Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

October 29, 2007

Hi,

I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest Avast

update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said that I

needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and went to

bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD) screen.

Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to launching

the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

I also:

- cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception - when I

launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc etc"

coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

\windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it freezes.

- cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

- cannot get into the recovery console.

Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options that

may allow me to work on this drive.

I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access to all

of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night, it

corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Do you need more information?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

--Bill

October 29, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

Hi Bill,

I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think. My

machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day, never

had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that update, but

I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may be

corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not trivial, in

a running system.

On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since Avast

was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID or

SATA?

If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the CMOS

battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

[should] be harmless.

Tony. . .

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

news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

> Hi,

> I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest Avast

> update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said that

> I

> needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and went to

> bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD) screen.

> Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

> launching

> the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

>

> I also:

> - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception - when

> I

> launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc etc"

> coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

> \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it freezes.

> - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

> - cannot get into the recovery console.

>

> Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options that

> may allow me to work on this drive.

>

> I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access to all

> of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

>

> So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night, it

> corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

> Does anyone have any ideas?

> Do you need more information?

> Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

> --Bill

October 29, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

Hi Tony,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

To answer your questions:

1- The system was built in June 2006.

2- It is not a dual boot box. Only boots to x64 Windows.

3- Avast was installed from the beginning.

4- One HD. Seagate, 320GB, SATAII - no RAID

5- I have flashed the BIOS to the latest one. No difference. Flashing resets

the BIOS just like removing the battery (I think). At any rate, it didn't

help.

Motherboard is ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe, BIOS 1303

Processor is AMD Athlon 64 x2 at 4200+ Dual Core (socket 939)

RAM is 2GB Corsair XMS RAM

HD is Seagate ST3320620AS

Video card is Matrox Quad card, QID-E128-LPAF

Power supply is Antec 550w TruePower 2.0

This system has been rock solid from the time it was built until the Avast

update Thursday night.

Thanks again for your responise.

--Bill

"Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

> Hi Bill,

>

> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think. My

> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day, never

> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that update, but

> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may be

> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not trivial, in

> a running system.

>

> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since Avast

> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID or

> SATA?

>

> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the CMOS

> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

> [should] be harmless.

>

> Tony. . .

>

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

> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

> > Hi,

> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest Avast

> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said that

> > I

> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and went to

> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD) screen.

> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

> > launching

> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

> >

> > I also:

> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception - when

> > I

> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc etc"

> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it freezes.

> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

> >

> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options that

> > may allow me to work on this drive.

> >

> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access to all

> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

> >

> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night, it

> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

> > Does anyone have any ideas?

> > Do you need more information?

> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

> > --Bill

>

October 29, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

Re 5: Flashing does not reset the CMOS data holding the BIOS settings unless

you set the flashing program parameters to do so. This is never done by

default.

Sometimes the updated BIOS uses a different structure for the CMOS data and

in such cases the release notes warn to clear the CMOS and set optimal

defaults before any customisation you may prefer. Failure to do this when

needed can result in the BIOS doing strange things.

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

news:2F343F93-2C7B-4649-9D78-A44760AE8ADE@microsoft.com...

> Hi Tony,

> Thanks for taking the time to reply.

> To answer your questions:

> 1- The system was built in June 2006.

> 2- It is not a dual boot box. Only boots to x64 Windows.

> 3- Avast was installed from the beginning.

> 4- One HD. Seagate, 320GB, SATAII - no RAID

> 5- I have flashed the BIOS to the latest one. No difference. Flashing

> resets

> the BIOS just like removing the battery (I think). At any rate, it didn't

> help.

>

> Motherboard is ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe, BIOS 1303

> Processor is AMD Athlon 64 x2 at 4200+ Dual Core (socket 939)

> RAM is 2GB Corsair XMS RAM

> HD is Seagate ST3320620AS

> Video card is Matrox Quad card, QID-E128-LPAF

> Power supply is Antec 550w TruePower 2.0

>

> This system has been rock solid from the time it was built until the Avast

> update Thursday night.

> Thanks again for your responise.

> --Bill

>

> "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>

>> Hi Bill,

>>

>> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think. My

>> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day, never

>> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that update,

>> but

>> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may be

>> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not trivial,

>> in

>> a running system.

>>

>> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

>> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

>> Avast

>> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID or

>> SATA?

>>

>> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the

>> CMOS

>> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

>> [should] be harmless.

>>

>> Tony. . .

>>

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

>> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

>> > Hi,

>> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest Avast

>> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said

>> > that

>> > I

>> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and went

>> > to

>> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

>> > screen.

>> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

>> > launching

>> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

>> >

>> > I also:

>> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception -

>> > when

>> > I

>> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc

>> > etc"

>> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

>> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

>> > freezes.

>> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

>> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

>> >

>> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options

>> > that

>> > may allow me to work on this drive.

>> >

>> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access to

>> > all

>> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

>> >

>> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night, it

>> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

>> > Does anyone have any ideas?

>> > Do you need more information?

>> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

>> > --Bill

>>

October 29, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

Well, this is close to what I am having. In addition to the BIOS thing, I

want to draw attention to the SATA cables as one possible weak point. They

are rather stiff and routing them around the case could result in them

having tension that wants to pull them out of their sockets. They aren't

snapping on very tightly in their sockets anyway and I had to apply a

half-turn sideway twist before looping them around between the HD and the

MB. This is hard to explain in graphical language, but I think you'll

probably see what I'm driving at.

While you are inside, you might as well reseat everything else too, just

unfasten and give everything a gentle 'wiggle' and fasten it again. Then

let's see how it behaves. You should at least be able to boot from a CD/DVD.

Hopefully!

Oh - and flashing the BIOS, was that after the Avast upgrade?

Tony. . .

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

news:2F343F93-2C7B-4649-9D78-A44760AE8ADE@microsoft.com...

> Hi Tony,

> Thanks for taking the time to reply.

> To answer your questions:

> 1- The system was built in June 2006.

> 2- It is not a dual boot box. Only boots to x64 Windows.

> 3- Avast was installed from the beginning.

> 4- One HD. Seagate, 320GB, SATAII - no RAID

> 5- I have flashed the BIOS to the latest one. No difference. Flashing

> resets

> the BIOS just like removing the battery (I think). At any rate, it didn't

> help.

>

> Motherboard is ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe, BIOS 1303

> Processor is AMD Athlon 64 x2 at 4200+ Dual Core (socket 939)

> RAM is 2GB Corsair XMS RAM

> HD is Seagate ST3320620AS

> Video card is Matrox Quad card, QID-E128-LPAF

> Power supply is Antec 550w TruePower 2.0

>

> This system has been rock solid from the time it was built until the Avast

> update Thursday night.

> Thanks again for your responise.

> --Bill

>

> "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>

>> Hi Bill,

>>

>> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think. My

>> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day, never

>> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that update,

>> but

>> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may be

>> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not trivial,

>> in

>> a running system.

>>

>> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

>> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

>> Avast

>> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID or

>> SATA?

>>

>> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the

>> CMOS

>> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

>> [should] be harmless.

>>

>> Tony. . .

>>

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

>> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

>> > Hi,

>> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest Avast

>> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said

>> > that

>> > I

>> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and went

>> > to

>> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

>> > screen.

>> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

>> > launching

>> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

>> >

>> > I also:

>> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception -

>> > when

>> > I

>> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc

>> > etc"

>> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

>> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

>> > freezes.

>> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

>> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

>> >

>> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options

>> > that

>> > may allow me to work on this drive.

>> >

>> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access to

>> > all

>> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

>> >

>> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night, it

>> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

>> > Does anyone have any ideas?

>> > Do you need more information?

>> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

>> > --Bill

>>

October 29, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

Tony,

Yes, flashing the BIOS was after the Avast upgrade and part of my attempt to

repair. Also, I have another identical machine (I've actually built 3 of

these the exact same way) and I have removed the hard drive out of the

problem machine and put it in the other one, which boots fine with its own

normal hard drive. When I install the problem HD into it, it acts the exact

same way - no boot. So I am pretty sure that something has happened to the

hard drive itself. It's not a problem on the motherboard or with SATA cables

or CMOS batteries or resets. If it was, then when I moved the HD to the other

machine, the behaviour would be different. It isn't. It's identical. No boot,

and when I do actually get into Safe Mode, it stops at the same place

(biosinfo.inf).

And speaking on that, I thought that the file biosinfo.inf might be a

problem. So I copied it from the twin machine back to the damaged one. Still

no difference. Exact same result - no boot, etc.

I really think something is wrong in the boot files that was corrupted when

the Avast update was done. I do not believe it is any sort of hardware issue,

since when I move the HD to the twin machine (which runs fine) I get the same

results.

Thanks,

--Bill

"Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

> Well, this is close to what I am having. In addition to the BIOS thing, I

> want to draw attention to the SATA cables as one possible weak point. They

> are rather stiff and routing them around the case could result in them

> having tension that wants to pull them out of their sockets. They aren't

> snapping on very tightly in their sockets anyway and I had to apply a

> half-turn sideway twist before looping them around between the HD and the

> MB. This is hard to explain in graphical language, but I think you'll

> probably see what I'm driving at.

>

> While you are inside, you might as well reseat everything else too, just

> unfasten and give everything a gentle 'wiggle' and fasten it again. Then

> let's see how it behaves. You should at least be able to boot from a CD/DVD.

> Hopefully!

>

> Oh - and flashing the BIOS, was that after the Avast upgrade?

>

> Tony. . .

>

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

> news:2F343F93-2C7B-4649-9D78-A44760AE8ADE@microsoft.com...

> > Hi Tony,

> > Thanks for taking the time to reply.

> > To answer your questions:

> > 1- The system was built in June 2006.

> > 2- It is not a dual boot box. Only boots to x64 Windows.

> > 3- Avast was installed from the beginning.

> > 4- One HD. Seagate, 320GB, SATAII - no RAID

> > 5- I have flashed the BIOS to the latest one. No difference. Flashing

> > resets

> > the BIOS just like removing the battery (I think). At any rate, it didn't

> > help.

