MS XP Home Edition

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Teufellj

Member
After about three months, I'm having problems with initial startup. The XP won't get past the "POST" screen without a start disk! I'm lazy and don't wish to reformat and reinstall. I use an old utility called--Fix It for a kicker boot and have to start with my monitor in off position. There doesn't seem tobe any virus or spyware problems and everything is kept up to date everyweek.
Another worry is that I can't locate any links in the XP program to recreate a start up disk---any solutions or thoughts on this?

Teufellj...
 
G

gsobier

Member
Teufellj:

Please explain "POST" (not a clue what you are trying to explain) and "start disk" more... ..."start disk" could be more than one thing. I'm very concerned about the old utility you decided to use... ...is it meant to be used for Windows XP?

Do you have any idea how and why this problem started so we could have more clues?

Regards,
George:)
Teufellj said:
After about three months, I'm having problems with initial startup. The XP won't get past the "POST" screen without a start disk! I'm lazy and don't wish to reformat and reinstall. I use an old utility called--Fix It for a kicker boot and have to start with my monitor in off position. There doesn't seem tobe any virus or spyware problems and everything is kept up to date everyweek.
Another worry is that I can't locate any links in the XP program to recreate a start up disk---any solutions or thoughts on this?

Teufellj...
Click to expand...
 
F

fenris

Member
POST = Power On Self Test

Teufellj, is the Ram check Passing? Does it find your hard disk(s)?

If the only way to get your computer to start is with a boot disk then there may be a problem with your hard disk. Did you try running scan disk (after you booted from the floppy) to see if it could find a problem? When you boot from a floppy, can you see the data on your hard disks?
 
G

gsobier

Member
Fenris:

Power On Self Test is 100% correct.. ...booting from a floppy will work provided we have FAT32 paritions... ...you can't do this with NTFS... ...I have created a FAT32 partition known by the MBR as the active partition here so I can get into things like boot.ini and the DOS version of Partition Magic when booting from a floppy. I have reasons where NTFS partitions is a must... ...I have 2 Windows XP Professional partitions on E: and F:... ...when one gets sick:sick:, I've got another one so I can deal with files in NTFS partitions which is not possible when you boot from a floppy.

It is possible to format as NTFS for Home Edition when installing... ...if you do, recovery methods possible with Professional are not. For these reasons, installing Home Edition is a mistake if you can install Professional. If you only have Home Edition, good luck.

The problem Teufellj has sure looks like the harddrive night not be accessable at all... ...running FDISK just to look around without making changes would shead some light on the picture... ...we need to be prepared for these times and there are too many who do not have a boot diskette... ...multiple copies of the boot diskette is a good idea... ...another tip for anyone doing this... ...test each diskette to make sure it really does work.

Regards,
George:)
fenris said:
POST = Power On Self Test

Teufellj, is the Ram check Passing? Does it find your hard disk(s)?

If the only way to get your computer to start is with a boot disk then there may be a problem with your hard disk. Did you try running scan disk (after you booted from the floppy) to see if it could find a problem? When you boot from a floppy, can you see the data on your hard disks?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
T

Teufellj

Member
Fenris

Hello Fenris and Gsobier

To begin with: Power On Self Test or Post, is the area where the start up programs begin. You can hit the "Delete" button and go directly into the Bios and other setup arrangements for all of the programs that your computer has installed in its memory.. You had better know what this program is about or you will have a major meltdown and wind up taking your pc to the veterinarian. I've run all of the static testing that I can lay hold of and frankly, I'm getting a headache. I've installed 192 RAM chip; upgraded to windows XP Home Edition and upgraded to Windows 9.0 all without conflict, according to the system device manager. The--"Fix It" program is specific to booting warm or hard. In the start program (BIOS) there is a section for changing startup procedures for booting from a disc or a diskette. and the arrangement from "A" or "D." The main disk is new and I exchanged it with my old HD with the same results. Therefore the RAM is working as expected. As to the "How and Why" if knew these answers I'd not be asking in the first place. George, I'm not poking fun at your question far from it, I've got many years in computer repair and build up and this is only the second time that I'm pulling my scant follicals. I know that programs and hardware get the hiccups but most of these are reversible; then there is a loner that comes along and sticks out its tongue. I've checked with various pc companys; PC World and programmer friends at ABC television Networking. They like you and I are trying to find the cause and a cure. Somewhere someone has had some of the symptoms posed here and maybe a partial solution or the whole bag.. Thanks for your concern and input...the solution is in front of me but I just can't see it yet!

Teufellj...
 
G

gsobier

Member
Re: Fenris

Teufellj:

Don't worry about asking questions... ...we are here to help as you already know. I'm still not clear on what your problem is. Does Windows XP Home run? It looks like you are getting no farther than the BIOS menus... ...am I lost or correct with this understanding?

