XP restarts after loading, can't install

hello.. i joined this forum as my last hope to finding out help with my computer.

i've been working on this computer for two weeks already and just can't get it to work.(i've had many many sleepless nights working on this)

ok.. here's the problem.. at first, there seemed to be a problem with the computer's power because it's not starting up.so i bought a new power supply for it and it worked.but another problem is after the windows is loading screen the computer just restarts.i tried all the choices in f8.(the start from last known config, safe mode etc.) and nothing worked.

so i thought it was the hardisk. so i backed up the files and tried to do a windows recovery or a clean install. jeez!! another problem coz i can't even get to windows recovery and also can't reinstall windows because i'm having BSOD's. (atapi.sys i guess)

so i tried using another hardisk which i have and still the same problem. then i tried playing with the bios settings like disabling all on board devices like modem, usb, lan.. yet still i get a different BSOD.. 0xd1, 0x8e etc.. when windows is about to start during install

i also have upgraded my bios to the latest version. still did'nt work..

ram? .. yes.. i tried several other ram coz i have a couple extra.. 3 i guess and still the same problem.. while i used the ram on the problem pc to other computers, it worked just fine.

btw i don't have other cards installed. i used the onboard video card.

then last night.. i tried playing with other bios settings. then now.. if i install windows.. it just hangs on the SUWIN (set up is starting windows ; is this correct?)

.. now i'm out of options. and don't know what to do. the only thing i was'nt able to test is the motherboard coz i don't have a spare for that. and i'm hoping it's not the motherboard coz it's seems to be work fine.

hope you guys can help me in any way.. give me new ideas coz i've run out of them.. thanks a lot..

kalahwang

my computer set up is p4 2.26 Ghz processor, asrock p4vm8 motherboard, ddr 266 ram

 

Suggest you set the BIOS to defaults (should be on the menu). Then wipe the HDD by removing all partitions with fdisk (which is on a win98 setup floppy) or with the windows setup CD. Then make sure the BIOS boot order is CD, floppy, and hdd, and boot from the windows CD and install. If you're using a SATA drive you will have to have drivers for that on a floppy and tap F6 when asked, to install them.

 

Hi Kalahwang,

I was having VERY similar problems recently. You've come to the right place, these guys sorted me out. Read this thread http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=55687

You can probably ignore the dumplogs, they are not much help unless they are consistent, which I don't think yours will be as you're getting different error codes.

Anyway, you've tried some of the stuff mentioned on that thread, but work through it and you may get lucky.

Good Luck

 

yes.. i did try setting up the bios to default and even upgraded it to the latest version.. hmm.. but i have'nt tried that one where i have to remove all partitions of the hard disk from which i would install to.. but i did reformat a spare harddisk which i have and tried it to no avail but i did'nt remove it's partitions.. thanks!

oh.. i guess i'm just using ide for my hardisk..

thanks again

 

hi bluepeter.. aka bluescreenpeter .. yup!! i was able to read throughout your thread before posting here and i learned quite a lot there too.. and i guess that's the reason i'm not giving up so easily on buying a new mobo basing on your experience that a little tweak could fix it all up and such little thing can do so much problem...

i did try to post it up here because the fixes that other people did when i went through this forum with the similar problem don't seem to work on me...

one thing i can't do with your fix is because on my bios. i can't seem to adjust the core voltage. i can't find any setting for that.. BTW. .. my current core voltage was around 1.54 V but my processor should be running at 1.5 V.. so i'm not sure there..

 

Can you provide a little history on this machine - you said you've been "working on it" for 2 weeks, but what was it like 3 weeks ago? One needs to be very careful when reading another thread and trying the same or similar procedures without a full understanding of cause and effect or the potential consequences of cetain actions. Bluepeter75 was very good at describing his system and his problem accurately and this made a solution possible. Your computer sounds quite different and warrants independent consideration.

The first thing I would ask of you is to visually (with a magnifying glass) inspect all those little round garbage can looking things on your motherboard and tell us if the tops are flat or if any of them are bulging? Is there anything that resembles a grey powder burn near the botoom of any of them or is there anything that looks goo'ey on them or near the base?

