Weird reboot problem

[d362636]

I just recently had my motherboard go out(well, close to, at least, it
was one of those Dell boards with the bad capcitors), and I replaced
it with a similar model board(the only difference was that the front
side bus was 533mhz rather than 800mhz). Windows didn't seem to have a
problem with this. Not being satisfied with a "similar part", I found
my exact model number and again replaced the motherboard. Windows
didn't have a problem with this either.

Problem is, now around 4 out of 5 times, when I reboot the computer
goes through the normal process(Windows is shutting down, etc) and
when it comes back up I get a black screen(basically, no video) and I
can hear the HD turning, I can see activity via the light, something
is going on. It won't come up though, and rather than having to hold
the power button down to shut if off, if I just press it in lightly
the PC immediately shuts off(makes me believe that whatever activity
is going on in the HD, it isn't boot-related as we all know when
Windows is active you have to hold the power button down for a short
while to get the PC to just shut down).

Sometimes it'll make it as far as the Windows XP screen with the
little status bar moving about(right before "Welcome to Windows" shows
up) and then it'll go black with the same results as above.

Other than this issue the PC runs fine, just like it always had before
the capacitors went out on the original MB.

I've tried uninstalling certain Roxio and Nero apps that are known to
cause this issue in the MS Support database, I have scanned for
viruses, spyware or anything else of that nature. I have checked the
Start Up section(via Hijack this! or just the simple MS Config) for
anything odd. I have run Disc Scans, I have Defragged, everything. I
am just about out of ideas.

Reading up, I have found some people with somewhat similar
issues(nothing exactly like mine though) and there has been some talk
of "Init" files needing to be rebuilt or "MBR" needing to be repaired.
Before I attempt anything like that though, I thought I'd see what
ya'll had to say.

Any help on this would be much appreciated.

 

[Haggis]

quite often a "repair" install is required after replacing the MB.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[d362636]

quite often a "repair" install is required after replacing the MB.

I thought about this, but the fact that both motherboards were the
same thing(except for that 533 FSB) and Windows didn't see any new
hardware, or have any issues with it leads me to believe that the
initial Windows XP installation is fine. It is definitely something to
keep in mind though, I am just doing my best to avoid doing a
repair(ugly stuff).

 

[Rock]

I thought about this, but the fact that both motherboards were the
same thing(except for that 533 FSB) and Windows didn't see any new
hardware, or have any issues with it leads me to believe that the
initial Windows XP installation is fine. It is definitely something to
keep in mind though, I am just doing my best to avoid doing a
repair(ugly stuff).

Even though the motherboards were the same model number doesn't mean they
have the same components on them, particularly for OEM boards.

Not sure why you think a repair install is so ugly. Of course you do need a
regular XP installation CD for that and you need to revisit the windows
update site to reinstall all updates.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

I recommend you image the drive to an external hard drive using Acronis True
Image Home, version 10, then do the repair install. If it doesn't help or
makes matters worse you can restore the image.

 

[BillW50]

Even though the motherboards were the same model number doesn't mean
they have the same components on them, particularly for OEM boards.

Not sure why you think a repair install is so ugly. Of course you do
need a regular XP installation CD for that and you need to revisit
the windows update site to reinstall all updates.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

I recommend you image the drive to an external hard drive using
Acronis True Image Home, version 10, then do the repair install. If
it doesn't help or makes matters worse you can restore the image.

Acronis True Image Home will cost you money. There are free options too.
Including:

Paragon Drive Copy 8 Personal SE
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/downloads/2166317/paragon-drive-copy-personal

Ignore the 'time limited demo' reference on that page.

 

[Rock]

Acronis True Image Home will cost you money. There are free options too.
Including:

Paragon Drive Copy 8 Personal SE
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/downloads/2166317/paragon-drive-copy-personal

Ignore the 'time limited demo' reference on that page.

Yes it does cost, and it's well worth it. Newegg.com had it on sale the
other day for $21.99 (compared to $49.99 from Acronis)

 

[BillW50]

[snip]

Acronis True Image Home will cost you money. There are free options
too. Including:

Paragon Drive Copy 8 Personal SE
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/downloads/2166317/paragon-drive-copy-personal

Ignore the 'time limited demo' reference on that page.

Yes it does cost, and it's well worth it. Newegg.com had it on sale
the other day for $21.99 (compared to $49.99 from Acronis)

So I have heard the same from others. Although backing up doesn't seem
too complex thing to me. Even xcopy and BartPE (free) can handle it. Not
to mention what comes with Windows (free) ntbackup. Simpletons probably
should buy Acronis True Image Home though. As things like xcopy with all
of those switches is just too complex for them. And gosh, ntbackup with
point and click is also too tough for them.

 

[Rock]

"BillW50" wrote
[snip]

Acronis True Image Home will cost you money. There are free options
too. Including:

Paragon Drive Copy 8 Personal SE
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/downloads/2166317/paragon-drive-copy-personal

Ignore the 'time limited demo' reference on that page.

Yes it does cost, and it's well worth it. Newegg.com had it on sale
the other day for $21.99 (compared to $49.99 from Acronis)

So I have heard the same from others. Although backing up doesn't seem too
complex thing to me. Even xcopy and BartPE (free) can handle it. Not to
mention what comes with Windows (free) ntbackup. Simpletons probably
should buy Acronis True Image Home though. As things like xcopy with all
of those switches is just too complex for them. And gosh, ntbackup with
point and click is also too tough for them.

Backup and imaging are two different beasts. I discarded ntbackup long ago
as a reliable full system recovery solution.

If you're so hot on ntbackup and xcopy why did you recommend Paragon to the
OP instead of those programs? You just like to be argumentative is all.

