Media Center 2005 will not boot.

[Dalwell]

I have an HP Pavilion, a1640n, system running Media Center 2005 with SP 3
installed from the Microsoft Update site. When I try to boot, I get the
option screen for Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, etc screen. No matter
what option I choose the system powers down, gives me the HP logo screen and
returns to this option screen. It will let me enter the boot menu, setup and
system recovery console, but will not boot. I have run fixboot, fixmbr,
chkdsk /r but still get the same result. I decided the frustration level was
approaching redline and used the original XP install disc to reformat the
drive and put a clean install on. The disc will run through the preliminary
loading of files and drivers, but when it reaches the "Starting Windows XP"
screen it goes to the blue stop error screen listing the error number as
0x0000007B(0xF78D2524, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000) I have searched
the Microsoft Knowledge base for this error with no result. Thinking the hard
drive controller might have died I installed a PCI RAID controller card, but
it did not solve anything. I would appreciate any help anyone can give me.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have an HP Pavilion, a1640n, system running Media Center 2005 with SP 3
installed from the Microsoft Update site. When I try to boot, I get the
option screen for Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, etc screen. No
matter
what option I choose the system powers down, gives me the HP logo screen
and
returns to this option screen. It will let me enter the boot menu, setup
and
system recovery console, but will not boot. I have run fixboot, fixmbr,
chkdsk /r but still get the same result. I decided the frustration level
was
approaching redline and used the original XP install disc to reformat the
drive and put a clean install on. The disc will run through the
preliminary
loading of files and drivers, but when it reaches the "Starting Windows
XP"
screen it goes to the blue stop error screen listing the error number as
0x0000007B(0xF78D2524, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000) I have searched
the Microsoft Knowledge base for this error with no result. Thinking the
hard
drive controller might have died I installed a PCI RAID controller card,
but
it did not solve anything. I would appreciate any help anyone can give me.

You mention that you formatted and reinstalled - was there *anything* left
on the drive, any of your old data held over?

Disconnect any devices that aren't critical, down to just monitor, keyboard
and mouse. You may want, or have, to redo the install in this manner.

If you do reinstall, start from below the format - delete and recreate the
partition then format and install. If you've got another hard disk
handy, you might want to try a quick install to that to rule out any bad
effects of the original drive.

Remove the CMOS battery, locate the CMOS CLEAR jumper, and clear the CMOS.
Put the jumper back and put the battery back in.

Otherwise, you may be looking at hardware failure of some type, in
particular memory errors. Unfortunately this is fixed by replacement, and
it can be difficult to isolate the problem component.

Open the case and have a look at the dust situation on the fans and
heatsinks. This can easily lead to overheating, and the problem is greater
if there are smokers in the area. Tar turns out to be sticky.

You may want to dust it while you are in there - do not use a vaccuum, use a
can of compressed air.

HTH
-pk

 

[Dalwell]

You mention that you formatted and reinstalled - was there *anything* left
on the drive, any of your old data held over?

Disconnect any devices that aren't critical, down to just monitor, keyboard
and mouse. You may want, or have, to redo the install in this manner.

If you do reinstall, start from below the format - delete and recreate the
partition then format and install. If you've got another hard disk
handy, you might want to try a quick install to that to rule out any bad
effects of the original drive.

Remove the CMOS battery, locate the CMOS CLEAR jumper, and clear the CMOS.
Put the jumper back and put the battery back in.

Otherwise, you may be looking at hardware failure of some type, in
particular memory errors. Unfortunately this is fixed by replacement, and
it can be difficult to isolate the problem component.

Open the case and have a look at the dust situation on the fans and
heatsinks. This can easily lead to overheating, and the problem is greater
if there are smokers in the area. Tar turns out to be sticky.

You may want to dust it while you are in there - do not use a vaccuum, use a
can of compressed air.

HTH
-pk

Sorry if I wasn't clear. When I tried to reformat & install, the program runs through the loading of files, but when the first "Loading Windows XP" screen comes up it goes directly to the blue stop error screen, it never gets to the install, format, etc options. I clean the inside regularly, no smokers about, but I have'nt tried clearing the CMOS.

 

[Dalwell]

OK, I cleared the CMOS, went into setup & reset the BIOS to factory
defaults. Still the same problem.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

=========

Do you have another hard disk, of any size, available to pop in and see how
far you get? Or, you are planning on wiping the drive anyway - attach it
to another system and remove the partitions (do not remove restore or
utility partitions). Then put it back in your system. If you still get
the BSOD, you have some other hardware failure. If you don't get the BSOD
with the "new" drive but the old one triggers it, the defect is with your
original drive.

And be sure you have only the most essential hardware attached, remove all
printers, scanners, extra cards, etc. Leave only the video card.

HTH
-pk

 

[Dalwell]

=========

Do you have another hard disk, of any size, available to pop in and see how
far you get? Or, you are planning on wiping the drive anyway - attach it
to another system and remove the partitions (do not remove restore or
utility partitions). Then put it back in your system. If you still get
the BSOD, you have some other hardware failure. If you don't get the BSOD
with the "new" drive but the old one triggers it, the defect is with your
original drive.

And be sure you have only the most essential hardware attached, remove all
printers, scanners, extra cards, etc. Leave only the video card.

HTH
-pk

I've already tried a brand new drive with the same result, therefore, I saw no reason to put the old drive in another system . I don't have an external floppy drive or I would try to reinstall the factory controller driver. Do you know of any way to put the driver on using a flash drive or cd?

 

[Patrick Keenan]

====

OK! If you used a new drive, which means a new XP install, and got the same
result, it's not the OS and is likely some subtle hardware failure or
conflict on the board.

What does HP support say about this, if anything?

As to the floppy issue, XP Setup can't look anywhere except the A drive,
which means you need a USB floppy drive, which might cost you $25 and can be
used with any system. Or, as this is a desktop system, if it has a floppy
controller on the board and a drive bay, internal floppy drives are around
$15. I'd personally go with the external as it can be used with laptops.

HTH
-pk

 

[Dalwell]

====

OK! If you used a new drive, which means a new XP install, and got the same
result, it's not the OS and is likely some subtle hardware failure or
conflict on the board.

What does HP support say about this, if anything?

As to the floppy issue, XP Setup can't look anywhere except the A drive,
which means you need a USB floppy drive, which might cost you $25 and can be
used with any system. Or, as this is a desktop system, if it has a floppy
controller on the board and a drive bay, internal floppy drives are around
$15. I'd personally go with the external as it can be used with laptops.

HTH
-pk


HP support doesn't say anything, if I search their site for the stop error number given on the bsod I get a zero result.

I did'nt try a new HD with XP installed, I tried a new, out of the box, HD
& the XP install disk.
Yeah, sounds like I'm about to be the proud new owner of an external floppy
disk drive.