> >

> > Motherboard is ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe, BIOS 1303

> > Processor is AMD Athlon 64 x2 at 4200+ Dual Core (socket 939)

> > RAM is 2GB Corsair XMS RAM

> > HD is Seagate ST3320620AS

> > Video card is Matrox Quad card, QID-E128-LPAF

> > Power supply is Antec 550w TruePower 2.0

> >

> > This system has been rock solid from the time it was built until the Avast

> > update Thursday night.

> > Thanks again for your responise.

> > --Bill

> >

> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

> >

> >> Hi Bill,

> >>

> >> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think. My

> >> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day, never

> >> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that update,

> >> but

> >> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may be

> >> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not trivial,

> >> in

> >> a running system.

> >>

> >> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

> >> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

> >> Avast

> >> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID or

> >> SATA?

> >>

> >> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the

> >> CMOS

> >> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

> >> [should] be harmless.

> >>

> >> Tony. . .

> >>

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

> >> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

> >> > Hi,

> >> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest Avast

> >> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said

> >> > that

> >> > I

> >> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and went

> >> > to

> >> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

> >> > screen.

> >> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

> >> > launching

> >> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

> >> >

> >> > I also:

> >> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception -

> >> > when

> >> > I

> >> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc

> >> > etc"

> >> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

> >> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

> >> > freezes.

> >> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

> >> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

> >> >

> >> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options

> >> > that

> >> > may allow me to work on this drive.

> >> >

> >> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access to

> >> > all

> >> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

> >> >

> >> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night, it

> >> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

> >> > Does anyone have any ideas?

> >> > Do you need more information?

> >> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

> >> > --Bill

> >>

>

October 29, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

This sounds like a disk hardware failure that coincided with the Avast

update.

Download and run the disk manufacturer's test utility. That will tell you

what is wrong with the disk.

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

news:FEE6D0B5-C0CD-4685-BF43-A638F52F8677@microsoft.com...

> Tony,

> Yes, flashing the BIOS was after the Avast upgrade and part of my attempt

> to

> repair. Also, I have another identical machine (I've actually built 3 of

> these the exact same way) and I have removed the hard drive out of the

> problem machine and put it in the other one, which boots fine with its own

> normal hard drive. When I install the problem HD into it, it acts the

> exact

> same way - no boot. So I am pretty sure that something has happened to the

> hard drive itself. It's not a problem on the motherboard or with SATA

> cables

> or CMOS batteries or resets. If it was, then when I moved the HD to the

> other

> machine, the behaviour would be different. It isn't. It's identical. No

> boot,

> and when I do actually get into Safe Mode, it stops at the same place

> (biosinfo.inf).

>

> And speaking on that, I thought that the file biosinfo.inf might be a

> problem. So I copied it from the twin machine back to the damaged one.

> Still

> no difference. Exact same result - no boot, etc.

>

> I really think something is wrong in the boot files that was corrupted

> when

> the Avast update was done. I do not believe it is any sort of hardware

> issue,

> since when I move the HD to the twin machine (which runs fine) I get the

> same

> results.

> Thanks,

> --Bill

>

> "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>

>> Well, this is close to what I am having. In addition to the BIOS thing, I

>> want to draw attention to the SATA cables as one possible weak point.

>> They

>> are rather stiff and routing them around the case could result in them

>> having tension that wants to pull them out of their sockets. They aren't

>> snapping on very tightly in their sockets anyway and I had to apply a

>> half-turn sideway twist before looping them around between the HD and the

>> MB. This is hard to explain in graphical language, but I think you'll

>> probably see what I'm driving at.

>>

>> While you are inside, you might as well reseat everything else too, just

>> unfasten and give everything a gentle 'wiggle' and fasten it again. Then

>> let's see how it behaves. You should at least be able to boot from a

>> CD/DVD.

>> Hopefully!

>>

>> Oh - and flashing the BIOS, was that after the Avast upgrade?

>>

>> Tony. . .

>>

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

>> news:2F343F93-2C7B-4649-9D78-A44760AE8ADE@microsoft.com...

>> > Hi Tony,

>> > Thanks for taking the time to reply.

>> > To answer your questions:

>> > 1- The system was built in June 2006.

>> > 2- It is not a dual boot box. Only boots to x64 Windows.

>> > 3- Avast was installed from the beginning.

>> > 4- One HD. Seagate, 320GB, SATAII - no RAID

>> > 5- I have flashed the BIOS to the latest one. No difference. Flashing

>> > resets

>> > the BIOS just like removing the battery (I think). At any rate, it

>> > didn't

>> > help.

>> >

>> > Motherboard is ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe, BIOS 1303

>> > Processor is AMD Athlon 64 x2 at 4200+ Dual Core (socket 939)

>> > RAM is 2GB Corsair XMS RAM

>> > HD is Seagate ST3320620AS

>> > Video card is Matrox Quad card, QID-E128-LPAF

>> > Power supply is Antec 550w TruePower 2.0

>> >

>> > This system has been rock solid from the time it was built until the

>> > Avast

>> > update Thursday night.

>> > Thanks again for your responise.

>> > --Bill

>> >

>> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>> >

>> >> Hi Bill,

>> >>

>> >> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think.

>> >> My

>> >> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day,

>> >> never

>> >> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that

>> >> update,

>> >> but

>> >> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may

>> >> be

>> >> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not

>> >> trivial,

>> >> in

>> >> a running system.

>> >>

>> >> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

>> >> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

>> >> Avast

>> >> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID

>> >> or

>> >> SATA?

>> >>

>> >> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the

>> >> CMOS

>> >> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

>> >> [should] be harmless.

>> >>

>> >> Tony. . .

>> >>

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

>> >> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

>> >> > Hi,

>> >> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest

>> >> > Avast

>> >> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said

>> >> > that

>> >> > I

>> >> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and

>> >> > went

>> >> > to

>> >> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

>> >> > screen.

>> >> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

>> >> > launching

>> >> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

>> >> >

>> >> > I also:

>> >> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception -

>> >> > when

>> >> > I

>> >> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc

>> >> > etc"

>> >> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

>> >> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

>> >> > freezes.

>> >> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

>> >> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

>> >> >

>> >> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options

>> >> > that

>> >> > may allow me to work on this drive.

>> >> >

>> >> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access

>> >> > to

>> >> > all

>> >> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

>> >> >

>> >> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night,

>> >> > it

>> >> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

>> >> > Does anyone have any ideas?

>> >> > Do you need more information?

>> >> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

>> >> > --Bill

>> >>

>>

October 29, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

The last listed item is the last one that successfully loaded, not the

problem one. You could try installing a good system into your problem

machine. That you say you cannot get to recovery console or boot the XP

install cd has nothing to do with anything past the BIOS. The install cd

goes past the license agreement (and recovery console) with no HD, as when

you haven't installed necessary SATA drivers. You should therefore try to do

your repairs from one of the other machines where you can access the boot

files, fixmbr and fixboot.

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

news:FEE6D0B5-C0CD-4685-BF43-A638F52F8677@microsoft.com...

> Tony,

> Yes, flashing the BIOS was after the Avast upgrade and part of my attempt

> to

> repair. Also, I have another identical machine (I've actually built 3 of

> these the exact same way) and I have removed the hard drive out of the

> problem machine and put it in the other one, which boots fine with its own

> normal hard drive. When I install the problem HD into it, it acts the

> exact

> same way - no boot. So I am pretty sure that something has happened to the

> hard drive itself. It's not a problem on the motherboard or with SATA

> cables

> or CMOS batteries or resets. If it was, then when I moved the HD to the

> other

> machine, the behaviour would be different. It isn't. It's identical. No

> boot,

> and when I do actually get into Safe Mode, it stops at the same place

> (biosinfo.inf).

>

> And speaking on that, I thought that the file biosinfo.inf might be a

> problem. So I copied it from the twin machine back to the damaged one.

> Still

> no difference. Exact same result - no boot, etc.

>

> I really think something is wrong in the boot files that was corrupted

> when

> the Avast update was done. I do not believe it is any sort of hardware

> issue,

> since when I move the HD to the twin machine (which runs fine) I get the

> same

> results.

> Thanks,

> --Bill

>

> "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>

>> Well, this is close to what I am having. In addition to the BIOS thing, I

>> want to draw attention to the SATA cables as one possible weak point.

>> They

>> are rather stiff and routing them around the case could result in them

>> having tension that wants to pull them out of their sockets. They aren't

>> snapping on very tightly in their sockets anyway and I had to apply a

>> half-turn sideway twist before looping them around between the HD and the

>> MB. This is hard to explain in graphical language, but I think you'll

>> probably see what I'm driving at.

>>

>> While you are inside, you might as well reseat everything else too, just

>> unfasten and give everything a gentle 'wiggle' and fasten it again. Then

>> let's see how it behaves. You should at least be able to boot from a

>> CD/DVD.

>> Hopefully!

>>

>> Oh - and flashing the BIOS, was that after the Avast upgrade?

>>

>> Tony. . .

>>

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

>> news:2F343F93-2C7B-4649-9D78-A44760AE8ADE@microsoft.com...

>> > Hi Tony,

>> > Thanks for taking the time to reply.

>> > To answer your questions:

>> > 1- The system was built in June 2006.

>> > 2- It is not a dual boot box. Only boots to x64 Windows.

>> > 3- Avast was installed from the beginning.

>> > 4- One HD. Seagate, 320GB, SATAII - no RAID

>> > 5- I have flashed the BIOS to the latest one. No difference. Flashing

>> > resets

>> > the BIOS just like removing the battery (I think). At any rate, it

>> > didn't

>> > help.

>> >

>> > Motherboard is ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe, BIOS 1303

>> > Processor is AMD Athlon 64 x2 at 4200+ Dual Core (socket 939)

>> > RAM is 2GB Corsair XMS RAM

>> > HD is Seagate ST3320620AS

>> > Video card is Matrox Quad card, QID-E128-LPAF

>> > Power supply is Antec 550w TruePower 2.0

>> >

>> > This system has been rock solid from the time it was built until the

>> > Avast

>> > update Thursday night.

>> > Thanks again for your responise.

