Windows 7 start up problems.

Hi all.
I have been having a few problems with my comp.
It may be dying but i'm giving it a last couple of goes to seee if it can be saved!
This is a clean install of Windows 7.
My main problem at the moment is that it can take several goes to actually boot up.
It mostly goes through the same routine, switch on > post beep > windows is starting > windows logo gathers together in a swirl > the logo pulses on screen then it either stops pulsing and hangs or it boots to the welcome screen.
If it hangs then I have to hard reset, try rebooting again and it may hang at the same point or it gives me a screen telling me I can start windows normally, (if I choose it, it normally does boot) or try a repair.
I tried a repair this morning, it did it's bit and then asked me if I would like to restore.
As I have no good restore points (clean install) I choose repair.
It checks everything then tells me it could not repair.
I looked at the diagnosis and the first few lines look a bit strange.
It says.
System disk = \Device\Harddisk\0
Windows Directory = F:\Windows
Auto Check Run =0
Number of root causes = 1

I have two HDD's on this computer, C drive with no partitions and another with 3 partitions, D, E and F.
The OS is on the C drive.
How come it is saying 'Windows Directory = F' ?

I have the C drive as first boot device and have tried setting a DVD drive as first device with C drive as second but still the same problem.
Any clues?
Cheers.

 

OK,this is clearly a problem with the hard disk.Either you have bad SATA cable,or bad sectors and delays.So first,change the SATA cable,then make a bootable CD from Hiren's boot CD-restart your comp-make first bootable device to be your DVD-select DOS Programs-Hard disk tools-MHDD.MHDD will scan your HDD for bad sectors and delays.Hope this helps.

http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/

 

Hi Goran.
Thanks for the reply.
A quick one before I do any of your suggestions.
I have unplugged the slave drive from the motherboard and power supply.
I have had no start up issues since.

I have scanned my OS HDD recently and it has shown zero problems.
What I don't get is, as the other HDD is a slave why would the comp even attempt to 'talk' to the slave HDD on start up?
Could this be the cable you mention?

I haven't used it enough since unplugging the slave but i'm sure there is less grinding coming from the HDD's.
If it's not the cable could a bad slave HDD cause problems?

 

Greetings, sobeit...

Since you're booting correctly with the one hard drive, I see no reason to replace the cable or to go to the trouble of creating the Hiren's disk...

Is this a cable select machine?

 

I just noticed in your signature that your motherboard is an ASRock K7NF2-RAID. I'm not RAID-proficient, so maybe someone else will jump in and let us know if this might have any bearing upon your issues...

 

Hi Caliban.
Don't know what you mean by 'cable select machine' though I wouldn't have thought so.
Also, I don't think that I am using the RAID side of things or am I since adding a second HDD and that is my problem, perhaps I have to set it up somehow?

 

Hold the front page!!

Back to start up problems again.
Very strange.
Unplugged the second HDD and all was fine for several days and many start ups.
I haven't plugged the HDD back in but it is back to doing exactly the same.
The latest result of the attempt to repair says
Windows Directory = D:\Windows
yet my os is on drive C.

Is this normal?
How can it say windows directory is on D when there is no D?

Perhaps time to try Gorans idea!

 

Since your signature indicates that this may be a Western Digital hard drive, you might consider running the Data Lifeguard utility to check the drive's integrity...

What type of repair?

 

Right.
I have done the following so far.

1. Tried 2 different OS's (XP and 7)
2. Tried 3 different HDD's
3. Tried a spare PSU
4. Swapped the ribbon cable
5. Ran a diag on the HDD
6. Tried with only 1 stick of RAM
7. Ran a memtest
8. Tried windows repair

Still got the same start up problem.
It starts, I get the bios set up screen, get the post beep, windows is starting, the logo gathers, it pulstaes teasingly then it stops pulsating and hangs.
I reboot and it either takes me to the 'start windows repair or start windows normally' screen or boots ok.
It can boot ok on second try or I have to try a few times.
It always boots eventually and appears fine once i'm in.

