Won't boot into windows

[Guest operaflute]

I had posted this as a hard drive question, but I'm having the same problem

after replacing my hard drive so...

 

Basically, if I shut down, I can't boot back up. Before Windows starts to

load, I get a black screen with a blinking cursor and that's it. I can

restore from some of my backup images (not all - some will give me the same

black screen upon reboot.) but then I can't shut down or I'm back to square

one (sorta defeats the purpose of a laptop, doesn't it?)

 

Can not boot to safe mode.

Fixmbr and fixboot don't help.

 

Scanned for viruses, spyware, malware etc. etc. - nothing.

 

Could this be a bios problem? I'm running out of ideas, and I SO SO SO do

NOT want to reinstall and start from scratch.

 

XP Pro SP 2 Dell Inspiron 8600

[Guest nass]

RE: Won't boot into windows

 

 

 

"operaflute" wrote:

> I had posted this as a hard drive question, but I'm having the same problem

> after replacing my hard drive so...

>

> Basically, if I shut down, I can't boot back up. Before Windows starts to

> load, I get a black screen with a blinking cursor and that's it. I can

> restore from some of my backup images (not all - some will give me the same

> black screen upon reboot.) but then I can't shut down or I'm back to square

> one (sorta defeats the purpose of a laptop, doesn't it?)

>

> Can not boot to safe mode.

> Fixmbr and fixboot don't help.

>

> Scanned for viruses, spyware, malware etc. etc. - nothing.

>

> Could this be a bios problem? I'm running out of ideas, and I SO SO SO do

> NOT want to reinstall and start from scratch.

>

> XP Pro SP 2 Dell Inspiron 8600

 

Can you sned the error message and did you tried to test the memory/RAM to

see if they are okay?

On Start Up press F8 as you do for Safe Mode and on the Boot up Options

select Disable Automatic Restart on Failure and see if you can capture the

error message and post it back in your reply.

HTH,

nass

---

http://www.nasstec.co.uk

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

 

"operaflute" <operaflute@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:EAFC6DC5-D509-4940-93E3-877AB8BF6549@microsoft.com...

>I had posted this as a hard drive question, but I'm having the same problem

> after replacing my hard drive so...

>

> Basically, if I shut down, I can't boot back up. Before Windows starts to

> load, I get a black screen with a blinking cursor and that's it. I can

> restore from some of my backup images (not all - some will give me the

> same

> black screen upon reboot.) but then I can't shut down or I'm back to

> square

> one (sorta defeats the purpose of a laptop, doesn't it?)

>

> Can not boot to safe mode.

> Fixmbr and fixboot don't help.

>

> Scanned for viruses, spyware, malware etc. etc. - nothing.

>

> Could this be a bios problem? I'm running out of ideas, and I SO SO SO do

> NOT want to reinstall and start from scratch.

>

> XP Pro SP 2 Dell Inspiron 8600

 

A blinking cursor in the top left corner is usually a sign of a damaged boot

environment. I would boot the machine off a floppy boot disk in order to

establish if the Windows installation itself is intact. Here is how to make

one:

- Format a floppy disk on some other WinXP PC.

- Copy these files from the \i386 folder of your WinXP CD to A:\

ntldr

ntdetect.com

- Create a file a:\boot.ini with these lines

[boot loader]

timeout=5

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Boot diskette" /fastdetect

/noexecute=optin

 

If you don't have a floppy disk drive, create the boot floppy on some other

machine that does have an FDD, then burn a boot CD based on this boot

diskette.

[Guest independent site]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

On 13 okt., 04:40, operaflute <operafl...@discussions.microsoft.com>

wrote:

> I had posted this as a hard drive question, but I'm having the same problem

> after replacing my hard drive so...

>

> Basically, if I shut down, I can't boot back up.  Before Windows starts to

> load, I get a black screen with a blinking cursor and that's it.  I can

> restore from some of my backup images (not all - some will give me the same

> black screen upon reboot.) but then I can't shut down or I'm back to square

> one (sorta defeats the purpose of a laptop, doesn't it?)

