Can't boot to OS

[OLtimrNewbie]

During bootup; I get the screen with various choices: normal ; last known good; safe mode; etc. None of the choices work; just loops back to the same screen of choices. Any suggestions? Is this likely due to any known virus? Is it time for a format and reload?

 

[mechBgon]

Do you have any particular reasons to suspect a virus attack? If so, you might put the drive into a healthy computer (with good antivirus software) as a slave drive, and run some antivirus scans using your own antivirus software, plus one or two online scanners, and see what they detect. Antisource.com has a link to a whole stack of online antivirus scanners on the left side of the site if you need.

 

[meltdown75]

Hmm. Will need more info - which one of the 3 systems is having this problem? What is the state of the current install you are referring to? Fresh install?

The last time I saw that behaviour, it was when someone had taken the HD from another system and slapped it in expecting it to boot with no problems.

 

[nanaki333]

one of your drives may have died. boot up with the XP disc and go through like you were installing a fresh one. when it gets to the partitions, make sure yours is still there. i've had the main partition disappear and read UNKNOWN 3 times on me. it would do the same thing you're describing.

if it is there, you could always try repairing your installation. just put in the xp disc, after it searches for previously installed copies of XP, hit R on the one it has. sit and wait.

 

[OLtimrNewbie]

I have no reason to suspect any known virus and I keep my virus scanners up-to-date. But; who knows maybe something got past it or it is a new poison not yet in the scanners updated list.
Thanks for the reply MechBegon. You helped me a few years back when I was just getting started in this crazy hobby of PC building; good to see you're still at it. Helping others, that is.
I'll keep trying; but won't sweat over it too long. I keep backups and can do a reload if nothing else works.
"Blessed is the Pessimist; for he hath done Backups"

 

[OLtimrNewbie]

PC1 XP Pro. No recent changes to hardware or software and has been good for the past 14 months. The raid indications are that both drives are OKay and synced. That appears early in the post and bootup sequence. May try a repair reload before reformating and reloading.
Sometimes I'm too quick to yell help, but this Sr.'s mind doesn't analyze things very well anymore. Just need to take more time to review things before yelling for help.
Thanks to all for the prompt replies.

 

[montag451]

can you try a repair of the os?

 

[OLtimrNewbie]

To Montag451: A repair - installation of the OS has fixed the problem. Still would love to know what triggered the problem ??? Because after the fix, I ran Virus and Spyware scans and found nothing that would cause such a problem.