[Missing] boot.ini?

If I understand you right John, the boot problem does not happen when booting with the floppy. Correct?

If so, the next step would be to copy the three files from the floppy to the root of your Primary drive. Before doing that, rename the present ones to something like XNTLDR, XNTDETECT.COM, and XBOOT.INI. That way you'll save them from being written over in the copy process. You'll get some resistance from XP about renaming them but go ahead and OK it anyway. Then try booting without the floppy and hope for resolution of the problem.

If that doesn't fix things, the very real possibility exists that the MBR of your primary drive is corrupt. When booting this floppy, the system uses the floppy's MBR.

You should then put your original XP install CD in and boot to it. Choose the first "R" so as to enter the Recovery Console. From the command prompt there run the FIXMBR C: command.

That's about the last hope that I see. If the FIXMBR doesn't do the job, I suspect you're going to have to replace that HD. The first sector is where the MBR resides and if it is faulty, replacement is the only alternative. The thing that puzzles me is that when you reinstalled XP, you didn't get any error message. I though XP wrote the MBR code with every install, unlike Win9x, which only did it if it was missing. I could be wrong.

Alternately, you can boot from the floppy forever, no harm, no foul. That's how computers started out long ago.

Keep posting your progress, you'll not wear out anything here.

(Thanks Rockster2U for the kind words)

 

Will butt in for a sec.

It does indeed look like your hdd , takes to long to get up to speed when cold.
There might be an entrie in the bios for a short time delay.

The problem could mybe be the power supply, the +,- 12 volts not getting into specs fast enough, when cold. Booting from floppy takes longer to use hdd where the voltage would be more important.

It does, I must reinstall my third party boot loader when I reinstall any MS OS, so does 98 with out the /IR switch.
The problem would not likely be in the MBR, if it was the bios would give 'no operating system' error. Due to getting the F8 menu (part of the OS is loaded and the MBR and VBR boot code did its job), that fact leads me more to a power supply not hdd problem. (?) Bad IDE cable a long shot, but not impossible.

 

missing boot.ini

I left the quickXP boot floppy in the drive last night and when I started the system this moriing it came into the black screen you see when using the folppy and did it twice and finally setteled into the Windows Advanced Menu. So I misled you all and I apologize as I thought the floppy booting was solving the problem.

I have now removed both memory modules and cleaned them using the correct method with the pencil eraser that Rockster2U explained and then I also pulled out all three boards in my system, video, network card, & USB hub and cleaned the contacts the same way with the pencil eraser followed by Isopropal Alcohol and reset them all when dry.

I have now noticed yet another situation as to where the compouter makes completely into WindowsXP then pauses and the screen turn a grayish color and I have to either power off or press the reset button on the computer?
This is very intermittant as most all the time I just keep getting the Windows Advanced Menu where Start Windows Normally is highlighted and I hit the Enter key and it goes into XP?

I also note that a couple of times when the compter is started cold it simply comes to a blank grayish screen with a cursor blinking in the upper left hand corner of the display?

I also closed down every program I have running in Start up and this still did not help.

I can now tell you that within 30 minutes maxinum of the system being powered off this situation will always occur.

Fellas I would be more than happy to reformatt the drive and re-install but at this point I still am not sure if I have a hardware or software problem? I have been fighting this since December 7th when I formatted the drive anb re-installed XP

 

99% certain to be hardware so I'd pull the Primary drive,
connect one of your other drives in its place and do a clean install.

After that you'll be facing a power supply or MOBO. Of the two, I'd lean toward the PS since the large electrolytics in there have a tendency to fail when cold and regain some of their capacity when warmer. Perhaps you can borrow one for a test. Double check all PS connectors, exercise them. Of course a MOBO failure is the kiss of death.

Don't give up hope though, do the clean install on a different drive and let's see where it goes.

