XP reboots on boot up

[cypher_key]

I'm having an issue with my machine where XP Pro reboots as it boots
up. I'll try and provide as much info as possible for this.

When I attempt to boot in to safe mode, the last driver that appears
to load is agp440.sys. The machine reboot immediately after that.

I've tried selecting the boot log option after hitting F8. One does
not appear to be generated in the root of C. I check this by pulling
the drive from one computer and putting it another.

I've tried getting in through the recovery console using my XP CD but
it doesn't prompt me to select which Windows installation I want to
repair. When I get to the DOS prompt and type dir, I something about
failing to enumerate directory contents (I apologize for not having
the full error message).

When I try and do a repair install, setup can't find my installation.
I have hit F6 to ensure that my IDE controller drivers are loaded.

I've replaced the motherboard with the exact version since I initially
thought that it might be a hardware (IDE controller) problem.

All of this points to something wrong with the HD. I did use the on-
board RAID controller to create a mirror. This may have created an
issue where the partition table is not entirely correct.

So my question is: what can I do next. I really do not want to format/
re-install. When I put the drive in my other computer, the data is
accessible. I ran full chkdsk and everything came out clean. Ideas?

 

[Andrew E.]

F6 isnt a choice for an IDE controller,the drivers are already on the xp cd..
How would a xp OS imaged with a RAID set up,work as is on a IDE only config-
uration...

 

[cypher_key]

As I mentioned, I can read the data from my other workstation and
using a linux live CD. I know the data is there. So the question is
how to I get Windows to see it.

 

[Gerry]

Try this. What happens? Do you get a Stop Error message you can post?

Disable automatic restart on system failure. This should help by
allowing time to write down the STOP code properly. Right click on
the My Computer icon on the Desktop and select Properties, Advanced,
Start-Up and Recovery, System Failure and uncheck box before
Automatically Restart.

Do not re-enable automatic restart on system failure until you have
resolved the problem. Check for variants of the Stop Error message.

An alternative is to keep pressing the F8 key during Start-Up and select
option - Disable automatic restart on system failure.

If you are using a wireless keyboard and the F8 key does not work
substitute a wired keyboard and mouse for this exercise only.

What is your Windows XP CD as it is described on the face of the CD?


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Bjarke Andersen]

I'm having an issue with my machine where XP Pro reboots as it boots
up. I'll try and provide as much info as possible for this.

When I attempt to boot in to safe mode, the last driver that appears
to load is agp440.sys. The machine reboot immediately after that.

A google search points into chipset and/or videodriver issue. However as I
understand you cannot even get into windows at all so updating the drivers
is so far out of the question.

If so try this KB article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324764

If not update your AGP driver and Videodriver.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I'm having an issue with my machine where XP Pro reboots as it boots
up. I'll try and provide as much info as possible for this.

When I attempt to boot in to safe mode, the last driver that appears
to load is agp440.sys. The machine reboot immediately after that.

I've tried selecting the boot log option after hitting F8. One does
not appear to be generated in the root of C. I check this by pulling
the drive from one computer and putting it another.

DO this again, and try deleting pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys (if that
exists). Empty the recycle bin.

I've had this fix a few machines.

I've tried getting in through the recovery console using my XP CD but
it doesn't prompt me to select which Windows installation I want to
repair. When I get to the DOS prompt and type dir, I something about
failing to enumerate directory contents (I apologize for not having
the full error message).

When I try and do a repair install, setup can't find my installation.
I have hit F6 to ensure that my IDE controller drivers are loaded.

When the drive is in the other system, look at teh boot.ini. Where does
it say teh Windows install is located? Is this correct?

I've replaced the motherboard with the exact version since I initially
thought that it might be a hardware (IDE controller) problem.

All of this points to something wrong with the HD. I did use the on-
board RAID controller to create a mirror. This may have created an
issue where the partition table is not entirely correct.

So my question is: what can I do next. I really do not want to format/
re-install. When I put the drive in my other computer, the data is
accessible. I ran full chkdsk and everything came out clean. Ideas?

If you think the hard disk is the problem, put another disk in and install
to it. If the problem is solved, use the original drive as a backup to
restore your data and as a guide to reinstalling apps.

If the problem isn't solved, the problem wasn't the hard disk.


HTH
-pk

 

[cypher_key]

I did spend some time looking in to that. From what I can tell, that
setting is stored in the registry and therefore only modifiable when
the OS is running. I did some searching to determine if it's a flag
that can be added to boot.ini however that doesn't look possible. I
have seen that option when I hit "F8", however I may not be looking.

 

[cypher_key]

Thank you everyone for your help. I've made progress in fixing this
issue.

Based on Andrew E's comments, I re-enabled the RAID controller on the
motherboard. What confused me is the fact that the NTFS partition is
visible when the hard drive is in my other XP workstation. My current
assumption is that Windows was BSODing on an "Inaccessible boot
device" error since it's attempting to boot off the fakeraid volume.

I am not able to get in the Windows, but I'm still having issues. The
mouse is completely screwed up. If I move it slightly, the cursor
jumps around the screen and believes that I'm clicking.

Regardless, more troubleshooting required.

Thanks for everyone's assistance.

Aaron

 

[Gerry]

Be warned that what Andrew E posts can be harmless but it can also
damage your system. It is not unusual for an MVP to jump on Andrew E for
what he advises.

In most cases this option works "An alternative is to keep pressing the
F8 key during Start-Up and select option - Disable automatic restart on
system failure." You do not really need to understand you just need to
get a copy of the Stop Error Report and this is the best way to approch
the problem.

This question is also important as we need to have some way to get into
the computer when we know what the copy of the Stop Error Report is
telling us. "What is your Windows XP CD as it is described on the face
of the CD?"

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~