Win2K freezes on boot

[Jeff P-B]

Yesterday my Win2000 machine crashed and, when I rebooted
it, it frooze on the reboot. The initial win logo splash
screen appears and the progress bar freezes about three
quarters though the process. I tried safe mode and even
dos prompt boot options, but none work. In the "DOS"
mode it lists all of the drivers that it loads and frezes
on agp440.sys.

I tried to use the recovery console, but it asks for the
admin password. I enter it, but it says it is
incorrect. I set up two computers the same day when we
bought these and I tested the admin password on the other
computer and it works there. I don't know why it won't
recognize my admin password.

Our data is on a server, so it won't be catastrophic if I
have to start over, but it will be a pain to install all
of the programs (especially since some of them are
downloaded not installed from CDs). Is there a default
admin password that I should try in case it is reverting
to a setup default? Is there anything else I can try?

Thanks

 

[dcdon]

Hi Jeff,

Go into the BIOS and set the "first boot device" to CD-ROM, place the CD in the tray
and restart. On posting one of the first screens will allow you to tap any key (I
always use the space bar) to use the CD to boot. All of the 4 floppy boot set will
be loaded and you will be asked if you want to run Setup or "repair". Because this
may be hardware related, and you are fresh anyway, choose "setup". You will be
prompted again as to whether you want to go ahead with the install or "repair". This
time choose "REPAIR". This will reload all OS files, and is basically a "clean
install" without loosing the drivers, individual settings, and data. Same as clean,
but takes less time. Be sure to isolate it from the network by removing the ethernet
cable. If this works, you should be able to boot okay again.

If it doesn't, I suggest you take all the hardware out of the box, except the
motherboard, and (video card, if not integrated) then boot. If it gets to that, and
the box is brand new, I would opt to have whoever, replace it with an RMA. But by
chance, the "Inplace Upgrade" did work, you will need to go get your SP, probably
SP4.

Please be advised that accepting all hotpatches "carte blanche" can create "needle
in a haystack" problems. Only use the critical updates and the other ones that
pertain to an issue with your particular setup. Yes, that means you gotta read each
one to see if it applies to your configuration.


good luck,
don

Oh, remember to revisit the BIOS to change the first boot device back to "floppy".


Yesterday my Win2000 machine crashed and, when I rebooted
it, it frooze on the reboot. The initial win logo splash
screen appears and the progress bar freezes about three
quarters though the process. I tried safe mode and even
dos prompt boot options, but none work. In the "DOS"
mode it lists all of the drivers that it loads and frezes
on agp440.sys.

I tried to use the recovery console, but it asks for the
admin password. I enter it, but it says it is
incorrect. I set up two computers the same day when we
bought these and I tested the admin password on the other
computer and it works there. I don't know why it won't
recognize my admin password.

Our data is on a server, so it won't be catastrophic if I
have to start over, but it will be a pain to install all
of the programs (especially since some of them are
downloaded not installed from CDs). Is there a default
admin password that I should try in case it is reverting
to a setup default? Is there anything else I can try?

Thanks

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Yesterday my Win2000 machine crashed and, when I rebooted
it, it frooze on the reboot. The initial win logo splash
screen appears and the progress bar freezes about three
quarters though the process. I tried safe mode and even
dos prompt boot options, but none work. In the "DOS"
mode it lists all of the drivers that it loads and frezes
on agp440.sys.

I tried to use the recovery console, but it asks for the
admin password. I enter it, but it says it is
incorrect. I set up two computers the same day when we
bought these and I tested the admin password on the other
computer and it works there. I don't know why it won't
recognize my admin password.

Our data is on a server, so it won't be catastrophic if I
have to start over, but it will be a pain to install all
of the programs (especially since some of them are
downloaded not installed from CDs). Is there a default
admin password that I should try in case it is reverting
to a setup default? Is there anything else I can try?

Thanks

Replace the admin's password with a blank password,
using the boot disk from here:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html

Now reboot into the Command Console and rename
agp440.sys to something else.

Lastly, plan ahead and create a secondary admin
account. I bet you would never own a car and have
just one set of keys, yet you currently have several
PCs with only one admin account . . .

 

[Guest]

THanks for the help, Don. I tried some of this (though I
didn't strip the box of all extra hardware. That can be
a job for today!)

When I book from the Win2K CD and try to use the repaid
option it asks for an admininstrator password. I tried
the admin password I used when I set up the computer, but
that does not seem to work. Is there a default or some
other admin passowrd that the system uses which is
preventing me from getting into the repair utility?

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
Hi Jeff,

Go into the BIOS and set the "first boot device" to CD- ROM, place the CD in the tray
and restart. On posting one of the first screens will allow you to tap any key (I
always use the space bar) to use the CD to boot. All of the 4 floppy boot set will
be loaded and you will be asked if you want to run Setup or "repair". Because this
may be hardware related, and you are fresh anyway, choose "setup". You will be
prompted again as to whether you want to go ahead with the install or "repair". This
time choose "REPAIR". This will reload all OS files, and is basically a "clean
install" without loosing the drivers, individual

settings, and data. Same as clean,

but takes less time. Be sure to isolate it from the

network by removing the ethernet