Windows won't load

American TG Man · September 22nd, 2008, 01:56 AM

As if my computer hasn't given me enough trouble...

Well, now Windows refuses to even enter the loading screen, even if I boot from safe-mode or CD. I had changed my CD drives (one had stopped recognizing the discs) but Windows started when I changed the drives. I'm guessing reloading Windows is going to be the only way to fix this, but I can't get to the menu that lets me do this...

_HighVoltage_ · September 22nd, 2008, 02:02 AM

Well what does it say? Do you get a BSOD?

Crazyjeeper · September 22nd, 2008, 02:19 AM

Go into the BIOS and check the boot order. Make sure the system drive is selected.

argatoga · September 22nd, 2008, 04:10 AM

Your BIOS might even have a boot menu you can access during POST. Look for something along the lines of "Press ESC to boot" before it loads Windows.

Polygon · September 22nd, 2008, 05:16 AM

I assume it takes you to a screen complaining that windows did not load on the last boot and it gives you some options?

So, you try normal and safe mode and it won't boot? Does it hang, does it just reboot, or does it BSOD? You could be looking at more than a bad install.

As for booting from a CD. Make sure you have it as a boot device in the BIOS and you'll probably want to set it as the first device. Also, make sure that your BIOS even sees the CD drive as you could have a bad drive. Once you get it to boot from the CD try going into the recovery console from Windows setup and then once you get to a prompt type CHKDSK /R

It will take a while to run but if it doesn't fix the issue you will need to reload. If you have data that you need to back up then I suggest pulling the drive or booting from a Knoppix CD, I can give you a link to the image if you need it, and transfer them off to another computer over the network.

American TG Man · September 22nd, 2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polygon

So, you try normal and safe mode and it won't boot? Does it hang, does it just reboot, or does it BSOD? You could be looking at more than a bad install.

It hangs when it attempts to load Windows, in both safe and normal mode, and from the CD.

cvrefugee · September 22nd, 2008, 06:35 PM

Sounds like a hardware problem then. What components do you have in your system?

American TG Man · September 22nd, 2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvrefugee

Sounds like a hardware problem then. What components do you have in your system?

Lite-On LH-16W1P DVD drive (broken)
Sony CD drive
Seagate 80GB master and original Maxtor (eek) 32GB slave hard drives.
OEM Compaq motherboard

Is that helpful?

matt2000 · September 22nd, 2008, 08:55 PM

Check the RAM. In my 3 weeks IT experience, it's always the RAM.

jeffy777 · September 22nd, 2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by American TG Man

It hangs when it attempts to load Windows, in both safe and normal mode, and from the CD.

I had this happen when one of my sticks of RAM went to crap. Try taking one stick out at a time and see if it boots.

Polygon · September 22nd, 2008, 09:15 PM

Yeah, it's hardware. Try testing the RAM if you have some extra known good sticks, if not scan with Memtest. The RAM is the most likely suspect but these things can be caused by the motherboard, CPU, and even the PSU.

matt2000 · September 22nd, 2008, 09:31 PM

Could just be a badly seated stick. I got a machine that worked perfectly after I took the RAM out and put it back. The guy who owned it had written it off as dead.

American TG Man · September 22nd, 2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt2000

Could just be a badly seated stick. I got a machine that worked perfectly after I took the RAM out and put it back. The guy who owned it had written it off as dead.

Re-seating the modules did the trick...

Glee! images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Thanks to all you who helped.

matt2000 · September 22nd, 2008, 10:55 PM

Re-seated? Modules?

Who needs tech speak? I don't bother with it. images/smilies/biggrin.gif

You took the sticks out and put 'em back, yous did. images/smilies/lol.gif

September 22nd, 2008, 01:56 AM	#1
American TG Man Banned By Request Joined: Feb 19th, 2007 Last Online: 01:51 AM Location: Lafayette, NJ, Amerikistan Age: 17 Posts: 1,857 Car: None... :'c LFS Status: Rep Power: 25	Windows won't load As if my computer hasn't given me enough trouble... Well, now Windows refuses to even enter the loading screen, even if I boot from safe-mode or CD. I had changed my CD drives (one had stopped recognizing the discs) but Windows started when I changed the drives. I'm guessing reloading Windows is going to be the only way to fix this, but I can't get to the menu that lets me do this... __________________ The things one must have in life:1)anonymity 2)floppy hair 3)a taste for cardboard 4)POWERRR!!!! Fuck the FIA, and a (begrudging) congratulations to Lewis Hamilton. (Why, oh why, Glock?) DSRacing status: Preparing for the holidays at the same time as everybody else: early... Help world plant life, buy big engines...