 

missing boot.ini

Hi Surferdude2

Yep -- I just ordered a new WD1200JB 120 Gig EIDE as that is what I have been using on all 3 of my HD in my system.

I will limp along till the new drive arrives but I do have a question?

When I install this drive I will which will be the Primary I will need to set it to master with the jumper on the drive -- then do I simply formatt and install from my Windows XP Disk? I am not going to create a pratition but maybe I am missing a step here on installing this new hard drive?

Take Care,

 

I also think it is a hardware problem. TopFarmer has a good point about the power supply, and the IDE ribbon cable. (did we miss suggesting the ribbon cable?)

Good move trying another hard drive (and cable), but I’m not convinced that’s the problem, so don’t spend to much time setting up the new drive, just get Windows on and then leave it overnight and try it. Don’t you have a small spare drive or use one of your others - rather than spend money for a new one at this stage. I’d still like to see a screenshot of your drives in Disk Management, just so we can rule out drive configuration problems.

If you want to partition up the drive then install time is when to do it, rather than resizing partitions afterwards. I seldom resize any more and prefer to delete and create new partitions. I’ve found resizing can often cause problems down the line. At the point in the XP install when it asks where you want to install to and shows the whole drive as unpartitioned space, there is an option to create a partition. Just type in the size you want "“ 10,000 is 10gigs "“ and when back at the install screen choose the new partition you have just created. After XP is up and running you can use Disk Management to partition the rest of the drive.

 

I agree on the HD not being the main culprit of choice and getting a new one is rather bold. However, from some of the latest symptoms that you reported, such as stalling at times with a blinking cursor, would point to a bum HD. Oh well, your choice is as good as any at this point and easier than some others. If it turns out to be the MOBO, you can always use this new drive in your next computer.

A point in passing, you can plug a substitute power supply in without physically installing it and quickly eliminate that as a possibility. It sounds like you may have access to a shop that would supply one for a test.

Keep us posted...

BTW, just a thought - If you have a drive imaging software, it would certainly be wise to make a full drive image of your old HD and send it to one of your other drives. It could save you a lot of time later.

 

missing boot.ini

Morning McTavish

I have a screen capture for your of my Disk Managment but don't understand how to post it here so you fellows can take a look?

 

Email it to me John and I'll post it.

 

missing boot.ini

Hello McTavish,

I have now signed up and paid for a 1 year subscription but and about an hour ago around Midnight our time in Wyoming.

I followed your instruction on FIXMBR C: but not sure that anything happened?

I set CMOS to boot to the CD Rom drive and pressed R to repair the it prompted me for which Windows to repair and there was only 1 copy listed so I input 1 Then it came back and asked me to "Type the Administrator Password" (I think this might refrence a network administrator) so I just pressed the Enter Key and it came back with C:\Windows and at this point I typed in FIXMBR C: and hit the retrun key and to me it acted like nothing had taken place and just returned to the very same prompt C:\Windows?

It's now 1:20 in the Morning and I am going to shut down the computer and see what happens in the morning.

Warmest Regards,

 

missing boot.ini

Well guys hope you didn't give up on me?

After formatting the hard drive and installing XP 4 times since December 7th; (I now am on a first name basis with the gal at Microsoft who issues new license codes) the problem you were all so kind to help me with is solved.

On January 3rd the technician changed out my 380 watt Power supply and installed a new 520 watt P.S. My computer has not had a problem posting correctly and going into Windows since this change was made.

As he put it running this system with three hard drive, 2 CD Rom Drives, 2 External Hubs, a custom bay mounted light fixture with my last name in lights that old 380w simply gave up the ghost.

Again I simply want to thank all who took their time in giving me very good advise -- I learned allot!

 

Hello johnberb,

Thanks for the feedback, always appreciate when that happens

I merged your latest post into your original thread.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks for letting us know John. It will be something for us to remember in the future. Top marks must go I think to TopFarmer as he was the one who first thought of the Power Supply. Glad you got sorted.

McTavish.