abpowell
asked on
XP Pro in continuous shutdown restart cycle after reinstall. Also won't recognize disk drives
Brief History of how I got here. Deleted program "Content Watch" because it was causing other problems. I did delete not uninstall (long story here not really relevent). This is where the real problems began. There was one file I could not find to delete but it showed up in startup in msconfig. I disabled it but that caused windows only to start in safe mode. I tried to reinstall XP Pro. I did not uninstall it first. I thought it would ask for repair or uninstall like many programs do when already installed and you run startup. Well it didn't ask for repair or uninstall but it did continue to run setup so I went with it and it appeared to have reinstalled. The only drivers it ever asked about were my graphics drivers. I assummed it found the others. I guess it didn't complete because now it does not even recognize my second internal hard drive or either one of my DVD drives so I can't even try setup again or install my DVD drivers.
My basics on my system are
MSI K8N Diamon Plus Mobo
AMD Dual Core Processor
4 Gigs of Ram ( or 3 according to Windows)
Dual Geforce 7900 GTOC cards with SLI link
Lite-on DVD burner with all the extentions +-DL, RW all of it
Plextor DVD drive
Primary hard drive 250 gigs
Secondary 60 gigs
External 250 gigs
Main Uses are typical home use plus video editing hence the extra RAM etc. and light gaming
Also, thought it might be virus at first and posted there. If you want to see what I've already done go to: https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21891197/Could-it-be-MSBLAST-or-just-Content-Watch.html
My basics on my system are
MSI K8N Diamon Plus Mobo
AMD Dual Core Processor
4 Gigs of Ram ( or 3 according to Windows)
Dual Geforce 7900 GTOC cards with SLI link
Lite-on DVD burner with all the extentions +-DL, RW all of it
Plextor DVD drive
Primary hard drive 250 gigs
Secondary 60 gigs
External 250 gigs
Main Uses are typical home use plus video editing hence the extra RAM etc. and light gaming
Also, thought it might be virus at first and posted there. If you want to see what I've already done go to: https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21891197/Could-it-be-MSBLAST-or-just-Content-Watch.html
ASKER
I've got all the drives working again. Still will only boot into safe mode. I booted up reinstall windows from my master DVD drive. and most all things are working but still gets only to the second pass of the "blue box" and shuts down again on the windows startup screen. This is further than before so we are making progress. Used to only get 3/4 of a pass of the "blue box". Am I missing something from Windows or is Windows looking for something that I've erased?
Phalanx - all drive appear healthy
Phalanx - all drive appear healthy
Did you delete the partition of the hard drive you're installing the OS on?
and then create a new partition before installing xp?
ASKER
Nope
if you plan to reinstall xp on your system you should definately delete the partition of the hard drive you want to install the OS on to completely clear everything from it ( as I imagine that is what you are trying to do). The directions are as follows on the cd by deleting the partition and how it warns you that all data will be erased, ect. then you'd hit "c" to create a new raw partition on the hard drive you want to have the OS installed on. Once that is done, continue with installation.
please keep in mind I am suggesting this partition deletion assuming you want to erase all previous data on your XP OS that you are currently having trouble with...correct?
-thephalanx
please keep in mind I am suggesting this partition deletion assuming you want to erase all previous data on your XP OS that you are currently having trouble with...correct?
-thephalanx
ASKER
Don't really want to erase everything. I'm obviously not the expert but I've got back to a point where I don't think I'll have to.
Also, I mistated myself earlier. We I rebooted with the XP Pro disc I hit enter first (not R to repair system at not the first time), that took me to a screen where it showed the current XP Pro installation. I ran restore from that point. So.. I don't think I deleted my original partition. Did I? How can I tell?
Also, I mistated myself earlier. We I rebooted with the XP Pro disc I hit enter first (not R to repair system at not the first time), that took me to a screen where it showed the current XP Pro installation. I ran restore from that point. So.. I don't think I deleted my original partition. Did I? How can I tell?
no it did not delete the partition. you would have just restored all settings and files with xp that may have been damaged or gone missing. Deleting the partition is VERY self explanatory and you would have remember it.
ASKER
Okay scratch that. I tried rebooting again and now it stalls on reboot in safe mode at:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)par
I've got a backup of the system registry saved from System Mechanic. Should I try that?
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)par
I've got a backup of the system registry saved from System Mechanic. Should I try that?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
redoing the registry will not help in this situation.
ASKER
Okay uninstalling the video drivers.....
BTW it still hangs on: multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)par
BTW it still hangs on: multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)par
ASKER
BINGO!!!!!! Venom.
The graphics drivers did the trick.
Since I'm a newbie here a couple more questions.
Windows doesn't seem to run quite as fast a before. Any suggestions to speed it up? Also, does this mean I can't use the high $$ graphics cards or can I reinstall the drivers nowt that Windows is running again.
AND MOST IMPORTANT....how I split points....Technically I know how. Now Venom hit the nail on the head bugt thephalanx also helped narrow some things down.
Would a 400/100 split be appropriate or 350/150? Need some guidance. Venom since you hit the target I'll give most consideration to your answer most consideration.
The graphics drivers did the trick.
Since I'm a newbie here a couple more questions.
Windows doesn't seem to run quite as fast a before. Any suggestions to speed it up? Also, does this mean I can't use the high $$ graphics cards or can I reinstall the drivers nowt that Windows is running again.
AND MOST IMPORTANT....how I split points....Technically I know how. Now Venom hit the nail on the head bugt thephalanx also helped narrow some things down.
Would a 400/100 split be appropriate or 350/150? Need some guidance. Venom since you hit the target I'll give most consideration to your answer most consideration.
ASKER
For those coming from the pointer.....look above....starting with Bingo Venom...that was the post I was referring to.
BTW Venom....curious as to what tipped you off about the video drivers. After everything else I had tried and that fixed it presto. How did you know. Hunch? Something about my cards/drivers? Typical for XP?
BTW Venom....curious as to what tipped you off about the video drivers. After everything else I had tried and that fixed it presto. How did you know. Hunch? Something about my cards/drivers? Typical for XP?
nah ab the point that you were sticking at clued me in first off the bar going across is the time when all services and drivers being as it loaded in safe mode i knew that it had to be a video card driver, a IDE controller driver or a network card driver 9 times out of 10 its a video card driver. Your previous post said it was having a problem with the drivers on install so all signs in my head pointed to that and I knew you would get it up and going. Now all you have to do is find some good drivers for your high dollar card and you should be good to go good luck and have fun glad i could help.
basically it boiled down to my knowledge of the xp booting sequence in safe and regular mode and narrowing down the differences thats all.
-thephalanx