Windows Wont start!!

ComputerDummy · 24 Feb 2006 at 19:19

After multiple fresh installs of windows my computer still decides after a month or two it doesent want to start. Im not sure if its something that i do but there seems no correlation. i use whats already there and dont install and compuer simply freezes on boot screen!?

Any ideas would be appreciated!! thanks

BigBoy · 25 Feb 2006 at 09:16

Whats the spek of your computer? how far thru the boot process does it get befor it stops? Have you run memtest86 to test your ram to see if its dodgy?

Simmy · 25 Feb 2006 at 09:34

Dodgy graphics card/drivers? Try a 2nd card if possible.

Have you tried memtesting the RAM?

try a hard drive utility from your manufacturers website, to check the hard disk is running ok.

BigBoy · 25 Feb 2006 at 09:36

I woudl say its probably one of thouse three^^

lordedmond · 25 Feb 2006 at 09:40

or a dogey PSU, M/B

so many things so little information

ComputerDummy · 26 Feb 2006 at 17:40

Sory bout the lack of information guys! i assumed it was a software thing but being as i just installed windows once more, and theres a long pause before boot i assume theres gota be something going wrong somewhere!

Spec:
MSI neo 2 plat
GeIL 1GB (2x512MB)
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 10 NCQ 120GB 6L120M0 SATA 8MB Cache - OEM
GeForce 6600 GT
Tagan TG420-U01 420W ATX2.0 Silent PSU
AMD Athlon 64 3500+

Thanks for the replies!

Simmy · 26 Feb 2006 at 17:43

Can you boot into safe mode?

Try memtest to rule out the RAM.

Try a second graphics card (PCI, AGP, PCI-E - whatever you can get your mitts on)

Test your hard drive is working with software from the manufacturers website.

It's just a matter of testing it all and eliminating all the possibilities

ComputerDummy · 26 Feb 2006 at 17:45

So any of those pieces of hardware could cause the computer not to boot? It does boot in safe mode althout last time i tried it came up with the blue screen and said sumthin along the lines of "hard error"

Simmy · 26 Feb 2006 at 17:47

If you can get the error code, it might help pin point the problem. But yeah, it could be anything :\

Try the easier things first, like memtest the RAM and test the hard drive. Then move onto the stuff where you have to get inside the case.

ComputerDummy · 26 Feb 2006 at 18:26

I ran the hard drive test and the software didnt even pick up my hard drive even tho the pc is working at the moment!? should i have installed something prior to installing windows so it recognises the hard drive? I always have an icon in the corner asking if i want to safely remove my hard drive!?

Simmy · 26 Feb 2006 at 18:38

Are you running version 4.22 of the Maxtor PowerMax software?

Are you connecting the hard drive through an onboard sata raid controller or anything like that?