Startup Problem

[Guest]

When I try to start my computer, when it should display the Windows XP
loading screen, it diplays a grey progress bar that fills up, and then
nothing happens.

 

[db]

what is the reaction if
you boot into safemode?
When I try to start my computer, when it should display the Windows XP
loading screen, it diplays a grey progress bar that fills up, and then
nothing happens.

 

[Guest]

It loads the drivers then frezes up

 

[db]

hmm, that's not good.

neither safemode or normal
mode will launch.

therefore, you are only left
with using emergency boot up
disks or your windows setup cd.

you can try a chkdsk at the
c prompt via your recovery console.

if the mft has crashed, the chkdsk
will repair it and give the o.s. a chance
to start.

to do this boot with
your win setup cd, go to recovery console
and type chkdsk at the prompt.

afterwards
type exit and try to boot normally or safely
again.

if still unable to boot into either mode
then i would suggest to simply do
a repair installation with the win cd.

this method could be a better one
as it would likely repair your o.s. and
give you access to the system again.

be sure that you have only the kb,mouse
and monitor connected to the pc. then boot
with your windows setup, select install or
upgrade. It will then give you the option
to install a new o.s. or repair the one it
finds on your h.d.

if you can boot up again, it would be
imperative to track down what likely
caused your crash.

- db
It loads the drivers then frezes up

 

[Guest]

I tried all that and it still didn't work

hmm, that's not good.

neither safemode or normal
mode will launch.

therefore, you are only left
with using emergency boot up
disks or your windows setup cd.

you can try a chkdsk at the
c prompt via your recovery console.

if the mft has crashed, the chkdsk
will repair it and give the o.s. a chance
to start.

to do this boot with
your win setup cd, go to recovery console
and type chkdsk at the prompt.

afterwards
type exit and try to boot normally or safely
again.

if still unable to boot into either mode
then i would suggest to simply do
a repair installation with the win cd.

this method could be a better one
as it would likely repair your o.s. and
give you access to the system again.

be sure that you have only the kb,mouse
and monitor connected to the pc. then boot
with your windows setup, select install or
upgrade. It will then give you the option
to install a new o.s. or repair the one it
finds on your h.d.

if you can boot up again, it would be
imperative to track down what likely
caused your crash.

- db
It loads the drivers then frezes up

 

[db]

unfortunately, then
it sounds like faulty hardware.

could be bad ram, bad
harddrive or maybe the cpu
is overheating.

you should
double check your bios/cmos
to ensure your harddrive is
registered.

check inside and make sure
your cables are properly connected
and not frayed, your fans are
working, etc.

microsoft.com also provides a
utility to check your ram memory
from a cd disk.

basically, i dont think your
o.s. crashed. it simply can no
longer function because of faulty
hardware. if it were not the hardware
then you should have been freely able
to utilize the windows cd..

it may also be possible
to unhook your harddrive
and install it as a slave on
another pc so that you can
use a functional o.s. to
analyze the faulty hd.

- db
I tried all that and it still didn't work

 

[Guest]

What's weird is that I can start into DOS on my other hard drive, and play a
game that is on it. Also, how would I test what hardware it is? I have
tested the RAM, and it turned out that it was fine.

 

[db]

hmm, gets more confusing with
each posting...

basically, a harddrive is a simple
piece of hardware that stores
software. if you cannot access
it with your win cd or a bootup
disk, then the issue cannot be
software related.

when you add another harddrive
to a system, their roles have to
be configured and they must
be connected to the ribbon cable
appropriately.

harddrives have jumpers in
the back to designate their
roles as either master or slave.

when you mention that the
other hd is accessible but the
main harddrive is not, then the
issue you consider to be odd
may not be as odd as you think.

if i recall, the main drive should
have its jumpers set as master
and it should be plugged into the
end of the ribbon cable. then
your cmos/bios must register
that drive as master and the exact
size must also be indicated.
also your boot order should be
set to cd. (at this time other drive
should not be connected during this
process in order to have only one
drive to focus on)

then boot up with windows cd
and begin the install process.

if it won't install, then switch
out the drives with the other one
you say functions. try reinstalling
windows on it.

hopefully, you will get some
kind of results. if not, then
you may simply need to take
it into a computer repair shop
or get a neighborly geek to come
in and take a physical look into
the problems you are incurring.

- db
What's weird is that I can start into DOS on my other hard drive, and play a
game that is on it. Also, how would I test what hardware it is? I have
tested the RAM, and it turned out that it was fine.

 

[Guest]

I think it can acess the hard drive, because it was able to reinstall
windows. Also, when I go into DOS, I only have to tap the power button to
turn it off. When it shows the grey bar, I need to hold it down for a few
seconds.

 

[db]

ok, at the prompt try to run

chkdsk

then run at the prmpt

fixmbr


I think it can acess the hard drive, because it was able to reinstall
windows. Also, when I go into DOS, I only have to tap the power button to
turn it off. When it shows the grey bar, I need to hold it down for a few
seconds.

 

[Guest]

Did that, no changes.

ok, at the prompt try to run

chkdsk

then run at the prmpt

fixmbr


I think it can acess the hard drive, because it was able to reinstall
windows. Also, when I go into DOS, I only have to tap the power button to
turn it off. When it shows the grey bar, I need to hold it down for a few
seconds.

 

[Guest]

Did that, no changes.

ok, at the prompt try to run

chkdsk

then run at the prmpt

fixmbr


I think it can acess the hard drive, because it was able to reinstall
windows. Also, when I go into DOS, I only have to tap the power button to
turn it off. When it shows the grey bar, I need to hold it down for a few
seconds.

 

[db]

well,
options are running short here.

it seems you can access the
harddrive and run a couple of
tools.

however, you cannot run
your windows setup successfully.

is your win cd an oem?
what is the size of your harddisk?
how much free space you have on it?
can access the windows folder?
do you have a i386 folder?


Did that, no changes.

 

[Guest]

I was able to run the Windows XP setup sucessfully, absoultely no errors.
Sorry about the duplicate post. Also, what is an OEM? I was previously able
to run WinXP on that same Hard disk.

 

[Guest]

I was able to run the Windows XP setup sucessfully, absoultely no errors.
Sorry about the duplicate post. Also, what is an OEM? I was previously able
to run WinXP on that same Hard disk.

 

[Guest]

I was able to run the Windows XP setup sucessfully, absoultely no errors.
Sorry about the duplicate post. Also, what is an OEM? I was previously able
to run WinXP on that same Hard disk.