 

I agree with Rockster2U, I would say it's the caps, I have had a similar problem with a IBM NetVista PIII MSI Board. XP would not load did Format reload only got as far as first re-boot and then back to the beginning endless.
Fact is I am going to try to replace the caps as soon as I get my new soldering iron, I don't care if I stuff the board it's no good anyway but it will be a good experience.
look here
http://www.badcaps.net/tips/
hawk22

 

thanks for looking in to this.. i really am desperate for help..

the pc is around a year old. pc specs is pentium 4 2.26 Ghz, Asrock p4vm8, ddr 266 ram, 40 gig maxtor HD.. video card is onboard.. so there are no other cards used on the pci slots.

the pc was being used normally. typing docs then it just turned off suddenly. so when i turned on the power. the led lights up but the computer is not booting up. when i checked on the pc.the fan on the power supply is not working, also the fan on the pc. i used a tester to see the voltages on the supply. and i can't remember the exact value but one output there is low.

so i bought a new power supply and when i hooked it up the pc now booted up but it hangs on the white blinking cursor on the upper left of the screen just after the POST and just before the booting up process.

so i tried using a different ram.same ddr 266 which i have on my other computer.but this one is a 256 mb (the other was just 128 mb ) on now it was able to go as far as the black screen with windows logo and the green loading bar. but only until there coz after a while the computer just restarts endlessly.

i tried all the other options last starting from new configuration, and safe mood. but same results.. so now i thought its the boot files on the hard disk. so i took out my XP cd and booted on it to try to go to windows recovery console. but when i got to the part where you press (R) to enter windows recovery the computer restarts. the same with trying to enter the windows setup..

so now i thought it was the hd. so i reformatted my extra HD and tried to do a clean install.booted on my xp cd then when i got to the part to enter the windows set up.i got a BSOD. it was the error on atapi.sys

so i was .. coz i can't even do a clean install...

that's when i started to play with the settings on the bios.i disabled all other devices which i can see. (lan, modem, audio, usb, serial ports) .. but i still got the same results. pc reboots on windows loading screen and restarts or BSOD on install. but i got a different bsod error as i disable some of these devices (as i did 1 at a time) .. i got a 0x8e, 0xd1, 0x0a.. i even tried putting a video card on the agp slot.

now i thought it was the bios. i was afraid to flash my bios with all the warnings if something would go wrong, but i thought it was the last hope i got and i run out of ideas. good thing i was able to flash the bios and upgraded it successfully.. but when i started it up.. it did'nt help.. same prob..

then i tried to go over the manual of the motherboard and saw turning off the raid function. so i got to the bios and selected on the ide configuration NON-RAID. as i was using my formatted HD, i was very surprised that i was able to go past the windows set up stage where i would usually get a bsod to the part where it detects the partition to format and where to install it .now i thought it was ok and finally found the prob.so i did'nt continue with the install.turned the pc off.and replaced to the original HD so i can do a clean install from there.

but i was surprised that this time when i boot from my cd. it stops responding on the set up is starting up windows (on the lower left of the screen) during the text part of the installation (after all the drivers has been loaded, etc..)

now. i did try several other ram coz i have a couple of them here.. even tried a ddr 400.. just the same.. so i thought the ram is ok..

i also even tried another cdrom.. but the same..

now i'm stuck here coz i run out of ideas..

... so i guess that's what i did for the past two weeks working on my pc..



just now. i examined all the capacitors on the mobo very closely.. i did'nt find and signs of bulging caps, also no signs of leak or burn..


i hope that's a little clearer now.. well .. after posting this.. i'll get back on reading the link hawk gave about badcaps.. i'll look into it..

thanks guys!!

 

Couple more questions for you. What size power supply originally came with your computer and what did you replace it with? Is there a little square receptical on your motherboard (about 1 cm²) with four cross-sectioned quadrants (holes) that looks like something should be plugged into it? Reading from the side of your new power supply, what is the +12V rating in Amps?

