Boot Sector Damaged

[SpyCatcher]

For some reason Vista U SP1 will not warm reboot on its own unless I shut down the system, restart from that point.

I have done the following to fix /repair:

load the vista installation disc, repair, command prompt "bootrec.exe /fixmbr /fixboot and /rebuildbcd

System start up repair get error 0x0

Still not working, any help would be appreciated.

Thank you

 

[corkyg]

Since it will reboot after a complete shutdown, my sense is the boot sector is not the problem. What messages do you get, if any on the warm reboot?

It is possible that it is simply looking to boot from another device or drive. Check your BIOS boot sequence settings.

 

[SpyCatcher]

First thing I did was check and reset the BIOS .... no effect.

no message on the warm boot only a blank screen.

Thank you for responding.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

have you run any hard disk diagnostics? that could be the problem as well.

 

[SpyCatcher]

Do you mean by clicking on the HD / tools? if so "yes" no problems were reported.

I have "smart monitiring" enabled. Raptor 74 gig

 

[techmanc]

Any errors in your event viewer that might give a clue to the problem?

 

[SpyCatcher]

only error that was present and I am not sure it is an error " 0x0 "

 

[techmanc]

Are there any BIOS updates that might help?

 

[SpyCatcher]

None..............

 

[techmanc]

Can you explain the warm reboot problem in more detail? Is this when you press the restart button using Vista restart option or the hardwired reboot button. What happens to the system when you attempt these options?

 

[SpyCatcher]

Very rarely do I just push the reset button to restart Vista. When restarting I use system restart fuction, the system will shutdown 'nothing unsusal' then it will hang with a blank screen. When I say hang I mean the system does nothing.

Hope this help and thank you for responding.

 

[techmanc]

There one solution that I think will work by doing a repair install of Vista. You will then need to reinstall your all you MS updates and drivers as needed like chipset and video. I could take a few hours to complete depending on how old your original Vista CD is. You could also use Vlite and roll in SP1 service pack and burn it to DVD before you do reinstall.

 

[SpyCatcher]

You are suggesting a format... well I am thinking about doing a fresh install since it is the same.

 

[techmanc]

The repair install wont lose anything or make your start over from scratch. It will just reinstall Vista and it fixes problem that way. But if you dont have anything on that hard drive you care about losing and want a fresh start then the format reinstall is the way to go. Myself I spend too much time setting up my OS environment that thats a last resort option. Read my link for a more detailed info on repair install.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutori...air-install-vista.html

 

[SpyCatcher]

Well I did a fresh install and guess what... The problem is still there.

The system shutsdown, then hangs.

May I ask what BIOS settings you would recommend?

Have you ever heard of the HD not shutting down proper or not starting correctly?

Thank you for your help,

 

[techmanc]

In BIOS turn off all motherboard devices not being like com ports, sound, firewire, and ethernet that will help if theres a resource conflict.

 

[SpyCatcher]

done that still no change.

 

[techmanc]

Does it shutdown ok in safe mode?

 

[corkyg]

I had the same symptom, and found it was in BIOS, in the boot order. It was considering an external drive as a boot drive, and it went there and the boot process stopped.

Immediate cure was to turn off the external USB drive until after the boot. That was then normal. A BIOS adjustment of boot order fixed it.

Since you did a fresh install and the problem persists, it has to be the BIOS or the HDD itself.

Do you have another drive that you can try with a Vista installation?

 

[SpyCatcher]

Checked the boot sequence, only pointing to one HD everything else is disabled, I will disable the USB external and see if that fixes the problem.

thank you for the suggestions.

 

[SpyCatcher]

Disabeld the USB Did not work I am going to re-flash the BIOS.

Now the second IDE HD does not show up......

 

[techmanc]

Whats you normal total devices your using and how are they setup? Also any other controllers or peripherals your using?

 

[SpyCatcher]

1 raptor SATA
1 WD IDE HD
Pioneer DVD Rom
Floppy
Nvidia 9600GT
4 Gigs
Gigabyte GA 81945PLG MB

 

[techmanc]

Pioneer DVD Rom ide or sata? Which is you boot drive? I think be good idea to flash the BIOS to see if it helps.

 

[SpyCatcher]

Pioneer is IDE

Raptor is main HD

Just flashed BIOS did not fix the problem.