Weird XP Pro Boot Problem

[Owen Shiers]

Malke Wrote:

Since you didn't include any of your hardware details, it's not
possible
to give you specific help. However, usually problems installing an
operating system stem from faulty hardware. Check your cd drive(s),
RAM, etc. If you need to know how to do that or want more detailed
advice, post back with more information about your system.

Malke

Here's my PC spec. (I don't see how this is relevant since I
re-formatted and re-installed on the exact same system about a month
ago.

CHIP

AMD Athlon Mobile 1700 - 1.47Ghz
Thoroughbred Core
L2 Cache - 256KB

MOTHERBOARD

Model M825 v7.2c
Motherboard Chip: VIA VT8235

http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/chipsets/southbridge/vt8235/

GRAPHICS CARD

Radeon 9250 256MB AGP (running dual monitors)

SOUND CARD

M-Audio Delta 1010 (driver version 5.10.00.0048)

I've since tried another XP disk with no success. It might be worth
noting that I'm trying to install onto a partitioned hard drive (about
10G). I'll also check on the RAM.

Cheers

Owen

 

[Li'l Roberto]

Why did you have to reinstall the OS again ?, if you are having
stability problems then as per Malke's advice, you would have to
suspect bad hardware.

rgds
Li'l Roberto

 

[Malke]

Why did you have to reinstall the OS again ?, if you are having
stability problems then as per Malke's advice, you would have to
suspect bad hardware.

rgds
Li'l Roberto

(snip)

Thanks, Roberto. Owen - knowing something about the computer in question
helps a tech to narrow down the troubleshooting. A software solution
(reinstalling Windows) to a hardware problem is useless. As I said,
most problems with installing an operating system stem from hardware
failure. The fact that your hardware worked at one time is not germane
to anything. Here are some general hardware troubleshooting steps. With
operating system installation problems, I would start with the RAM
test.

1) Open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. Obviously, you
have to get the program from a working machine. You will either
download the precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable floppy or
the .iso to make a bootable cd. If you want to use the latter, you'll
need to have third-party burning software on the machine where you
download the file - XP's built-in burning capability won't do the job.
In either case, boot with the media you made. The test will run
immediately. Let the test run for an extended period of time - unless
errors are seen immediately. If you get any errors, replace the RAM.

3) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr. Usually
you will download the file and make a bootable floppy with it. Boot
with the media and do a thorough test. If the drive has physical
errors, replace it.

4) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system. The adequacy issue doesn't really apply to a
laptop, although of course the power
supply can be faulty.

5) Test the motherboard with something like TuffTest from
www.tufftest.com. Sometimes this is useful, and sometimes it isn't.

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a good local
computer repair shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).

Malke