Now, lets also try two things. Go back into your BIOS and set it to default settings. Before your exit and save, check your video setting and make sure its set to onboard video. Don't make any other changes. Reboot to a power up state and then power back down and pull the electrical cord out of the back of your computer. Pull your memory and use a clean pencil eraser to polish the contacts by rubbing down (not across). Use a QTip and some alcohol to clean those same contacts and when dry, put it back in your machine. Now recoonect your power cord and fire that puppy back up. Give us a report re: what happens? Don't forget about those questions.

 

the original power supply was at 300 watts.. i replaced it with a 330 watts maximum rating.. the +12 v supply has a rating of 16 A..

hmm.. yes.. the motherboard has that kind of receptacle just beside the processor.. and yes, i did plug it in from the supply..

i did clean the contacts of the ram before using a tape head contact cleaner and even went to the extent of cleaning up the one on the motherboard too where the ram sits.. used a little contact cleaner and then swiped it in there then i made sure it is dry and nothing was stuck in there..

i'm not really sure with this... "Reboot to a power up state and then power back down and pull the electrical cord out of the back of your computer. "

does that mean after saving and exit from bios i would let the computer reboot until windows would load then i would press the power until it is turned off then pull out the power cord? is that correct?

thanks man.. i would try it tonight after i get home from work.. sorry for the long delay in response.. it seems we have a big time differential here..

 

Don't let me distract you from Rockster2U's tests and checks. I was thinking about the Atapi.sys, was this in the BSOD's you mentioned? That file is drive (DMA) controller file. You may want to check the drive cables, their connections and the configuration.

Pull out and reseat the cable connections at the drive and the motherboard (if you have not done so already). The Primary Controller (IDE 0) needs to have an 80 lead cable. The Secondary Controller (IDE 1) can use a 40 lead cable if it is only running optical drives.
Information at Microsoft says Atapi.sys cannot run drives in DMA mode and PIO mode on the same controller. This might apply to you if you were using an older drive (say an early model CD drive) or there was a problem with the cabling.

Try changing the configuration of the drives. You need the (main) HDD on the Primary Controller set as master. If you have one optical drive on the Secondary Controller try changing it to master or slave. If you have two optical drives try changing their jumper settings as master/slave respectively.

During POST at startup there will be a Configuration Screen. This tells you the mode each drive is running in. You can stop the screens by pushing the Pause key (press Enter to restart). If any of the drives are running in PIO mode and not ATA or UDMA then that may be the reason.

Matt

 

oh.. i just tried setting up the bios to default settings.then checked that on board video is used. saved settings.. when the computer booted (afteri hear the beep) i pressed the power button until the computer turned off.. removed power cable. cleaned up the ram. then fired it up again. (with fingers crossed) ..

too bad.. i still got the same result.. the computer booted and up to the windows loading stage then it just restarted ..


.. matt.. oh.. it's ok.. yes.. i have a bsod of atapi.sys during re install of windows when i have'nt disabled all other devices onboard(lan,modem,audio etc..) yet.. oh.. thanks for the input.. i just noticed the difference of an 80 and 40 lead ide.. yes.. my pc is using an 80 lead ide cable.. i'm just using one.. it's on master/slave configuration using just one ide.. hmm.. i guess i tried using 2 ide and separate them before.... hmm.. i'll guess i'll try it again ..

thanks..

 

Yes, lets get two cables in there and put the HDD on the far end of the 80 wire, 40 pin cable. Note, the blue plug is the end that connects to your motherboard. I'd also like you to jumper your hard drive as Cable Select (CS) and make sure this is connected to your primary IDE header or IDE #1. Now, use the 40 wire,40 pin on the CDROM drive and jumper that one as master and connect this to the end or terminating connector. This should be on IDE #2 or the secondary header.

