would get erroneous messages
about a missing ntoskrnl, etc.

-- Definitely a problem. once a system is properly installed an completely
working, this should never happen. You need to find the cause and eliminate,
could deteriorate in time to one day you system will not be able to boot at
all. Suggest to make back-up soonest and start investigating.

-- Looks like there might be a hardware problem with the system.?
-- Download a copy of memtest86 and let it run for some time to deeply test
your RAM memory
-- Also, go to the manufacturer -of your hard disk- site and download their
utility to test your hard drive. I have a feeling there might be a problem
with the disk, even if you system is fairly new. So test de hard disk
thoroughly.

So I have some questions:

1. When the system hangs on booting and the keyboard does
work, does the reset automatically use the previous os
settings? .. or what?

-- Since the os was not yet loaded it will load the last used setting.unless
of course there is a problem with the hard disk and files get corrupted
every time you reboot!

2. Will a hard power down cause any problems to the system
if that is the only option when it hangs?

-- Not in this case. No sensitive files are yet open. Rebooting during POST
or in the very early stage of os loading will hardly damage files. That is
of course again if there is no hardware problem. If there is no reset button
I think you dont have any other option then to power down.

3. Will a hard power down automatically cause the system
to use previous os settings? .. or what?

-- Previous settings, being the last setting when the system had its ;ast
good start then. A power down in the midst of a completely booted system
can cause problems with files not being closed properly and hence at next
boot-up you will eventually be warned of this and have the choice to boot
with option " boot with last known good setting"

4. How hard is it to install a reset switch? I would think
it would be too much...

-- Look first into the manual of you motherboard, if there is still a
pin-out somewhere on the board, with reset marked on it, then it is just a
matter of installing a push-button with 2 wires and the appropriate plug to
connect to the MoBo. Eventualla to recuperate from an old system ? If not,
you will need to have the layout of your Mobo and some good knowledge of
soldering!!! I wouldn't advice it -

Success

&re

 

[George Newton]

&re, thanks for your considerations.

...
...
-- Looks like there might be a hardware problem with the system.?
-- Download a copy of memtest86 and let it run for some time to deeply test
your RAM memory

I thought for a while that this might be the case (because of some
other anomalies, as well) but I bought a new chip and the frequency
of the event was about the same.

(Thanks for the memtest86 rec. I need something like that.)

Also happened with a new HD.

It seemed to happen more frequently after loading a new McAfee dat.
I suspected that to be the cause, especially since it always came up
fine after the reset.

-- Also, go to the manufacturer -of your hard disk- site and download their
utility to test your hard drive. I have a feeling there might be a problem
with the disk, even if you system is fairly new. So test de hard disk
thoroughly.

I also have used the HD test utilities on the drives.

-- Since the os was not yet loaded it will load the last used setting.unless
of course there is a problem with the hard disk and files get corrupted
every time you reboot!

-- Not in this case. No sensitive files are yet open. Rebooting during POST
or in the very early stage of os loading will hardly damage files. That is
of course again if there is no hardware problem. If there is no reset button
I think you dont have any other option then to power down.
-- Previous settings, being the last setting when the system had its ;ast
good start then. A power down in the midst of a completely booted system
can cause problems with files not being closed properly and hence at next
boot-up you will eventually be warned of this and have the choice to boot
with option " boot with last known good setting"

I suspect that McAfee VirusScan is the culprit. If the memory is a
different chip and it happens with two different HD, then the only
common factors are the mb/bios, os, and software setup.

I don't know too much about these things but I suspect that one of the
jobs of VirusScan is to interface with the boot process. Usually the
"missing" ntoskrnl message would occur on the next start after a new
virus dat was loaded. McAfee often slips in other little "improvements"
in the downloads. And how could a reset "restore" a "missing" ntoskrnl??

-- Look first into the manual of you motherboard, if there is still a
pin-out somewhere on the board, with reset marked on it, then it is just a
matter of installing a push-button with 2 wires and the appropriate plug to
connect to the MoBo.

Yes, I have the pin-outs. I suspected that it only needed a little
switch to close that connection...

Again, thanks for your thoughts

 

[&re]

&re, thanks for your considerations.

It seemed to happen more frequently after loading a new McAfee dat.
I suspected that to be the cause, especially since it always came up
fine after the reset.

-- You mean the virus signature file? or really a new version of McAfee?
-- Did it happen from the very first update, or after some major program
improvement?
--

I suspect that McAfee VirusScan is the culprit. If the memory is a
different chip and it happens with two different HD, then the only
common factors are the mb/bios, os, and software setup.

-- You're right! but still this makes a lot of possibilities!!

I don't know too much about these things but I suspect that one of the
jobs of VirusScan is to interface with the boot process. Usually the
"missing" ntoskrnl message would occur on the next start after a new
virus dat was loaded. McAfee often slips in other little "improvements"
in the downloads. And how could a reset "restore" a "missing" ntoskrnl??

-- I have a feeling that McAfee completes some process on reboot after a new
virus signature/program update file has been installed. So next time you
update McAfee, close it completely an restart it. Although this is not the
same as a reboot it might help.

-- You need to investigate if your type of motherboard together with the
chipset on it is compatible with McAfee?
-- There might be (for sure) a site of the MoBo manufacturer, together with
a discussion group. Someone had an identical problem before and is willing
to give you some hints.?
-- If not I would completely deinstall McAfee for a period of time and run
the computer for a while. If you feel uncomfortable, download another
virusscanner an install it for a trial period ( usual 30 days) Or look for a
good freeware VS. ( I'm running AVG free and very happy with it. If it
looks McAfee is the culprit you can make a choice to dump it ( pity for the
money) or call in McAfee support and pop-up the question to them. Or
reinstall it and have the chance that the newer version of McAfee will
behave better then a older with a bunch of updates.

Yes, I have the pin-outs. I suspected that it only needed a little
switch to close that connection...

Yes, no more.

Again, thanks for your thoughts

Happy to help

 

[George Newton]

snip<<

-- You mean the virus signature file? or really a new version of McAfee?
-- Did it happen from the very first update, or after some major program
improvement?
--

No, just the virus signature file. And things have been very stable
lately. Come to think of it. I still haven't tested that memory.
(downloading Memtest86 now...)
I had a Kingstson SDRAM PC133 128mb. I bought a new Viking 256mb
and put that in slot 1, and moved the 128mb to slot 2.

So, either it was/is the memory or McAfee has been improved.

Thanks for the other virus info.