 

[BillW50]

[snip]

Backup and imaging are two different beasts.

Yes to simpletons, yes they are. Although for advanced users interested
in restoring things back to once they once were, no. As both methods
works and does the same thing in the end.

I discarded ntbackup
long ago as a reliable full system recovery solution.

For simpletons yes. They don't understand what can and won't happen. Nor
do they want to learn either.

If you're so hot on ntbackup and xcopy why did you recommend Paragon
to the OP instead of those programs?

Not at all. Paragon is just fine for simpletons. Plus it is free.

You just like to be
argumentative is all.

No, I have to switch gears a lot. First I thought I was talking to
experienced users, but I was wrong.

 

[Rock]

Yes to simpletons, yes they are. Although for advanced users interested in
restoring things back to once they once were, no. As both methods works
and does the same thing in the end.


For simpletons yes. They don't understand what can and won't happen. Nor
do they want to learn either.


Not at all. Paragon is just fine for simpletons. Plus it is free.


No, I have to switch gears a lot. First I thought I was talking to
experienced users, but I was wrong.

What happened, Bill? Did the your Word the Day club happen to choose
"simpleton"? Don't bother to answer. We know what that would be.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

LOL!!! Imaging and old-fashioned backup are technically the same thing?
Rock's right, your only interest is to blather inanities, just to get
someone else to argue with you. Get a life.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

[snip]

Backup and imaging are two different beasts.

Yes to simpletons, yes they are. Although for advanced users interested in
restoring things back to once they once were, no. As both methods works
and does the same thing in the end.

I discarded ntbackup
long ago as a reliable full system recovery solution.

For simpletons yes. They don't understand what can and won't happen. Nor
do they want to learn either.

If you're so hot on ntbackup and xcopy why did you recommend Paragon
to the OP instead of those programs?

Not at all. Paragon is just fine for simpletons. Plus it is free.

You just like to be
argumentative is all.

No, I have to switch gears a lot. First I thought I was talking to
experienced users, but I was wrong.

 

[BillW50]

LOL!!! Imaging and old-fashioned backup are technically the same
thing? Rock's right, your only interest is to blather inanities, just
to get someone else to argue with you. Get a life.

And what is the end result Gary? LOL

 

[BillW50]

What happened, Bill? Did the your Word the Day club happen to choose
"simpleton"? Don't bother to answer. We know what that would be.

I was being kind Rock. Why do you ask?

 

[Dell_C.A.]

I just recently had my motherboard go out(well, close to, at least, it
was one of those Dell boards with the bad capcitors), and I replaced
it with a similar model board(the only difference was that the front
side bus was 533mhz rather than 800mhz). Windows didn't seem to have a
problem with this. Not being satisfied with a "similar part", I found
my exact model number and again replaced the motherboard. Windows
didn't have a problem with this either.

Problem is, now around 4 out of 5 times, when I reboot the computer
goes through the normal process(Windows is shutting down, etc) and
when it comes back up I get a black screen(basically, no video) and I
can hear the HD turning, I can see activity via the light, something
is going on. It won't come up though, and rather than having to hold
the power button down to shut if off, if I just press it in lightly
the PC immediately shuts off(makes me believe that whatever activity
is going on in the HD, it isn't boot-related as we all know when
Windows is active you have to hold the power button down for a short
while to get the PC to just shut down).

Sometimes it'll make it as far as the Windows XP screen with the
little status bar moving about(right before "Welcome to Windows" shows
up) and then it'll go black with the same results as above.

Other than this issue the PC runs fine, just like it always had before
the capacitors went out on the original MB.

I've tried uninstalling certain Roxio and Nero apps that are known to
cause this issue in the MS Support database, I have scanned for
viruses, spyware or anything else of that nature. I have checked the
Start Up section(via Hijack this! or just the simple MS Config) for
anything odd. I have run Disc Scans, I have Defragged, everything. I
am just about out of ideas.

Reading up, I have found some people with somewhat similar
issues(nothing exactly like mine though) and there has been some talk
of "Init" files needing to be rebuilt or "MBR" needing to be repaired.
Before I attempt anything like that though, I thought I'd see what
ya'll had to say.

Any help on this would be much appreciated.

Hello,

My name is Mike, I’m a Technical Analyst located at Dell corporate
headquarters in Round Rock, TX. I’m part of an internet outreach team
developed to interact with the online community regarding technical
questions and issues that customers face with Dell products. I read
your question and wanted to chime in.

It sounds like the problem may be a software glitch with the reboot
script. There are a few logical reasons why this could happen so let’s
focus more on what could fix it. I would try running a repair on the OS
to rewrite the original Windows reboot script and locate and fix any bad
or failing sectors on the hard drive. You’ve done an excellent job at
hitting all of the usual troubleshooting such as creating and checking
logs (hijack this), uninstalling known troublesome software, scanned
for virus and spy/adware, checked startup environment (although you may
want to completely clear the startup environment and see if helps at
all. I would recommend physically disconnecting from the internet while
doing this though as the services for your anti virus client will not be
started.), defrags and research.

If the repair and clearing the startup environment don’t have any
affect on the problem then fixing the Master Boot Record would be the
next logical step. In all of this I would definitely take the time, if
you haven’t already, to back up the important data on the drive. This
is for two reasons, first, just to be safe, and second, because in the
end, if all else fails, a complete reinstall may be the best way to go.
I hope this information is helpful.

Thank you,

Mike
Dell customer advocate

 

[d362636]

Just so Google Groups can archive this for anyone who may also be
having this problem, I got the answer from a suggestion at the Dell
User Forums. Someone suggested removing the CMOS battery for a few
minutes. It did the trick. No more rebooting oddness, and the PC even
starts up faster now(well, as fast as it used to before the MB
switch).