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Resolved Windows XP Computer Will Not Boot Up!

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by Evan Omo, 2006/12/27.

  1. 2006/12/27
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff Thread Starter

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    Hi all,
    This problem happened yesterday and I can't figure it out. :mad: My dad has his own computer in his office and I have my own computer in my bedroom. After my dad was on his computer he shut the computer down normally, there were no problems when he shut down his computer. The next day he turned his computer on again like he does everyday. It booted up but after it went through the check in the BIOS it said Insert Boot Diskette in drive A. Press any key when ready. This error message shows up before the Windows XP Splash screen so therefore I can't boot into Windows. I just see a blank screen with that error message. :( The things I have tried to resolve it are: I have restarted the process by pressing Ctrl Alt Delete and that resets it or I press the power button and I restart the computer. I have also went into the BIOS and changed the boot sequence without success and I booted from the Windows CD and went to the recovery console and I ran a chkdsk /r twice without success. From what I have done I think the harddrive might be failing. Any ideas? Some help would be greatly appreciated. :)
     
  2. 2006/12/27
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    If you both have a floppy drive, you can make an XP "Quick Boot" disk to test with. You can download the necessary file that will create one Here.

    After you download that file, put a blank floppy disk in your drive bay and double click the download file. It'll create the Quick Boot disk for you.

    Place that creation in the ailing computer and attempt to boot with it. Post back any results, error messages, etc.
     

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  4. 2006/12/28
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff Thread Starter

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    Hello Surferdude2,
    Thanks for your quick response. :) I downloaded the file and I ran it and it wrote the files to the floppy disk I inserted. Then I shut down my computer and I started my dads computer with the floppy disk inserted and instead of giving me the Insert boot disk into drive A message it tried to boot but it showed a black screen with the following message: Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem. Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware. Please check the Windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional informtion. :(

    I know for a fact the boot disk isn't the problem. I think I got that message because the computer can't see the harddrive so therefore there is no OS to boot from. So I think the harddrive died. The computer was also working fine 3 days ago with no problems. Any other suggesstions? :)
     
  5. 2006/12/28
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Yes, it does sound like the HD died.

    You already booted from a CD, so there wasn't much use in trying to boot from a floppy.

    What you can do is to go to the HDD's manufacturers Web site, and find their diagnostics software. That will let you check the disk and will give you the definitive answer as to the state of it.
     
    Arie,
    #4
  6. 2006/12/28
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff Thread Starter

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    Thanks for your response Arie. I guess the harddrive did die. My dad and I are probably going to take the computer to a shop, buy a new harddrive and have the guys there try and recover the data from the old harddrive and put it on a new harddrive. :)
     
  7. 2006/12/28
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni

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    Hello Evan,

    You could try data recovery on your own first.

    Hook the drive up to your system, either as a internal slave drive, or if you can, thru a USB port - either in a USB drive enclosure if you have one, or with a cable: IDE or SATA to USB connector. This may be a cheaper option than having a shop to try the data recovery.

    Regards - Charles
     
  8. 2006/12/28
    TopFarmer

    TopFarmer Well-Known Member

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    If you are saying, by doing the above the comp will boot into XP, but while using a XP boot floppy will not work, I would first replace the CMOS/BIOS battery.
     
    Last edited: 2006/12/28
  9. 2006/12/28
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    You should test the drive with the manufacturer's testing utilities as suggested. You will only be paying the repairers to do the same thing and you will have the experience for the future (there is not much point asking here if you are going to take it to the repairers anyway :confused: ).

    You don't know that the drive is actually broken. A corrupt MBR (Master Boot Record) could cause the same symptoms. If you are going to buy a new HDD (it will be a good way of backing up your system), swap the new drive with the old (jumper it the same way, check on the labels), install Windows, set the old drive as slave or secondary master (IDE) and see if you can extract the data. Again, you will only be paying the repairer to do this for you.

    Check the drive (configuration) information in the BIOS. If the drive is not being detected, again you will need to use the manufacturer's testing utilities.

    The drive's model number should be listed in the BIOS. You could put that into a Google search to find the utilities, set up information and FAQs at the manufacturer's website.

    Matt
     
    Last edited: 2006/12/28
  10. 2006/12/28
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    Arie said:

    I disagree. The floppy I had him download and use contains the three bootloader files for XP in addition to supplying its own MBR for booting. I think there is much information derived by booting that floppy since it will clear the bootloader files and MBR from the equation. I regard it as an excellent diagnostic tool.

    Booting to the install CD doesn't necessarily clear anything specifically.

    Mattman said:

    Thank you but no. He just cleared the MBR from blame when he booted with the XP "Quick Boot" disk since it was using its own MBR.

    Evan Emo, I agree that you now should get the diagnostic software from the HD makers site to get a clear answer. It wouldn't be a bad idea to pop the cover and check the connectors from the HD to the MOBO just for good measure. You may get lucky.

    All the best.
     
