Can't boot to XP

[CordialSpam]

When I got home today I saw my computer is "near-freezing" (Mouse can move but clicking anything won't work) after couple minutes later of random-clicking my comp rebooting. I thought it was just a regular computer crash..but after it rebooted it won't boot up anymore. After "detecting IDE deveices" the monitor goes black. Bascailly the comp won't make it to the boot screen and it crashes when it is about going to the windows boot screen. Ok so I thought this would be fixed by booting into safe mode and mess around with it..but I was wrong..I couldn't boot into safe mode (the screen freezes up after I HIT ENTER to boot to safe mode). Basically it won't boot to anything..I tried last known config..etc..everything. The furthest my comp can make is to the screen where you can select safe mode etc..

After this I tried booting with Windows XP CD..it will not work..I can hit F6 to the "Windows Automated System Recovery" but I DO NOT have the disc. The computer crashes and gives me BSOD if I let it continue to load System Files. I tried booting with Norton Ghost I get the same BSOD. The code is 0x0000007b.

I tried resetting BIOS and it doesn't work. I also tried flashing bios but it won't let me flash for some reason..I get some error code like "chipset/flash part isn't avaliable" and I did followed the instructions. (I usually flash it in Windows, but now I can't even get to windows).

I also tried booting some HDD recovery utlities but it would not boot for some reason..the screen just goes black. Need help!!! PLEASE sad.gif

[Pinky]

My first guess (clicking gave it away) is that the hard drive went belly up. Other option is that your ide controller bit the dust, but that's very rare. Suggestion - if you have a spare hard drive, install it (removing the problematic one) and try running a simple hard drive utility from a boot cd like Drive Fitness Test (http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/technolo/dft/dftnew.htm). If it runs the test on the replacement drive but not the original drive then it's probably the original drive, in which case you'll need to send it in for warranty repair/replacement.

[starrwsn]

I would only plug in the essentials. If that doesn't work, borrow someones hard drive and see if you can get further or boot up. But it sound like hdd.

[CordialSpam]

My first guess (clicking gave it away) is that the hard drive went belly up. Other option is that your ide controller bit the dust, but that's very rare. Suggestion - if you have a spare hard drive, install it (removing the problematic one) and try running a simple hard drive utility from a boot cd like Drive Fitness Test (http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/technolo/dft/dftnew.htm). If it runs the test on the replacement drive but not the original drive then it's probably the original drive, in which case you'll need to send it in for warranty repair/replacement.

But I thought booting from CD wouldn't matter if you have a good or bad drive :\

Anyways I'll try this later tonight or tomorrow :(

[Pinky]

But I thought booting from CD wouldn't matter if you have a good or bad drive :\

Anyways I'll try this later tonight or tomorrow :(

Me neither, but I've personally seen this exact problem first hand on several occassions. It ends up almost always being the bad hard drive causing a chain of events that leads to not being able to use any ide drives. I don't know exactly WHY certain things are the way they are (I don't build/program the hardware), I'm just trained to identify and resolve. :p

[CordialSpam]

Me neither, but I've personally seen this exact problem first hand on several occassions. It ends up almost always being the bad hard drive causing a chain of events that leads to not being able to use any ide drives. I don't know exactly WHY certain things are the way they are (I don't build/program the hardware), I'm just trained to identify and resolve. :p

I just tried to boot the XP disc without any HD connected to my PC..still BSOD..

[Pinky]

I just tried to boot the XP disc without any HD connected to my PC..still BSOD..

Is this sata or ide?

[CordialSpam]

Is this sata or ide?


SATA (the drive on my sig)

[Pinky]

SATA (the drive on my sig)

It's likely the windows installer is crashing because it will need the sata controller drivers loaded at startup (F6).

[LiveSideways]

Try booting to Knoppix or ERD Commander without a HDD hooked up. Even without a hard drive windows setup shouldn't bsod though, it should just say no drives found.

[Pinky]

Even without a hard drive windows setup shouldn't bsod though, it should just say no drives found.

That is true, but it's worth trying because my next conclusion, which was already speculated in my first response, is that the controller/motherboard's gone bad.

[Pinky]

I would only plug in the essentials.

You may also want to try this. It's possible something else is causing the bsod (bad video card, etc).

[LiveSideways]

That is true, but it's worth trying because my next conclusion, which was already speculated in my first response, is that the controller/motherboard's gone bad.
Well if both sata and ide are toast I suppose the next solution to test that would be damn small linux on a thumb drive?

[CordialSpam]

Try booting to Knoppix or ERD Commander without a HDD hooked up. Even without a hard drive windows setup shouldn't bsod though, it should just say no drives found.

Hm what is Knoppix or ERD Commander?

I just did some testing with my cousin's comp.

1. Hooked up my HD to his comp and BOOT MY DRIVE, won't boot up.
2. Hooked up my HD to his comp and BOOT HIS DRIVE, won't boot (If i take out my drive from his comp it boots up fine)
3. Hooked up HIS drive to MY COMP, BOOTS UP FINE
4. Booting the XP CD with HIS COMP while having my drive hooked up to his comp, boots up fine and doing CHKDSK now with the recovery console (Takes LONG TIME)
5. BOtting the XP CD with MY COMP and with HIS DRIVE hooked up to MY comp (without my HDD) BSOD (Obviously there is something wrong with my comp, I am thinking about motherboard, because i get BSOD with HIS drive)


Any conclusion here? I am thinking both my HDD and motherboard screwed up at same time..but that is just really rare..I don't know..I'm going to work in like 10 minutes gotta do some more testing tonight.

