Re: XP HOME BOOT FAILURE

From: Hoa (htle1955_at_istop.com)
Date: 09/16/04 

Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2004 07:12:38 -0400

Hi Michael,

I did check both hard drives using the setup CD ROM that came with the new
120 Gb Western Digital hard disk and they are both fine in tests. I then
downloaded and updated the driver for the original 80 GB Maxtor hard drive.
As a result, my computer now starts better than previously but still not
perfectly fast as before. When I turn on the machine, POST is OK then I
have to wait for 2-5 minutes between the XP screen and the Welcome login
screen, as compared to what seemed to be 20 minutes - forever a week ago.
If I press the reset button then in less than a minute the Welcome screen
comes on.
1) What seems to be the problem now?
2) What else do I need to do?
3) If I were to download the NVIDIA driver for updating, the manufacturer
recommends uninstalling the original driver first. But if I were to do
this, wouldn't the screen becomes blank and I wouldn't be able to go to
Device Manager and update the driver?

I would appreciate your advice/suggestions.

Hoa
leth5591<removethis>@gmail.com

"Beer is living.... 

-- 
Hoa
leth5591<removethis>@gmail.com
"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy"
Benjamin Franklin
"Michael Solomon (MS-MVP Windows Shell/User)" <user@#notme.com> wrote in
message news:uAyabecmEHA.3172@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> You can certainly upgrade to XP Pro but you need to resolve your issues
> first and you would have needed to create the ASR backup before the issue,
> hence it would be useless in your current situation.
>
> Also, since you have installed SP2 or have an apparent partial install of
> SP2, that would have to first be removed before you could upgrade to XP
Pro.
> If you run a repair install as I initially described, it should put your
> system back to Pre-SP condition.  Note, however, if your XP disk did not
> include SP1, that would be Pre-SP1 as well and all updates though, once
you
> resolve your issues, you can install SP2 and that will bring you up to
date
> on all updates including of SP1 up to the time SP2 was released.
>
> Before you move to XP Pro or even install SP2, you need to figure out what
> is the source of your issue.  It appears to be driver related, you should
> check your various hardware manufacturer websites for updates and
> compatibility with XP and SP2.
>
> -- 
> Michael Solomon MS-MVP
> Windows Shell/User
> Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>
> "Hoa" <htle1955@istop.com> wrote in message
> news:utftZnMmEHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> > Thank you Michael for your prompt response.  Looking in the Event Viewer
> > dialog box, I don't find anything that allows me to copy and paste the
> > event
> > log into Outlook Express email.  When I double click on an error, I can
> > get
> > to the description and MS help advice as well as reporting the error to
MS
> > via the Internet  but I cannot do anything else.  Not yet anyway.
> >
> > Although I haven't been able to do much to locate the source of the
> > problem
> > reported in my 1st post, the computer does eventually boot up.  The
> > following is typical for the past few days:
> >
> > Sunday Sept. 12 @ 05:25:
> > Turned computer on, found POST OK. XP screen appeared.  A blank blue
> > screen
> > immediately showed up and stayed awhile. Sound of hard drive(s) being
> > searched/read.  Green reset light ON. Orange light directly beneath ON.
At
> > 05:30 a.m. Welcome screen came on and I was able to use the computer.
> >
> > A look at the Event Viewer shows the following for 05:26:02: Event 9 -
> > IdeChnDr
> >
> > Can I upgrade from XP Home to XP Pro?  I read that XP Pro comes with ASR
> > (Automated System Recovery).
> >
> > -- 
> > Hoa
> > ec: leth5591<removethis>@gmail.com
> >
> > "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy"
> > Benjamin Franklin
> >
> > "Michael Solomon (MS-MVP Windows Shell/User)" <user@#notme.com> wrote in
> > message news:%239o9fTqlEHA.3016@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> >> A blue screen of death, BSOD, almost always means some sort of hardware
> >> issue.  It doesn't necessarily mean the hardware is bad but it might
mean
> >> you just need updated drivers.  It might be SP2 but given the problems
> > begin
> >> before you get to the desktop, it would seem to be hardware related.
One
> >> thing you should do is check the computer manufacturer's website for
any
> >> issues or updates with regard to SP2.  As to the error message you
> > received,
> >> if you added SP 1 as an update and then used your pre-SP1 CD to install
> > over
> >> itself, the system wouldn't find all the necessary files, hence the
> >> instruction you saw.  A repair install should bypass that but it will
