1. You are viewing our forum as a guest. For full access please Register. WindowsBBS.com is completely free, paid for by advertisers and donations.

Windows Vista NVIDIA Boot Agent On Startup

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by Supermaine, 2012/06/09.

  1. 2012/06/09
    Supermaine

    Supermaine Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2010/06/08
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    0
    I just turned my computer on and kept receiving a message along the lines of NVIDIA Boot Agent. I'm not sure what it means, but it was a black screen, and it would say "port 01" for a while, then mention something about booting from CD-ROM.

    I restarted the computer and it did the same thing, so I figured maybe there's something in the CD drive. I removed the disc in the drive and then it finally booted up.

    What could be the problem?
     
  2. 2012/06/09
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

    Joined:
    2005/12/31
    Messages:
    3,752
    Likes Received:
    338

  3. to hide this advert.

  4. 2012/06/09
    Supermaine

    Supermaine Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2010/06/08
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    0
    Is there a reason it would have changed by itself?

    I've had this computer for years, and have never entered the BIOS to change anything.
     
  5. 2012/06/09
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

    Joined:
    2005/12/31
    Messages:
    3,752
    Likes Received:
    338
    1) If the CMOS battery is dead, on power-up, it would load the factory's BIOS default settings.

    2) Have you ever had an 'almost' bootable CD in the CD-ROM drive before?
     
  6. 2012/06/09
    Supermaine

    Supermaine Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2010/06/08
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    0
    1. Is there a way to know if this is the case?

    2. I've had to boot from a Windows Vista disc to recover my system before, if that's what you mean. (Not really a computer guy) But when I did that it just booted straight from the CD, I didn't have to change any ordering in the BIOS.
     
  7. 2012/06/09
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

    Joined:
    2006/01/14
    Messages:
    4,292
    Likes Received:
    266
    Usually a failing battery will let you know by the date and time being wrong from a cold boot. If that is the case, they are easy to replace and are only about $3.00 US price. Wally World and Radio Shack have them. Only takes a couple of minutes to replace one if need be.
    I have a PC that is about 14 or 15 years old and still has the original battery. I have also replace them on a PC that was only a couple of years old before.
     
  8. 2012/06/09
    Supermaine

    Supermaine Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2010/06/08
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    0
    Are you referring to the date and time on the computer clock?

    Because it's still accurate.
     
  9. 2012/06/09
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

    Joined:
    2006/01/14
    Messages:
    4,292
    Likes Received:
    266
    Yep. If it is wrong, that is usually the first sign of a failing battery.
     
  10. 2012/06/09
    Supermaine

    Supermaine Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2010/06/08
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hmm. Well it's still correct.

    My biggest concern is that it's the hard drive. Could that at all be the problem here?
     
  11. 2012/06/09
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

    Joined:
    2006/01/14
    Messages:
    4,292
    Likes Received:
    266
    I doubt that it is the HD going bad. Did you look in the BIOS to see what the boot order is?
     
  12. 2012/06/09
    Supermaine

    Supermaine Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2010/06/08
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    0
    I haven't restarted the computer yet.

    Honestly, kind of nervous/scared that it may not boot up the next time.

    But, is that what you would recommend me do?
     
  13. 2012/06/09
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

    Joined:
    2006/01/14
    Messages:
    4,292
    Likes Received:
    266
    Yes. Check the BIOS and make sure the boot order is the way you want it. I usually do HD then CD or DVD as second.
     
  14. 2012/06/10
    Supermaine

    Supermaine Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2010/06/08
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    0
    Okay, let me go over what happened.

    Just turned the computer back on this morning. It says hit F12 for Boot Menu (I believe) or DEL for Settings.

    I first went to the Boot Menu and the order was "Removable, HD, NVIDIA Boot Agent, etc "

    I restarted, and then went to the BIOS settings. The order was "HD, NVIDIA Boot Agent, etc "

    Now as I said, I'm far from an expert, so I have no clue if those two are supposed to be the same or not. But the HD was first in the sequence, so I saved the settings.

    But once I exited the Boot Menu screen, I got the NVIDIA boot agent screen again, with this message.

    PXE-E61: media test failure, check cable.

    Then the computer booted up normally.

    I thought I would try just one last time. So I restarted the computer again and no message came up this time, it just went straight to the loading windows screen.
     
  15. 2012/06/10
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

    Joined:
    2006/09/10
    Messages:
    7,899
    Likes Received:
    510
    Hi Supermaine. When you go into the BIOS to change the boot order what happens if you select your harddrive, then the CD/DVD drive and you disable the NVIDIA boot agent completely? Does the computer still boot up properly with that boot device disabled?
     
  16. 2012/06/10
    Supermaine

    Supermaine Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2010/06/08
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    0
    The NVIDIA Boot agent was listed third in sequence so I just disabled the third option and only left the first two.

    It booted up normally just as it did the time previous to this.
     
  17. 2012/06/10
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

    Joined:
    2006/09/10
    Messages:
    7,899
    Likes Received:
    510
    Ahh ok then. So with that entry disabled it looks like the computer boots up normally now. Boot up the system a few times to verify that the system boots up correctly.

    If the system boots up fine then I think we can mark this thread as resolved.
     
  18. 2012/06/10
    Supermaine

    Supermaine Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2010/06/08
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    0
    System booted up fine after 3 more attempts.

    My only real concern is why it started to do this in the first place? Is this a sign of things to come or is it just simply one of those unexplainable situations that happens every so often?
     
  19. 2012/06/10
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

    Joined:
    2006/09/10
    Messages:
    7,899
    Likes Received:
    510
    I would lean more toward one of those unexplainable situations. I don't know why that boot device would initialize itself randomly without a reason.

    If you are not having any more issues I think this thread is resolved.

    Since this issue is now resolved, please mark this thread as 'Resolved'.

     
    Last edited: 2012/06/11

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.