September 22nd, 2008, 02:19 AM	#3
Crazyjeeper Joined: Nov 29th, 2006 Last Online: 04:26 AM Location: Texas Age: 19 Posts: 2,497 Car: 1985 Jeep CJ7, 1997 Ford F150 Rep Power: 50	Go into the BIOS and check the boot order. Make sure the system drive is selected. __________________ Toy: 1985 Jeep CJ7 Lifted and Locked Daily Driver: 1997 Ford F150 4.6L with a massive 220hp MSI P6N Diamond 680i, E8400 @ 3.15ghz, CM Hyper 212 Cooler, XFX 8800GT 512mb Extreme, MSI 8400GS, Creative X-FI, 2x1gb Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800, PC Power & Cooling 610w EPS12v, 1.6tb of HDD, CM Centurion 690.

September 22nd, 2008, 04:10 AM	#4
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 07:45 AM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 25 Posts: 1,969 Car: '97 Mustang GT, '78 MG Midget (12a swap) Rep Power: 48	Your BIOS might even have a boot menu you can access during POST. Look for something along the lines of "Press ESC to boot" before it loads Windows. __________________ "Until a President is killed in a 300c, it can NEVER be as awesome as the Lincoln Continental." - thedguy "But to take alobohol rectally... Couldn't that kill a man?!?" - Austere "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun

September 22nd, 2008, 05:16 AM	#5
Polygon Joined: Oct 7th, 2007 Last Online: October 11th, 2008 Location: Utah, United States Age: 27 Posts: 93 Car: 1989 LeBaron GTC TII & 1991 Stealth R/T TT Rep Power: 7	I assume it takes you to a screen complaining that windows did not load on the last boot and it gives you some options? So, you try normal and safe mode and it won't boot? Does it hang, does it just reboot, or does it BSOD? You could be looking at more than a bad install. As for booting from a CD. Make sure you have it as a boot device in the BIOS and you'll probably want to set it as the first device. Also, make sure that your BIOS even sees the CD drive as you could have a bad drive. Once you get it to boot from the CD try going into the recovery console from Windows setup and then once you get to a prompt type CHKDSK /R It will take a while to run but if it doesn't fix the issue you will need to reload. If you have data that you need to back up then I suggest pulling the drive or booting from a Knoppix CD, I can give you a link to the image if you need it, and transfer them off to another computer over the network. __________________ Clint: 1989 Chrysler Le Baron GTC Turbo II - 1991 Dodge Stealth R/T TT - 2008 Ford Escape My CarDomain Garage Last edited by Polygon; September 22nd, 2008 at 05:20 AM..

September 22nd, 2008, 08:55 PM	#9
matt2000 Squirrel Mincer Joined: Feb 17th, 2006 Last Online: 07:29 AM Location: Market Harborough, UK Age: 18 Posts: 3,479 Car: '77 Land Rover Series III LFS Status: Rep Power: 53	Check the RAM. In my 3 weeks IT experience, it's always the RAM. __________________ Signature last updated 27/11/08. Photos last updated 25/10/08.

September 22nd, 2008, 02:02 AM	#2
_HighVoltage_ Joined: Aug 5th, 2006 Last Online: 05:33 AM Location: Bulgaria / Athens, WV Age: 21 Posts: 1,056 Car: 1998 VW Polo 1.0 Rep Power: 19	Well what does it say? Do you get a BSOD?

September 22nd, 2008, 06:35 PM	#7
cvrefugee Joined: Aug 16th, 2004 Last Online: 12:57 AM Location: Corona, CA Age: 28 Posts: 3,399 Car: 2005 Scion xB Rep Power: 58	Sounds like a hardware problem then. What components do you have in your system?

September 22nd, 2008, 09:15 PM	#11
Polygon Joined: Oct 7th, 2007 Last Online: October 11th, 2008 Location: Utah, United States Age: 27 Posts: 93 Car: 1989 LeBaron GTC TII & 1991 Stealth R/T TT Rep Power: 7	Yeah, it's hardware. Try testing the RAM if you have some extra known good sticks, if not scan with Memtest. The RAM is the most likely suspect but these things can be caused by the motherboard, CPU, and even the PSU. __________________ Clint: 1989 Chrysler Le Baron GTC Turbo II - 1991 Dodge Stealth R/T TT - 2008 Ford Escape My CarDomain Garage

September 22nd, 2008, 09:31 PM	#12
matt2000 Squirrel Mincer Joined: Feb 17th, 2006 Last Online: 07:29 AM Location: Market Harborough, UK Age: 18 Posts: 3,479 Car: '77 Land Rover Series III LFS Status: Rep Power: 53	Could just be a badly seated stick. I got a machine that worked perfectly after I took the RAM out and put it back. The guy who owned it had written it off as dead. __________________ Signature last updated 27/11/08. Photos last updated 25/10/08.

September 22nd, 2008, 10:55 PM	#14
matt2000 Squirrel Mincer Joined: Feb 17th, 2006 Last Online: 07:29 AM Location: Market Harborough, UK Age: 18 Posts: 3,479 Car: '77 Land Rover Series III LFS Status: Rep Power: 53	Re-seated? Modules? Who needs tech speak? I don't bother with it. You took the sticks out and put 'em back, yous did. __________________ Signature last updated 27/11/08. Photos last updated 25/10/08.

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