Desktop will not fully boot (Full Version)

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SerenityNet -> Desktop will not fully boot (11/17/2007 13:07:31)

Power problems caused the PC to shut off unexpectedly last night. There might have been a surge, even though we have a whole-house surge protector.

Anyway, now the PC will not fully boot - with any OS. I have tried:
  • Windows XP-Pro SPII (as installed)
  • Windows XP-Pro (installed but Safe Mode)
  • Windows XP-Pro (but from a Bart's PE Builder disk)
  • Windows XP-Pro (from the installation disks)
  • Linspire 5.0 (configured to run on this hardware - a separate HD)
  • Windows 98 (configured to run on this hardware - a separate HD)
  • Taking out my PCI-Express video card and using the integrated video
  • Taking out the modem card.
  • Disconnecting slave drives.
  • Disconnecting USB devices and other peripheral devices.
  • Removing the three RAM cards and trying each separately.
With each variation, I get the system BIOS boot texts, then I get the Windows (or Linspire) splash screen, then it hangs and goes no further.

When I boot in Safe Mode, the logging gets to
Multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\Windows\system32\Drivers\BTHidMgr.sys and then goes no further.

At first I thought this was a software problem caused by an unsafe shutdown. But now, since it won't boot any OS past the splash screen, I'm thinking it may be hardware.

Any suggestions on how to proceed from here?

Thanks in advance,
Andrew

PS. This is regarding a Compaq Presario SR1720NX with an AMD Sempron processor.



Larry M. -> RE: Desktop will not fully boot (11/17/2007 14:03:43)

quote:

I'm thinking it may be hardware


Andrew,

This sounds like your hard drive going south. Boot to your Windows XP disk then select Repair. In the Repair module there are three DOS commands that may fix your problem.

Try them in this order (rebooting after each function): C:\CHKDSK /R, C:\FIXMBR C: AND C:\FIXBOOT C:.

Also, If you have good file backups use Restore in Safe Mode.

Hope this helps [8D]



SerenityNet -> RE: Desktop will not fully boot (11/17/2007 15:04:57)

quote:

Boot to your Windows XP disk then select Repair.

Thanks Larry. But that is the first thing I tried.

I put in the CD and start the PC
  • I get the, "Press any key to boot from CD..." (and I press the space bar)
  • It goes to the Windows Setup screen.
  • I see it go through the text: "Setup is loading files (xxx)..."
  • Then it goes to the text, "Setup is starting Windows".
  • Then it freezes.
  • I never get to the option of being able to select Repair or Restore.

  • As mentioned above. I removed the Hard Drive and tried a Linspire configured hard drive. It freezes shortly after the splash screen on boot.
  • Then I tried a Win98SE configured hard drive. It freezes shortly after boot.
  • And I have tried a Bart's PE Builder Boot CD, both with and without the main hard drive connected. It freezes shortly after the Windows splash screen in both scenarios.
  • And just now I tried a Linspire Live, bootable CD, with and without the main Hard Drive attached. Both fail shortly after the startup splash screen appears.

I don't see how it could be the Hard Drive, as it would have to be three separate Hard Drives, two of which were not connected to the PC at the time of the power outage.

Maybe it could be the RAM, although I did try each of the booting with each of the chips separately in case it was just one of them gone bad. I don't have a chip available that wasn't in the PC at the time of the power failure.

It does seem most likely that it would be the processor or mother board, but I don't know if it is one or the other or both. And I don't know how to tell which it might be. I hesitate buying both, if I only need to replace one.

Thanks,
Andrew











Larry M. -> RE: Desktop will not fully boot (11/18/2007 11:28:49)

quote:

Power problems caused the PC to shut off unexpectedly last night


Andrew,

I'm may be stretching here, BUT a similar electrical surge/outage (going over "the top" of my APC 1500) situation several months ago caused my power supply to gradually fail which was preceded by squirrely system boot problems.

Since a new power supply (I upgraded) is considerably less expensive than the motherboad/processor route, you may wish to take this into consideration.

Good luck [8D]






BobbyDouglas -> RE: Desktop will not fully boot (11/18/2007 14:39:34)

Since it isn't software nor your hard drive, I would start to swap out hardware, starting from the easiest hardware, to the hardest.

Computer shops around here will let you bring your PC in, and try one of their PSUs. If that doesn't work, swap out the ram, then video card. If all of those don't fix your problem, I would RMA the motherboard and the CPU.



SerenityNet -> RE: Desktop will not fully boot (11/19/2007 18:44:49)

Thanks guys. I saw your posts, but was in a rush and didn't reply.

I swapped things out as you suggested and it boiled down to either the processor or motherboard. I couldn't get hold of a processor to swap out, but I was able to purchase a packaged motherboard and processor for less than what I would have had for service charges and one-or-the other parts. So now I have a new motherboard and processor.

Of course while I was at it, I bought a SATA hard drive. I'd like to make it my primary/boot drive and make my old primary (IDE) drive into a slave. So if I can hijack my own thread...

What would be the best way (hopefully low cost) to move my OS and all my data to the SATA and make it the boot drive?

Thanks again,
Andrew

PS. I've done some searching. I found "Acronis True Image 11" and a few others that didn't seem to amount to much. Is there any reason why I should pay $70USD for Norton Ghost vs. the $40USD for Acronis?



Larry M. -> RE: Desktop will not fully boot (11/20/2007 9:31:17)

quote:

PS. I've done some searching. I found "Acronis True Image 11" and a few others that didn't seem to amount to much. Is there any reason why I should pay $70USD for Norton Ghost vs. the $40USD for Acronis?


Andrew,

I highly recommend Acronis True Image 11. Just went through a flawless Restore on my desktop after installation of (yet another) hard drive yesterday.

Tips: (1) backup complete operating system (including files) to an external hard drive, (2) always validate the ATI proprietary .tib files thereafter, and (3) burn the ATI 11 boot files to CD and use it to manage the Restore process. If your machine doesn't recognize the ATI boot disk, use F2 to change boot order.

Out of necessity [:'(] , I've become quite conversant with the in's and out's of Acronis, versions 9-11, so feel free to contact me off-forum if you need help.

More info on Acronis here: http://www.frontpagewebmaster.com/m-366785/tm.htm



SerenityNet -> RE: Desktop will not fully boot (11/20/2007 11:27:26)

Thanks Larry. I believe I'll pick up Acronis.

And thanks for the offer of help. I'll get to this after the Thanksgiving holiday and quite likely you will see a PM from me.

Thanks again,
Andrew



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