> >> take
> >> the system back to pre-SP1 state.  I'll post the repair install
> > instructions
> >> at the bottom.  If you can get to the desktop, the information below
may
> >> help:
> >>
> >> Assuming you are able to boot to the desktop, here are some other
things
> > you
> >> can do that might help disgnose as well as possibly fix the problem:
> >> If your system is clear of viruses, open Control Panel, open System, go
> >> to
> >> the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery, remove the
> >> check from "Automatically Restart" under System Failure.  This will
cause
> >> the system to blue screen instead of restarting on errors and the
> >> information on the blue screen may give a clue as to the source of the
> >> issue.
> >>
> >> Open Control Panel, open Administrative Tools, open Event Viewer, look
> >> for
> >> errors corresponding to the crash, double click the error, the
> >> information
> >> contained within may give a clue as to the
> >> source of the problem.  If you don't understand the information inside,
> > the
> >> third button down in that dialog box will copy the information,
> >> you can then paste it into a message and post it here and maybe we can
> >> figure out what is going on.
> >>
> >> Assuming you have an XP CD and not a recovery CD, place the XP CD in
the
> >> drive, when the setup screen appears, select "Check System
> >> Compatibility,"
> >> the report it generates may point to problem hardware or software on
your
> >> system.  If you do not have an XP CD, you can download this application
> >> known as the Upgrade Advisor from the following site:
> >> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp
> >> Note: If you have access to a broadband connection it might be best to
> >> download using that as this is a rather large download.
> >>
> >> Check for the latest drivers for your hardware, especially your
graphics
> >> card and soundcard and all peripherals connected to your system.  Do
not
> > use
> >> Windows Update for this, go to the device manufacturer's web sites and
if
> >> you install updated drivers, ignore the message about drivers being
> > unsigned
> >> by Microsoft.  *Before installing any drivers, be sure you are well
> >> backed
> >> up and it's probably a good idea to manually create a restore point in
> >> System Restore in case you have problems as a result of the driver
update
> >> and note, System Restore is not a substitute for a backup.  Start\All
> >> Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore
> >>
> >> REPAIR INSTALL
> >> NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
> >> something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to
> >> start
> >> over and do a clean install of XP.  If you don't have your data backed
> >> up,
> >> you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.
> >>
> >> Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive and you have
an
> >> actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, boot with the XP
> >> CD in the drive and perform a repair install as outlined below.  If the
> >> system isn't set to boot from the CD or you are not sure, you need to
> > enter
> >> the system's BIOS.  When you boot the system, the first screen usually
> >> has
> >> instructions that if you wish to enter set press a specific key, when
you
> >> see that, do so.  Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence,
if
> >> the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence.
> > Save
> >> your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive.  The system will
> > reboot.
> >>
> >> When the system boots, a few screens into the process you may see a
> > message
> >> instructing you
> >> to hit any key in order to boot from the CD along with a countdown.
When
> >> you see this be sure to
> >> hit a key on the keyboard, if you miss this instruction and the system
> > fails
> >> to boot from the CD, it's too
> >> late, you'll need to reboot and try again.
> >>
> >> Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin.  You will see a
> >> reference
> >> asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if
you
> >> wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2.  Just
let
> >> setup run past all of that.  It will continue to load files and
drivers.
> >>
> >> Then it will bring you to a screen.  Eventually, you will come to a
> >> screen
> >> with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
> >> using the Recovery console.   ***The selection you want at this screen
is
> >> "Setup Windows,"
> >> NOT "Repair Windows Installation.
> >>
> >> The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you
> >> to
> >> press enter.  When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement.
> > Setup
> >> will then search for previous versions of Windows.  Upon finding your
