Help - boot up problem - followup
in [Home Built PC]
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From: Sjouke Burry on 28 May 2010 19:07 John wrote: > Thanks for the suggestions. I have used them where I could but am > hampered because I only have the one floppy (installed on the pc giving > me problems) and my other pc is a laptop with CD burner. > > So to recap what I have done: > 1. disconnected all devices, reset CMOS (again) > 2. inspected mobo for any sign of bad capacitor (puffed out dome) but > didn't see anything there > 3. d/l Western Digital LifeGuard Diagnostics and made bootable CD > 4. booting pc with only video card, k/b and mouse behaved normally FWIW > 5. each of the hard drives passed both the quick and extended disk tests > 6. connected only the boot HD. pc boot process reaches screen that says > "building DMI pool" and then I get disk failure message - insert system > disk > 7. connected the cable to the optical devices - Windows Setup disk is > seen at boot up and Windows setup procedure starts. I stop there > because no hds connected yet > 8. set CMOS to boot from CD, added connector cable for the hd, and > started Windows Setup. At setup screen, chose option to install new, > then selected hd (only the one), delete existing partition and install > new one and format. Windows Setup proceeds and eventually displays the > screen saying to remove any floppies and that it will reboot the pc in > 15 seconds. However, it does not reboot and AFAICT it's as if all the > prior setup work is lost and am back at square one. > > I still haven't figured out if my problem(s) is a CMOS/BIOS problem, > problem somewhere else on the mobo or conflict between BIOS and Windows > config (because it hangs at point "building DMI pool"). > > I also would like to figure out why the pc does not perform the "soft" > reboot at the end of the Windows Setup Install process. I read > somewhere that that was probably a result of BIOS settings, but the > stuff I've read is usually as clear as mud describing the settings. > These were the two clearest articles: > > http://www.dewassoc.com/support/bios/awardfaq.htm > > http://www.buildeasypc.com/sw/bios_setup.htm > > John Check the bios for a bootrecord protection, and if found, switch that off.
From: John on 29 May 2010 13:12 Jan Alter wrote: > "John" <my_name_is_my_own(a)swbell.invalid.net> wrote in message > news:htp4tl$hc4$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > > Thanks for the suggestions. I have used them where I could but am > > hampered because I only have the one floppy (installed on the pc > > giving me problems) and my other pc is a laptop with CD burner. > > > > So to recap what I have done: > > 1. disconnected all devices, reset CMOS (again) > > 2. inspected mobo for any sign of bad capacitor (puffed out dome) > > but didn't see anything there > > 3. d/l Western Digital LifeGuard Diagnostics and made bootable CD > > 4. booting pc with only video card, k/b and mouse behaved normally > > FWIW 5. each of the hard drives passed both the quick and extended > > disk tests 6. connected only the boot HD. pc boot process reaches > > screen that says "building DMI pool" and then I get disk failure > > message - insert system disk > > 7. connected the cable to the optical devices - Windows Setup disk > > is seen at boot up and Windows setup procedure starts. I stop there > > because no hds connected yet > > 8. set CMOS to boot from CD, added connector cable for the hd, and > > started Windows Setup. At setup screen, chose option to install > > new, then selected hd (only the one), delete existing partition and > > install new one and format. Windows Setup proceeds and eventually > > displays the screen saying to remove any floppies and that it will > > reboot the pc in 15 seconds. However, it does not reboot and > > AFAICT it's as if all the prior setup work is lost and am back at > > square one. > > > > I still haven't figured out if my problem(s) is a CMOS/BIOS problem, > > problem somewhere else on the mobo or conflict between BIOS and > > Windows config (because it hangs at point "building DMI pool"). > > > > I also would like to figure out why the pc does not perform the > > "soft" reboot at the end of the Windows Setup Install process. I > > read somewhere that that was probably a result of BIOS settings, > > but the stuff I've read is usually as clear as mud describing the > > settings. These were the two clearest articles: > > > > http://www.dewassoc.com/support/bios/awardfaq.htm > > > > http://www.buildeasypc.com/sw/bios_setup.htm > > > > John > > I admire your diligence and tenacity in continuing to carry through > suggestions. As Paul suggests possibly changing the bios chip, since > you continue to get a lack of completion of the DMI information. I > might consider that, but would be very thoughtful to necessary cool > and steady hand coordination to actually