>> > --Bill

>> >

>> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>> >

>> >> Hi Bill,

>> >>

>> >> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think.

>> >> My

>> >> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day,

>> >> never

>> >> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that

>> >> update,

>> >> but

>> >> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may

>> >> be

>> >> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not

>> >> trivial,

>> >> in

>> >> a running system.

>> >>

>> >> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

>> >> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

>> >> Avast

>> >> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID

>> >> or

>> >> SATA?

>> >>

>> >> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the

>> >> CMOS

>> >> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

>> >> [should] be harmless.

>> >>

>> >> Tony. . .

>> >>

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

>> >> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

>> >> > Hi,

>> >> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest

>> >> > Avast

>> >> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said

>> >> > that

>> >> > I

>> >> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and

>> >> > went

>> >> > to

>> >> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

>> >> > screen.

>> >> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

>> >> > launching

>> >> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

>> >> >

>> >> > I also:

>> >> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception -

>> >> > when

>> >> > I

>> >> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc

>> >> > etc"

>> >> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

>> >> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

>> >> > freezes.

>> >> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

>> >> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

>> >> >

>> >> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options

>> >> > that

>> >> > may allow me to work on this drive.

>> >> >

>> >> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access

>> >> > to

>> >> > all

>> >> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

>> >> >

>> >> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night,

>> >> > it

>> >> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

>> >> > Does anyone have any ideas?

>> >> > Do you need more information?

>> >> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

>> >> > --Bill

>> >>

>>

October 29, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

Hi Dominic,

OK - I hear you. But....I can run the "damaged" disk on the good computer

and I can see all of the data on the disk. It just won't boot the operating

system on its own. But I will download and run the Seagate diagnostics when I

get home tonight around 10pm (it's 8:37am EST here now).

Thanks,

Bill

"Dominic Payer" wrote:

> This sounds like a disk hardware failure that coincided with the Avast

> update.

>

> Download and run the disk manufacturer's test utility. That will tell you

> what is wrong with the disk.

>

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

> news:FEE6D0B5-C0CD-4685-BF43-A638F52F8677@microsoft.com...

> > Tony,

> > Yes, flashing the BIOS was after the Avast upgrade and part of my attempt

> > to

> > repair. Also, I have another identical machine (I've actually built 3 of

> > these the exact same way) and I have removed the hard drive out of the

> > problem machine and put it in the other one, which boots fine with its own

> > normal hard drive. When I install the problem HD into it, it acts the

> > exact

> > same way - no boot. So I am pretty sure that something has happened to the

> > hard drive itself. It's not a problem on the motherboard or with SATA

> > cables

> > or CMOS batteries or resets. If it was, then when I moved the HD to the

> > other

> > machine, the behaviour would be different. It isn't. It's identical. No

> > boot,

> > and when I do actually get into Safe Mode, it stops at the same place

> > (biosinfo.inf).

> >

> > And speaking on that, I thought that the file biosinfo.inf might be a

> > problem. So I copied it from the twin machine back to the damaged one.

> > Still

> > no difference. Exact same result - no boot, etc.

> >

> > I really think something is wrong in the boot files that was corrupted

> > when

> > the Avast update was done. I do not believe it is any sort of hardware

> > issue,

> > since when I move the HD to the twin machine (which runs fine) I get the

> > same

> > results.

> > Thanks,

> > --Bill

> >

> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

> >

> >> Well, this is close to what I am having. In addition to the BIOS thing, I

> >> want to draw attention to the SATA cables as one possible weak point.

> >> They

> >> are rather stiff and routing them around the case could result in them

> >> having tension that wants to pull them out of their sockets. They aren't

> >> snapping on very tightly in their sockets anyway and I had to apply a

> >> half-turn sideway twist before looping them around between the HD and the

> >> MB. This is hard to explain in graphical language, but I think you'll

> >> probably see what I'm driving at.

> >>

> >> While you are inside, you might as well reseat everything else too, just

> >> unfasten and give everything a gentle 'wiggle' and fasten it again. Then

> >> let's see how it behaves. You should at least be able to boot from a

> >> CD/DVD.

> >> Hopefully!

> >>

> >> Oh - and flashing the BIOS, was that after the Avast upgrade?

> >>

> >> Tony. . .

> >>

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

> >> news:2F343F93-2C7B-4649-9D78-A44760AE8ADE@microsoft.com...

> >> > Hi Tony,

> >> > Thanks for taking the time to reply.

> >> > To answer your questions:

> >> > 1- The system was built in June 2006.

> >> > 2- It is not a dual boot box. Only boots to x64 Windows.

> >> > 3- Avast was installed from the beginning.

> >> > 4- One HD. Seagate, 320GB, SATAII - no RAID

> >> > 5- I have flashed the BIOS to the latest one. No difference. Flashing

> >> > resets

> >> > the BIOS just like removing the battery (I think). At any rate, it

> >> > didn't

> >> > help.

> >> >

> >> > Motherboard is ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe, BIOS 1303

> >> > Processor is AMD Athlon 64 x2 at 4200+ Dual Core (socket 939)

> >> > RAM is 2GB Corsair XMS RAM

> >> > HD is Seagate ST3320620AS

> >> > Video card is Matrox Quad card, QID-E128-LPAF

> >> > Power supply is Antec 550w TruePower 2.0

> >> >

> >> > This system has been rock solid from the time it was built until the

> >> > Avast

> >> > update Thursday night.

> >> > Thanks again for your responise.

> >> > --Bill

> >> >

> >> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

> >> >

> >> >> Hi Bill,

> >> >>

> >> >> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think.

> >> >> My

> >> >> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day,

> >> >> never

> >> >> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that

> >> >> update,

> >> >> but

> >> >> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may

> >> >> be

> >> >> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not

> >> >> trivial,

> >> >> in

> >> >> a running system.

> >> >>

> >> >> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

> >> >> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

> >> >> Avast

> >> >> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID

> >> >> or

> >> >> SATA?

> >> >>

> >> >> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the

> >> >> CMOS

> >> >> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

> >> >> [should] be harmless.

> >> >>

> >> >> Tony. . .

> >> >>

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

> >> >> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

> >> >> > Hi,

> >> >> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest

> >> >> > Avast

> >> >> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said

> >> >> > that

> >> >> > I

> >> >> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and

> >> >> > went

> >> >> > to

> >> >> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

> >> >> > screen.

> >> >> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

> >> >> > launching

> >> >> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > I also:

> >> >> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception -

> >> >> > when

> >> >> > I

> >> >> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc

> >> >> > etc"

> >> >> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

> >> >> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

> >> >> > freezes.

> >> >> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

> >> >> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options

> >> >> > that

> >> >> > may allow me to work on this drive.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access

> >> >> > to

> >> >> > all

> >> >> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night,

> >> >> > it

> >> >> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

> >> >> > Does anyone have any ideas?

> >> >> > Do you need more information?

> >> >> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

> >> >> > --Bill

> >> >>

> >>

>

October 29, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

Hi John,

Thanks for replying.

I do have complete access to the drive when it is running on my other

computer, which is also a x64 box. My limitation is that I'm trying to figure

out (or be told) what utilitiies I can use within the x64 environment, since

that is 100% what I am dealing with. I didn't think that all of the normal XP

(32bit) tools would work in the x64 realm.

I'm going to run the HD diagnostics from Seagate, but do you have any

specific diagnostics that come to mind with respect to the x64 O/S? I ran

chkdsk /f last night and it said it fixed some things - but still no boot

when I tried the drive by itself.

I realize I can just format the drive, and reload x64 and go from there, but

that's not really the point. I'm trying to understand what went wrong and

repair it.

Thanks for everyone's help and ideas!

-Bill

"John Barnes" wrote:

> The last listed item is the last one that successfully loaded, not the

> problem one. You could try installing a good system into your problem

> machine. That you say you cannot get to recovery console or boot the XP

> install cd has nothing to do with anything past the BIOS. The install cd

> goes past the license agreement (and recovery console) with no HD, as when

> you haven't installed necessary SATA drivers. You should therefore try to do

> your repairs from one of the other machines where you can access the boot

> files, fixmbr and fixboot.

>

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

> news:FEE6D0B5-C0CD-4685-BF43-A638F52F8677@microsoft.com...

> > Tony,

> > Yes, flashing the BIOS was after the Avast upgrade and part of my attempt

> > to

> > repair. Also, I have another identical machine (I've actually built 3 of

> > these the exact same way) and I have removed the hard drive out of the

> > problem machine and put it in the other one, which boots fine with its own

> > normal hard drive. When I install the problem HD into it, it acts the

> > exact

> > same way - no boot. So I am pretty sure that something has happened to the

> > hard drive itself. It's not a problem on the motherboard or with SATA

> > cables

> > or CMOS batteries or resets. If it was, then when I moved the HD to the

> > other

> > machine, the behaviour would be different. It isn't. It's identical. No

> > boot,

> > and when I do actually get into Safe Mode, it stops at the same place

> > (biosinfo.inf).

> >

> > And speaking on that, I thought that the file biosinfo.inf might be a

> > problem. So I copied it from the twin machine back to the damaged one.

> > Still

> > no difference. Exact same result - no boot, etc.

> >

> > I really think something is wrong in the boot files that was corrupted

> > when

> > the Avast update was done. I do not believe it is any sort of hardware

> > issue,

> > since when I move the HD to the twin machine (which runs fine) I get the

> > same

> > results.

> > Thanks,

> > --Bill

> >

> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

> >

> >> Well, this is close to what I am having. In addition to the BIOS thing, I

> >> want to draw attention to the SATA cables as one possible weak point.

> >> They

> >> are rather stiff and routing them around the case could result in them

> >> having tension that wants to pull them out of their sockets. They aren't

> >> snapping on very tightly in their sockets anyway and I had to apply a

> >> half-turn sideway twist before looping them around between the HD and the

> >> MB. This is hard to explain in graphical language, but I think you'll

> >> probably see what I'm driving at.

> >>

> >> While you are inside, you might as well reseat everything else too, just

> >> unfasten and give everything a gentle 'wiggle' and fasten it again. Then

> >> let's see how it behaves. You should at least be able to boot from a

> >> CD/DVD.

