Windows XP Pro won't boot

I had a sound card problem. I changed the card, after that Windows never booted again. It gets as far as the progress bar and sticks. Safe mode won't work either. It loads the drivers, then I see a quick BSOD flash by and it starts booting again. I tried using the recovery console for chkdsk, but it gets as far as examining the disk and hangs. I tried a repair install, but the same happens. Never gets past examining the disk. Even a attempt at full install does the same thing.
Any ideas?

 

Does the system boot if you remove the new card?

Have you ran diagnostics on your HD, assuming the problem system is the one in your signature you can find WD diagnostics here otherwise use the relevant link in this post

 

I'll do that and be right back. But I have the feeling it's not a hardware problem.

Thanks

 

Sorry for the delay, The test completed without any errors.
I need to find out how to run CHKDSK or similar program without booting Windows

 

I forgot to mention, I removed everything unnecessary while trying to diagnose this. So the sound card isn't the culprit.

 

If chkdsk won't complete from the recovery console I doubt you'd be able to get it to complete in any environment but have you tried starting in command prompt only and starting it from there?

Apart from that I'm out of ideas but I'm pretty sure someone else will come along to assist.

 

Well, it's not that chkdsk won't complete, I can't get far enough along to start it. The system hangs before it gets that far.

 

It shouldn't hang from the recovery console though...

Perhaps memory?

Try running some memory diagnostics memtest86 is a reasonable choice, but be aware even if the diagnostics pass your memory may still be faulty (memtest can test read/write but not execute). If the tests pass then try removing sticks one at a time and/or using different slots.

 

Dang, this 2Gig memory is only about 6 months old, but I did get a "really" good deal. I may have gotten what I paid for. I'll try with the 512 meg strip I have in Sparky here and let you know a little later.

Thanks as always,
Mark

 

It depends what precautions against static did you use when changing the sound card (Memory and Static is BAD ).

Please do, it's getting late here so if I don't respond tonight I'll look in tomorrow.

 

Been there ,done that. I've had static woes before. I'll have to try the ram a little later. I need the computer now.

Mark

 

Bummer, I switched out the ram and it's doing the same thing. It examines configuration, then starts examining the hard drive. And stays there. Been doing it for about a 1/2 hour now. At a loss again.


Mark

 

Hi Mark,

I have to admit I'm at a loss too.

The next things I would check are:

Is the drive the only drive on the cable (assuming PATA) if not confirm the jumper settings on both drives. If jumpers are set correctly then...

Is it possible for you to move the drive to your working system as a slave?

If so I'd do that,
Backup any data that you can recover
Check the drive for errors on the working system
Wipe it clean using disk manager
Finally try a full install in the other (non working) system

 

Nope, It's a SATA drive and I've already tried it both connectors. Sparky doesn't have on board SATA so I can't try it there. I guess I gotta format the partition and go for it.

 

D'oh.

Do you have a drivers disk and are did you use it with the repair install (F6)?

 

Drivers were already loaded for SATA. Didn't need to change them since IU wasn't setting up RAID.

 

Could you confirm the make/model number of your drive for me?

 

WD Caviar SE
# WCAM 99741349

 

Thought so, I saw it in your sig but you've changed since then.

Yep, if it were me I'd go for a wipe and reinstall, let us know what happens.

 

Well, at least we know what's gonna happen now. Thanks for all the help. Be back later.


Mark