Windows XP boot problems on a new build

[tsk17]

I just built my first PC a couple of days ago, system specs below:

Asus A7N8X Deluxe, AMD Barton 2500+, Corsair XMS 512 MB, WD SATA 120 GB HD, Lite-On CD-RW, Sapphire ATI Radeon 9600XT, Alps Electric floppy, USR 56k modem

It started up fine, I loaded Windows XP for the first time, everything normal. I used it all day yesterday, loading drivers, programs, and doing some word processing. It was working perfectly all day, including through several software-mandated restarts. Sometime yesterday I decided to see what would happen to the temperature if I pushed the FSB up to 400 (so 200 on the BIOS setup). The temperatures rose only a degree or two, so I left it as is, and continued using it. I powered it off normally through the XP shut down icon last night.

When I got up this morning and powered on the system, it powered on and POSTed fine, but then it came to the "There was a problem with Windows...etc...Choose Last Known Good Configuration or Start Windows Normally" screen. I tried Start Windows Normally and it moved on to the initial Windows XP Home screen (black background, progress bar flashing under the XP Home Logo). After no more than three seconds, the computer restarts. Every single time, no matter what I chose. So I returned it to the default BIOS settings, and then tried repairing, and then doing a fresh reload of Windows from the CD. In both cases it would go through the initial text installation, ask for the SATA driver, and then ask me which I wanted to do (repair, install, etc). Selecting either one, Windows then says it is checking the hard drive. Suddenly a new screen pops up and says "A problem was detected and Windows was shut down to protect your computer." I have tried everything I can think of and am ready to wipe the hard drive completely and start over, I'm so frustrated. It doesn't make any sense to me because it was working perfectly yesterday. Anyone?

Tim

[BASWAN]

Hello
Sounds as if one of the drivers or software programs you installed doesn't work with something. The" Last Known Good Config" suggest that. Generally software written for XP works fine but sometimes it doesn't work well with other software.
I would go to safemode(restart after bios hit F8 key windows advanced options menu select safemode). List all software installed and remove make a list of things removed. * I hope this is still an option being that you already tried to reinstall.

[tsk17]

F8 doesn't seem to work. The screen that came up originally that said "Choose Last Known Good Config or Start Normally" also had the option to start from safe mode, but I tried that too and it ended with the same result... a restart.

Tim

[doctorgonzo]

Since the problem seems to be related to the hard drive (booting Windows from the HD leads to restart, trying to install fails when Windows checks the HD), I would start with that first. Go to the drive manufacturer's website and download their diagnostic program.

[tsk17]

Okay, I'm downloading that now. I'll report back in a few minutes.

I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it but I thought I'd mention it just in case. We left the windows open here last night and the temperature inside our apartment this morning (about 9 am) was about 60 degrees, meaning it was probably colder in the middle of the night. Is it possible that the cold might have damaged some of the hardware?

Tim

[tsk17]

I used the Western Digital diagnostic utility to create a bootable floppy disk. My system powers up normally, completes POST, and then the screen says "Cannot load DOS! Any key to retry". That doesn't sound good. What now?

Tim

[doctorgonzo]

First, make sure that the boot order in BIOS is set to boot from floppy first, or at least before the HD.

If that doesn't work, try another floppy.

[tsk17]

Okay, booting from another floppy was successful. I ran a quick test on the hard drive (which IS visible to the SATA software on boot-up, by the way) and after a couple of minutes it told me to call technical support with the following error:

BUSY TIMEOUT
ERROR/STATUS CODE 0134

I tried booting from the floppy again to see if it would give me another diagnosis but as soon as the diagnostic started up it immediately gave me the same message as above with no option to rerun the test. At this point I'm thinking I might RMA the hard drive. Any other suggestions?

Tim

[doctorgonzo]

Nope, no other suggestions. The diagnostic did what it is supposed to do, and there is a problem. See what tech support has to say.

[andyms18a]

this is the site that lists the error codes http://support.wdc.com/techinfo/general/errorcodes.asp
you may have a bad conection or cable or hard drive you may want to check the cable befor you call tec support

[tsk17]

I called tech support and they confirmed it was a bad drive. I initially told them to send a replacement drive, but that would have probably taken the better part of a week or two. I also found almost the same drive (except it's E-IDE instead of SATA) on sale for $60 at my local Circuit City. So I'm RMAing the drive back to NewEgg, and in the end it will actually be cheaper. I've actually got the new drive installed and everything's working again. Thanks to everyone for your help.

Tim