Re: Fail to boot XP Pro
 

I recently had a lot of trouble with one of the companys PC's corrupting files. I started to think it was the hard drive, but after replacing the ram the problem stopped.

For some reason Ram is the most common component to fail where I work. The hard drives just seem to keep going on forever.

Re: Fail to boot XP Pro
 

Have you tried a repair install from the CD?

If you want to TEST the memory, I can recommend Memtest386, this is a free download (find it on Google, don't remember site) which creates a bootable floppy.

Re: Fail to boot XP Pro
 

Having a few problems getting the PC to boot from CD, basically it won't. Can get it to boot from a floppy, but it then doesn't pick up the HD :confused:

Re: Fail to boot XP Pro
 

To test the memory go to http://www.memtest86.com and download their tool - create a boot floppy and let it run all the way through, doing all tests - someone I know, most of them passed fine, but some of the last pattern tests failed....

Re: Fail to boot XP Pro
 

Thank, will give the test a shot & see what happens

Re: Fail to boot XP Pro
 

if not why not try downloading this boot cd

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

its has lots of diag tools on it including specific ones for different makes of hard drives!!

Cheers

DJ

Re: Fail to boot XP Pro
 

It probably doesn't see the HDD cos it's formatted NTFS.

Does your BIOS support boot from CD? Is it set to boot from CD? If yes to both, try CD in a known good PC (just read CD), if that's ok, you may have a duff CD drive.

Re: Fail to boot XP Pro
 

Have you made any other hardware changes previous to this happening?

I have had some Major troubles every time I upgrade. Seems to me that XP pro hates component changes and causes Boot failures. First time I noticed it was when I changed the Motherboard. But I have had subsequent failures with new GF FX card, new CPU and a new soundcard (although I suspect that was the down to the fact it seemed VERY loose in the PCI slot ((so I moved it)) )

Re: Fail to boot XP Pro
 

The HD is formatted as NTFS, and it does support booting from CD, but at the moment its just not liking it.

I've not made any hardware changes to this PC for roughly a year, accept for a new PSU bought last month. Things started to go pear shaped about a month ago when it kept randomly shutting down, so I thought it might have been the PSU as it was making some pretty bad nosies prior to shutting down. The new PSU did seem to solve the problem for about a week or so.

Re: Fail to boot XP Pro
 

If you boot with a floppy, does the comp stay up for a while or does it reboot like when it's loading widows. If it stays up then that may be an indication that its a software problem not hardware :)

Re: Fail to boot XP Pro
 

eddie: did you change the boot order in the BIOS? Probably a silly question, but you never know...

Also, what size/brand PSU do you have? Not all PSU's are equal. An Antec PSU could give out more power than a cheapo of the same wattage if you see what I mean.

Re: Fail to boot XP Pro
 

Yeah, changed the boot order. Been able to play about with it today, & the hd might be the problem. Plugged it into this Pc & got the same problem. Tried to reinstall XP using this PC and have been unable to install it. Looks like a new HD is in order.

Re: Fail to boot XP Pro
 

Looks as though it was the HD. Plugged it into this PC and had the same problem, so then formatted it and then attempted to reinstall XP but was unable to do it. Put in another HD I had, installed XP no problem, plugged it into the other PC and booted up fine.

Thanks for all the help and ideas :D