    Last edited: 2006/12/28
  11. 2006/12/28
    TopFarmer

    TopFarmer Well-Known Member

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    surferdude2 said:
    I do agree the floppy is a useful test but it only says the boot code in the MBR is not the problem but the Master Partition Table could still be bad.

    posted by Evan Omo :
    == bad MPT ? Hdd not seen in bios ? Bad HDD ?
    Bad IDE cable ? Bad CMOS battery ?

    All might be mutt , the comp might be at the shop by now.
     
  12. 2006/12/28
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff Thread Starter

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    Thanks everyone for your responses. :) :D I called up Fry's electronics and they said that to replace the old harddrive and put in a new and then transfer all the data from the old one into the new one is going to be about $150 dollars. :( So I am still not sure if its a harddrive problem so I will see if I can identify the harddrive model and get some diagnostic software to test it. I will also open the case and check the connectors to see if everything is connected to the harddrive or not. BTW thanks all who responded and helped me out. I appreciate it alot. :D
     
  13. 2006/12/28
    Newbiee

    Newbiee Inactive

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    U should have put the data in a disc then checked if u had a warranty for it so u could get a new drive. I bought 3 computer from microsoft once. and in the 3rd year the computers began crashing 1 by 1 month after month. I decided notto use the last 1 since i was gooing on vacation and when i opened it after a couple of months it vwas also fried. I took them to 4 different electricians and they all said go retur them for your money back. when I asked for the problem they said microsoft put viruses on it so after a couple of years u have to buy a new one.
     
  14. 2006/12/28
    Rockster2U

    Rockster2U Geek Member

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    Well that's certainly helpful information - I wonder if anyone else who "bought" computers from Microsoft encountered a similar situation.

    :rolleyes:
     
    Last edited: 2006/12/29
  15. 2006/12/29
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    Hi surferdude2,
    Sorry, I did not look at the link originally. It is a direct download. Is there anywhere to read about what it does? Just for your endorsement, I would endorse it as well, I have not had any experience with it though, my experience is (not solely) with the manufacturer's utilities.

    I would like to try it and (more than likely) encourage it's use. I always read the information about utilities (even if I cannot understand the finer details :)) first. Utilities that can read through, let's say, a "broken boot sector" can be hard to find.

    Matt
     
  16. 2006/12/29
    Bill Castner

    Bill Castner Inactive

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    The poster has everything he needs to create a boot floppy without using a third-source download:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305595

    And, this is legal. Web sites cannot legally distribute XP OS files, such as NTLDR and NTDetect.
     
  17. 2006/12/29
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    No, but he said he used the recovery console. Admittedly only to run check disk, but all the commands are there to replace/fix the MBR. There's nothing extra that the startup disks have.
     
  18. 2006/12/29
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    Arie said:
    Well, I think the Recovery Console is a bit of a kluge, to say the least and I generally prefer to use it as a last resort. The QB disk verifies all of those files with one fell swoop and also clears the MBR. It takes requires no Command Line experience to use so it's ideal for diagnosing problems on remote systems where the user is less than an expert.

    mattman said:

    There is a readme file that is placed on the floppy that is created. There is also a good read on it at Bootdisk.com In addition, if you want a more in depth dissertation on the subject, you can go here. Kan Yabumoto has done a service job by developing and providing free tools for the computer user. He also takes part in a forum which discusses application and uses of those products.

    Bill Castner said:

    Yes, I know, but when they're offered by what I consider reliable sources, I don't hesitate to take advantage of it. It's much easier than explaining to a beginner how to copy hidden and system files to a floppy. ;) When Bootdisk.com removes it from their site menu, I'll have to revert to that but in the meantime, I'll link to them. ;)

    I've spent much too much time explaining and justifying this so this will end my commentary. I consider it as giving the time of day. If you don't choose to set your own clock, I'll understand.

    All the best.
     
    Last edited: 2006/12/29
  19. 2006/12/29
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff Thread Starter

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    Hello again everybody,
    My dad and I took the problematic computer to Frys Electronics. We gave the computer to the technicians there and they said that the harddrive is causing the problem but they aren't sure if they can get the data off the harddrive or not. They said they will call us in 3 days and give us an update on the situation. So anyway thanks to all who responded and helped me out. I am pretty amazed by how many people responded to my post. :eek: I have been reading other threads by members and there have been only a few people answering there questions and problems they are having. So that just shows that I am very grateful to have joined the BBS and I am looking forward to having some very interesting conversations in the future with you guys. ;)
     
  20. 2006/12/29
    Rockster2U

    Rockster2U Geek Member

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    Evan Omo:

    Sounds like a good approach.

    For what its worth, I personally have found SD2's referenced boot disk utility to be very helpful and am glad that several coulda, shoulda, woulda comments were addressed. Unfortunately I am reading too many posts in several threads that appear to be directed at establishing pecking order between members instead of focusing on the problems at hand.

    Sad commentary - no wink warranted.
     

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