Auto-Detecting Pri master? windows doesn't load?

Hey Guys,

I needed some help regarding my sister's computer. She came to me yesterday saying that her windows PC doesn’t load.

When I turn the computer on it says:

"Auto-Detecting Pri Master..IDE Hard Disk:ST3500320AS SD15"

It stays there for a good 15 seconds detecting it. After that the "windows load error" screen comes up and says there was a problem with the computer shutting down correctly. I tried to select "start windows normally" and also "start windows safe mode". With either of these the screen changes as windows is about to load but the screen just stays black with the cursor in the middle and the loading sign next to it for a while.

Any suggestions on what might the problem be and how to solve it?

Any advice and guidance is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

Sound like the hard drive is failing. You can download Seatools for DOS. Burn the iso file with Imgburn and boot the CD. Let it test the drive.

http://knowledge.seagate.com/articles/en_US/FAQ/201271en

 

Hi,

So I ran the Seatools for DOS like you told me and apparently there was a Firmware update for the hardrive. I went on to the Seagate website and there was a notice posted for my hardrive model saying that some of the products were having problems and they gave free firmware updates to those who required it.

So I did the update and it looks like it worked because the screen doesn’t stay paused at "Auto-Detecting Pri Master..IDE Hard Disk:ST3500320AS SD15" for 15 seconds like it used before it just boots past it. But the problem is still that I am getting the "Windows Load Error" screen and when I select "start windows normally" it seems like windows is going to load but again its back to the black screen.

Any suggestions on what I should do now?

 

Can you go into safe mode by pressing F8 and select "Last Know Good Configuration"? What is your OS?

 

I'm not sure what you mean by pressing F8 and then going into safe mode. Pressing F8 when I turn on my PC takes me to "boot selection"

I can go into safe mode but I get the same blank screen once it loads. My OS is Windows 7 Ultimate Edition.

the only options under "Windows Recovery Error" are:

- safe mode
- safe mode with networking
-safe mode with command prompt
- start windows normally

 

Do you have an install DVD? Boot that and select Repair. Then startup repair.

See this link. Do not try a MBR fix yet.

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/win7-windows-7-mbr,10036.html