> >> Hopefully!

> >>

> >> Oh - and flashing the BIOS, was that after the Avast upgrade?

> >>

> >> Tony. . .

> >>

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

> >> news:2F343F93-2C7B-4649-9D78-A44760AE8ADE@microsoft.com...

> >> > Hi Tony,

> >> > Thanks for taking the time to reply.

> >> > To answer your questions:

> >> > 1- The system was built in June 2006.

> >> > 2- It is not a dual boot box. Only boots to x64 Windows.

> >> > 3- Avast was installed from the beginning.

> >> > 4- One HD. Seagate, 320GB, SATAII - no RAID

> >> > 5- I have flashed the BIOS to the latest one. No difference. Flashing

> >> > resets

> >> > the BIOS just like removing the battery (I think). At any rate, it

> >> > didn't

> >> > help.

> >> >

> >> > Motherboard is ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe, BIOS 1303

> >> > Processor is AMD Athlon 64 x2 at 4200+ Dual Core (socket 939)

> >> > RAM is 2GB Corsair XMS RAM

> >> > HD is Seagate ST3320620AS

> >> > Video card is Matrox Quad card, QID-E128-LPAF

> >> > Power supply is Antec 550w TruePower 2.0

> >> >

> >> > This system has been rock solid from the time it was built until the

> >> > Avast

> >> > update Thursday night.

> >> > Thanks again for your responise.

> >> > --Bill

> >> >

> >> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

> >> >

> >> >> Hi Bill,

> >> >>

> >> >> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think.

> >> >> My

> >> >> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day,

> >> >> never

> >> >> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that

> >> >> update,

> >> >> but

> >> >> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may

> >> >> be

> >> >> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not

> >> >> trivial,

> >> >> in

> >> >> a running system.

> >> >>

> >> >> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

> >> >> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

> >> >> Avast

> >> >> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID

> >> >> or

> >> >> SATA?

> >> >>

> >> >> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the

> >> >> CMOS

> >> >> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

> >> >> [should] be harmless.

> >> >>

> >> >> Tony. . .

> >> >>

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

> >> >> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

> >> >> > Hi,

> >> >> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest

> >> >> > Avast

> >> >> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said

> >> >> > that

> >> >> > I

> >> >> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and

> >> >> > went

> >> >> > to

> >> >> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

> >> >> > screen.

> >> >> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

> >> >> > launching

> >> >> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > I also:

> >> >> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception -

> >> >> > when

> >> >> > I

> >> >> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc

> >> >> > etc"

> >> >> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

> >> >> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

> >> >> > freezes.

> >> >> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

> >> >> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options

> >> >> > that

> >> >> > may allow me to work on this drive.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access

> >> >> > to

> >> >> > all

> >> >> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night,

> >> >> > it

> >> >> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

> >> >> > Does anyone have any ideas?

> >> >> > Do you need more information?

> >> >> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

> >> >> > --Bill

> >> >>

> >>

>

October 29, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

Yes, Hardware failure looks like one of the more natural possibilities. I

would, however, try and make a few more exclusions. In the 'other' machine -

configure the failing HD as non-bootable and make a normal re-boot. Then go

have a look to see if you can make a backup of the essentials in it's new

environment. Go on, and from a command shell do a FIXMBR and a FIXBOOT [ON

THAT DISK] (not your system drive!) and check if that solved anything. If

not try and re-partition the thing.

Tony. . .

"Dominic Payer" <dcp@fsv.co.uk> wrote in message

news:96E8369C-1009-4D6F-BBD2-6ED67C2F07C6@microsoft.com...

> This sounds like a disk hardware failure that coincided with the Avast

> update.

>

> Download and run the disk manufacturer's test utility. That will tell you

> what is wrong with the disk.

>

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

> news:FEE6D0B5-C0CD-4685-BF43-A638F52F8677@microsoft.com...

>> Tony,

>> Yes, flashing the BIOS was after the Avast upgrade and part of my attempt

>> to

>> repair. Also, I have another identical machine (I've actually built 3 of

>> these the exact same way) and I have removed the hard drive out of the

>> problem machine and put it in the other one, which boots fine with its

>> own

>> normal hard drive. When I install the problem HD into it, it acts the

>> exact

>> same way - no boot. So I am pretty sure that something has happened to

>> the

>> hard drive itself. It's not a problem on the motherboard or with SATA

>> cables

>> or CMOS batteries or resets. If it was, then when I moved the HD to the

>> other

>> machine, the behaviour would be different. It isn't. It's identical. No

>> boot,

>> and when I do actually get into Safe Mode, it stops at the same place

>> (biosinfo.inf).

>>

>> And speaking on that, I thought that the file biosinfo.inf might be a

>> problem. So I copied it from the twin machine back to the damaged one.

>> Still

>> no difference. Exact same result - no boot, etc.

>>

>> I really think something is wrong in the boot files that was corrupted

>> when

>> the Avast update was done. I do not believe it is any sort of hardware

>> issue,

>> since when I move the HD to the twin machine (which runs fine) I get the

>> same

>> results.

>> Thanks,

>> --Bill

>>

>> "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>>

>>> Well, this is close to what I am having. In addition to the BIOS thing,

>>> I

>>> want to draw attention to the SATA cables as one possible weak point.

>>> They

>>> are rather stiff and routing them around the case could result in them

>>> having tension that wants to pull them out of their sockets. They aren't

>>> snapping on very tightly in their sockets anyway and I had to apply a

>>> half-turn sideway twist before looping them around between the HD and

>>> the

>>> MB. This is hard to explain in graphical language, but I think you'll

>>> probably see what I'm driving at.

>>>

>>> While you are inside, you might as well reseat everything else too, just

>>> unfasten and give everything a gentle 'wiggle' and fasten it again. Then

>>> let's see how it behaves. You should at least be able to boot from a

>>> CD/DVD.

>>> Hopefully!

>>>

>>> Oh - and flashing the BIOS, was that after the Avast upgrade?

>>>

>>> Tony. . .

>>>

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

>>> news:2F343F93-2C7B-4649-9D78-A44760AE8ADE@microsoft.com...

>>> > Hi Tony,

>>> > Thanks for taking the time to reply.

>>> > To answer your questions:

>>> > 1- The system was built in June 2006.

>>> > 2- It is not a dual boot box. Only boots to x64 Windows.

>>> > 3- Avast was installed from the beginning.

>>> > 4- One HD. Seagate, 320GB, SATAII - no RAID

>>> > 5- I have flashed the BIOS to the latest one. No difference. Flashing

>>> > resets

>>> > the BIOS just like removing the battery (I think). At any rate, it

>>> > didn't

>>> > help.

>>> >

>>> > Motherboard is ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe, BIOS 1303

>>> > Processor is AMD Athlon 64 x2 at 4200+ Dual Core (socket 939)

>>> > RAM is 2GB Corsair XMS RAM

>>> > HD is Seagate ST3320620AS

>>> > Video card is Matrox Quad card, QID-E128-LPAF

>>> > Power supply is Antec 550w TruePower 2.0

>>> >

>>> > This system has been rock solid from the time it was built until the

>>> > Avast

>>> > update Thursday night.

>>> > Thanks again for your responise.

>>> > --Bill

>>> >

>>> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>>> >

>>> >> Hi Bill,

>>> >>

>>> >> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I

>>> >> think. My

>>> >> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day,

>>> >> never

>>> >> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that

>>> >> update,

>>> >> but

>>> >> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may

>>> >> be

>>> >> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not

>>> >> trivial,

>>> >> in

>>> >> a running system.

>>> >>

>>> >> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

>>> >> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

>>> >> Avast

>>> >> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID

>>> >> or

>>> >> SATA?

>>> >>

>>> >> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove

>>> >> the

>>> >> CMOS

>>> >> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

>>> >> [should] be harmless.

>>> >>

>>> >> Tony. . .

>>> >>

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

>>> >> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

>>> >> > Hi,

>>> >> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest

>>> >> > Avast

>>> >> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it

>>> >> > said

>>> >> > that

>>> >> > I

>>> >> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and

>>> >> > went

>>> >> > to

>>> >> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

>>> >> > screen.

>>> >> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

>>> >> > launching

>>> >> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

>>> >> >

>>> >> > I also:

>>> >> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one

>>> >> > exception -

>>> >> > when

>>> >> > I

>>> >> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk,

>>> >> > etc

>>> >> > etc"

>>> >> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

>>> >> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

>>> >> > freezes.

>>> >> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

>>> >> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

>>> >> >

>>> >> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any

>>> >> > options

>>> >> > that

>>> >> > may allow me to work on this drive.

>>> >> >

>>> >> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access

>>> >> > to

>>> >> > all

>>> >> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

>>> >> >

>>> >> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night,

>>> >> > it

>>> >> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

>>> >> > Does anyone have any ideas?

>>> >> > Do you need more information?

>>> >> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

>>> >> > --Bill

>>> >>

>>>

>

October 29, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

By having complete access, what do you mean? I thought you said you

couldn't boot it when you tried it. Are you saying you can install it in

the other computer, access it from the system originally installed on that

computer, but just can't boot to it? How did you try. As I said before, if

you can't even boot to the XP cd on the other MOBO, you have a problem with

the MOBO or bios, that may have caused problems with your hd.

When the drive is installed on the other computer, have you tried

disconnecting the other drives and doing a fixmbr and fixboot from the XP

cd?

Then seeing if it will boot.

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

news:78D39CF1-BD4D-4919-B1C7-B4946B3795A0@microsoft.com...

> Hi John,

> Thanks for replying.

> I do have complete access to the drive when it is running on my other

> computer, which is also a x64 box. My limitation is that I'm trying to

> figure

> out (or be told) what utilitiies I can use within the x64 environment,

> since

> that is 100% what I am dealing with. I didn't think that all of the normal

> XP

> (32bit) tools would work in the x64 realm.

>

> I'm going to run the HD diagnostics from Seagate, but do you have any

> specific diagnostics that come to mind with respect to the x64 O/S? I ran

> chkdsk /f last night and it said it fixed some things - but still no boot

> when I tried the drive by itself.

