Windows Did Not Shut Down Properly: Can't Boot into XP or Safe Mode

[Steady Teddy]

It looks like I caused some self inflicted damage to my desktop (specs in sig) but I'm not sure if it's a problem with my hardware or XP.

I replaced on of my case fans yesterday. I installed the new fan on a separate work bench. I wanted to make sure the new fan was working properly but I am unable to do this if I hook everything back up to my monitor so I just powered up my pc on the work bench to check the fan. I turned the pc off so of course I did not shut Windows down properly...

When I powered back up with everything connected, I got the prompt that Windows did not shut down properly. This is where I am stuck at. I can't boot back into Windows or last known good configuration. If I try, the Windows XP loading screen will start appear very faintly but just freeze at that point.

I can't boot into Safe Mode either. Every time I try, the drivers start to load but it will also freeze.

I don't have a recovery disc. I even tried to reformat and reinstall XP, thinking I may have corrupted Windows. But that will also freeze! If I try to reformat and boot from the XP installation disc, the files will start to load but every time it gets to the stage "Setup is Starting Windows", it will freeze. The XP disc looks perfect. I even tried to boot from my secondary optical drive but it still hangs at the same point.

In summary, I can't boot to my desktop, can't boot into Safe Mode, and can't go back to last known good configuration. The only thing I can do is enter my BIOS.

If it is a hardware problem, I have no idea which component it could be. Everything sounds like it is running fine. I rechecked my wiring and hardware to make sure something didn't jar loose when I moved it but everything looks OK.

I was told that if the hard drive was bad that I should at least be able to reinstall XP to the stage where it asks which hard drive I want to reformat. If Windows is corrupted, I should be able to reformat, shouldn't I?

I start a class next week and I'm going to need my desktop. I am in panic mode so I broke down and took my pc to a local repair shop. My fear is that they may try to sell me something that I don't need but I was afraid I won't have the time to diagnose the problem myself.

I ran a full pass of MemTest with no errors.

I would still like to get some ideas as to what might be preventing me from booting back into XP. Perhaps to prepare me for what the repair shop might tell me?

Thanks in advance

[glc]

Next step is run diagnostics on the hard drives.

Use your laptop, go to seagate.com and download SeaTools. Get the CD .iso version, use your burning software and burn it as an image. It will make a bootable CD.

[Steady Teddy]

Originally Posted by glc Next step is run diagnostics on the hard drives. Use your laptop, go to seagate.com and download SeaTools. Get the CD .iso version, use your burning software and burn it as an image. It will make a bootable CD.

Thanks for the reply glc.

So the info I was given about it not being a bad HD is inaccurate? This was what I initially thought might be the problem.

I wonder if I can get my diagnostics fee refunded so I can test this myself...

[glc]

What diagnostics fee?

[Steady Teddy]

Originally Posted by glc What diagnostics fee?

The pc repair shop charges a diagnostics fee up front. I assume they haven't started woriking on my pc yet. I don't know if I can get a refund.

[Steady Teddy]

I was able to pick up my pc from the shop with a full refund since they did not start to service it yet. I just ran a quick test with SeaTools and there were no errors.
I am now running a long test but if that also passes then I'm out of ideas.

[Steady Teddy]

I found the problem. Just for the heck of it, I disconnected the SATA cable to my backup hard drive. I'm not running RAID and I only use this for storage.

With the backup HD disconnected I'm able to boot back into Windows. I guess this mean my backup HD is shot. UGH!! All of my backup files were on that drive!

Just to make sure, does Windows need to detect BOTH HDDs when booting up, even if one of them is only for storage?

[Steady Teddy]

I swapped out the SATA cable to the backup HD. I am able to access both my HDDs now. I dunno if the cable was bad or perhaps something came loose.

At any rate everything seems back to normal now. WHEW, that was a close one.

Thanks

[glc]

I guess you didn't run diagnostics on both drives, huh?

[Steady Teddy]

Originally Posted by glc I guess you didn't run diagnostics on both drives, huh?

I ran only a quick diagnostics on both drives and there were no errors. I was in the process of running a long test on the primary HD when I decided to recheck my wiring and disconnected the backup HD.

My guess is something came loose when I originally worked on it yesterday. Perhaps I'll run a long test on the backup HD to make sure.

[glc]

You disconnected a drive with the computer running? Not advisable.

[Steady Teddy]

Originally Posted by glc You disconnected a drive with the computer running? Not advisable.

No no no!.

I knew long test for SeaTools was going to take a long time and I didn't want to wait. I wanted to see what would happen by disconnecting the backup HDD and I powered down.

At any rate, I had time to run a long test with SeaTools last night. Both hard drives passed.

I can only assume the problem was due to either a loose connection or a bad SATA cable.

[glc]

That will do it.