changing a bios chip while > the computer is on. He has additional recommendations to changing the > chip and they may be viable. However, I'm still unsure if that's the > problem. Though mentioned that it probably wouldn't work I would go > to the degree of just checking the mb maker's website to see if there > is a newer bios available than the one you have programmed on the > CMOS chip. It might be worth flashing the bios, thinking that the > current bios is partially corrupt. You did mention that you were > having trouble with your floppy drive. I would not even consider > flashing without having a reliable one. If another is available > exchange them, since a bad flash would render the cmos chip to be > totally useless. It would seem though that at this point you could > rule out the hdd from being part of the problem. I'm not sure how > much RAM you have onboard, but I believe one needs 125 mb to install > XP. If you have two chips and you still have 125 mb left after > removing one of the chips then try the installation again. I know > that it's a long shot but bad RAM can cause quite a bit of mysterious > occurances to happen. If the same incomplete install happens > substitute the other chip and try the install again. If none works > and you've gone through the flashing of the bios successfully then I > would go the route of replacing the mb (that would be for myself > talking now) rather than replacing the bios chip on an older machine. Thanks Jan. I've reached the end of what I feel I can try to fix on my own and will switch to either looking for a replacement mobo fitting my budget that would also allow me to re-use my stuff or to (less likely) building a new pc. It's certainly been a learning experience because it's something that I don't deal with on a frequent basis. I think I've only had to replace a CMOS battery once or twice since the mid-90s. I think I've had to replace mobo's more often and that doesn't happen that frequently to me either :-) John
From: John on 29 May 2010 13:15 Sjouke Burry wrote: > John wrote: > > Thanks for the suggestions. I have used them where I could but am > > hampered because I only have the one floppy (installed on the pc > > giving me problems) and my other pc is a laptop with CD burner. > > > > So to recap what I have done: > > 1. disconnected all devices, reset CMOS (again) > > 2. inspected mobo for any sign of bad capacitor (puffed out dome) > > but didn't see anything there > > 3. d/l Western Digital LifeGuard Diagnostics and made bootable CD > > 4. booting pc with only video card, k/b and mouse behaved normally > > FWIW 5. each of the hard drives passed both the quick and extended > > disk tests 6. connected only the boot HD. pc boot process reaches > > screen that says "building DMI pool" and then I get disk failure > > message - insert system disk > > 7. connected the cable to the optical devices - Windows Setup disk > > is seen at boot up and Windows setup procedure starts. I stop there > > because no hds connected yet > > 8. set CMOS to boot from CD, added connector cable for the hd, and > > started Windows Setup. At setup screen, chose option to install > > new, then selected hd (only the one), delete existing partition and > > install new one and format. Windows Setup proceeds and eventually > > displays the screen saying to remove any floppies and that it will > > reboot the pc in 15 seconds. However, it does not reboot and > > AFAICT it's as if all the prior setup work is lost and am back at > > square one. > > > > I still haven't figured out if my problem(s) is a CMOS/BIOS problem, > > problem somewhere else on the mobo or conflict between BIOS and > > Windows config (because it hangs at point "building DMI pool"). > > > > I also would like to figure out why the pc does not perform the > > "soft" reboot at the end of the Windows Setup Install process. I > > read somewhere that that was probably a result of BIOS settings, > > but the stuff I've read is usually as clear as mud describing the > > settings. These were the two clearest articles: > > > > http://www.dewassoc.com/support/bios/awardfaq.htm > > > > http://www.buildeasypc.com/sw/bios_setup.htm > > > > John > Check the bios for a bootrecord protection, and if found, switch > that off. Thanks Sjouke. I'll check that out. Otherwise, I think I've done what I can with the resources I have and will look for either a mobo to replace it or maybe build a new pc. Replacing the mobo is most likely given my budget. John
From: Jan Alter on 29 May 2010 16:08