>

> Can not boot to safe mode.

> Fixmbr and fixboot don't help.

>

> Scanned for viruses, spyware, malware etc. etc. - nothing.

>

> Could this be a bios problem?  I'm running out of ideas, and I SO SO SO do

> NOT want to reinstall and start from scratch.

>

> XP Pro SP 2 Dell Inspiron 8600

 

SEE YOUR VGA CART OR SCREEN

[Guest Larry(LJL269)]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

Make sure ur BIOS says 'boot from Floppy->CD->HDD

I seem to recall you can write them to bootable CD too. Mine r.

 

Recall 6Ps : 'Proper planning prevents piss poor performance' :)

 

Hope that helps. Larry

 

On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:53:31 +0200, "Pegasus \(MVP\)"

<I.can@fly.com.oz> wrote:

>A blinking cursor in the top left corner is usually a sign of a damaged boot

>environment. I would boot the machine off a floppy boot disk in order to

>establish if the Windows installation itself is intact. Here is how to make

>one:

>- Format a floppy disk on some other WinXP PC.

>- Copy these files from the \i386 folder of your WinXP CD to A:\

> ntldr

> ntdetect.com

>- Create a file a:\boot.ini with these lines

>[boot loader]

>timeout=5

>default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

>[operating systems]

>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Boot diskette" /fastdetect

>/noexecute=optin

>

>If you don't have a floppy disk drive, create the boot floppy on some other

>machine that does have an FDD, then burn a boot CD based on this boot

>diskette.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

A working unsecure OS is infinitely better than non-working secure OS.

Just spent 1 week cleaning up the mess WUpdate made preventing

hypothetical security problems. http://microscum.com/comsense/

[Guest operaflute]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

 

Error message? There's no error message. I get the Dell Splash screen,

then the black screen with blinking cursor. When this first happened, I ran

the diagnostics using F12 and got DST Short Status Test Error 1000-0142.

Unit 4: Drive Self Test failed Status byte = 79. That pointed me towards

the hard drive, but I jsut replaced it and have same problem.

Will try boot disk when I get a moment...

[Guest operaflute]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

 

Can you explain this in more detail? I can format and copy the files, but

how do I create the file?

 

BTW - I did MemTest overnight last night - no errors.

 

 

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

 

>

> A blinking cursor in the top left corner is usually a sign of a damaged boot

> environment. I would boot the machine off a floppy boot disk in order to

> establish if the Windows installation itself is intact. Here is how to make

> one:

> - Format a floppy disk on some other WinXP PC.

> - Copy these files from the \i386 folder of your WinXP CD to A:\

> ntldr

> ntdetect.com

> - Create a file a:\boot.ini with these lines

> [boot loader]

> timeout=5

> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

> [operating systems]

> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Boot diskette" /fastdetect

> /noexecute=optin

>

> If you don't have a floppy disk drive, create the boot floppy on some other

> machine that does have an FDD, then burn a boot CD based on this boot

> diskette.

>

>

>

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

 

"operaflute" <operaflute@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:DC3D1663-9DC1-4EF6-8747-3BB19F2810A0@microsoft.com...

>

> Can you explain this in more detail? I can format and copy the files, but

> how do I create the file?

>

> BTW - I did MemTest overnight last night - no errors.

 

- Click Start / Run / notepad a:\boot.ini{OK}

- Accept the prompt to create a new file.

- Copy and paste the lines I previously gave you.

- Save & close the file.

[Guest operaflute]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

Okay, I made the floppy, and know how to boot from it. But will it just

automatically "go" from the floppy to the C drive after booting, or do I need

to know to do something to make that happen?

(I want to make sure I understand everything before I shut this thing down

again!)

THanks!

>

> - Click Start / Run / notepad a:\boot.ini{OK}

> - Accept the prompt to create a new file.

> - Copy and paste the lines I previously gave you.

> - Save & close the file.

>

>

>

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

This boot.ini line

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

tells the floppy disk-based boot loader to continue loading Windows from the

\Windows folder located on the first partition of the first hard disk in the

system.