>

> I realize I can just format the drive, and reload x64 and go from there,

> but

> that's not really the point. I'm trying to understand what went wrong and

> repair it.

> Thanks for everyone's help and ideas!

> -Bill

>

> "John Barnes" wrote:

>

>> The last listed item is the last one that successfully loaded, not the

>> problem one. You could try installing a good system into your problem

>> machine. That you say you cannot get to recovery console or boot the XP

>> install cd has nothing to do with anything past the BIOS. The install cd

>> goes past the license agreement (and recovery console) with no HD, as

>> when

>> you haven't installed necessary SATA drivers. You should therefore try to

>> do

>> your repairs from one of the other machines where you can access the boot

>> files, fixmbr and fixboot.

>>

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

>> news:FEE6D0B5-C0CD-4685-BF43-A638F52F8677@microsoft.com...

>> > Tony,

>> > Yes, flashing the BIOS was after the Avast upgrade and part of my

>> > attempt

>> > to

>> > repair. Also, I have another identical machine (I've actually built 3

>> > of

>> > these the exact same way) and I have removed the hard drive out of the

>> > problem machine and put it in the other one, which boots fine with its

>> > own

>> > normal hard drive. When I install the problem HD into it, it acts the

>> > exact

>> > same way - no boot. So I am pretty sure that something has happened to

>> > the

>> > hard drive itself. It's not a problem on the motherboard or with SATA

>> > cables

>> > or CMOS batteries or resets. If it was, then when I moved the HD to the

>> > other

>> > machine, the behaviour would be different. It isn't. It's identical. No

>> > boot,

>> > and when I do actually get into Safe Mode, it stops at the same place

>> > (biosinfo.inf).

>> >

>> > And speaking on that, I thought that the file biosinfo.inf might be a

>> > problem. So I copied it from the twin machine back to the damaged one.

>> > Still

>> > no difference. Exact same result - no boot, etc.

>> >

>> > I really think something is wrong in the boot files that was corrupted

>> > when

>> > the Avast update was done. I do not believe it is any sort of hardware

>> > issue,

>> > since when I move the HD to the twin machine (which runs fine) I get

>> > the

>> > same

>> > results.

>> > Thanks,

>> > --Bill

>> >

>> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>> >

>> >> Well, this is close to what I am having. In addition to the BIOS

>> >> thing, I

>> >> want to draw attention to the SATA cables as one possible weak point.

>> >> They

>> >> are rather stiff and routing them around the case could result in them

>> >> having tension that wants to pull them out of their sockets. They

>> >> aren't

>> >> snapping on very tightly in their sockets anyway and I had to apply a

>> >> half-turn sideway twist before looping them around between the HD and

>> >> the

>> >> MB. This is hard to explain in graphical language, but I think you'll

>> >> probably see what I'm driving at.

>> >>

>> >> While you are inside, you might as well reseat everything else too,

>> >> just

>> >> unfasten and give everything a gentle 'wiggle' and fasten it again.

>> >> Then

>> >> let's see how it behaves. You should at least be able to boot from a

>> >> CD/DVD.

>> >> Hopefully!

>> >>

>> >> Oh - and flashing the BIOS, was that after the Avast upgrade?

>> >>

>> >> Tony. . .

>> >>

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

>> >> news:2F343F93-2C7B-4649-9D78-A44760AE8ADE@microsoft.com...

>> >> > Hi Tony,

>> >> > Thanks for taking the time to reply.

>> >> > To answer your questions:

>> >> > 1- The system was built in June 2006.

>> >> > 2- It is not a dual boot box. Only boots to x64 Windows.

>> >> > 3- Avast was installed from the beginning.

>> >> > 4- One HD. Seagate, 320GB, SATAII - no RAID

>> >> > 5- I have flashed the BIOS to the latest one. No difference.

>> >> > Flashing

>> >> > resets

>> >> > the BIOS just like removing the battery (I think). At any rate, it

>> >> > didn't

>> >> > help.

>> >> >

>> >> > Motherboard is ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe, BIOS 1303

>> >> > Processor is AMD Athlon 64 x2 at 4200+ Dual Core (socket 939)

>> >> > RAM is 2GB Corsair XMS RAM

>> >> > HD is Seagate ST3320620AS

>> >> > Video card is Matrox Quad card, QID-E128-LPAF

>> >> > Power supply is Antec 550w TruePower 2.0

>> >> >

>> >> > This system has been rock solid from the time it was built until the

>> >> > Avast

>> >> > update Thursday night.

>> >> > Thanks again for your responise.

>> >> > --Bill

>> >> >

>> >> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>> >> >

>> >> >> Hi Bill,

>> >> >>

>> >> >> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I

>> >> >> think.

>> >> >> My

>> >> >> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day,

>> >> >> never

>> >> >> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that

>> >> >> update,

>> >> >> but

>> >> >> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download

>> >> >> may

>> >> >> be

>> >> >> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not

>> >> >> trivial,

>> >> >> in

>> >> >> a running system.

>> >> >>

>> >> >> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to

>> >> >> be

>> >> >> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long

>> >> >> since

>> >> >> Avast

>> >> >> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI,

>> >> >> RAID

>> >> >> or

>> >> >> SATA?

>> >> >>

>> >> >> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove

>> >> >> the

>> >> >> CMOS

>> >> >> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS

>> >> >> and

>> >> >> [should] be harmless.

>> >> >>

>> >> >> Tony. . .

>> >> >>

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

>> >> >> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

>> >> >> > Hi,

>> >> >> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest

>> >> >> > Avast

>> >> >> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it

>> >> >> > said

>> >> >> > that

>> >> >> > I

>> >> >> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and

>> >> >> > went

>> >> >> > to

>> >> >> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not

>> >> >> > BSOD)

>> >> >> > screen.

>> >> >> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets

>> >> >> > to

>> >> >> > launching

>> >> >> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

>> >> >> >

>> >> >> > I also:

>> >> >> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one

>> >> >> > exception -

>> >> >> > when

>> >> >> > I

>> >> >> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk,

>> >> >> > etc

>> >> >> > etc"

>> >> >> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

>> >> >> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

>> >> >> > freezes.

>> >> >> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

>> >> >> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

>> >> >> >

>> >> >> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any

>> >> >> > options

>> >> >> > that

>> >> >> > may allow me to work on this drive.

>> >> >> >

>> >> >> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full

>> >> >> > access

>> >> >> > to

>> >> >> > all

>> >> >> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

>> >> >> >

>> >> >> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday

>> >> >> > night,

>> >> >> > it

>> >> >> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

>> >> >> > Does anyone have any ideas?

>> >> >> > Do you need more information?

>> >> >> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

>> >> >> > --Bill

>> >> >>

>> >>

>>

October 29, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

Tony:

The Avast update mentioned by the OP was a Program (i.e.: kernel) update of

the Antivirus, rather than the regular daily definition update.

Those program updates are not automatic and you can force them by

right-clicking on the Avast icon (systray), then Update, then Program Upate.

That will force you a reboot.

Current kernel version is 4.7.1074 (right-click, About Avast, etc.)

Carlos

"Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

> Hi Bill,

>

> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think. My

> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day, never

> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that update, but

> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may be

> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not trivial, in

> a running system.

>

> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since Avast

> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID or

> SATA?

>

> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the CMOS

> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

> [should] be harmless.

>

> Tony. . .

>

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

> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

> > Hi,

> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest Avast

> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said that

> > I

> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and went to

> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD) screen.

> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

> > launching

> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

> >

> > I also:

> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception - when

> > I

> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc etc"

> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it freezes.

> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

> >

> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options that

> > may allow me to work on this drive.

> >

> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access to all

> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

> >

> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night, it

> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

> > Does anyone have any ideas?

> > Do you need more information?

> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

> > --Bill

>

October 29, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

Well, yes. I do know that the regular updates are database stuff and

definitions, but the program itself updates this way too once in a while -

and requires re-booting. I have tried doing the forced update, but I don't

see anything that isn't in the auto-update facility. I simply think the

menu-item is a service for users on dial-up?

Anyway - the problem is the same and I still think we should adapt to the

notion that downloads can be harmfull when they decide to be.

Tony. . .

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

news:9F0D5582-B65F-45B2-967C-D5F4DD95FF97@microsoft.com...

> Tony:

> The Avast update mentioned by the OP was a Program (i.e.: kernel) update

> of

> the Antivirus, rather than the regular daily definition update.

> Those program updates are not automatic and you can force them by

> right-clicking on the Avast icon (systray), then Update, then Program

> Upate.

> That will force you a reboot.

> Current kernel version is 4.7.1074 (right-click, About Avast, etc.)

> Carlos

>

> "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>

>> Hi Bill,

>>

>> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think. My

>> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day, never

>> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that update,

>> but

>> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may be

>> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not trivial,

>> in

>> a running system.

>>

>> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

>> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

>> Avast

>> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID or

>> SATA?

>>

>> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the

>> CMOS

>> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

>> [should] be harmless.

>>

>> Tony. . .

>>

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

>> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

>> > Hi,

>> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest Avast

>> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said

>> > that

>> > I

>> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and went

>> > to

>> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

>> > screen.

>> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

>> > launching

>> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

>> >

>> > I also:

>> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception -

>> > when

>> > I

>> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc

>> > etc"

>> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

>> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

>> > freezes.

>> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

>> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

>> >

>> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options

>> > that

>> > may allow me to work on this drive.

>> >

>> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access to

>> > all

>> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

>> >

>> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night, it

>> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

>> > Does anyone have any ideas?

>> > Do you need more information?

>> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

>> > --Bill

>>

October 30, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

Hi Dominic,

Your suggestion is a good idea, but I can't find an edition of Seagate's

SeaTools that runs on x64. Do you know of one?

Thanks,

Bill

"Dominic Payer" wrote:

> This sounds like a disk hardware failure that coincided with the Avast

> update.

>

> Download and run the disk manufacturer's test utility. That will tell you

> what is wrong with the disk.

