Major Start Up Issues! PLEASE HELP!

Machine Details:
Windows XP Pro with SP3, ASUS V-Series Bare Bones with Mobo P5KPL-VM/V, 350W Power Supply Stock with the BBones Sys, Intel Pent Dual Core E2200 2.2GHz, 1GB Kingston RAM (one stick) KHX8500D2K2, WD 80GB WD800BB-56JKC0 HD, NEC DVD/RW ND-3550A burner.

Symptoms :
When you turn on first thing in the morning, XP starts to boot it will slow to a crawl or stop all together on the little bar that shows that it's loading. It mostly does it only on first start up or after it's been sitting for a while. Most of the time when it gets going, you can restart it over and over and you won't get this issue. Sometimes it will happen and you can't get it to boot but that's more rare of the two.

What's already been done:
There is no virus, malware or spyware. The system was cleaned and when it didn't help, I formatted the drive and started over. I'm in the process of re-loading all the software and it's started doing it again today. All Mobo drivers have been installed and some other software like Office 03 and a few others. The machine has only been online for windows updates, adobe, java and other add-ons and plug-ins. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Can ANYONE please give me some advice as to what the problem could be. I've even swapped out the Power Supply with a 550W PS and it still did it. I changed all cables like LAN, USB for Keyboard / Mouse, Monitor cable etc and it didn't help. (I wanted to see if maybe a bad cable may have had a short causing a problem). This one is driving me crazy and it's the boss' PC so I'm in a crunch for time. I'm thinking it has to be a hardware failure but I don't know what!

Please Help! Thanks!

 

Hi sp33dphr33q.

So you have reinstalled a fresh version of XP and it is still having this problem?

Even with no programs installed?

It doesn't sound like hardware fault to me, but it is possible i suppose.
Q

 

Hello ~Q~

Thank you for replying!

Yes, it has a "Fresh" install of XP. I have loaded some software on it. I can give you a list. I didn't finish loading it up yesterday and when I came in this morning, it had the same problem. I really don't know what to do unless the HD is going bad?

 

Hmm? i would open it up and give it a good clean to get rid of all dust, make sure everything is seated right, and all wires and parts look ok {nothing burned or broken}

Assuming all is well there, run some memory and HDD testing software.

UBCD - http://majorgeeks.com/Ultimate_Boot_CD_d4981.html <-- this has many many tools in it, a memtest and a HDD tester are two of them

You have to burn it as an ISO image file to a CD... DONT just burn it as a normal data CD and make sure to use a CD not a DVD

Q

 

Thanks ~Q~, sounds like a good start! I'll standby for you post.

 

See my last post, i edited the links in

Q

 

okay ... download in progress. It will run as an ISO?

 

The file you download will either be the .ISO file itself... or will be a .zip file which you will extract, and then you will have the ISO file...

Which you then burn to a CD using the "write image" option in your chosen burner, edit: and then once burned you will have to put the CD in and restart the PC to boot from it

I recommend using infrarecorder http://majorgeeks.com/InfraRecorder_d6206.html it is very good and simple to use

Q

 

Okay ... downloaded Infra-Recorder (very simple to use! I normally use nero express or Image Burn But this was cool) Installed it, Burned the ISO to CD, put it in, re-boot ... booted from UBCD and now I'm not sure what to do first and how?

 

Sorry mate, i forget not everyone knows this stuff

Lets test the memory(RAM) first...

NOTE: Whilst running, it will clock up telling you the percentage it has tested, let it do it twice at least...

Boot the disk >> Mainboard tools >> Mem tests >> MeM test86 V3.3

**********

Then if that is ok lets test the HDD.....

Hard disk tools >> Diagnostic tools >> HDAT2


Q

Tip: when using UBCD, to reboot, go back to the main menu and select "boot from first disk"

 

Just a short and quick thought --I have a friend with somewhat of the same thing and it was a loose clip on the processor

 

Hi sp33dphr33q,

It reads like the HD is on its way out.

Techsent

 

Hello Q

Sorry for the delayed reply. I had a medical situation that caused me to leave the office & take the last couple of days off.

Okay so I'm currently running the RAM test, any idea how long that takes? I will run the HDD test as soon as that is complete.

@ Techsent:
You may be right, I kind of want to prove it though. It is a rather new drive with very little use but the use that it got, it was somewhat abused lol! It was my initial thought along with a bad power supply but I already proved to myself the PS is good. We'll see ...

 

~Q~

Also, what is it tha I'm looking for as far as results on these tests so I can post them when I get them in ...

 

You should really allow at least 2, preferably more, complete runs of Memtest or leave it running overnight.

 

Results from Memtest-86 v3.3

Pass complete, no errors, press Esc to exit


about to run HD test ...

 

~Q~

On the HD test ... I got to a screen that's asking me to choose 1 of 4 options.

1. No Drivers (default).
2. Load SCSI ASPI drivers.
3. Load USB ASPI drivers.
4. Load all drivers.


F5=Bypass startup files

F8=Confirm each line of CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT [N]


What should I choose?

 

@ satrow,

Hi, thanks for the advice. I had previously left it on for the last couple of days running the "Windows Memory Diagnostic" test. It ran for over 2 days and it was still running when I got in this morning. It didn't indicate any errors, then again, I didn't know what I was looking for either ...

 

No errors = good

Try booting the HDD test with no drivers first.

 

Okay ...

loaded the test, selected "no drivers" I'm not on a dos prompt that says ...



HDAT2 Floppy Boot Disk
mailto:lcabla@gmail.com
http://www.hdat2.com/


HDAT2 - HDD Testing/File System [main program, DOS only]
HDAT2DEM - HDD Testing/File System [demo program, DOS/Windows]


[NoDrivers] A:\>




What do I do from here?

 

I've no idea ^^ never used it. Just looked at the website and forum, nothing obvious in there ...

You're looking for the WD Data Lifeguard tools, you're at an emulated floppy prompt - try a dir or ls to see what's listed?

Wait ... you must have the UBCD for Windows? Then type HDAT2 and follow the prompts, I guess .

 

satrow ...

Yes, I have the UBCD typed HDAT2 and that got me in thanks! I running a test to check for bad sectors ... anything else I should check for? I'm not familiar with a lot of these tests.

 

Ideally, you should try to find and run the WD diagnostics on your WD drive - I'm trying to find out how you access them on that CD.

EDIT: there should be a file called DLGDIAG5.EXE, that's the WD diagnostic test.