"Random" boot freezes

[bwwhite2000]

My rig is in my sig. This is a recent build (November). After the build, I was having random freezes during boot-up. About every 3rd boot, the computer would just hang. Sometimes restarting normaly would work, sometimes booting into Safe Mode would work, sometimes using last known good config would work. It was a very frustrating issue.

Then earlier this week, I got the "hal.dll is missing or corrupt" message. Googled and tried all suggestions--none worked. Decided to reformat and start over. At the MSI forum site, I found the FAQ on installing a single SATA drive as RAID and realized I may not have installed my SATA drive properly initially. The FAQ was very clear and helpful. Drive is now installed properly and functioning well.

Got everything else re-installed properly. Applied all the Windows updates. I'm still getting the random boot freezes. I had thought I'd isolated it to freezing at mup.sys (that's where it would often freeze during Safe Mode boot). Used System Recovery console to disable MUP, but the issue persists.

Sometimes the freeze occurs after the blue bar has done about 3 to 5 laps. The blue bar freezes and there is constant disk activity. Other times the blue bar just keeps going and going and going--it can keep this up for 15 minutes--with no disk activity.

Does anyone have any ideas? What more information can I provide?

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Bruce

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by bwwhite2000 My rig is in my sig.

You don't have a signature.

What are the complete system specs for this computer? List the parts by brand and model including the power supply.

Are you using a genuine MS WinXP CD or a burned copy?

Have you tested the RAM with something like Memtest86+ yet?

Have you tested the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic utility yet?

Cricket

[bwwhite2000]

I edited my sig before posting, but forgot to save it!

Now it's in my sig.

Not using a burned XP copy. It's legit.

Bruce

[Cricket]

Did you try testing your hard drive with the Seagate diagnostic utilities yet?

Try replacing the SATA data cable too.

Cricket

[bwwhite2000]

I should have mentioned that I actually have 2 IDE drives and another DVD ROM drive on the computer. I'm in the process of disconnecting the 2 extra HDs and the extra DVD drive to see if the problem persists.

Programs loading at startup are:
ZoneAlarm Security Suite 6.1
ContentProtect 2.0
ATI Catalyst System Tray

Other things that msconfig show in startup are in the attached jpg file called "startup.jpg".

Thanks again for any and all help!

Bruce

[bwwhite2000]

OK. I discovered Windows had changed the transfer mode (in System --> Device Manager --> NVIDIA nForce4 Serial ATA RAID Controller --> Primary Channel) to PIO Mode instead of Serial ATA Generation 2 - 3G. Since I was only able to boot to Safe Mode, I did so and changed the transfer mode back to SATA Gen 2 and now I'm running just fine.

[I should clarify to readers that my PC was failing to boot more often than succeeding.]

Under transfer mode in the same window I have 4 boxes:
Let BIOS select transfer mode (not checked)
Enable read caching (checked)
Enable write caching (checked)
Enable command queuing (checked)

I am not able to do a speed check--that box is grayed out.

In System --> Device Manager --> NVIDIA nForce4 Serial ATA RAID Controller --> Driver, I have:
Driver Provider: NVIDIA Corporation
Driver Date: 5/17/2005
Driver Version: 5.10.2600.534

I hope this helps someone!

Bruce