XP Stalls at detection screen on first bootup after unplug

[w_tom]

Power cycling computers is destructive. For example, a hard
drive listed by manufacturer to be the most failure prone to
power cycling could only withstand 40,000 power cycles. That
means power cycling seven times every day for about 15 years.
Yes power cycling is destructive - because those junk
scientists fear numbers. Apply numbers and we say - "Who
cares!" Power cycling is only destructive if the computer
will be used 20 years later AND is power cycled every day at
least seven times. In short, always first demand numbers
from those junk scientists. They expose themselves as myth
purveyors because they don't have numbers - just a feeling.

Power switch is rated for about 100,000 cycles. Seven times
every day for what? 30 years?

 

[Kimberly]

Well I can say that I feel better about having turned my
machine off and on about 20 times a day for 4 days now. I
do believe that I found my problem. I unplugged all my
cd/dvd writer, my cd/dvd reader and my floppy drive. I
first plugged in my floppy drive, it booted up fine. Next
I plugged in my cd/dvd writer. The boot up was fine,
however windows did not show this drive. I turned off and
removed power, reseated the ribbon cable connection to
the drive, at this point the boot up failure happened,
next I switched to the end connection of the ribbon cable
to this same drive (the connection that once was plugged
into my cd/dvd reader drive) this caused a boot failure
as well. Then I disconnected the drive all together. The
computer booted up fine. The last thing I did was connect
my reader drive, boot up was good. So the problem seems
to be my Sony 8x dvd/cd burner. On a side note, there is
a ticking noise that my computer makes. I can only hear
it when I on the floor with my ear next to the computer
or of course when the cover was off the computer I was
able to hear it better. Is this normal, it is a constant
tick that never changes speed or tone. I checked all the
3 case fans the fan on the processor , and the fan on the
video card, none of them have any cables near them (in
fact all the cables are neatly tied up with wire ties)and
I checked them when the computer was off and they spin
free.

Thank you again for your help.