Subscribe to How-To Geek

Login / Signup

Welcome to the How-To Geek Forums

We encourage you to register on our forums and post any questions you might have. The How-To Geeks monitor this forum and will respond to your question quickly.

How-To Geek Forums » Windows XP

Unable to boot PC

(13 posts)
  • Started 2 months ago by yintong5
  • Latest reply from agacult
  • Topic Viewed 586 times


yintong5
Posts: 5

Hi all,
A couple of weeks ago I picked up the most awful virus that I couldn't get rid of completely. I finally managed to get it running in Safe Mode, but that's not ideal in the long term. This is only a cheap second-hand PC which I use for downloading only (all saved downloads on a separate F drive) so it was worth trying a couple of things. I did try reinstalling XP with restore discs from different systems, and surprise, surprise they didn't work; that is, I suppose my hard drive is wiped clean (which is no real loss) but it will not boot up now.

I can't go into BIOS, as setup for the system is password protected (and I don't know the password).
If I try to boot in Safe Mode it gets this far:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\agp440sys

And if I try 'last know good configuration' I get
\WINDOWS\system32\config\SYSTEM file is missing.

Now comes the miser part - I don't throw money at things, so I'm not going to go out and buy a new copy of XP pro to boot from (if thats what it needs) and I don't have the original CD rom. Might I be able to boot from Linux if I went out and bought one of those magazines with the 'free CD'?

I'm prepared to do anything at the very least of cost.

Thanks in anticipation of your 'thow it away mate and buy a new one' answers.

Stu

Posted 2 months ago #
 
raphoenix
raphoenix
Posts: 1138

This procedure will get rid of the Bios password and reset Bios to default settings.

Unplug the system including monitor and remove the CMOS battery. On the motherboard there should be (2) or (3) pins sticking up with the letters CLRTC (Clear Real Time Clock) printed below them on the board. Change jumper from pins 1-2 to pins 2-3 for about a minute. Re-jumper pins 1-2, re-install battery, re-plug-in system and boot. Hold down Del or F2 or F1 key when re-booting. (Key varies with type of Bios and system board. (Need your input)

Note: some motherboards have only (2) small solder points instead of pins. As in above procedure, use bent paper clip and short solder points for about 10 seconds (same as placing jumper on them).

The next problem may be a bit harder to fix. If your system is formated in fat32, boot from floppy and change Boot.ini file entries to:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

Hopefully the NTLR will continue with the boot process if not damaged.

If the system is formatted in NTFS, then repost and I'll give you another way in (that might work ??)

Regards,
Rick P.

Posted 2 months ago #
 
Scott
Scott
Posts: 1726

raphoenix, a belated welcome to HTG. Your input and clarity have not gone unnoticed :)

Posted 2 months ago #
 
yintong5
Posts: 5

Raphoenix,
Thanks for the reply, I just have to get the time this week to carry out your instructions, will let you know how I get on.
Stu.

Posted 2 months ago #
 
agacult
Posts: 11

hellow everyone, my PC won't boot up at all! When I turn it on it only makes a 'beeep beeep' noise and thats about it. The problem is not with the hard drive as I connected it to another PC and it booted up just fine.

Posted 2 months ago #
 
Budohorseman
Budohorseman
Posts: 589

What kind of PC do you have and what is the motherboard (if you built it). Those are errors during the POST (Power On Self Test) and the beeps are codes as to where the problem may be. To help, we will need to know the PC/motherboard, what BIOS (Basic Input-Output System) your system has (during the boot you will see something like AMI BIOS, Phoenix, or the like when you hit the power button). Also listen to the beep pattern and let us know what you hear and we MAY be able to help (some manufacturers have custom BIOS).

Since you already ruled out the hard drive (good job by the way) odds are high it may be your RAM. Rotate you sticks (only use one at a time) and see if it does not boot with one but will boot with the other(s). Then you will know if you have a bad stick of RAM (one of the most common problems).

Posted 2 months ago #
 
yintong5
Posts: 5

Raphoenix,
Ok, so far I have reset BIOS password and now have complete access through holding down Del.

Next question would be, how do I know if it's fat32 or NTFS? and Boot from floppy? does this mean a new OS (like the Linux I mentioned) or by using the recovery discs I also mentioned previously?

