inaccessible_boot_device

[Desperate]

I get the dreaded inaccessible_boot_device BSOD stop
message in a condition that I haven't seen in any of the
MS support articles (or anywhere else on the net). Please
help if you have suggestions.

Here's what I've tried, reproducibly:

1) Full test suite multiple times on drive to verify
validity
1) Low level format of HD
2) Fresh install of Win2k, no SP (all is fine to this
point)
3) Install Win2k SP4 via windows update immediately after
fresh install (also tried SP3 via download)
4) Reboot after upgrade yields this BSOD

Any ideas???

Thanks!

 

[SaltPeter]

Low level formatting a drive usually installs a translation utility (like
EZBios) that ceases to function with SP4 (and shouldn't be used with W2K,
period). That's just another reason why low-level formatting should never be
done on any HD.

Rerun the HD manufacturer's utility and disable the translation utility, or
verify their FAQ on what steps to take to disable it.

 

[Robert Mitchell [MSFT]]

Hello,

There are a number of articles that cover STOP 0x0000007B. Many of them are
specific to hardware, but these aren't...

122926 Troubleshooting Stop 0x0000007B or "0x4,0,0,0" Error
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=122926

243018 Windows Hangs at "Loading Machine Info" with HighPoint UltraDMA
ATA/66
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=243018

271274 STOP 0x7B Error Message or Unformatted Partitions After You Apply
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=271274

294820 Installing Windows 2000 from a USB CD-ROM Drive May Cause a "Stop
0x7B"
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=294820

These are good ones to start off with.

--
Robert Mitchell
Windows NT4&2000 MCSE
Microsoft Enterprise Support

Search our Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com/directory
Visit the Windows 2000 Homepage at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/default.asp
See the Windows NT Homepage at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/

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[Desperate]

Thanks everyone for the advice!