>

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

> news:FEE6D0B5-C0CD-4685-BF43-A638F52F8677@microsoft.com...

> > Tony,

> > Yes, flashing the BIOS was after the Avast upgrade and part of my attempt

> > to

> > repair. Also, I have another identical machine (I've actually built 3 of

> > these the exact same way) and I have removed the hard drive out of the

> > problem machine and put it in the other one, which boots fine with its own

> > normal hard drive. When I install the problem HD into it, it acts the

> > exact

> > same way - no boot. So I am pretty sure that something has happened to the

> > hard drive itself. It's not a problem on the motherboard or with SATA

> > cables

> > or CMOS batteries or resets. If it was, then when I moved the HD to the

> > other

> > machine, the behaviour would be different. It isn't. It's identical. No

> > boot,

> > and when I do actually get into Safe Mode, it stops at the same place

> > (biosinfo.inf).

> >

> > And speaking on that, I thought that the file biosinfo.inf might be a

> > problem. So I copied it from the twin machine back to the damaged one.

> > Still

> > no difference. Exact same result - no boot, etc.

> >

> > I really think something is wrong in the boot files that was corrupted

> > when

> > the Avast update was done. I do not believe it is any sort of hardware

> > issue,

> > since when I move the HD to the twin machine (which runs fine) I get the

> > same

> > results.

> > Thanks,

> > --Bill

> >

> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

> >

> >> Well, this is close to what I am having. In addition to the BIOS thing, I

> >> want to draw attention to the SATA cables as one possible weak point.

> >> They

> >> are rather stiff and routing them around the case could result in them

> >> having tension that wants to pull them out of their sockets. They aren't

> >> snapping on very tightly in their sockets anyway and I had to apply a

> >> half-turn sideway twist before looping them around between the HD and the

> >> MB. This is hard to explain in graphical language, but I think you'll

> >> probably see what I'm driving at.

> >>

> >> While you are inside, you might as well reseat everything else too, just

> >> unfasten and give everything a gentle 'wiggle' and fasten it again. Then

> >> let's see how it behaves. You should at least be able to boot from a

> >> CD/DVD.

> >> Hopefully!

> >>

> >> Oh - and flashing the BIOS, was that after the Avast upgrade?

> >>

> >> Tony. . .

> >>

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

> >> news:2F343F93-2C7B-4649-9D78-A44760AE8ADE@microsoft.com...

> >> > Hi Tony,

> >> > Thanks for taking the time to reply.

> >> > To answer your questions:

> >> > 1- The system was built in June 2006.

> >> > 2- It is not a dual boot box. Only boots to x64 Windows.

> >> > 3- Avast was installed from the beginning.

> >> > 4- One HD. Seagate, 320GB, SATAII - no RAID

> >> > 5- I have flashed the BIOS to the latest one. No difference. Flashing

> >> > resets

> >> > the BIOS just like removing the battery (I think). At any rate, it

> >> > didn't

> >> > help.

> >> >

> >> > Motherboard is ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe, BIOS 1303

> >> > Processor is AMD Athlon 64 x2 at 4200+ Dual Core (socket 939)

> >> > RAM is 2GB Corsair XMS RAM

> >> > HD is Seagate ST3320620AS

> >> > Video card is Matrox Quad card, QID-E128-LPAF

> >> > Power supply is Antec 550w TruePower 2.0

> >> >

> >> > This system has been rock solid from the time it was built until the

> >> > Avast

> >> > update Thursday night.

> >> > Thanks again for your responise.

> >> > --Bill

> >> >

> >> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

> >> >

> >> >> Hi Bill,

> >> >>

> >> >> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think.

> >> >> My

> >> >> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day,

> >> >> never

> >> >> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that

> >> >> update,

> >> >> but

> >> >> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may

> >> >> be

> >> >> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not

> >> >> trivial,

> >> >> in

> >> >> a running system.

> >> >>

> >> >> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

> >> >> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

> >> >> Avast

> >> >> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID

> >> >> or

> >> >> SATA?

> >> >>

> >> >> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the

> >> >> CMOS

> >> >> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

> >> >> [should] be harmless.

> >> >>

> >> >> Tony. . .

> >> >>

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

> >> >> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

> >> >> > Hi,

> >> >> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest

> >> >> > Avast

> >> >> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said

> >> >> > that

> >> >> > I

> >> >> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and

> >> >> > went

> >> >> > to

> >> >> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

> >> >> > screen.

> >> >> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

> >> >> > launching

> >> >> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > I also:

> >> >> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception -

> >> >> > when

> >> >> > I

> >> >> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc

> >> >> > etc"

> >> >> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

> >> >> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

> >> >> > freezes.

> >> >> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

> >> >> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options

> >> >> > that

> >> >> > may allow me to work on this drive.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access

> >> >> > to

> >> >> > all

> >> >> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night,

> >> >> > it

> >> >> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

> >> >> > Does anyone have any ideas?

> >> >> > Do you need more information?

> >> >> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

> >> >> > --Bill

> >> >>

> >>

>

October 31, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

SeaTools for DOS is the one you want.

http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/seatools/

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

news:89E3FF5E-BE95-4AEF-874F-DE705BFC3974@microsoft.com...

> Hi Dominic,

> Your suggestion is a good idea, but I can't find an edition of Seagate's

> SeaTools that runs on x64. Do you know of one?

> Thanks,

> Bill

>

> "Dominic Payer" wrote:

>

>> This sounds like a disk hardware failure that coincided with the Avast

>> update.

>>

>> Download and run the disk manufacturer's test utility. That will tell you

>> what is wrong with the disk.

>>

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

>> news:FEE6D0B5-C0CD-4685-BF43-A638F52F8677@microsoft.com...

>> > Tony,

>> > Yes, flashing the BIOS was after the Avast upgrade and part of my

>> > attempt

>> > to

>> > repair. Also, I have another identical machine (I've actually built 3

>> > of

>> > these the exact same way) and I have removed the hard drive out of the

>> > problem machine and put it in the other one, which boots fine with its

>> > own

>> > normal hard drive. When I install the problem HD into it, it acts the

>> > exact

>> > same way - no boot. So I am pretty sure that something has happened to

>> > the

>> > hard drive itself. It's not a problem on the motherboard or with SATA

>> > cables

>> > or CMOS batteries or resets. If it was, then when I moved the HD to the

>> > other

>> > machine, the behaviour would be different. It isn't. It's identical. No

>> > boot,

>> > and when I do actually get into Safe Mode, it stops at the same place

>> > (biosinfo.inf).

>> >

>> > And speaking on that, I thought that the file biosinfo.inf might be a

>> > problem. So I copied it from the twin machine back to the damaged one.

>> > Still

>> > no difference. Exact same result - no boot, etc.

>> >

>> > I really think something is wrong in the boot files that was corrupted

>> > when

>> > the Avast update was done. I do not believe it is any sort of hardware

>> > issue,

>> > since when I move the HD to the twin machine (which runs fine) I get

>> > the

>> > same

>> > results.

>> > Thanks,

>> > --Bill

>> >

>> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>> >

>> >> Well, this is close to what I am having. In addition to the BIOS

>> >> thing, I

>> >> want to draw attention to the SATA cables as one possible weak point.

>> >> They

>> >> are rather stiff and routing them around the case could result in them

>> >> having tension that wants to pull them out of their sockets. They

>> >> aren't

>> >> snapping on very tightly in their sockets anyway and I had to apply a

>> >> half-turn sideway twist before looping them around between the HD and

>> >> the

>> >> MB. This is hard to explain in graphical language, but I think you'll

>> >> probably see what I'm driving at.

>> >>

>> >> While you are inside, you might as well reseat everything else too,

>> >> just

>> >> unfasten and give everything a gentle 'wiggle' and fasten it again.

>> >> Then

>> >> let's see how it behaves. You should at least be able to boot from a

>> >> CD/DVD.

>> >> Hopefully!

>> >>

>> >> Oh - and flashing the BIOS, was that after the Avast upgrade?

>> >>

>> >> Tony. . .

>> >>

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

>> >> news:2F343F93-2C7B-4649-9D78-A44760AE8ADE@microsoft.com...

>> >> > Hi Tony,

>> >> > Thanks for taking the time to reply.

>> >> > To answer your questions:

>> >> > 1- The system was built in June 2006.

>> >> > 2- It is not a dual boot box. Only boots to x64 Windows.

>> >> > 3- Avast was installed from the beginning.

>> >> > 4- One HD. Seagate, 320GB, SATAII - no RAID

>> >> > 5- I have flashed the BIOS to the latest one. No difference.

>> >> > Flashing

>> >> > resets

>> >> > the BIOS just like removing the battery (I think). At any rate, it

>> >> > didn't

>> >> > help.

>> >> >

>> >> > Motherboard is ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe, BIOS 1303

>> >> > Processor is AMD Athlon 64 x2 at 4200+ Dual Core (socket 939)

>> >> > RAM is 2GB Corsair XMS RAM

>> >> > HD is Seagate ST3320620AS

>> >> > Video card is Matrox Quad card, QID-E128-LPAF

>> >> > Power supply is Antec 550w TruePower 2.0

>> >> >

>> >> > This system has been rock solid from the time it was built until the

>> >> > Avast

>> >> > update Thursday night.

>> >> > Thanks again for your responise.

>> >> > --Bill

>> >> >

>> >> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>> >> >

>> >> >> Hi Bill,

>> >> >>

>> >> >> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I

>> >> >> think.

>> >> >> My

>> >> >> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day,

>> >> >> never

>> >> >> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that

>> >> >> update,

>> >> >> but

>> >> >> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download

>> >> >> may

>> >> >> be

>> >> >> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not

>> >> >> trivial,

>> >> >> in

>> >> >> a running system.

>> >> >>

>> >> >> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to

>> >> >> be

>> >> >> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long

>> >> >> since

>> >> >> Avast

>> >> >> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI,

>> >> >> RAID

>> >> >> or

>> >> >> SATA?

>> >> >>

>> >> >> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove

>> >> >> the

>> >> >> CMOS

>> >> >> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS

>> >> >> and

>> >> >> [should] be harmless.

