Hardware Failure or User Error?

nolimit · 21 Jun 2007 at 01:02

In the last 2 months my windows xp failed to start up and only way to solve this problem is to format and re-install.

This has happend to me every 3-4 weeks in a row.

1st. Windows worked flawlessly for 10 months and I wasn't using any AntiVirus program. Failure to boot up could've been virus.

2nd. Windows failed to boot after 4 weeks, didn't notice anything unusual.

3rd. Windows failed to boot again yesterday, my 2 year old neice pressed the On button couple of times, when I was away but this shouldn't delete any registry key?

so I want to know is this hdd/mobo starting to fail or virus?

something daft already!! · 21 Jun 2007 at 09:13

With this information it is hard to say. So you get anything on screen when you switch it on? Any text or error messages? Is there any life at all when you switch on? Does it bleep? If so how many times. long/short? Basically what happens when you power up?

nolimit · 21 Jun 2007 at 09:36

Basically it goes upto windows xp logo and reboots again. tried using F8 to boot in save mode, last best config etc doesn't work.

I can go into bios and use the windows xp cd to install again. Repairing it is impossible as I tried various ways to repair. Only way to install windows is to format the hdd and install fresh. But within 2-3 weeks the same problem happens and I can't get pass the windows xp logo and computer reboots endlessly. The same problem has happend 3 times in a row now, each within 2-3 weeks. Its like there is a time bomb in windows that corrupts it every 2-3 weeks. Very strange.

I don't think switching the computer off while still in windows can damage the registry because when I press the switch on/off button windows automatically turns off after all the program has been shutdown automatically. So my neices playing around with the on/off button is out of the equation for this problem.

Other possibilites could be hdd or mobo failing, undetected virus?

Brian Stuart · 21 Jun 2007 at 09:56

have you tried running "chkdsk /r" from the recovery console?

Teaf · 21 Jun 2007 at 10:38

Basically it goes upto windows xp logo and reboots again. tried using F8 to boot in save mode, last best config etc doesn't work.

Just out of sheer curiosity, can you disable USB in your BIOS perhaps and remove any USB devices? I've heard of, and had first hand experience with, dodgy USB drivers and devices that cause a machine to lock or reboot at the Windows XP logo when it's trying to start up.

something daft already!! · 21 Jun 2007 at 10:42

Hmm, does sound like some piece of hardware is failing, or driver issue. What is your full system specs? You get the same is safe mode? It could be the hard drive failing with dodgy sectors do you have a spare you can install to and test? It may also be worth seeing if you can get some software from the hard drive manufacturer to check the drive. You could also try another graphics card. It does seem an odd pattern of events and may be difficult to pin down.

nolimit · 21 Jun 2007 at 11:39

I have tried;

- "chkdsk /r" from the recovery console and all the other various commands

- I can't boot with any of the F8 commands.

- tried disabling USB and disconnected all USB but not luck

- run WD daignosis program without any error.

- mobo / cpu / and general system temp is average 30-40.

- the only only solution so far is to format and install windows xp from fresh but i know if I don't find the problem the same crap might happen again in 2-3 weeks. But the weird part is i had this setup for nearly 1 year now and it worked flawlessly for 9 months without any popups or other strange windows problems.

My Computer Spec is;

Intel 6300 Core 2 Duo
ASRock XFire Mobo
GSkill x2 1GB 6400 RAM
x2 200GB WD HDD 7200 8 or 16mb can't remember
NEC x16 DVDRW
Asus 7300GT 256mb
Logitech DiNovo Desktop Media (bluetooth)
Dell FPW2005

Chris1712 · 21 Jun 2007 at 11:57

Sounds like a possible dodgy HDD/PSU to me.

Have you disabled any hardware in the BIOS, (parallel ports etc.)? This can really mess windows up and the same thing happened to Zefan about 3/4 weeks ago turned out this was the problem.

nolimit · 21 Jun 2007 at 13:03

Good news guys windows xp is working now.

Checked every setting in the bios and noticed the HDD was set to AHCI instead of IDE.

When I was installing windows the previous time i remember setting it to IDE and somehow I think my neice playing around with the on/off button somehow changed the setting back to AHCI.

so basically in the last 2 months my mobo was resetting itself to AHCI default. :mad:

I hate this MOBO.

anyways thanks for all the feedback. All good now.