 

 

"operaflute" <operaflute@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:003C52AF-3488-4EEB-8A3E-4A8531EDB3F1@microsoft.com...

> Okay, I made the floppy, and know how to boot from it. But will it just

> automatically "go" from the floppy to the C drive after booting, or do I

> need

> to know to do something to make that happen?

> (I want to make sure I understand everything before I shut this thing down

> again!)

> THanks!

>>

>> - Click Start / Run / notepad a:\boot.ini{OK}

>> - Accept the prompt to create a new file.

>> - Copy and paste the lines I previously gave you.

>> - Save & close the file.

>>

>>

>>

[Guest operaflute]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

How do I know for sure Windows is on the first partition? There is a little

Dell Diagnostic partition on the same disk, and when I look at Disk Manager

it shows up left of the C drive in the graphic representation of the disk.

Thanks for your help!

 

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

> This boot.ini line

> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

> tells the floppy disk-based boot loader to continue loading Windows from the

> \Windows folder located on the first partition of the first hard disk in the

> system.

>

>

> "operaflute" <operaflute@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:003C52AF-3488-4EEB-8A3E-4A8531EDB3F1@microsoft.com...

> > Okay, I made the floppy, and know how to boot from it. But will it just

> > automatically "go" from the floppy to the C drive after booting, or do I

> > need

> > to know to do something to make that happen?

> > (I want to make sure I understand everything before I shut this thing down

> > again!)

> > THanks!

> >>

> >> - Click Start / Run / notepad a:\boot.ini{OK}

> >> - Accept the prompt to create a new file.

> >> - Copy and paste the lines I previously gave you.

> >> - Save & close the file.

> >>

> >>

> >>

>

>

>

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

If Windows is not located on the first partition then the boot process will

fail. You can then replace (1) with (2) or (3).

 

 

"operaflute" <operaflute@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:8FD206BE-3493-4761-BB88-E5A047C93F24@microsoft.com...

> How do I know for sure Windows is on the first partition? There is a

> little

> Dell Diagnostic partition on the same disk, and when I look at Disk

> Manager

> it shows up left of the C drive in the graphic representation of the disk.

> Thanks for your help!

>

> "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>

>> This boot.ini line

>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

>> tells the floppy disk-based boot loader to continue loading Windows from

>> the

>> \Windows folder located on the first partition of the first hard disk in

>> the

>> system.

>>

>>

>> "operaflute" <operaflute@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:003C52AF-3488-4EEB-8A3E-4A8531EDB3F1@microsoft.com...

>> > Okay, I made the floppy, and know how to boot from it. But will it

>> > just

>> > automatically "go" from the floppy to the C drive after booting, or do

>> > I

>> > need

>> > to know to do something to make that happen?

>> > (I want to make sure I understand everything before I shut this thing

>> > down

>> > again!)

>> > THanks!

>> >>

>> >> - Click Start / Run / notepad a:\boot.ini{OK}

>> >> - Accept the prompt to create a new file.

>> >> - Copy and paste the lines I previously gave you.

>> >> - Save & close the file.

>> >>

>> >>

>> >>

>>

>>

>>

[Guest operaflute]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

Okay, I've made one disk of each, which I'll try tonight. In the meantime -

curious: why does a floppy need to be involved at all? Why not just put the

files directly onto a CD?

 

 

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

> If Windows is not located on the first partition then the boot process will

> fail. You can then replace (1) with (2) or (3).

>

>

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

 

"operaflute" <operaflute@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:7AA4A82D-4B50-42DE-9373-2DAEEBF363F1@microsoft.com...

> Okay, I've made one disk of each, which I'll try tonight. In the

> meantime -

> curious: why does a floppy need to be involved at all? Why not just put

> the

> files directly onto a CD?

>

 

Floppy disks are somewhat easier to create than CDs - suit yourself!

