Great, this is exactly what I want to happen.

[fuzzybabybunny]

So today I restarted my computer.

Get a "disk read error" after POST.

Restart the computer.

Get a blank black screen after POST. No HDD activity.

Restart.

This time get a black screen after POST but with garbled text at the upper left.

Restart, press F8 after POST. Start Windows in Safe Mode.

It says something like "loading windows" "may take a while"

No HDD activity. No change in the status bar.

Restart with my x64 Vista disk.

"Windows is loading files."

The Windows Boot Manager shows up, and says Windows cannot load because \Windows\System\winload.exe is missing or corrupt. It tells me to put in the system disk, select my language, and then do a repair. WTF? I GOT to this screen because I booted via the disk...

I try to boot from the CD again. Same thing. I take out two of my four RAM sticks, disconnect all my hard drives except for the boot drive, reset my BIOS, and retry. Same thing, only this time when I boot from the Vista disk it just gets stuck on the "Windows is loading files" screen. The x86 disk doesn't work either.

So:

Can't boot normally. Can't boot via Vista disk because I either get a frozen screen or Windows Boot Manager tells me to boot via Vista disk when I GOT THERE by booting via Vista disk. Can't boot via Vista disk, which means I can't do a repair, can't format, can't reinstall Vista.

Great.

 

[mechBgon]

How about try memtest86+ and a bootable disk-diagnostic utility from the maker of your HDD, since it sounds likely to be a hardware problem causing disk corruption. Also, if your RAM is fancy higher-voltage stuff, remember to manually set the voltage in the BIOS, since you cleared the BIOS and lost that setting as a result.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I'm in class now so I'm doing this from memory.

My RAM is 2.2v. I don't recall ever having to change the RAM voltage in the BIOS before, but I'll look into it.

Booting from the Vista CD... Do the temp files load into memory or HDD?

I hooked up my faulty boot drive to an external USB enclosure and explored its contents with my XP laptop. I went into Windows/System and the winload.exe file isn't even there. In fact, there was only one file in there... Any way to repopulate this folder with the right files?

 

[mechBgon]

2.2 volts is 0.4 volts over the industry norm of 1.8 volts for DDR2. From my experience with motherboards, they do not go and set your DIMM voltage for you. Some may come with a little above-normal voltage as the default setting, but if you have uber-l33t RAM that needs a +0.4V boost, you should definitely set the vDIMM manually.

Once that stuff is out of the way, hopefully the system will behave reliably so you can take a shot at repairing Vista :camera:. Good luck!

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
My RAM is 2.2v. I don't recall ever having to change the RAM voltage in the BIOS before, but I'll look into it.

I *think* most mobos default to 1.8v these days, so mechBgon probably hit the nail on the head...

A couple of stories:

1) We built a new machine, about a month ago. The RAM we bought required 2.1v and it wouldn't even go into BIOS, so we could change it - found out the *trick* was to install generic RAM temporarily, change the RAM settings in BIOS, shutdown & reinstall the high-performance RAM.

2) A few months ago, a co-worked built a new machine - same problem - different twist! It would POST, but Vista refused to install. After he changed the RAM settings, away it went - and he hasn't had a problem since (nor have we).

It would be nice if your problem is that simple, yes?

Speaking of voltage, is your PSU in good shape?

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
2.2 volts is 0.4 volts over the industry norm of 1.8 volts for DDR2. From my experience with motherboards, they do not go and set your DIMM voltage for you, yada, yada, yada...

Heh!

Sorry about that!

We must have been keyboarding at the same time...

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I'm in class now so I'm doing this from memory.

My RAM is 2.2v. I don't recall ever having to change the RAM voltage in the BIOS before, but I'll look into it.

Booting from the Vista CD... Do the temp files load into memory or HDD?

I hooked up my faulty boot drive to an external USB enclosure and explored its contents with my XP laptop. I went into Windows/System and the winload.exe file isn't even there. In fact, there was only one file in there... Any way to repopulate this folder with the right files?

 

[mechBgon]

My own Windows\System folder has no files whatsoever in it During the first phase of Windows setup, the stuff would be running from RAM (you could run Windows Setup with no HDD present and it'll still go through the first stuffs).

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Ok, upping the RAM to 2.2V cleared up EVERYTHING

Is it safe to overvolt RAM a little when overclocking? Or will doing so not really result in any stability increase?

 

[mechBgon]

Personally I wouldn't go beyond 2.2 because that's already really high :Q The OC'ing gurus in CPU/Overclocking might have some input, though.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Ok. Well, all is well and good now. I never would have thought about the DRAM voltage. Thanks!

My Pentium 805 2.66GHz is now running at a nice 3.66GHz and I think I'm just going to leave it at that. I remember running it at a solid 4GHz in the past, but I have no idea whatsoever how I managed to do it. Anyway, that's off topic, but thanks!

 

[JustaGeek]

Another off the topic statement:

Great pictures, fuzzybabybunny!!!

:thumbsup:

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
So today I restarted my computer.

Get a "disk read error" after POST.

Restart the computer.

Get a blank black screen after POST. No HDD activity.

Restart.

This time get a black screen after POST but with garbled text at the upper left.

Restart, press F8 after POST. Start Windows in Safe Mode.

It says something like "loading windows" "may take a while"

No HDD activity. No change in the status bar.

Restart with my x64 Vista disk.

"Windows is loading files."

The Windows Boot Manager shows up, and says Windows cannot load because \Windows\System\winload.exe is missing or corrupt. It tells me to put in the system disk, select my language, and then do a repair. WTF? I GOT to this screen because I booted via the disk...

I try to boot from the CD again. Same thing. I take out two of my four RAM sticks, disconnect all my hard drives except for the boot drive, reset my BIOS, and retry. Same thing, only this time when I boot from the Vista disk it just gets stuck on the "Windows is loading files" screen. The x86 disk doesn't work either.

So:

Can't boot normally. Can't boot via Vista disk because I either get a frozen screen or Windows Boot Manager tells me to boot via Vista disk when I GOT THERE by booting via Vista disk. Can't boot via Vista disk, which means I can't do a repair, can't format, can't reinstall Vista.

Great.

Was having this problem earlier, searched and found this, thanks man

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: RichardE
Was having this problem earlier, searched and found this, thanks man

Heh!

Must be a wintertime thingy - happens every January...

You can OC the crap out of computers in the winter, but come summer, everybody will be complaining about their machines overheating.

It goes like this...

My rig has been running benchmark stable @ 4.0 GHz for 6 months. I haven't done anything to it, but now it's overheating. Help!!!"

Happens every June, like clockwork!