>> >> >>

>> >> >> Tony. . .

>> >> >>

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

>> >> >> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

>> >> >> > Hi,

>> >> >> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest

>> >> >> > Avast

>> >> >> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it

>> >> >> > said

>> >> >> > that

>> >> >> > I

>> >> >> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and

>> >> >> > went

>> >> >> > to

>> >> >> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not

>> >> >> > BSOD)

>> >> >> > screen.

>> >> >> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets

>> >> >> > to

>> >> >> > launching

>> >> >> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

>> >> >> >

>> >> >> > I also:

>> >> >> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one

>> >> >> > exception -

>> >> >> > when

>> >> >> > I

>> >> >> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk,

>> >> >> > etc

>> >> >> > etc"

>> >> >> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

>> >> >> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

>> >> >> > freezes.

>> >> >> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

>> >> >> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

>> >> >> >

>> >> >> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any

>> >> >> > options

>> >> >> > that

>> >> >> > may allow me to work on this drive.

>> >> >> >

>> >> >> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full

>> >> >> > access

>> >> >> > to

>> >> >> > all

>> >> >> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

>> >> >> >

>> >> >> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday

>> >> >> > night,

>> >> >> > it

>> >> >> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

>> >> >> > Does anyone have any ideas?

>> >> >> > Do you need more information?

>> >> >> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

>> >> >> > --Bill

>> >> >>

>> >>

>>

November 1, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

AN UPDATE - as of 31Oct07 at 9:30pm EST:

I have now run these tests / procedures on the problem drive. Nothing has

helped. Data is still there, but cannot get the drive to boot x64:

chkdsk /f and /r

fixboot

fixmbr

SeaTools (both short and long tests passed)

BIOS on the computer is updated

Does anyone have any more suggestions?

Thanks much,

Bill

"Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

> Well, yes. I do know that the regular updates are database stuff and

> definitions, but the program itself updates this way too once in a while -

> and requires re-booting. I have tried doing the forced update, but I don't

> see anything that isn't in the auto-update facility. I simply think the

> menu-item is a service for users on dial-up?

>

> Anyway - the problem is the same and I still think we should adapt to the

> notion that downloads can be harmfull when they decide to be.

>

> Tony. . .

>

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

> news:9F0D5582-B65F-45B2-967C-D5F4DD95FF97@microsoft.com...

> > Tony:

> > The Avast update mentioned by the OP was a Program (i.e.: kernel) update

> > of

> > the Antivirus, rather than the regular daily definition update.

> > Those program updates are not automatic and you can force them by

> > right-clicking on the Avast icon (systray), then Update, then Program

> > Upate.

> > That will force you a reboot.

> > Current kernel version is 4.7.1074 (right-click, About Avast, etc.)

> > Carlos

> >

> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

> >

> >> Hi Bill,

> >>

> >> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think. My

> >> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day, never

> >> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that update,

> >> but

> >> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may be

> >> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not trivial,

> >> in

> >> a running system.

> >>

> >> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

> >> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

> >> Avast

> >> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID or

> >> SATA?

> >>

> >> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the

> >> CMOS

> >> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

> >> [should] be harmless.

> >>

> >> Tony. . .

> >>

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

> >> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

> >> > Hi,

> >> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest Avast

> >> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said

> >> > that

> >> > I

> >> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and went

> >> > to

> >> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

> >> > screen.

> >> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

> >> > launching

> >> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

> >> >

> >> > I also:

> >> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception -

> >> > when

> >> > I

> >> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc

> >> > etc"

> >> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

> >> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

> >> > freezes.

> >> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

> >> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

> >> >

> >> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options

> >> > that

> >> > may allow me to work on this drive.

> >> >

> >> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access to

> >> > all

> >> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

> >> >

> >> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night, it

> >> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

> >> > Does anyone have any ideas?

> >> > Do you need more information?

> >> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

> >> > --Bill

> >>

>

November 1, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

Test the memory on the system with e.g. memtest http://www.memtest.org/

As the disk tests as good and, from your original post, it seems you cannot

boot to the x64 CD to do a repair install this is the last hope.

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

news:1D6B3AE3-83EB-40C3-98D7-3A3A31126713@microsoft.com...

> AN UPDATE - as of 31Oct07 at 9:30pm EST:

> I have now run these tests / procedures on the problem drive. Nothing has

> helped. Data is still there, but cannot get the drive to boot x64:

>

> chkdsk /f and /r

> fixboot

> fixmbr

> SeaTools (both short and long tests passed)

> BIOS on the computer is updated

>

> Does anyone have any more suggestions?

> Thanks much,

> Bill

>

> "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>

>> Well, yes. I do know that the regular updates are database stuff and

>> definitions, but the program itself updates this way too once in a

>> while -

>> and requires re-booting. I have tried doing the forced update, but I

>> don't

>> see anything that isn't in the auto-update facility. I simply think the

>> menu-item is a service for users on dial-up?

>>

>> Anyway - the problem is the same and I still think we should adapt to the

>> notion that downloads can be harmfull when they decide to be.

>>

>> Tony. . .

>>

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

>> news:9F0D5582-B65F-45B2-967C-D5F4DD95FF97@microsoft.com...

>> > Tony:

>> > The Avast update mentioned by the OP was a Program (i.e.: kernel)

>> > update

>> > of

>> > the Antivirus, rather than the regular daily definition update.

>> > Those program updates are not automatic and you can force them by

>> > right-clicking on the Avast icon (systray), then Update, then Program

>> > Upate.

>> > That will force you a reboot.

>> > Current kernel version is 4.7.1074 (right-click, About Avast, etc.)

>> > Carlos

>> >

>> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>> >

>> >> Hi Bill,

>> >>

>> >> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think.

>> >> My

>> >> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day,

>> >> never

>> >> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that

>> >> update,

>> >> but

>> >> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may

>> >> be

>> >> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not

>> >> trivial,

>> >> in

>> >> a running system.

>> >>

>> >> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

>> >> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

>> >> Avast

>> >> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID

>> >> or

>> >> SATA?

>> >>

>> >> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the

>> >> CMOS

>> >> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

>> >> [should] be harmless.

>> >>

>> >> Tony. . .

>> >>

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

>> >> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

>> >> > Hi,

>> >> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest

>> >> > Avast

>> >> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said

>> >> > that

>> >> > I

>> >> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and

>> >> > went

>> >> > to

>> >> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

>> >> > screen.

>> >> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

>> >> > launching

>> >> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

>> >> >

>> >> > I also:

>> >> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception -

>> >> > when

>> >> > I

>> >> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc

>> >> > etc"

>> >> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

>> >> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

>> >> > freezes.

>> >> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

>> >> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

>> >> >

>> >> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options

>> >> > that

>> >> > may allow me to work on this drive.

>> >> >

>> >> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access

>> >> > to

>> >> > all

>> >> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

>> >> >

>> >> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night,

>> >> > it

>> >> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

>> >> > Does anyone have any ideas?

>> >> > Do you need more information?

>> >> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

>> >> > --Bill

>> >>

>>

November 1, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

Bill,

are you still on the second machine, and this is where you've been running

all tests and procedures?

Can you put a new HD on the original failure machine and install a new OS

there - just for the time being? (You'll most liky need it anyway!)

You must home in on something that will work, in order to (at best) isolate

the real problem. Since the problem HD can be accessed from outside your

data is not the prime concern - it is important that you don't restore it

all to something that still carries the error. . .whatever that might be.

I've tried googling for a solution but everything is just stabs in darkness,

as far as I can tell.

Did you ever try and remove that battery?

Tony. . .

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

news:1D6B3AE3-83EB-40C3-98D7-3A3A31126713@microsoft.com...

> AN UPDATE - as of 31Oct07 at 9:30pm EST:

> I have now run these tests / procedures on the problem drive. Nothing has

> helped. Data is still there, but cannot get the drive to boot x64:

>

> chkdsk /f and /r

> fixboot

> fixmbr

> SeaTools (both short and long tests passed)

> BIOS on the computer is updated

>

> Does anyone have any more suggestions?

> Thanks much,

> Bill

>

> "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>

>> Well, yes. I do know that the regular updates are database stuff and

>> definitions, but the program itself updates this way too once in a

>> while -

>> and requires re-booting. I have tried doing the forced update, but I

>> don't

>> see anything that isn't in the auto-update facility. I simply think the

>> menu-item is a service for users on dial-up?

>>

>> Anyway - the problem is the same and I still think we should adapt to the

>> notion that downloads can be harmfull when they decide to be.

>>

>> Tony. . .

>>

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

>> news:9F0D5582-B65F-45B2-967C-D5F4DD95FF97@microsoft.com...

>> > Tony:

>> > The Avast update mentioned by the OP was a Program (i.e.: kernel)

>> > update

>> > of

>> > the Antivirus, rather than the regular daily definition update.

>> > Those program updates are not automatic and you can force them by

>> > right-clicking on the Avast icon (systray), then Update, then Program

>> > Upate.

>> > That will force you a reboot.

>> > Current kernel version is 4.7.1074 (right-click, About Avast, etc.)

>> > Carlos

>> >

>> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>> >

>> >> Hi Bill,

>> >>

>> >> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think.

>> >> My

>> >> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day,

>> >> never

>> >> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that

>> >> update,

>> >> but

>> >> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may

>> >> be

>> >> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not

>> >> trivial,

>> >> in

>> >> a running system.

>> >>

>> >> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

>> >> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

>> >> Avast

>> >> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID

>> >> or

>> >> SATA?

>> >>

>> >> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the

>> >> CMOS

>> >> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

>> >> [should] be harmless.

>> >>

>> >> Tony. . .

>> >>

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

>> >> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

>> >> > Hi,

>> >> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest

>> >> > Avast

>> >> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said

>> >> > that

>> >> > I

>> >> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and

>> >> > went

>> >> > to

>> >> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

>> >> > screen.

>> >> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

>> >> > launching

>> >> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

>> >> >

>> >> > I also:

>> >> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception -

>> >> > when

>> >> > I

>> >> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc

>> >> > etc"

>> >> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

>> >> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

>> >> > freezes.