As it stands now, if I start normally I get the messsage 'Floppy disk(s) fail (40)' on startup, whether I have the first boot device set as floppy (which it is) or CD or HDD.

Sorry to have to come back to you but I really am an amateur at this kind of thing.

Stu

Posted 2 months ago #
 
raphoenix
raphoenix
Posts: 1138

Yintong5,

Glad to help you get into your Bios. Good job on your part. One thing I neglected to cover in my original post was that you will have to re-setup the Bios again after getting in. Not knowing what type of computer you have, suggest you go through the Bios screens or items and set everything to Auto for now. Be sure the memory speed is set to "Dram speed by SPD". As you have done, also insure the floppy disk drive is set for first item in boot list. An error (40) with a floppy drive is normally a hardware issue. Click here http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000426.htm for a concise explanation of possible fixes. As I implied in my first post, Got to Get That Floppy Going. What kind of computer / motherboard do you have ? Do you have a flash memory stick available ? Do you have a known good floppy boot disk available ? Post back after doing the above trouble shooting.
Regards,
Rick P.

Posted 2 months ago #
 
yintong5
Posts: 5

Rick,
First of all, forgive my rudeness in not replying sooner, I am still trying to sort out my floppy drive, may have to try pinching one from elsewhere. All I can find written on the Motherboard is the letters K7VTA3 VER:6.0, no I don't have a boot disk but I do have a 256Mb memory stick. The computer bears the legend 'virgo' is probably a few years old and as it was from a job lot on Ebay, is probably ex-office.
That's about all for now, I just didn't want you to think I was being rude in not replying - it's gonna take a little time to sort out this floppy though.
Cheers,
Stu.

Posted 2 months ago #
 
raphoenix
raphoenix
Posts: 1138

yintong5

NO problem. You are NOT rude at all. I realize others are not retired and have many other things to do. The board supports AMD processors and I think? it is made by ECS. It requires a bunch of drivers to work properly. I'm going to ask you some questions since it appears you are going to have to start from scratch. Do you have copy on CDrom of any operating system (O/S); Win98, Win2K, WinXP, Ubutu Linux, etc ? I believe the board does support USB2 but not sure if can boot from USB and of couse we will have to make a bootable USB drive if does. (Good article by The Geek) on how to on this forum. Does the floppy have power to it ? Does the the floppy light come at all ? Does the floppy have a jumper next to the cable connection ? Are all the pins on floppy straight ? Is the Bios set to try boot from floppy first ? You ovivisly have access to a second PC that can get on the net. Can you burn a CD with it and is it a desktop or laptop ? (Thinking of ways to get free software or interchange parts to get K7VTA3 going)

Posted 2 months ago #
 
yintong5
Posts: 5

Raphoenix,
Ok, I have just returned from a couple of days away to find your last post.
The disk drive light does come on - constantly, and it is set to boot from it first.
I don't have copies of anything on disc; I hoped my restore discs (from other systems) might help me, but maybe it's them that have got me in this postion to start with. I can easily get a copy of Linux from one of the Linux magazines, I suppose.
Yes I have a laptop with a CD ROM (not DVD I'm afraid), so if there is any software I can pinch off the 'net, I can copy it over.
I will persevere with this floppy, though it worked fine before my 'restore' went horribly wrong.
Many thanks for your help and patience,
Stu.

Posted 2 months ago #
 
raphoenix
raphoenix
Posts: 1138

Stuart,
Lets get your old K7VTA3 machine going.

Go Here: http://www.ubuntu.com/getubunt.....t+Download

Start downloading FREE Ubutu 8.04 CD image ISO.

CHECK your E-mail !

Regards,
Rick P.

Posted 2 months ago #
 
agacult
Posts: 11

@ budohorseman. First let me apologize for not replying sooner but I was involved in an accident and was hospitalized. Well you were right about the ram, I got a new one and it booted up my pc. I will keep watch over it and if a problem arises I will post again and let you know. Thanks for all your help.

Posted 1 month ago #
 

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.

Sponsored Links
Getting Started
About How-To Geek
Popular Articles

Copyright © 2006-2008 HowToGeek.com. All Rights Reserved.