Windows stuck in a loop

[TommyShanks]

Hello again...

I am trying to install an Epox 8RDA3+ mobo (XP2400+/2 sticks PNY 2700).

My OS is Windows XP Home. My current config is Asus A7V133/Tbird 850mhz/1 stick 256 mg Crucial PC133/ Radeon 9500/ SB Live 5.1/ 3Com NIC/ WD HDD. Everything runs fine. The case is an Antec with the PP-303X power supply.

When I install the Epox mobo the machine POSTS fine, and everything is normal until Windows starts to load. It gets to a certain point and then throws up a screen saying:

"We're sorry for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start properly...blah, blah, blah. It gives me the choice of normal start up, last known good config, or three different safe mode boots. No matter which one I choose I wind up at this screen again after reboot. When I go with safe mode I see that Windows gets to the point of loading Win32/sys/Mup and reboots itself. It is an endless loop.

The first time I booted up a CMOS error message flashed briefly just after the memory test/drive search. When I went into the BIOS all of the default settings looked fine. I made no changes.

Any idea what I can do to get to Windows to load?

Thanks in advance...

 

[morkinva]

maybe relevant

 

[amdskip]

So you swapped motherboards without repairing or reinstalling windows? Sorry but it isn't happening. You must repair (YMMV here) or format and install windows.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

Originally posted by: amdskip
So you swapped motherboards without repairing or reinstalling windows? Sorry but it isn't happening. You must repair (YMMV here) or format and install windows.

its a sad thing

 

[mechBgon]

If it were me, I would pick up a more recent PSU as well. The PP-303X is not too strong on the combined 3.3V + 5V output (it has either 150W or 160W, I forgot which). There's a good buy on a 420W Enlight unit at newegg for $46 shipped, if you need a suggestion.

 

[TommyShanks]

I should have mentioned that I tried booting with the Windows CD, and with a floppy boot disk. It wasn't happening.

 

[amdskip]

Originally posted by: TommyShanks
I should have mentioned that I tried booting with the Windows CD, and with a floppy boot disk. It wasn't happening.

You need to go into the bios and make the boot devices for the cdrom and floppy before the hard drive.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: amdskip

Originally posted by: TommyShanks
I should have mentioned that I tried booting with the Windows CD, and with a floppy boot disk. It wasn't happening.

You need to go into the bios and make the boot devices for the cdrom and floppy before the hard drive.

You can also press the ESC key at POST and the 8RDA+ will give you a boot menu after POST, too... handy!

 

[TommyShanks]

The cd-rom was set to boot first but it didn't look for or find the Windows CD. I didn't see any led activity on the drive.

If it matters, I can switch back to my old mobo with no problem. I get the "problem starting Windows..." on the first boot, but simply choose normal start and zoom right on past.

 

[SwampsterFL]

Bottom Line . . . you can't throw that much of a change in hardware at Windows XP. By reinstalling your old hardware, it knows you didn't boot successfully last time, but doesn't know why (at that point). When you tell it to go ahead and boot, it finds what it expects and boots normally.

While you have the old hardware in there, back up all your data and settings and Favorites, etc., collect all your program CD's and reformat the HDD and start from scratch with the new hardware in place. Be aware that you will have to call Microsoft at the end of the operating system installation to manually re-activate it. As long as it has been more than 90 days since your last installation, it will be just about automatic. If it has been less time, then you might have to do a little convincing that you are not trying to pull something on them.