Corrupted Compaq?

[Old Hippie]

I was called to assist a friend with his 4-5 yr. old Compaq desktop system. The problem is when the system is first booted it lags on the Compaq logo screen for @ 15 mins, then goes to the Windows welcome screen and loads normally. While displaying the Compaq logo screen, there's no HDD activity and the machine won't respond to the keyboard (F2 or F10 keys) to enter set-up. I could get to the bios by pressing F2 immediately after hitting the power button, but while there couldn't make any changes because it wouldn't respond to the PS2 keyboard. I thought maybe the BIOS battery was failing, but the machine displays the time correctly and works normally after everything is loaded. The event viewer and device manager are normal. I ran a memory and HD test, and everything was fine. The machine isn't worth a major repair investment and it works just fine after everythings loaded, but I promised I would try to find a solution.
Anyone have any ideas?

 

[conlan]

Sounds like a problem in the Boot Sector. I'd copy off anything they want to keep, run the WD HDD diagnostic tool (it states for WD HDDs, but works on most any HDD), and after it passes and/or can be repaired by the tool, then reload the OS.

 

[Old Hippie]

I ran the short WD HDD test yesterday and it passed. I'm not sure if the extended test will have a different conclusion.

 

[conlan]

Originally posted by: Old Hippie
I ran the short WD HDD test yesterday and it passed. I'm not sure if the extended test will have a different conclusion.

I've seen HDDs pass the short (SMART) test, then fail the extended test.
In any case, you'll probably be better off reloading the OS, sounds like a corrupted boot sector.

 

[Old Hippie]

Originally posted by: conlan

Originally posted by: Old Hippie
I ran the short WD HDD test yesterday and it passed. I'm not sure if the extended test will have a different conclusion.

I've seen HDDs pass the short (SMART) test, then fail the extended test.
In any case, you'll probably be better off reloading the OS, sounds like a corrupted boot sector.

Thanks Conlan. Sounds like a plan.

 

[conlan]

Originally posted by: Old Hippie

Originally posted by: conlan

Originally posted by: Old Hippie
I ran the short WD HDD test yesterday and it passed. I'm not sure if the extended test will have a different conclusion.

I've seen HDDs pass the short (SMART) test, then fail the extended test.
In any case, you'll probably be better off reloading the OS, sounds like a corrupted boot sector.

Thanks Conlan. Sounds like a plan.

Your welcome

and, if you weren't already aware, you can use that same WD tool to write zeros (aka "zero out") to the entire HDD.

 

[HiME]

Don't worry, it is not a HD problem. I have lots of old Compaqs here ranging from p2 to p3. Sometimes I experience freezing on the Compaq logo screen for about 2-3 minutes after new devices are installed. I'm pretty sure that is the BIOS that's causing the problem.

Try unplugging other devices especially hard drives and floppy drives and plug them back one at a time. I forgot what setting will kill that freezing screen because once it's gone, it's gone forever.

 

[jkresh]

before worrying about boot sectors try booting off of a unbuntu live cd (or any linux or windows live cd for that matter), since you cant change options in the bios try unplugging the hard drives so it has to go to the cd (maybe unplug the floppy as well), if it still takes 15 minutes (or even if it takes more then a few minute to say no os found) then its a bios issue, if it goes instantly (or at least reasonably quickly) then its the boot sector and format/reinstall will help.

 

[tcsenter]

Remove any USB devices that are connected at boot time.

 

[Noema]

I'm typing this from an ancient P4 1.4GHz Compaq; does the same thing (for about 4 minutes). It doesn't have anything to do with Windows, nor the OS (I'm running Linux on it now - Xubuntu). It's a BIOS problem.

 

[Old Hippie]

Sometimes I experience freezing on the Compaq logo screen for about 2-3 minutes after new devices are installed.

New devices have not been installed. The last thing I installed was a new printer @ 6 months ago. I tried unplugging the printer when booting, but it made no difference. I did notice, that at weird times, the machine was playing the "new hardware found" jingle, and the printer was responding with a "grunt".

try unplugging the hard drives so it has to go to the cd (maybe unplug the floppy as well),

Sounds like a good plan.

Remove any USB devices that are connected at boot time.

Except the printer, no other USB devices are conected.

Thank You Gentleman. I owe everybody a :beer: