Disk Boot Failure, but Hard Drive is fine.

I have a computer that I believe was struck by lightning. I had to
replace the power supply and the motherboard. I backed up the old hard
drive and started fresh.
Formatted as NTFS, XP Home installation went fine, but when I went to
restart it, I got a Disk Boot Failure message. I replaced the hard
drive with a brand new WD 40GB Drive. Reinstalled XP Home and got the
same error after restarting. I booted into Partition Magic from a
Floppy Disk and formatted the drive from there, set it up for NTFS, set
it as the active partition and installed Windows XP again, this time
from a different XP CD, just in case the original disk was causing
problems. Still getting the same error.
I swapped out the RAM, no change. I have ran the system through a few
of my diagnostic tools and everything comes up as good. I booted into
the Recovery Console......chkdsk /r came up clean, then I ran fixboot
and fixmbr. Still no boot.

If I have a bootable CD in the drive (Windows CD, Diagnostics CD, etc),
it will boot into Windows, as it should, when I don't press any key to
boot to CD. I found that quite strange, as I have never seen anything
like that in 5 years of being a computer tech.

Any ideas?

I know of one possible cause. HD is not listed in BIOS boot sequence but CD
is.

wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a computer that I believe was struck by lightning. I had to
replace the power supply and the motherboard. I backed up the old hard
drive and started fresh.
Formatted as NTFS, XP Home installation went fine, but when I went to
restart it, I got a Disk Boot Failure message. I replaced the hard
drive with a brand new WD 40GB Drive. Reinstalled XP Home and got the
same error after restarting. I booted into Partition Magic from a
Floppy Disk and formatted the drive from there, set it up for NTFS, set
it as the active partition and installed Windows XP again, this time
from a different XP CD, just in case the original disk was causing
problems. Still getting the same error.
I swapped out the RAM, no change. I have ran the system through a few
of my diagnostic tools and everything comes up as good. I booted into
the Recovery Console......chkdsk /r came up clean, then I ran fixboot
and fixmbr. Still no boot.

If I have a bootable CD in the drive (Windows CD, Diagnostics CD, etc),
it will boot into Windows, as it should, when I don't press any key to
boot to CD. I found that quite strange, as I have never seen anything
like that in 5 years of being a computer tech.

Any ideas?

Boot Sequence is:

-Floppy
-CD-Rom
-Hard Drive
-Other Device

Hi abright52,

Did you replace the CPU, being stuck by lightning and did you replace
the Hard Drive Cable? All these replacements, and the problem could be in
the Hard Drive Data Cable.

Also the problem could be with the way you set up the Hard Drive.

Question: After you backed up the Hard Drive and before you installed
Windows XP Home, did you first partition the Hard Drive into two or more
partitions to allow for easy backups and later restoring the operating
system? Or if partitioned with just one partition, did you format with /s
(System) and test boot the Hard Drive? Make sure the Hard Drive boots before
loading an operating system. You will just boot to C:\. Once it boots up,
you can then reformat and reinstall Windows XP Home Edition on a NTFS File
System.

You need a Windows 98 SE Startup Floppy Disk to transfer the system. You
can't use Windows ME Startup Floppy Disk, because you will get the error you
are receiving.


--
thecreator


wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a computer that I believe was struck by lightning. I had to
replace the power supply and the motherboard. I backed up the old hard
drive and started fresh.
Formatted as NTFS, XP Home installation went fine, but when I went to
restart it, I got a Disk Boot Failure message. I replaced the hard
drive with a brand new WD 40GB Drive. Reinstalled XP Home and got the
same error after restarting. I booted into Partition Magic from a
Floppy Disk and formatted the drive from there, set it up for NTFS, set
it as the active partition and installed Windows XP again, this time
from a different XP CD, just in case the original disk was causing
problems. Still getting the same error.
I swapped out the RAM, no change. I have ran the system through a few
of my diagnostic tools and everything comes up as good. I booted into
the Recovery Console......chkdsk /r came up clean, then I ran fixboot
and fixmbr. Still no boot.

If I have a bootable CD in the drive (Windows CD, Diagnostics CD, etc),
it will boot into Windows, as it should, when I don't press any key to
boot to CD. I found that quite strange, as I have never seen anything
like that in 5 years of being a computer tech.

Any ideas?

The CPU was not replaced.
The IDE Cable was replaced. I have tried the HD on both channels, no
difference.

I let Windows XP Setup Format and Partition the HD the first time.
I used Partition Magic to do it the second time.

Only one partition.

I have done this with the original HD and a Brand New Western Digital
drive and have the same problem.

The system boots fine if I have a bootable CD of any type in the drive
and XP works flawlessly when I get into Windows.

wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a computer that I believe was struck by lightning. I had to
replace the power supply and the motherboard. I backed up the old hard
drive and started fresh.
Formatted as NTFS, XP Home installation went fine, but when I went to
restart it, I got a Disk Boot Failure message. I replaced the hard
drive with a brand new WD 40GB Drive. Reinstalled XP Home and got the
same error after restarting. I booted into Partition Magic from a
Floppy Disk and formatted the drive from there, set it up for NTFS, set
it as the active partition and installed Windows XP again, this time
from a different XP CD, just in case the original disk was causing
problems. Still getting the same error.
I swapped out the RAM, no change. I have ran the system through a few
of my diagnostic tools and everything comes up as good. I booted into
the Recovery Console......chkdsk /r came up clean, then I ran fixboot
and fixmbr. Still no boot.

If I have a bootable CD in the drive (Windows CD, Diagnostics CD, etc),
it will boot into Windows, as it should, when I don't press any key to
boot to CD. I found that quite strange, as I have never seen anything
like that in 5 years of being a computer tech.

Any ideas?

(and later adds...)
The CPU was not replaced.
The IDE Cable was replaced. I have tried the HD on both channels, no
difference.

I let Windows XP Setup Format and Partition the HD the first time.
I used Partition Magic to do it the second time.

Only one partition.

I have done this with the original HD and a Brand New Western Digital
drive and have the same problem.

The system boots fine if I have a bootable CD of any type in the drive
and XP works flawlessly when I get into Windows.


abright52:
It's hard to tell exactly what happened here to cause the problem you're
experiencing. When you mention that you believe the computer was struck by
lightening, that raises all kinds of concerns, not the least of which is a
suspicion that other components that have not been replaced such as RAM,
video card, etc., may have become defective in one way or another and may be
impacting on your boot problem.

But you say (if I understand you correctly) that you are (apparently) able
to install the OS onto your new 40 GB HD without incident. Do I have that
right? The install process apparently is successfully completed? No error
messages of any kind during the installation process? Nothing untoward at
all except you can't boot with that drive, right?

If that *is* the case, why don't you start anew, using the XP installation
CD to delete your current partition; create a new partition and then format
the drive? Forget about using PM or any other third-party program to
partition/format your HD. Just use the XP installation CD for the entire
process, i.e., partitioning, formatting, and installing the OS. Then see
what happens.

Incidentally, actually there's nothing strange about booting from the XP
installation CD without pressing a key. If XP detects that there is no valid
OS on the connected HD, e.g., the HD is "virgin", it assumes the user wants
to install the OS onto that disk so the boot to the CD is straightaway. That
would seem to shed some light on your problem, would it not?
Anna

I will assume that the CPU is fine.

However, you never answered the question. Did you try to boot up the
computer after you formatted the Hard Drive after using Partition Magic the
second time, before you installed Windows XP?

Forget about the XP operating system. You never made a bootable Hard
Drive. You never transferred a system onto the Hard Drive.

What method did you use to format the Hard Drive? What commands did you
type in?

thecreator

wrote in message
oups.com...
The CPU was not replaced.
The IDE Cable was replaced. I have tried the HD on both channels, no
difference.

I let Windows XP Setup Format and Partition the HD the first time.
I used Partition Magic to do it the second time.

Only one partition.

I have done this with the original HD and a Brand New Western Digital
drive and have the same problem.

The system boots fine if I have a bootable CD of any type in the drive
and XP works flawlessly when I get into Windows.

The first time I installed Windows, I did it directly from the Windows
CD as I have done on hundreds of other machines that I have built. The
installation goes flawlessly, the system works great until you try to
restart.

When the XP CD is in the drive, it does not boot to XP Setup when I
don't press any keys, it boots into WINDOWS. It does that with any
bootable CD.

Video is on-board. I have swapped out the RAM will a known good stick.

If you try to boot to the HD before an OS is installed, it will tell
you that no OS is installed. I am not sure what point you are trying
to make. The HD is bootable, Windows takes care of that during setup.
In the recovery console, you can see the boot config.

Hi abright52,

If you try to boot to the HD before an OS is installed, it will tell
you that no OS is installed. I am not sure what point you are trying
to make. The HD is bootable, Windows takes care of that during setup.
In the recovery console, you can see the boot config.

This is the point.

Forget about the Windows XP CD for the moment. Take it out of the CD
Drive. Do you have a Windows 98 SE Startup Floppy Disk? Boot up the computer
using the Windows 98 SE Floppy disk. Once booted, you should be on the A:\
prompt.

Type in Fdisk. Wipe the Hard Drive clean using Fdisk and repartition the
Hard Drive into partitions equal to or less than 32 GBytes. Create Logical
Drives and extended drives or partitions. Set Drive C: Active. Exit Fdisk
and reboot still using the Win 98 SE Startup Floppy. Type Format C: /s

Once the format is done, remove the floppy disk and reboot the computer.
It should boot to the Hard Drive and you should see "C:\" on the screen. The
Hard Drive is now bootable.

Reinsert the Windows XP CD in and boot up the computer using the CD and
reformat and reinstall Windows XP. Once it is finished and you are at the
Desktop, remove the CD and restart the computer and let it boot into Windows
XP.


--
thecreator

wrote in message
oups.com...
The first time I installed Windows, I did it directly from the Windows
CD as I have done on hundreds of other machines that I have built. The
installation goes flawlessly, the system works great until you try to
restart.

When the XP CD is in the drive, it does not boot to XP Setup when I
don't press any keys, it boots into WINDOWS. It does that with any
bootable CD.

Video is on-board. I have swapped out the RAM will a known good stick.

If you try to boot to the HD before an OS is installed, it will tell
you that no OS is installed. I am not sure what point you are trying
to make. The HD is bootable, Windows takes care of that during setup.
In the recovery console, you can see the boot config.

That is a pretty archiac method, in fact I don't think I have had to
use fdisk in about 5 years, considering it doesn't support NTFS. As I
said, there is no need to do that with Windows, that is all taken care
of during the setup process.

Nevertheless, I tried it. Same problem, no difference.

DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER

As I had already told you, the boot and system files were already on
the drive. That is not the issue.

Luckly I swapped out the hard drive for a spare I had, so that I didn't
lose all the progress that I had made on getting Windows setup and
Up-to-date.

Any other ideas?

Hi abright52,

Questions:
1. - Did you check the jumpers on the Hard Drive, according to the sticker
on the Hard Drive for setting up Master, Slave or Cable Select
configuration?

2. - When you formatted the Hard Drive, did you do the Slow Format or the
Quick Re-Format of the Hard Drive?

3. - Did you search the Internet, before posting to this group?
http://www.highergroundsoftware.com/...dpages/dbf.htm

http://service.ap.dell.com/ap/step/1...+17470,00.html

4. - Can you replace the CPU Processor and redo the Format? If the CPU was
damaged, you won't be able to tell, if you don't try a new one? Everything
that gets written to the Hard Drive, may not be corrupted, but every Hard
Drive you tried, was formatted with the same CPU and memory sticks
installed.

5. - Have you tried taking a working Hard Drive from another system, that
boots and temporary install it in the computer you are working on and see if
it boots up?

Statement - Having two Hard Drives with multiple operating systems, I had
wanted to physically switch the location of the Hard Drives in the computer,
so switch I did. However, the operating system would not boot up. And had to
switch the Hard Drives back to the original location and the system booted
up.


--
thecreator

wrote in message
oups.com...
That is a pretty archiac method, in fact I don't think I have had to
use fdisk in about 5 years, considering it doesn't support NTFS. As I
said, there is no need to do that with Windows, that is all taken care
of during the setup process.

Nevertheless, I tried it. Same problem, no difference.

DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER

As I had already told you, the boot and system files were already on
the drive. That is not the issue.

Luckly I swapped out the hard drive for a spare I had, so that I didn't
lose all the progress that I had made on getting Windows setup and
Up-to-date.

Any other ideas?

By quickly scanning through posts, I don't see where the disk
manufacturer's comprehensive disk diagnostic was downloaded and
executed. IOW if testing using Windows, then you have exponentially
complicated the problem. Break the problem down into parts. Then
confirm each part independently. Is the hardrive hardware OK. More
responsible computer manufacturers provide comprehensive hardware
diagnostics for free just for this reason. That is also why component
manufacturers also provide diagnostics.

FDISK - even from DOS - can do quick testing. IOW does the
motherboard computer even talk to the disk drive computer? FDISK (that
does not understand NTFS) would still answer this. Other free
utilities that would report more and just as fast include IDEINFO,
INDENTIFY, 4DRVUTIL, or DUG_IDE. Quick and simple utilities display
exactly what the disk drive computer reports to motherboard.

Meanwhile, a marginal power supply voltage can cause other strange
failures. Another simple test to avoid 'not obvious' failures: measure
voltages on one red and yellow wires (from power supply) to exceed 4.87
and 11.7 volts? Marginal voltages will run the machine but may cause
strange operation. Not that this is a most likely reason for failure.
Just that this possible reason is eliminated so quickly and so finally.

Only after verifying above simple ideas, then use the Recovery
Console. Become familiar with Wndows programs such as fixboot,
bootcfg, and fixmbr.

Did you make the partition an active partition? What happens when
booting from Windows CD? Did you use the NT program called Disk
Manager after booting from the CD? What is in the file BOOT.INI
located in the root directory on hard drive (a system and hidden file
which may require additional knowledge to display ASCII text in that
file)?

wrote:
That is a pretty archiac method, in fact I don't think I have had to
use fdisk in about 5 years, considering it doesn't support NTFS. As I
said, there is no need to do that with Windows, that is all taken care
of during the setup process.

Nevertheless, I tried it. Same problem, no difference.

DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER

As I had already told you, the boot and system files were already on
the drive. That is not the issue.

Luckly I swapped out the hard drive for a spare I had, so that I didn't
lose all the progress that I had made on getting Windows setup and
Up-to-date.

Any other ideas?

thecreator wrote:
Hi abright52,

Questions:
1. - Did you check the jumpers on the Hard Drive, according to the sticker
on the Hard Drive for setting up Master, Slave or Cable Select
configuration?

It is set to Master


2. - When you formatted the Hard Drive, did you do the Slow Format or the
Quick Re-Format of the Hard Drive?


Slow Format

3. - Did you search the Internet, before posting to this group?

Yep

http://www.highergroundsoftware.com/...dpages/dbf.htm


Pretty expensive for a HD Utility

http://service.ap.dell.com/ap/step/1...+17470,00.html

Already covered those basic steps.

This is probably the best site that I found:
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/sys/booterrGBER13-c.html

Unfortunately it wasn't any help.


4. - Can you replace the CPU Processor and redo the Format? If the CPU was
damaged, you won't be able to tell, if you don't try a new one? Everything
that gets written to the Hard Drive, may not be corrupted, but every Hard
Drive you tried, was formatted with the same CPU and memory sticks
installed.


I would rather not do that, as I don't have a spare P4 or Celeron
Processor. Typically processor problems are more apparant. I have ran
tests on the Processor and it passed with flying colors.

5. - Have you tried taking a working Hard Drive from another system, that
boots and temporary install it in the computer you are working on and see if
it boots up?

That is about a one-in-a-million chance of working. Unless I found
another computer with the same motherboard, I would immediately get
errors.
I will try it, though, I will report back with the results later.

Hi abright52,

That is about a one-in-a-million chance of working. Unless I found
another computer with the same motherboard, I would immediately get
errors.
I will try it, though, I will report back with the results later.

You want errors, other than Disk Boot Failure. It is only in the
computer temporarily, to see if it will boot to the opening screen of the
operating system. Once it boots to the opening screen of the operating
system, then shut down the computer rather than to have it start to install
other devices. It does not have to be the exact motherboard.


--
thecreator


wrote in message
ups.com...

thecreator wrote:
Hi abright52,

Questions:
1. - Did you check the jumpers on the Hard Drive, according to the
sticker
on the Hard Drive for setting up Master, Slave or Cable Select
configuration?

It is set to Master


2. - When you formatted the Hard Drive, did you do the Slow Format or the
Quick Re-Format of the Hard Drive?


Slow Format

3. - Did you search the Internet, before posting to this group?

Yep

http://www.highergroundsoftware.com/...dpages/dbf.htm


Pretty expensive for a HD Utility

http://service.ap.dell.com/ap/step/1...+17470,00.html

Already covered those basic steps.

This is probably the best site that I found:
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/sys/booterrGBER13-c.html

Unfortunately it wasn't any help.


4. - Can you replace the CPU Processor and redo the Format? If the CPU
was
damaged, you won't be able to tell, if you don't try a new one?
Everything
that gets written to the Hard Drive, may not be corrupted, but every Hard
Drive you tried, was formatted with the same CPU and memory sticks
installed.


I would rather not do that, as I don't have a spare P4 or Celeron
Processor. Typically processor problems are more apparant. I have ran
tests on the Processor and it passed with flying colors.

5. - Have you tried taking a working Hard Drive from another system, that
boots and temporary install it in the computer you are working on and see
if
it boots up?

That is about a one-in-a-million chance of working. Unless I found
another computer with the same motherboard, I would immediately get
errors.
I will try it, though, I will report back with the results later.

I swapped in a Seagate HD from a Dell that I am working on. It
immediately gives a Blue Screen 0x00000007B.
I am running a WD Hard Drive Test on it right now.