[Guest operaflute]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

Wouldn't you know it, the dang thing has restarted normally a good 5 times

now! I wonder if when I installed the new hard drive I inadvertently

transferred some bad files to it... I really made a point not to do that,

but after all the repeated backing up/restoring I could have lost track. I'm

out of town now, and not brave enough to shut it down now, but if the problem

recurs, I'll certainly be back here!

Weird.

 

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>

> "operaflute" <operaflute@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:7AA4A82D-4B50-42DE-9373-2DAEEBF363F1@microsoft.com...

> > Okay, I've made one disk of each, which I'll try tonight. In the

> > meantime -

> > curious: why does a floppy need to be involved at all? Why not just put

> > the

> > files directly onto a CD?

> >

>

> Floppy disks are somewhat easier to create than CDs - suit yourself!

>

>

>

[Guest Larry(LJL269)]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

NG better & faster than MS TS .

 

Just my 2¢ worth. Larry

 

On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:17:11 -0700, operaflute

<operaflute@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Wouldn't you know it, the dang thing has restarted normally a good 5 times

>now! I wonder if when I installed the new hard drive I inadvertently

>transferred some bad files to it... I really made a point not to do that,

>but after all the repeated backing up/restoring I could have lost track. I'm

>out of town now, and not brave enough to shut it down now, but if the problem

>recurs, I'll certainly be back here!

>Weird.

>

>"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>

>>

>> "operaflute" <operaflute@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:7AA4A82D-4B50-42DE-9373-2DAEEBF363F1@microsoft.com...

>> > Okay, I've made one disk of each, which I'll try tonight. In the

>> > meantime -

>> > curious: why does a floppy need to be involved at all? Why not just put

>> > the

>> > files directly onto a CD?

>> >

>>

>> Floppy disks are somewhat easier to create than CDs - suit yourself!

>>

>>

>>

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

A working unsecure OS is infinitely better than non-working secure OS.

Just spent 1 week cleaning up the mess WUpdate made preventing

hypothetical security problems. http://microscum.com/comsense/

[Guest operaflute]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

NG? MS? TS?

's dat?

 

 

 

"Larry(LJL269)" wrote:

> NG better & faster than MS TS .

>

> Just my 2¢ worth. Larry

>

[Guest operaflute]

Re: Won't boot into windows

 

 

Gah!!! It happened again. Today I decided to get brave and have the

machine "hibernate" while was at work. Guess what happened when I tried to

wake it up? Yup - black screen with blinking cursor. The boot diskette

didn't work - said the file windows\system 32\hal.dll was missing or corrupt.

Restoring that file from backup didn't do a thing. I had to restore the

entire disk from backup.... AGAIN.

 

Seriously I am on the brink of insanity as this had been going on almost 2

months. (But I'm still resisting a total re-format/reinstall).

 

More ideas?

 

 

"Larry(LJL269)" wrote:

> NG better & faster than MS TS .

>

> Just my 2¢ worth. Larry

>

> On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:17:11 -0700, operaflute

> <operaflute@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>

> >Wouldn't you know it, the dang thing has restarted normally a good 5 times

> >now! I wonder if when I installed the new hard drive I inadvertently

> >transferred some bad files to it... I really made a point not to do that,

> >but after all the repeated backing up/restoring I could have lost track. I'm

> >out of town now, and not brave enough to shut it down now, but if the problem

> >recurs, I'll certainly be back here!

> >Weird.

> >

> >"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

> >

> >>

> >> "operaflute" <operaflute@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> >> news:7AA4A82D-4B50-42DE-9373-2DAEEBF363F1@microsoft.com...

> >> > Okay, I've made one disk of each, which I'll try tonight. In the

> >> > meantime -

> >> > curious: why does a floppy need to be involved at all? Why not just put

> >> > the

> >> > files directly onto a CD?

> >> >

> >>

> >> Floppy disks are somewhat easier to create than CDs - suit yourself!

> >>

> >>

> >>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> A working unsecure OS is infinitely better than non-working secure OS.

> Just spent 1 week cleaning up the mess WUpdate made preventing

> hypothetical security problems. http://microscum.com/comsense/

>