 

last night after reading the post.. i tried connecting the hd at the first ide(colored blue slot on the board) and it was set on master.. then connected the CDROM at second ide(colored black) .but jumper setting is at slave.. then i tried booting it up again or trying to reinstall.. still got the same results.. -- hanging on the "set up is starting windows " during install.

but i used both 80 wire ide cables last night.. and i did try to make sure i connected it in the end if it was a master..

but i did try before to connect the HD only and did not use the cdrom.. but windows would'nt start.. i got the atapi.sys bsod only when i tried to reinstall the os..


hmm.. how would i know the ampere ratings specified by the motherboard? i was just wondering when you asked me about that coz i tried to find in the manual of the board and i can't seem to find it there...

 

Set your CDROM to master and cable it on the second IDE. Set your HDD to CS and cable it on the first IDE. Use two cables. Report back - what happens?



edit: Kahalwang: I just re-read a couple of things above re: what you are and aren't doing. Perhaps you would benefit from a re-read of this thread too, but at this point we're just spinning our wheels and I'm going to suggest that you take this to a qualified technician.

 

"Reading from the side of your new power supply, what is the +12V rating in Amps? "

oh.. i thought i answered that one when i said it was at 16 amperes.. what i was asking at the previous post was if where i could find the specs for the required current ratings needed by the mobo coz i thought of trying to see it up and check if i met the requirement coz i thought that's what you want to know...



qoute:
"Yes, lets get two cables in there and put the HDD on the far end of the 80 wire, 40 pin cable. Note, the blue plug is the end that connects to your motherboard. I'd also like you to jumper your hard drive as Cable Select (CS) and make sure this is connected to your primary IDE header or IDE #1. Now, use the 40 wire,40 pin on the CDROM drive and jumper that one as master and connect this to the end or terminating connector. This should be on IDE #2 or the secondary header. "

and during my last post. i was'nt able to do this one yet coz i was still at work and just got home today.i'll try it later as soon as i take my breakfast.. the way i answered it was what i already did the last time.. so it sounded that i was'nt able to do everything you asked me..

hmm.. . i guess i've tried so many things already that it seems i already kinda' mixed it up so much.. that i myself can remember everthing that i tried with this thing..

i kinda given up on this one too.. and maybe i'll go with your first suspicion that it's the mobo.. guess i'll just have to shell out a little more somebody to check this out for me just to make sure..

ei!! thanks so much for the help guys! .. it's really very nice to know there are people who are always very willing to help..

i'll let you know what went wrong if ever this would get running again for future reference sake i guess..

thanks again..

 

That's a positive attitude!

My first thought was that when the original power supply "blew" it took out some electronics on the motherboard. Maybe this is the case.

Double-check everything, even if you get a new mobo. I might ask if the Windows CD is clean and scratch-free.

Here's a power calculator:
http://journeysystems.com/power_supply_calculator.php
He suggests more than 18A on the 12V rail, although if you are running only the basic hardware, 330 Watts should be good enough for testing (you did check the 4 pin power connector to the motherboard?)

If the motherboard is damaged there is no "motherboard tester" and saying "there is the problem" is impossible.

See what the return policy is before you buy the mobo. Here, many of the suppliers will take a return without many problems.

Study the motherboard manual carefully before you start and follow it step by step. This will also improve your knowledge of how these things work (badly most of the time )

Good luck with it.
Matt
Edit: If you did not know, you will need to replace the thermal compound to change the CPU to the new motherboard. Read the instructions for Arcticsilver 5 here:
www.arcticsilver.com

 

kahalwang: I'm sorry, I totally missed that 16A +12V reading and it sure stands out as crystal clear in your post. Right now I am sharing your frustration but let me explain. Its a bit of a challenge to diagnose a problem when you can't get your hands and eyes on it, but thats also what makes it fun - its what gives a lot of us a certain measure of satisfaction and keeps us "hanging around ". The quality of help you are going to get, regardless of who is posting, is highly dependant upon the feedback and commentary that only you can provide.

I may have spoken too quickly when I recommended taking this to a qualified technician and you'll have to forgive me again because I'm a pretty direct individual and I don't mince thoughts or words to deliver a vanilla dissertation when it would be inappropriate to do so. The reason I made this recommendation was because I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out if you followed a very straight forward procedure - let alone get any kind of accurate feedback as to exactly what happened when you did whatever you did.

