Reboot after POST and before WinXP Pro load

[MogyBear]

OK, here's the deal: My computer has started rebooting after it POSTs and before Windows loads up. When I select "Safe Mode," The files start loading and I notice that whenever it gets to "Mup.sys" it reboots. However, occasionally (1 in 10 tries) the computer DOES boot up properly.

I tried running chkdsk /r and it said "The drive may have one or more unrecoverable errors..." then when I try to run a repair installation, it says that no hard drive exists! Do you think this could be a failing hard drive?

Here is a link to a blue screen I got the other day after the Windows boot disk had gotten to the point where I needed to instlal Windows-- it said that it did not recognize my disk. I pressed enter and it came to this screen. http://community.webshots.com/...723911/216724249RzLrld Thanks a lot!

I have a Maxtor 250GB SATA drive, if SATA makes any difference over PATA...

 

[newbiepcuser]

Two things could be occuring:

your SATA controller could be foobaring or yes your drive could be dying. Can you even run a Windows repair installation to see if Windows could be corrupt.

 

[MogyBear]

I cannot. It says the drive is not recognized.

 

[MogyBear]

After the last couple of reboots, I haven't seen the same problem...

BUT, something of interest... at the POST screen, it says my memory is running in single channel mode. This never used to happen and there is no way I can force it to run in dual channel mode. Could this be tied at all to the reboot/SATA controller problem?

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: MogyBear
After the last couple of reboots, I haven't seen the same problem...

BUT, something of interest... at the POST screen, it says my memory is running in single channel mode. This never used to happen and there is no way I can force it to run in dual channel mode. Could this be tied at all to the reboot/SATA controller problem?

If recovery console won't see your HDD, boot with the XP CD and hit F6 to specify additional storage controllers, insert your SATA floppy disk (with drivers), and then you'll be able to boot to RC and run chkdsk /p and fix things up.

I'd suggest Recovery Console rather than attempting an automatic repair as the 1st step.

 

[MogyBear]

... but my SATA is BUILT IN to the motherboard. I have never had a problem with windows recognizing the drive before... this is also a SP2 disc so I suppose it should be able to recognize SATA.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: MogyBear
... but my SATA is BUILT IN to the motherboard. I have never had a problem with windows recognizing the drive before... this is also a SP2 disc so I suppose it should be able to recognize SATA.

When you hit F6 and put in your driver floppy, did it then see your hard drive?

 

[MogyBear]

I don't have any driver floppy... but hehe... I switched ALL the parts out (cept mobo and processor) and put them in this Dell Dimension 4600 that I was going to be selling on Ebay. I ran chkdsk /r and it seems to have fixed the problem. I am just way too lazy to switch parts back out of the Dell into my old watercooling rig, so that is now up for grabs! I just don't have time to do all that crap all over again. Argh!