Any further suggestions?
P.S. there is a rubbish tip about 3 miles from here! :-D

 

Man, it looks like you've tried everything under the sun.

Usually with random, system-wide symptoms such as yours, I'd suspect the power supply and RAM, but since you've already thought of those, the only thing I can come up with would be the CPU/motherboard.

Check all connectors - everything - even a loose fan connector can cause spurious startup problems.
Check all the capacitors - make sure nothing's bulging or discolored.
Look for any obvious burn tracks/scorch marks.

You could try re-seating the CPU/heatsink combo, but make sure you've got some thermal paste handy before you clean the old stuff off.

Try replacing the CMOS battery (you can usually find a replacement at a 'puter store, jewelry store, watch shop, even some drugstores). You might even consider flashing the BIOS, but I'd save that for last.

Speaking of BIOS - try accessing yours, set everything to Safe defaults, see if there are any symptoms changes. While you're in there, make sure the drives are all correctly listed.

*****

I keep going back to the RAID and the apparent confusion about which drive letter belongs to your root - you might try browsing any forums specific to your mobo manufacturer, see if any common symptoms have surfaced...

 

Hmmm, this is very puzzling.
I thought of the CPU but as it is such a predictable problem ie only at start up and all is well once I am in I dismissed it.
I have no paste at the mo so would have to order some and try later.
I changed the Cmos battery a few weeks back.
I also stripped all but the CPU at the same time and hoovered and resat everything I could.
I hate giving up!!
I am going to try and source a spare graphics card as the past few times I have 'successfully' booted there has been a strange flash of uniform coloured bars across my screen just as the 'loading windows' black screen appears.
They are horizontal and about 2" thick.
Weird!

 

Had a look for a Bios update.
I have 1.20, the latest is 1.30 and it says 'Modify MAC address function algorithm' I take it that is the modification from my version?
Can't see that that will help, can anyone else?

One other thing.
Had a peekaboo in the setup.
Read somewhere before about AGP problems, can't remember what but i'll just give you a few figures from my set up see if all is right.
In the graphics the AGP data rate is set to 8X
Fast write is enabled
Side band is enabled
Primary graphics adapter is set to PCI (is this right as I have a AGP card?)

IDE configuration reads thus
Onboard IDE Both
Onboard SATA Enabled
SATA operation mode Non RAID

CPU temp is 41 deg
MOBO temp is 32

Anyone see any problems?

 

Next development.
I swapped the graphics card for an old one I have.
Windows started without a problem.
It automatically installed the software for the card.
I had to restart for the driver to load, windows wouldn't start.
On the first two times of me trying with the new card in, the bios screen before the post beep didn't show, just a flash and straight on to the 'windows loading' screen?
This is making me think even more that is is something to do with the AGP side of things.
I can boot into safe mode no problem (no drivers trying to load)
I can boot into windows normally (when there is no graphics driver to load)
As soon as the driver is installed and wants to load windows wont start.
Could a dodgy AGP slot give all this hassle?

 

I guess it could - anything's possible. From what I can tell, that board doesn't have onboard video. Are there any BIOS options for changing AGP from 8x to 4x, aperture size, memory allocation, etc.?

 

Caliban, I think it may be all over. :cry

I resat everything, gave it a good hoovering, put it all back together, nothing!!
Perhaps it was the PSU all along, dying slowly.
I had that before years ago and it wrecked the whole pc!
CPU fan span slowly but no other signs of life.
Tried a different PSU, it all fired up but no way of loading windows.
I think it may have fried something.
I have aquired an old slow pc and tried loading 7 on it with one of the HDD's that I tried with the 'dead' pc and it loaded fine.
It couldn't run it properly (not enough RAM) but I thought I would try it just to see if I had a dodgy 7 disk.
Now I have loaded XP and that is fine as well so it wasn't the HDD's.

The motherboard did have option for 4X AGP.
I shall have one more go when I feel like it, I've done that much i've forgot where i'm at, and go through a sequence but I don't hold much hope.
I may have to bite the bullet and pay a few hundred for a new pc.