Re: W2K pro bootup hangs just before icons appear

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I hope it's not a hardware problem.

But it could be a bad spot on the disk surface, for example. If some very important W2k system code (that doesn't get loaded in safe mode) is on that spot, hardware retries could go on for a Very Long Time. The system will just keep issuing seeks, and maybe sooner or later the bitstring will make it across the controller successfully.

Such problems tend to be degenerative. Never self-healing. Occasionally correctable, usually by modifying the Bad Sector Table (which various tools can do.) The Bad Sector Table lists disk surface sections that are never to be used by the OS.

BP wrote:

Ok Ill run some diagnostics, but why does it boot into Safe Mode?

"Dan Seur" wrote:


Hard drives that sound like a rhythm section are often destined for the town dump.

Download and run the drive diagnostic (a floppy image, bootable) from the manufacturer's website.

Back up all your important data ASAP.

There's a chance that
(1) the manufacturer's tech support people can replace the drive if it's still under warranty (they'll know from the serial number), and
(2) the Spinrite software package from www.grc.com can identify and fix surface errors.

BP wrote:


I have a W2K pro PC, Compaq EVO 1.8Ghz , 256mb, 20gig HD. Will not boot all the way up in normal mode, hangs just before the desktop icons appear and the hard drive makes a rythm sound of three short hits and one longer hit. It does come up 1 hour later but I can not click on anything still hangs. Almost like it is looping? I can boot into safe mode with network and get to the internet no problem. I ran Panda it found NDNuninstall6_90.exe so I deleted that file ran Panda again found nothing. ran trial spy sweaper found nothing else ran spy doctor found nothing. rebooted in normal mode and hangs in same spot. I have good PC knowledge but Im stuck on this one. Files are backed up, I can run windows recover but I really do not want to format. Any Help?


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