Windows start problem

L

Lessthanjim

New Member
I had a strange power outage today where the power flickered on and off several times. Since then I have not been able to start windows, when the system boots it goes to a screen that says windows did not start correctly last time. It gives me various options of starting, safe mode, normal mode etc etc. It then counts down from 25ish. The screen also says that if a power failure interrupted the last start to just select the start windows normall option but none of these options work, not the safe mode, not the normal mode, and not the last known good configuration mode. If anyone knows anything that I can do to fix this problem I would really appreciate it.

-Jim
 
The message you are seeing is probably the typical "due to improper shutdown" warning often seen. If you had several power surges besides choosing an option from the F8 start menu that will appear from a sudden shutdown there have been some boot information lost if no damage to the system was seen. Are you running your system plugged direct into a wall outlet or on a good surge protection power strip?
 
When I attempt any of the start up options the screen just turns black and then the computer restarts back to the same option screen. And my computer is plugged into a surge protection power strip, not directly into the wall
 
How old is the system? On a Socket A model run heavily for over 1 1/2yrs. the sudden restart was seen right when the first screen with the blue scroll was going to the second during loadup. The system would then come right back up to the same point and restart again. Upon lowering the memory timings in the bios the system at that time started loading normally but at the lower 333mhz then the 400mhz fsb indicating a failing bios chip there. But in your situation it could also be a problem with the boot sector. One way to repair this is to boot from the XP installation disk and choose the "R" for recovery console there. Once at the command prompt you would type in "Fixmbr" and even "Fixboot" if needed. The use of a WIN98 startup floppy can also help with the "fdisk /mbr" command at the dos prompt. Just hope it's a software not hardware problem being seen there. Have you updated the bios at all?
 
The system is pretty new (only about a year old) and no I haven't updated the bios at all. I'll have to track down my XP installation disk and see if that works
 
You can also download files to make up a 98 startup floppy from http://www.bootdisk.com/ in order to perform the fdisk /mbr command there. This was one method even more recently seen in one tech article as a means to get an XP drive up and running when something happens to the boot info. The Socket A board here wasn't that old either since the case was built at the end of '04. Lately a friend had to send back two boards in a row that failed to even start or see anything onscreen due to bad chipsets. If the options there fail to see the drive boot normal you will probably need to perform a repair on the current installation. If you use that method providing you are not seeing a bad bios or other hardware problem follow the instructions on the article very closely to avoid goofs. This way you'll have most of your data intact. http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm There are several articles on repair installs. But this one has more details to guide you along.
 
way2evil said:
dont these strips usually come with some sort of insurance?
Click to expand...

Surge protection on power strips is rated not insured. When choosing one for a complete system even having a second for printer/fax and other devices you go with one that has a high rating for at least 2,100 joules. Don't get a cheapie for 750 there.
 
That's a big contrast to some generic named cheapie found in a discount store that couldn't handle more then the basics. You definitely would want to go with one with the UnderWriters Laboratory emblem on it. But as fas as iinsurance you don't simply go out and get a policy. That is their protection against "Liability" suits filed against them should some hardware(s) be damaged or destroyed by a strip that fails.
 
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