Here's what I read .........

Thus, my "spinning the wheels" recommendation - we haven't even gotten to anything difficult yet but are instead, trying a few basic procedures in order to rule out a few things and hopefully isolate the specific cause of your problem. Yes, I suspect the motherboard but I wouldn't be willing to bet on it just yet either. Quite frankly, I don't know if I can help you out or not. And, its certainly not fair for me say "I ", as there are a lot of brilliant minds here that serve as a community resource for those in need. However, any assistance you receive is going to be measured by your ability to follow some basic instruction (not blindly either - its a two way street) and your ability to provide clear, concise quality feedback describing exactly what happened when you followed those instructions.

If we can work within these general parameters, I'll be glad to stick around and keep you busy. If you want to pursue a different approach or would like to tell me to take a hike, I can understand and appreciate that too.

Regards,

 

..

ei rock! nah!! it's ok...

i guess there was quite a little misunderstanding we got there maybe due to the big time difference we have and i'm only able to work on my computer at night. so what happened is i kinda replied to matt's post basing on the previous things that i did(during the 2 weeks of working on it ) & was not yet able to do your instructions.. so it kinda appeared that i was not able to follow your instructions clearly..

and i do understand that i need to be keen on your instructions and to make this thing work out is going both ways.. following the instructions carefully and describing the situation very clearly.. hmm.. it's seems that i kinda lack a little on my part too.. (maybe since this was my first time to post and ask help this way )

hmmm... too bad.. i kinda given up on that one maybe due also to the frustration with working on it for quite sometime already and not getting anywhere. so this morning i sent it out immediately to have it checked by somebody else .. but deep inside i would have loved to try and truly find out the problem myself

but i do fully understand how hard it is to try and diagnose problem without getting your hands into it .. and i respect the people here a lot.. especially learning from the other thread i read with you and peter (gee! that was one great fix, i never thought a pc would be that sensitive) ..

i'm trying to learn more about this craft .. so i would surely stick around here from now on.. i own a small internet cafe business as a sideline for my regular day job.. so i'm sure i'll get a lot more challenges to come.. and i'll surely call for help if i can't get things done myself.. and i hope i would be of some help to others too someday..

 

Any ideas?

Hi everybody

I was just a few inches away from putting my sledge hammer to "good" use "¦ I have also experienced a very similar problem to Kalahwang and also have tried all sort of tricks but to no avail.
I have a Fujitsu Siemens Scaleo 600, Intel Pentium 4 HT 3.0 GHz CPU,1.5 GB DDR ram, 80 GB HDD and GeForce 6200A graphic card running on Windows XP Home.
About two/three weeks ago the PC started running very slowly; I initially attributed it to some software problems; I tried uninstalling a few programs I wasn’t really using and tweaking the system using WinXP Manger but it did not improve the situation. Even the boot-up times were extremely long and the images on the screen were taking time to refresh. The PC then started shutting down randomly and restarting in Safe Mode. I got a message in a bouncing window saying "could not find 3D compatible device" (or something to that extent). I downloaded the latest driver for the graphic card but did not help. I tried a few restore points but to no avail again. The random shutdowns started recurring very often and it became increasingly difficult to run WindowsXP in normal mode (usually only after quite a few reboots) but then the power unit packed up. I thought that was the problem so I replaced the unit and thought I solved the issue as the system was powering up really fast but still shutting down just before loading the OS and restarting in safe mode… I tried repairing Windows XP via the recovery console. Tried fixboot, fixmbr , chkdsk/r, tried restoring BIOS default values, tried different value combinations, tried swapping graphic cards,tried swapping Hard drives, tried uninstalling internal fax modem and audio card and eventually I opted for a clean re-install of Windows XP. I kept only the graphic card and started the reinstall. Everything went smooth until the point of the setup were it says "installing devicesâ€; halfway through the progress bar the system suddenly shuts down, re-boots and re-starts the setup getting caught in a loop and the only way to stop it is to power it off!!! Any ideas? Thank you in advance for your help

Alex