Windows pauses after XP load screen...

[ronth]

EDIT: I apologize if this should be in the OS forum.. I'm new here, frustrated as hell, and wasn't paying attention

Two days ago I rebooted and got this error message:

'Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem. Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware. Please check the windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference for additional information.'

After spending forever trying to figure out how to fix this I did the following:

- Downloaded the 6-disk boot disk set and ran it to get into the windows setup utility (for some reason my cd-rom wouldnt load the xp cd.. never had this problem before the last dreadful reboot. What is odd is that when in the recovery console I can access the cd-rom and browse through it...)

- Chose the recovery console option (I tried to do a repair of windows, but for some reason it went straight to the format/partition page without asking which installation to repair...)

- Logged on to the drive using the admin password

- ran 'chkdsk /r' everything came out fine

- Typed 'fixboot' and pressed 'y' to confirm

- Typed 'bootcfg /rebuild' and pressed 'y' to add missing files and whatnot

- entered the identifier 'Windows XP Home Edition'

- Pressed enter at the Operating System Load Option line

- exited

This booted up and showed 3 windows options...

Windows XP Home Edition (the new one I just made)
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (the one I used to use when there were only 2)
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (one I never chose, dont know how to get rid of it =P)

For some reason my keyboard wouldnt let me choose one. It just sat there for a second and then went on to the XP load screen with the blue loading bar (Im assuming it auto chose the first one because the other two didnt work post killerboot).

At this point im jumping with joy because it finally booted to Windows!!! But my joy was stopped in its tracks when after the loading screen it went to a black screen with my little cursor and stayed there.

I tried rebooting and right after the option to choose which os (still didnt let me choose, it just skipped it) it came to the screen to choose safe mode, last known good config, or load normally. I tried safe mode, but it paused as well... black screen, cursor, and safe mode text in all four corners.

Tried rebooting again... everything was the same, except now the keyboard doesnt work at the safe mode screen. It just sits there for a second then auto chooses to load normally.

So what do I do now?!!!! Perhaps I can go back into the recovery console and do something? Maybe I typed the wrong thing and the answer is a quick fix?

Please help! My whole business is on this computer and with it being down, so's my income!

Thank you

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Could be a memory problem or a HDD cable problem. Try switching HDD cables first and then run Memtest if you can to make sure the memory isn't causing any issus. Next, make sure the safe defaults is selected in the BIOS. What are the rest of your specs?

 

[ronth]

Im running memtest as we speak. The drive is sata. the cable is practically brand new...

My setup is:
AMD Athlon 64 3000+
Asus K8N-E Deluxe
2gb Kingston px2700
80gb maxtor sata (os)
120gb maxtor sata
200gb maxtor ide
Ati Radeon x800 aiw
Creative Audigy 2 zs platinum
Sony cdrw

 

[Bozo Galora]

you just cant willy nilly add and delete multiple installs of O/S, especially in same partition
there are three files important to bootup
boot.ini ntdetect.com and ntldr (these are hidden and hidden system files)

you can
a.) Go to someone who has a same partitioned HDD - you made no mention of partitions or where O/s is. - and copy those three files replace them in your system, using some sort of CD that is bootable like Ubuntu 5.10 (linux), Hirens Boot CD 7.4, Avast Bart CD. These all have explorer trype utilities and many O/S fixing apps. (Must set CD to boot first in bios) There are also places on internet where you can download typical ntldr ntdetect.com and boot.ini files)
b.) Try for a quick fix by editing out in notepad the other 2 installs in boot.ini that are no longer used, using a live boot CD
c.) Format the partition with O/S and start fresh.
d.) Try a repair install with the XP CD.

 

[Bozo Galora]

I also just noticed you added more info.
IDE HDD partitions get first call on Primary partitions
So, if you had say 2 SATA drives with O/S on SATA 1 "C", then added an IDE drive with a primary, DOS would make the IDE Primary "C" and your SATA "C" something further down the line, like D or E and screw up all your boot associations

Just FWIW

 

[ronth]

in response to a): When you say 'same partitioned HDD do you mean someone with an 80gb hdd and windows xp home?

b): where might I dl a 'live boot cd'?

In response to your second post:

This may be the problem... When my computer would boot up and work normally my hdd with the os on it was C:, but when I'm in the recovery console it's D:... that doesnt seem right at all... what can I do here?

Memtest is about 80% done with no errors thus far.

 

[ronth]

I just tried removing the IDE hdd, and running the repair installation deal from the windows setup utility and it still pauses after the windows loading screen.

I have no idea where to go from here. Is the only thing thats going to fix my computer a format and fresh install? =\

 

[ronth]

bump!

 

[Hough NutZ]

For fun, I'd try running maxtor's PowerMax diagnostic program on the drive with windows on it, just to make sure the drive is 'A' ok. Text

If the test comes out ok, I'd just go ahead and do a fresh install of windows.

 

[ronth]

Powermax isnt detecting any drives. I only have my sata with the os plugged in right now.. does powermax even detect satas?

 

[Jiggz]

Start all over. It will be a waste of time trying to fix an initial OS installation considering there is no data or other programs to protect in the first place. There is nothing like a clean and perfectly working OS installation. If you insist to fix the installation you have right now I won't be surprised you will be back to post in this forum in no time. So start again do the following:

Start with a bare system. (Video card, hdd, Cd-rom/DVD Rom, rams, KB and mouse). Make sure you have the SATA controller enabled in the bios and also make sure you have the SATA driver ready for the floppy drive. When prompted to install additional controller drivers, make sure you press F6 to install the SATA driver. As for the boot order, start with the CD rom for the first boot device and the SATA or SCSI (since you are using the SATA drive as your OS hdd) as second device. When prompted where to install the OS, choose your hdd and make sure you do a full format. As soon as the installation is done and the system boots properly, then start installing the other peripherals one at a time.

 

[ronth]

I just formatted and reinstalled. Thank you guys for all the help. I really appreciate it.

 

[DLBlank]

This just helped me a good deal!

Hope you get yours all worked out.