[LiveSideways]

Knoppix is a bootable linux distro. Just burn it to cd and boot from it and you have a fully operational os, no hdd needed. ERD commander is the tool that the geek squad uses.. pretty much the same thing but its payware and looks like windows.

I'd say download knoppix and try that. Hope your connection is decent enough for a 700mb iso.

[Pinky]

Knoppix is a bootable linux distro. Just burn it to cd and boot from it and you have a fully operational os, no hdd needed. ERD commander is the tool that the geek squad uses.. pretty much the same thing but its payware and looks like windows.

I'd say download knoppix and try that. Hope your connection is decent enough for a 700mb iso.

Geek Squad no longer uses it, and probably should never have when they did. They're being sued.

[CordialSpam]

During the Chkdsk the comp freezed at 2%, and during the HDD scan with HHD recovery program it freezes at around 2%..I am thinking that my HD went bad and also some other parts in my comp went bad at same time I guess? Because I couldn't boot up windows XP WITHOUT a HD..lets see..my mobo? I really don't know what is wrong and I am very frustrated...I don't want to lose my data on my HD :(

I'm dling that Linux OS now..see how that thing works..

[Pinky]

I'm still thinking there may be 2 separate issues here, the bad hard drive and issues with your windows XP cd. The fact your computer boots or seems responsive with his HD would have me leaning towards a driver/device conflict. As you say, the odds of losing the motherboard and HD simultaneously are pretty low.

Have you tried a bare-bones (remove all unneeded hardware) bootup with the windows XP cd?

[CordialSpam]

I'm still thinking there may be 2 separate issues here, the bad hard drive and issues with your windows XP cd. The fact your computer boots or seems responsive with his HD would have me leaning towards a driver/device conflict. As you say, the odds of losing the motherboard and HD simultaneously are pretty low.

Have you tried a bare-bones (remove all unneeded hardware) bootup with the windows XP cd?

i don't think there is a problem with my XP CD beecause the CD boots up fine with other computers. I've tried booting up the xp cd with only video card, cd drives, cpu, and only 1 stick of ram (tried both sticks in all 4 slots) but still got bsod when it says "starting up windows xp" or whatever..basically right after cd finishes loading all the stuffs...i just can't even get to the "Welcome to Windows XP" screen.

I've tried booting with the linux os and it coudln't boot..i get like an error says that it could'nt load something and it only gives me shell mode or whatever..but it boots up fine with my laptop.

[Pinky]

i don't think there is a problem with my XP CD beecause the CD boots up fine with other computers. I've tried booting up the xp cd with only video card, cd drives, cpu, and only 1 stick of ram (tried both sticks in all 4 slots) but still got bsod when it says "starting up windows xp" or whatever..basically right after cd finishes loading all the stuffs...i just can't even get to the "Welcome to Windows XP" screen.

I've tried booting with the linux os and it coudln't boot..i get like an error says that it could'nt load something and it only gives me shell mode or whatever..but it boots up fine with my laptop.

Well, bad news based on the troubleshooting - it very well could be the motherboard (controller, capacitor, who knows). I was grasping at straws trying to find anything else wrong, but it's definitely leaning in the motherboard direction. If it's the controller it's possible it damaged the drive.

[CordialSpam]

Well, bad news based on the troubleshooting - it very well could be the motherboard (controller, capacitor, who knows). I was grasping at straws trying to find anything else wrong, but it's definitely leaning in the motherboard direction. If it's the controller it's possible it damaged the drive.


Well if it is caused by the motherboard, why the computer boots up fine with other drives..see if the controller is screwed..the comp won't boot with ANY HD? I just checked the capacitors and I don't think any of them are damaged. And I also just flashed the bios to latest (the bios released yesterday) and still got the same bsod when booting XP CD. Note that I WILL NOT get BSOD if I try to boot with my own HD, the screen just goes black. But yea I also think BOTH my HD and MOBO screwed up at same time..but I don't know...what should I do from here? I've done everything I could and I did so much research..should I call ASUS and let them replace the mobo?

[CordialSpam]

UPDATE:

I messed around with the recovery couslole and I got my HD formatted, and the stuffs in the 2nd partiton of the HD is still safe. I installed XP and stuff with my cousin's computer. The reason I'm not using my comp to install XP is because MY PC still can't boot XP CD, I still get BOSD. After XP is installed, I tried to boot the HD with my PC and it boots up, but I cannot see any CD Drives. In another word no dvd/cd drives/buners are decetected..but they show up in bios. The only drive that shows up is the floppy drive. Anyone know how to fix this problem?

[redrumy3]

UPDATE:

I messed around with the recovery couslole and I got my HD formatted, and the stuffs in the 2nd partiton of the HD is still safe. I installed XP and stuff with my cousin's computer. The reason I'm not using my comp to install XP is because MY PC still can't boot XP CD, I still get BOSD. After XP is installed, I tried to boot the HD with my PC and it boots up, but I cannot see any CD Drives. In another word no dvd/cd drives/buners are decetected..but they show up in bios. The only drive that shows up is the floppy drive. Anyone know how to fix this problem?
try switching ide cables for cd drive? worth a shot, had a problem with my nec burner showed in bios not windows changed ide cable fixed that lol so i figure id post it

[rrcoot]

Try using the other IDE connector on your motherboard too if you have not tried them both yet.