>> >> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

>> >> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

>> >> >

>> >> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options

>> >> > that

>> >> > may allow me to work on this drive.

>> >> >

>> >> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access

>> >> > to

>> >> > all

>> >> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

>> >> >

>> >> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night,

>> >> > it

>> >> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

>> >> > Does anyone have any ideas?

>> >> > Do you need more information?

>> >> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

>> >> > --Bill

>> >>

>>

November 1, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

One last try would be to swap a different and known good cd player into the

problem machine. Unplug all your hd's. If you still don't get the install

cd to boot, you have a problem with the motherboard. You did say you had

flashed the BIOS, so the only remaining variable is the MOBO itself

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

news:1D6B3AE3-83EB-40C3-98D7-3A3A31126713@microsoft.com...

> AN UPDATE - as of 31Oct07 at 9:30pm EST:

> I have now run these tests / procedures on the problem drive. Nothing has

> helped. Data is still there, but cannot get the drive to boot x64:

>

> chkdsk /f and /r

> fixboot

> fixmbr

> SeaTools (both short and long tests passed)

> BIOS on the computer is updated

>

> Does anyone have any more suggestions?

> Thanks much,

> Bill

>

> "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>

>> Well, yes. I do know that the regular updates are database stuff and

>> definitions, but the program itself updates this way too once in a

>> while -

>> and requires re-booting. I have tried doing the forced update, but I

>> don't

>> see anything that isn't in the auto-update facility. I simply think the

>> menu-item is a service for users on dial-up?

>>

>> Anyway - the problem is the same and I still think we should adapt to the

>> notion that downloads can be harmfull when they decide to be.

>>

>> Tony. . .

>>

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

>> news:9F0D5582-B65F-45B2-967C-D5F4DD95FF97@microsoft.com...

>> > Tony:

>> > The Avast update mentioned by the OP was a Program (i.e.: kernel)

>> > update

>> > of

>> > the Antivirus, rather than the regular daily definition update.

>> > Those program updates are not automatic and you can force them by

>> > right-clicking on the Avast icon (systray), then Update, then Program

>> > Upate.

>> > That will force you a reboot.

>> > Current kernel version is 4.7.1074 (right-click, About Avast, etc.)

>> > Carlos

>> >

>> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

>> >

>> >> Hi Bill,

>> >>

>> >> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think.

>> >> My

>> >> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day,

>> >> never

>> >> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that

>> >> update,

>> >> but

>> >> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may

>> >> be

>> >> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not

>> >> trivial,

>> >> in

>> >> a running system.

>> >>

>> >> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

>> >> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

>> >> Avast

>> >> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID

>> >> or

>> >> SATA?

>> >>

>> >> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the

>> >> CMOS

>> >> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

>> >> [should] be harmless.

>> >>

>> >> Tony. . .

>> >>

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

>> >> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

>> >> > Hi,

>> >> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest

>> >> > Avast

>> >> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said

>> >> > that

>> >> > I

>> >> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and

>> >> > went

>> >> > to

>> >> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

>> >> > screen.

>> >> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

>> >> > launching

>> >> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

>> >> >

>> >> > I also:

>> >> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception -

>> >> > when

>> >> > I

>> >> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc

>> >> > etc"

>> >> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

>> >> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

>> >> > freezes.

>> >> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

>> >> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

>> >> >

>> >> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options

>> >> > that

>> >> > may allow me to work on this drive.

>> >> >

>> >> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access

>> >> > to

>> >> > all

>> >> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

>> >> >

>> >> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night,

>> >> > it

>> >> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

>> >> > Does anyone have any ideas?

>> >> > Do you need more information?

>> >> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

>> >> > --Bill

>> >>

>>

November 5, 2007

Re: Windows x64 Edition won't start after Avast Update

Final Update - 4 Nov 07 at 9:10pm EST

First off, thank you all (and I do mean all) very much for the help and

advice. I finally gave up and blew the partition away, remade a new

partition, reformatted and reloaded and everything is fine now. There were no

hardware problems anywhere on the box.

Some specifics:

1- I was getting nowhere in getting the drive to boot on its original box.

It would not boot on my hardware identical box either, so I knew the problem

was either a hard drive failure or a Win x64 software failure of some sort.

The drive passed all of the Seagate drive tests just fine, so I crossed hard

drive failure off the list.

2- I pulled all of the data off of the bad drive (thank God I could get to

all of the data just fine) and copied it all over to my good drive.

3- Then, with the bad drive still running on my good, bootable x64 computer,

I go into Computer Management - Disk Management and delete the partition on

the bad drive. Now it is just "unpartitioned space".

4- I then take the "unpartitioned" drive over to the "bad" computer. NOW

(with the partition gone), it will boot to the x64 CD just fine. I launch the

x64 setup program, make the new partition and format it and install x64 and

all is good.

I just got back from delivering the computer to it's owner.

It is really frustrating because I never was able to figure out what went

wrong in the software to keep the drive from booting. But with the tests that

I did, and the fact that once I blew the partition away and re-loaded and

reformatted and everything was fine - I have to assume the hardware was not

at fault.

Thanks again to everyone for their help. I just wanted to update you all on

the final outcome and not leave this thread hanging.

--Bill

"John Barnes" wrote:

> One last try would be to swap a different and known good cd player into the

> problem machine. Unplug all your hd's. If you still don't get the install

> cd to boot, you have a problem with the motherboard. You did say you had

> flashed the BIOS, so the only remaining variable is the MOBO itself

>

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

> news:1D6B3AE3-83EB-40C3-98D7-3A3A31126713@microsoft.com...

> > AN UPDATE - as of 31Oct07 at 9:30pm EST:

> > I have now run these tests / procedures on the problem drive. Nothing has

> > helped. Data is still there, but cannot get the drive to boot x64:

> >

> > chkdsk /f and /r

> > fixboot

> > fixmbr

> > SeaTools (both short and long tests passed)

> > BIOS on the computer is updated

> >

> > Does anyone have any more suggestions?

> > Thanks much,

> > Bill

> >

> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

> >

> >> Well, yes. I do know that the regular updates are database stuff and

> >> definitions, but the program itself updates this way too once in a

> >> while -

> >> and requires re-booting. I have tried doing the forced update, but I

> >> don't

> >> see anything that isn't in the auto-update facility. I simply think the

> >> menu-item is a service for users on dial-up?

> >>

> >> Anyway - the problem is the same and I still think we should adapt to the

> >> notion that downloads can be harmfull when they decide to be.

> >>

> >> Tony. . .

> >>

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

> >> news:9F0D5582-B65F-45B2-967C-D5F4DD95FF97@microsoft.com...

> >> > Tony:

> >> > The Avast update mentioned by the OP was a Program (i.e.: kernel)

> >> > update

> >> > of

> >> > the Antivirus, rather than the regular daily definition update.

> >> > Those program updates are not automatic and you can force them by

> >> > right-clicking on the Avast icon (systray), then Update, then Program

> >> > Upate.

> >> > That will force you a reboot.

> >> > Current kernel version is 4.7.1074 (right-click, About Avast, etc.)

> >> > Carlos

> >> >

> >> > "Tony Sperling mail.dk>" wrote:

> >> >

> >> >> Hi Bill,

> >> >>

> >> >> I have been running Avast myself for more than two years now, I think.

> >> >> My

> >> >> machines are updating automatically, sometimes several times a day,

> >> >> never

> >> >> had a problem. Something can easily have been corrupted in that

> >> >> update,

> >> >> but

> >> >> I am positive it is not Avast that did it. Anything you download may

> >> >> be

> >> >> corrupted along the 'line' at any time and these updates are not

> >> >> trivial,

> >> >> in

> >> >> a running system.

> >> >>

> >> >> On the other hand, it doesn't sound to me as something that HAS to be

> >> >> software related - how old is the system you've built? How long since

> >> >> Avast

> >> >> was installed? Are you 'Dual-Booting'? How many HD's? IDE, SCSI, RAID

> >> >> or

> >> >> SATA?

> >> >>

> >> >> If nobody else here objects, I would probably first try and remove the

> >> >> CMOS

> >> >> battery for a few minutes (maybe ten?) - this will reset the BIOS and

> >> >> [should] be harmless.

> >> >>

> >> >> Tony. . .

> >> >>

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

> >> >> news:3DE47E52-F482-48B3-A242-C9DB3FA8E75E@microsoft.com...

> >> >> > Hi,

> >> >> > I have a computer that I built that won't boot after the latest

> >> >> > Avast

> >> >> > update. I updated Avast late Thurs (10/25/07) night and when it said

> >> >> > that

> >> >> > I

> >> >> > needed to restart the computer, I pushed OK for it to restart and

> >> >> > went

> >> >> > to

> >> >> > bed. I got up Friday morning and it was on a solid blue (not BSOD)

> >> >> > screen.

> >> >> > Now, it won't boot at all. I get thru the POST, and when it gets to

> >> >> > launching

> >> >> > the Windows x64 logo, it freezes on a black screen. No text.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > I also:

> >> >> > - cannot get into any of the safe mode options, with one exception -

> >> >> > when

> >> >> > I

> >> >> > launch into "Safe Mode" - I can see the lines "multidisk, rdisk, etc

> >> >> > etc"

> >> >> > coming across the screen and it stops on a line that ends in

> >> >> > \windows\inf\biosinfo.inf - so it appears that this is where it

> >> >> > freezes.

> >> >> > - cannot boot to my original XP CDrom.

> >> >> > - cannot get into the recovery console.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > Everything freezes to a black screen before I can get to any options

> >> >> > that

> >> >> > may allow me to work on this drive.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > I have slaved the drive to another x64 computer. I have full access

> >> >> > to

> >> >> > all

> >> >> > of the data and files. Nothing is lost.

> >> >> >

> >> >> > So I'm thinking that when Avast did it's update on Thursday night,

> >> >> > it

> >> >> > corrupted one of the Windows boot files.

> >> >> > Does anyone have any ideas?

> >> >> > Do you need more information?

> >> >> > Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

> >> >> > --Bill

> >> >>

> >>

>

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