FWIW getting a board with onboard graphics these days is not a bad route if your video needs are not demanding. I make it a point to read reviews on newegg.com of mbs I may be interested in using for a build. Though the feedback may not always be perfect I've gotten a good sense of which ones have good reliability and those that don't along with specifics of what is lacking in a particular mb. Good luck John. -- Jan Alter bearpuf(a)verizon.net "John" <my_name_is_my_own(a)swbell.invalid.net> wrote in message news:htrhu4$sgh$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > Jan Alter wrote: > >> "John" <my_name_is_my_own(a)swbell.invalid.net> wrote in message >> news:htp4tl$hc4$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... >> > Thanks for the suggestions. I have used them where I could but am >> > hampered because I only have the one floppy (installed on the pc >> > giving me problems) and my other pc is a laptop with CD burner. >> > >> > So to recap what I have done: >> > 1. disconnected all devices, reset CMOS (again) >> > 2. inspected mobo for any sign of bad capacitor (puffed out dome) >> > but didn't see anything there >> > 3. d/l Western Digital LifeGuard Diagnostics and made bootable CD >> > 4. booting pc with only video card, k/b and mouse behaved normally >> > FWIW 5. each of the hard drives passed both the quick and extended >> > disk tests 6. connected only the boot HD. pc boot process reaches >> > screen that says "building DMI pool" and then I get disk failure >> > message - insert system disk >> > 7. connected the cable to the optical devices - Windows Setup disk >> > is seen at boot up and Windows setup procedure starts. I stop there >> > because no hds connected yet >> > 8. set CMOS to boot from CD, added connector cable for the hd, and >> > started Windows Setup. At setup screen, chose option to install >> > new, then selected hd (only the one), delete existing partition and >> > install new one and format. Windows Setup proceeds and eventually >> > displays the screen saying to remove any floppies and that it will >> > reboot the pc in 15 seconds. However, it does not reboot and >> > AFAICT it's as if all the prior setup work is lost and am back at >> > square one. >> > >> > I still haven't figured out if my problem(s) is a CMOS/BIOS problem, >> > problem somewhere else on the mobo or conflict between BIOS and >> > Windows config (because it hangs at point "building DMI pool"). >> > >> > I also would like to figure out why the pc does not perform the >> > "soft" reboot at the end of the Windows Setup Install process. I >> > read somewhere that that was probably a result of BIOS settings, >> > but the stuff I've read is usually as clear as mud describing the >> > settings. These were the two clearest articles: >> > >> > http://www.dewassoc.com/support/bios/awardfaq.htm >> > >> > http://www.buildeasypc.com/sw/bios_setup.htm >> > >> > John >> >> I admire your diligence and tenacity in continuing to carry through >> suggestions. As Paul suggests possibly changing the bios chip, since >> you continue to get a lack of completion of the DMI information. I >> might consider that, but would be very thoughtful to necessary cool >> and steady hand coordination to actually changing a bios chip while >> the computer is on. He has additional recommendations to changing the >> chip and they may be viable. However, I'm still unsure if that's the >> problem. Though mentioned that it probably wouldn't work I would go >> to the degree of just checking the mb maker's website to see if there >> is a newer bios available than the one you have programmed on the >> CMOS chip. It might be worth flashing the bios, thinking that the >> current bios is partially corrupt. You did mention that you were >> having trouble with your floppy drive. I would not even consider >> flashing without having a reliable one. If another is available >> exchange them, since a bad flash would render the cmos chip to be >> totally useless. It would seem though that at this point you could >> rule out the hdd from being part of the problem. I'm not sure how >> much RAM you have onboard, but I believe one needs 125 mb to install >> XP. If you have two chips and you still have 125 mb left after >> removing one of the chips then try the installation again. I know >> that it's a long shot but bad RAM can cause quite a bit of mysterious >> occurances to happen. If the same incomplete install happens >> substitute the other chip and try the install again. If none works >> and you've gone through the flashing of the bios successfully then I >> would go the route of replacing the mb (that would be for myself >> talking now) rather than replacing the bios chip on an older machine. > > Thanks Jan. I've reached the end of what I feel I can try to fix on my > own and will switch to either looking for a replacement mobo fitting my > budget that would also allow me to re-use my stuff or to (less likely) > building a new pc. > > It's certainly been a learning experience because it's something that I > don't deal with on a frequent basis. I think I've only had to replace > a CMOS battery once or twice since the mid-90s. I think I've had to > replace mobo's more often and that doesn't happen that frequently to me > either :-) > > John |