Regards,
George:)
Teufellj said:
Hello Fenris and Gsobier

To begin with: Power On Self Test or Post, is the area where the start up programs begin. You can hit the "Delete" button and go directly into the Bios and other setup arrangements for all of the programs that your computer has installed in its memory.. You had better know what this program is about or you will have a major meltdown and wind up taking your pc to the veterinarian. I've run all of the static testing that I can lay hold of and frankly, I'm getting a headache. I've installed 192 RAM chip; upgraded to windows XP Home Edition and upgraded to Windows 9.0 all without conflict, according to the system device manager. The--"Fix It" program is specific to booting warm or hard. In the start program (BIOS) there is a section for changing startup procedures for booting from a disc or a diskette. and the arrangement from "A" or "D." The main disk is new and I exchanged it with my old HD with the same results. Therefore the RAM is working as expected. As to the "How and Why" if knew these answers I'd not be asking in the first place. George, I'm not poking fun at your question far from it, I've got many years in computer repair and build up and this is only the second time that I'm pulling my scant follicals. I know that programs and hardware get the hiccups but most of these are reversible; then there is a loner that comes along and sticks out its tongue. I've checked with various pc companys; PC World and programmer friends at ABC television Networking. They like you and I are trying to find the cause and a cure. Somewhere someone has had some of the symptoms posed here and maybe a partial solution or the whole bag.. Thanks for your concern and input...the solution is in front of me but I just can't see it yet!

Teufellj...
Click to expand...
 
C

charles2

Member
i'd say if he get's no further than the bios then either:

1. he didn't properly install win xp

2. hardware issue, ie loose drive cable, bad drive, etc
 
G

gsobier

Member
...all you need is a bad disk controller... ...I've had one of those before:bawl:...
charles2 said:
i'd say if he get's no further than the bios then either:

1. he didn't properly install win xp

2. hardware issue, ie loose drive cable, bad drive, etc
Click to expand...
 
T

Teufellj

Member
Charles2

I have been using the XP program for over three months. Checked all wiring, too. It could well be a broken wire but I havn't found any yet.
I appreciate the comeback folks and thanks!

Teufellj...
 
T

thornc

Member
Have you tried booting with the WindowsXP cd, going into the recovery console and using fixboot (and possibly fixmbr)?
Those are your best options...
Also maybe you have some of those weird computers with a non standard BIOS and it is set to boot only from the floppy drive!?? Can you change the boot order??
 
T

Teufellj

Member
RE:Thornc

Hello, Thornc,

I just checked out the ...BOOTDISK.COM and BART PE...Like what I reviewed...am going to download those utilities---for four dollars I can't go that far wrong and...
THANK YOU...for this Information!

Teufellj...
 
T

Teufellj

Member
RE: Bloubul

Thanks Bloubul,

You may be right about pitching XP Home in favour of Pro. Are any parts (programs) interchangeable so that I don't lose everything or is it better just to renew the hard drive from scratch and then Install The Pro software? I am asking this because some bits of memory don't like to be removed and hide like spyware and is often difficult to clean.

Teufellj...:bawl:
 
bloubul

bloubul

Member
Teufellj

It's better to start a fresh. Get a Spy ware removel tool and run it first., than format and reload.


BlouBul :cool:
 
T

Teufellj

Member
UPDATE: On PROBLEM w/XP

I appreciate all of the good sense and information that I have been receiving. In all of the years that I have spent repairing and programming pc's this is a new kink for me. My pc had a conflict of programs. Now, I have run into problems of this nature before but this particular conflict shouldn't have happened! I became very exasperated and started with a totally cleaned pc case and another hard drive. reprogrammed everything. Not one single glitch until I installed AOL 9.0 Optimized. Then everything went down the toilet. I have three computers with three different versions of AOL. I removed aol optimized and installed AOL 8.0 Now my pc runs like a dream. I got hold of PCWorld and they had just finished testing complaints like mine and it appears that XP Home Edition and the 9.0 Optimized are incompatible in certain instances. They, the people at PCWorld, have written a legal complaint to the Administrators of AOL.
Thanks again for all of your help and suggestions. You are a great bunch of folks!



Teufellj...
 
G

gsobier

Member
Re: UPDATE: On PROBLEM w/XP

...AOL, well, there is your problem:rolleyes:... ...I have a friend in the USA... ...its affectionately known as AOHELL:lol:...
Teufellj said:
I appreciate all of the good sense and information that I have been receiving. In all of the years that I have spent repairing and programming pc's this is a new kink for me. My pc had a conflict of programs. Now, I have run into problems of this nature before but this particular conflict shouldn't have happened! I became very exasperated and started with a totally cleaned pc case and another hard drive. reprogrammed everything. Not one single glitch until I installed AOL 9.0 Optimized. Then everything went down the toilet. I have three computers with three different versions of AOL. I removed aol optimized and installed AOL 8.0 Now my pc runs like a dream. I got hold of PCWorld and they had just finished testing complaints like mine and it appears that XP Home Edition and the 9.0 Optimized are incompatible in certain instances. They, the people at PCWorld, have written a legal complaint to the Administrators of AOL.
Thanks again for all of your help and suggestions. You are a great bunch of folks!



Teufellj...
Click to expand...
 
T

Teufellj

Member
RE:RE

Hello, Gsobier.

Yes, you've certainly got the right of it. Were it not for the fact that my company cut a very good deal with this outfit, I would have a few cryptic complaints to lodge in fine detail and in plain verbal usage. I am anxiously awaiting the next tryst that will render my innards and cause a mass brisket explosion. :sick:



Thanks for your help,
 
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