Am I screwed? New CPU + RAM ---> Cannot Boot into Windows

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lodog00

Member
Aug 2, 2002
86
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I just upgraded my processor from an intel E6300 to an E6700, and upgraded my ram from Corsair Dominator PC8500 to Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC8500....

That part went fine. The computer posts and all of that.

The problem is my computer will no longer boot into windows, and instead will go straight to CD boot (if a bootable CD is inside) or network boot. I'm not sure what happened, but the thing is, I had to remove the motherboard from the tray in order to install a new heatsink (which requires installation of a backplate), and subsequently remove everything and put it all back.

I didn't switch motherboards, and I didn't change any other components. Also, windows recognizes that my hard drives are present. But I cannot boot to a hard drive, and when I try to repair using my XP installation CD, I get this message: "Setup detected multiple disks in your machine that are indistinguishable or detected raw disk(s). Setup has corrected the problem, but a reboot is required......press any key to reboot".

This can't be...I have no raw disks, they are all partitioned. I've never received this error before, and I don't know what this is. I've succesfully swapped procs before and never had any problems even close to this. I just don't know....

did the teardown and subsequent rebuild totally mess up something? Is my data on my hard drives still there....if I install windows on a new HD, I should be able to still access that data, for the most part, right? I was stupid and didn't backup my drive BEFORE I installed the new gear, and I'm afraid I may have just lost some very important data.... (not to mention lose 6 months worth of game saves, hah!)

But at this point, getting my computer to work (so I can use my new found power!) would be good enough for now....

If anyone can help or at least knows what might be going on, please help me out!
 
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lodog00

Member
Aug 2, 2002
86
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And I should mention BIOS recognizes my hard drives are present, not WINDOWS, since I cannot boot into windows or get to the installation from the disc.
 
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PurdueRy

Lifer
Nov 12, 2004
13,837
4
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Originally posted by: lodog00
And I should mention BIOS recognizes my hard drives are present, not WINDOWS, since I cannot boot into windows or get to the installation from the disc.
Click to expand...

What happens when you try to boot from CD
 
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geldor1

Senior member
Mar 24, 2005
586
0
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How many hard drives are in the system?

Are they IDE?

If so, try just attaching the boot drive making sure it is on IDE 0 on motherboard.

Then you can attact the other drives from there.
 
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lodog00

Member
Aug 2, 2002
86
0
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When booting from the CD, it starts to load all the drivers and such required to install windows, and then I get the error I mentioned above.

I have TWO hard drives in the system. It will not boot from the boot drive, and I get the same error as above regardless of which hard drive I plug in. I cannot get into the installation portion of the Windows CD because of the aforementioned error.

The question is, is my data now lost in these hard drives? If I install a new HD with a fresh copy of windows, will I still be able to access the other two Hard Drives and recover my data? If so, then I'm not worried about this...

Again, my board recognizes that there are two hard drives present....but it seems as if I can't use either of the them for anything for now...

I've had windows refuse to boot before, when I changed a motherboard. The drastic change in hardware basically screwed up all the boot files, but I was still able to access the installation options. I have never seen this before....
 
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geldor1

Senior member
Mar 24, 2005
586
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Data should be recoverable as long as the drives aren't hosed.

Install a fresh copy of windows on a new drive. Attach the old drived and all data files should be readable.
 
Puffnstuff

Puffnstuff

Lifer
Mar 9, 2005
16,187
4,871
136
I suspect that something is not connected right since you did remove the mb from the case. Recheck everything and make double sure you hooked it up right.
If everything checks out then disconnect all hard drives except the one with windows and try booting off the cd again. Use the repair console if it's offered to repair your windows install. Also recheck your bios to make sure that the boot order hasn't changed.
 
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lodog00

Member
Aug 2, 2002
86
0
0
c'mon guys, give me some credit :)

Anyway, again, the boot drive will not boot. If I boot off the CD, then again, I cannot get past the initial load of the drivers....so I can't get into repair console, do a repair install, or even do a clean install if I wanted to.

The boot order has NOT changed. I checked it several times.

And as for something not being connected right....I've already gone and unhooked and then hooked up everything. Twice just to make sure. Everything is connected as it should. If they weren't my machine wouldn't be running at all. And I double checked the SATA connections and the power connections....everything is tight and there are no loose connections anywhere.

The issue for me is this message: "Setup detected multiple disks in your machine that are indistinguishable or detected raw disk(s). Setup has corrected the problem, but a reboot is required......press any key to reboot" which prevents my system from getting to any installation options from the CD. I don't have a floppy drive, so I cannot try ASR. But I have never seen this before and am not sure what it means....since all drives are partitioned and ready to go.

Well, as long as I can recover my data....then it'll be all good.
 
xgsound

xgsound

Golden Member
Jan 22, 2002
1,374
8
81
I would try memtest from a boot CD or the old memory. That new memory may be bad or require more voltage/ looser settings.

If that doesn't get results, I'd use "Ultimate boot CD" or a Knoppix CD as the next step to see what is and isn't working. I usually start off with memtest because it requires a minimum of resources from all other components and memory has to work excellently for bootup and even better to do a repair install.

Jim
 
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lodog00

Member
Aug 2, 2002
86
0
0
I forgot to mention also that I switched back to the old memory (Corsair Dominator PC2-8500) to eliminate another point of failure.

The only thing that has changed is the CPU, this is essentially the same machine as from before it stopped working.

I'm of course, running everything at stock for now.

I will try memtest....but the machine will still not boot even with the old ram installed....so I don't know. I'll see what happens....
 
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Modular

Diamond Member
Jul 1, 2005
5,027
67
91
So, have you tried a clean boot on a fresh HDD yet as was suggested? Do that, then enable your other drives, backup the data on them, format and start over. Seems like you're making a mountain out of a mole hill here..
 
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lodog00

Member
Aug 2, 2002
86
0
0
I have to wait for the hard drive to come. Ordered from Newegg Yesterday, it should get here next week sometime.

If I can solve this problem WITHOUT having to re-install windows, all my software, downloading updates (on my apartment's SLOOOOOW internet....) transferring my data, etc etc etc....then it would be great.

But the fact remains, what is this error, and why? What happened this time that was different and caused this? And how can I prevent it from happening next time I upgrade my hardware?
 
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