> >> version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
> >> install fresh.  Press R, that will run a repair installation.  From
there
> >> on, follow the screens.
> >>
> >> Note, in some cases, you won't receive the repair option, only an
option
> > to
> >> reinstall.  We have discovered that sometimes this is caused by damaged
> >> boot.ini file that can be repaired as follows and also note, in the
> >> instructions, "K" refers to the CD drive in which you have placed the
XP
> > CD,
> >> replace that drive letter with the appropriate letter on your system,
"K"
> > is
> >> simply an example.
> >>
> >> Reboot, this time taking the immediate R option (this is the section I
> > told
> >> you to skip above.  In this case, you will need to get to the Recovery
> >> Console to perform the function below), and if the CD letter is say K:
> > give
> >> these commands
> >>
> >> COPY K:\i386\ntldr  C:
> >> COPY K:\i386\ntdetect.com  C:
> >>     (two other files needed - just in case)
> >> ATTRIB -H -R -S  C:\boot.ini
> >> DEL C:\boot.ini
> >> BootCfg  /Rebuild
> >>
> >> Once you've completed this function, reboot and see if you can access
XP
> > as
> >> sometimes, the problem is the damaged boot.ini.  If you still cannot
> > access
> >> XP, then reboot and re-run the repair install instructions at the
> > beginning
> >> of this message.
> >>
> >> If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite limited.  You
can
> >> either purchase a retail version of XP which will allow you to perform
> >> the
> >> above
> >> among other tools and options it has or you can run your system
recovery
> >> routine with the Recovery CD which will likely wipe your drive,
deleting
> > all
> >> files but will restore your setup to factory fresh condition.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> -- 
> >> Michael Solomon MS-MVP
> >> Windows Shell/User
> >> Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
> >> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
> >>
> >> "Hoa" <htle1955@istop.com> wrote in message
> >> news:O8dyTAqlEHA.2224@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> >> > Hello there,
> >> > I have Win XP Home SP1.  I update it quite regularly. Recently I
> >> > experienced
> >> > an annoying problem described below:
> >> > Turned on computer. XP screen appeared and stayed for quite a long
time
> >> > but
> >> > the Welcome screen did not show up. I pressed the reset button
several
> >> > times
> >> > but nothing seems to happen.  Eventually the screen message said to
the
> >> > effect Win does not start correctly.  I believe I chose the Safe
Mode?
> >> > Still didn't work.  I inserted the OS Cd to re-install XP.  I then
was
> >> > prompted to find a file called "usbehci.sys" in
> >> > "d:\drivers\usb2\winxp_sp1".
> >> > I couldn't find it anywhere so I ignored the prompt and chose Cancel.
> >> > I
> >> > was
> >> > then asked to insert Network Adapter Card.  Same thing, so I either
> > chose
> >> > Cancel or Next.  Could not connect to the Internet.   BIOS booted
> > normally
> >> > but I could not go beyond the XP screen. The 3 green squares in the
> >> > address
> >> > window swept so slowly.  I had to re-install XP quite a number of
> >> > times,
> >> > so
> >> > I almost gave up in frustration.  I then called my brother who
advised
> > me
> >> > to
> >> > insert the support CD that came with the ASUS P4XP-X Motherboard and
> >> > downloaded the LAN driver. Then I was able to get Win XP and Internet
> >> > connection.  I then used Norton AV 2004 to scan for viruses, found
> >> > none.
> >> > Used Spybot SD to check for spywares, found none.  My elation was
> >> > short-lived, since the next day I was not able to boot again. I took
> >> > the
> >> > computer to the store where I bought it last year for a check.  They
> > found
> >> > nothing wrong with the hardware, and suggested that the 80GB hard
drive
> > be
> >> > reformatted and XP re-installed.  I had them install a new, second
hard
> >> > drive (120 GB) and install XP on it.  Everything worked fine when I
get
> >> > home. However this morning I watched the blue screen of death. I had
to
> >> > reboot and even then had to wait for 10 minutes before the Welcome
> > screen
> >> > appears.  This afternoon same thing happened.  Could the new problem
be
> >> > due
> >> > to the SP2 that the store installed in my new hard drive? The
computer
> >> > works
> >> > for now!
> >> > My apology for being long winded.  This is my first post and I have
to
> >> > describe the problem as best as I can remember. I would very much
> >> > appreciate
> >> > any helpful suggestions to fix the problem.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > -- 
> >> > Hoa
> >> > leth5591<removethis>@gmail.com
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>