Won't boot past BIOS. Need details

B

bmigga

Member
I know this is a common problem, but my older desktop running XP won't boot past BIOS. I've searched the problem, some are like mine and some aren't. Here's a quick rundown.

I boot computer on:

Windows XP screen displays.

First Screen:

Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PH. An Energy Star Ally.
Copyright (C) 1984-2003. Phoenix Technologies. LTD
W7104VMS V3.3 012506 17:09:37

Detecting IDE Drives..

IDE Channel 0 Master : Maxtor 5T030H3 TAH71DPO
IDE Channel 0 Slave : Maxtor 52094H4 DAC10SC0
IDE Channel 1 Master : ATAP1 CD-RW 40/12/48X 100C
IDE Channel 1 Slave : None

Press DEL to enter SETUP, F8 to Enter Boot Menu
01/25/2006-p4M800-8237-6A7L6009C-00

Second Screen:

Technologies, Inc. VIA VT8237 Serial ATA RAID BIOS Setting Utility V2.10
Copyright (C) VIA Technologies Inc. All Right reserved.

Loading Devices, Please wait...
Press ( TAB ) Key into User Window!
Serial_CH0 Master : No Device
Serial_CH1 Master : No Device

Third Screen:

We apologize for the inconvenience, but windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this.

Your computer stopped responding, restarted unexpectedly, or was automatically shutdown to protect your files and folders, choose Last Known Good Configuration to recent to the most recent settings that worked.

The previous start-up attempt was interrupted due to a power failure or because the power or reset button was pressed, or if you aren't sure what caused the problem, choose start windows normally.

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe mode with command prompt

Last known good configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start windows normally

Use the up and down arrow keys to move the highlight of your choice.
Seconds until windows stars: -- (displays number)

---

No matter what option I select on the third screen, it just continues in an endless cycle of the pages I just posted.

From what I've read, it seems that it might be a RAID drivers problem? But my problem is (sounds crazy) but I don't exactly know what type of computer this is. Therefore, I don't know where to get the drivers from.

Oh yeah, if you guys need the information that comes up when I press the Tab key to on the second page to get the user window, let me know. I have that as well.

Please also let me know of any other information you need from me.

Thanks,
B.
 
Do you have it set up in a RAID setup? If not, go into the BIOS and check to be sure the SATA mode is set to AHCI or ATA.
 
Voyagerfan99 and Twiki:

Tried both of your suggestions. Except I only had the option of selecting IDE or RAID, which I selected IDE. I then disconnected the slave drive and tried also. Neither have worked unfortunately. Still stuck in the endless cycle.
 
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Sounds like you have errors on your hard drive. Download seatools for Dos and run the extended test on both drives. The only The only other thing I can think of is that your infected and it has screwed up the mbr. Sounds like you definately need to be in IDE mode. Is one drive for operating system and the other for data? Or how are they set up?
 
Try this:

Boot from the windows XP CD, press the "R" key in the setup in order to start the restoration console. Select your windows XP installation from the list, and enter the administrator password.
Enter the command: "FIXMBR" (without the quotes) at the input prompt and confirm the next question with a "Y" (without the quotes). Use exit to restore the computer.
 
johnb35 said:
Sounds like you have errors on your hard drive. Download seatools for Dos and run the extended test on both drives. The only The only other thing I can think of is that your infected and it has screwed up the mbr. Sounds like you definately need to be in IDE mode. Is one drive for operating system and the other for data? Or how are they set up?
Click to expand...

I may sound amateur, but If I can't boot into windows, how could I run a program?
EDIT: Would I just download it to a bootable drive (i.e. flash drive) and boot to that, rather than windows?

johnb35 said:
Sounds like you have errors on your hard drive. Download seatools for Dos and run the extended test on both drives. The only The only other thing I can think of is that your infected and it has screwed up the mbr. Sounds like you definately need to be in IDE mode. Is one drive for operating system and the other for data? Or how are they set up?
Click to expand...

I'm not exactly sure of this answer. It was my grandfathers and he's passed on now. I set this PC up for my little cousin a few months ago, but never checked into how everything was setup. Next thing I know, it's totally screwed.

In case the drives ARE set up like that, should I plug the slave drive back in?
 
Twiki said:
Try this:

Boot from the windows XP CD, press the "R" key in the setup in order to start the restoration console. Select your windows XP installation from the list, and enter the administrator password.
Enter the command: "FIXMBR" (without the quotes) at the input prompt and confirm the next question with a "Y" (without the quotes). Use exit to restore the computer.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion. Have to find a disk first. But i'll make sure to try that.
 
Seatools for dos will require you to download the iso file and then write the image to a cd and then boot to the cd.

However, Lets stop the computer from rebooting and give us a bluescreen code.

Restart the computer and press the f8 button to access safe mode options. Then arrow down to disable automatic restart on system failure and hit enter. The next time it won't reboot and should give you a blue screen. Give us the info on that screen. If it comes up unmountable boot volume you have errors on the hard drive. Otherwise, it should give you a file name.
 
johnb35 said:
Seatools for dos will require you to download the iso file and then write the image to a cd and then boot to the cd.

However, Lets stop the computer from rebooting and give us a bluescreen code.

Restart the computer and press the f8 button to access safe mode options. Then arrow down to disable automatic restart on system failure and hit enter. The next time it won't reboot and should give you a blue screen. Give us the info on that screen. If it comes up unmountable boot volume you have errors on the hard drive. Otherwise, it should give you a file name.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Check back on here in a couple hours, i'll have that for you.
 
johnb35 said:
Seatools for dos will require you to download the iso file and then write the image to a cd and then boot to the cd.

However, Lets stop the computer from rebooting and give us a bluescreen code.

Restart the computer and press the f8 button to access safe mode options. Then arrow down to disable automatic restart on system failure and hit enter. The next time it won't reboot and should give you a blue screen. Give us the info on that screen. If it comes up unmountable boot volume you have errors on the hard drive. Otherwise, it should give you a file name.
Click to expand...

John, I'm only able to access F8 for Boot Menu and DEL for Setup. However, I can't find disable automatic restart on any of the options in Setup and I've looked numerous times.
 
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Thats weird for f8 to access boot menu. You will have to press f8 after that disappears to access safe mode options.
 
johnb35 said:
Thats weird for f8 to access boot menu. You will have to press f8 after that disappears to access safe mode options.
Click to expand...

Ahh! My apologies. I've now gotten to the Safe Mode Options. I disabled Automatic Restart and this is what comes up on the Blue Screen:

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

bla bla bla, if this is your first time, bla bla bla

***STOP: 0x000000ED (0x8438A5B0,0xC000009C,0x00000000,0x00000000)

So it's the Hard Drive?

EDIT: I performed the above with the Master drive as the only drive plugged in.
Just performed the above with the Slave plugged in as well, same result.
 
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