XP Stuck in Endless Reboot

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Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,679
0
81
Woah! Ok, wow i really wish i would have found that. Im up and running on a WinXP software RAID. Im going to print that out and save it for next time i reinstall my computer :)

Thanks a lot guys.

-Kevin
 

Bozo Galora

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 1999
7,271
0
0
and FWIW the NTLDR prob that started all this can be fixed thusly:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=27&threadid=1720115&enterthread=y
Insert the Windows XP bootable CD into the computer.
When prompted to press any key to boot from the CD, press any key.
Once in the Windows XP setup menu press the "R" key to repair Windows.
Log into your Windows installation by pressing the "1" key and pressing enter.
You will then be prompted for your administrator password, enter that password.
Copy the below two files to the root directory of the primary hard disk. In the below example we are copying these files from the CD-ROM drive letter "E". This letter may be different on your computer.

copy e:\i386\ntldr c:\
copy e:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\


or the loooong discussion
http://www.techimo.com/forum/t37563.html
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
Wait did you disable automatic restart and check for the blue screen error code? It will be a bSOD I guarantee it. But if it's NTLDR, then ehh you just have to fix that...

If you get some other error code like I did, it was about memory. Memtest can't catch it. I ran 24+ hrs and I still couldnt get 1 error. I wasn't even OCed. Windows will tell me it was my memory. I swapped memory sticks with OCZ RMA and the errors never came back. Sometimes you want to try 1 stick only.
 

Slammy1

Platinum Member
Apr 8, 2003
2,112
0
76
Key point, memtest does not catch all errors. Make sure you run at default speed, and that you have some o/c'ing headroom. I generally will relax timings, drop speed to default (200FSB), and keep the same memory voltage for install.

Are you sure you're using the correct driver disk? I mean, the one you select with F6 when you install Windows. Also, in BIOS you need to make sure your RAID device is set as the boot device (after the optical drive you're installing Windows from).

You might also look into a fix for the scratch on the install CD. Lots of people report success with turtle wax, but you might invest in a scratch repair kit. I've heard may success stories both with audio and data disks, never heard of someone applying the fix to a Windows disk, so if you go that route proceed carefully.
 

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
11,679
0
81

This is the problem i was having word for word guys. I just set up 2 partitions and a software RAID, but i think im just going to bite the bullet and do this one again.

-Kevin

Edit: Im not going to go through it all again. In order to format i need to use a floppy (Since my disc is messed up), and then im not 100% sure i am doing it right. Ill just have to deal with the 2 partitions.