Boot up error 1

[jediwarrior]

Hi all,

I'm working on a Dell Dimension 8400. It is using BIOS=A00, revision 1.0.10. and has a Maxtor TY250M0 250 gb Serial ATA hard drive.
The problem I am experiencing is that I cannot get past the BIOS during boot up. I am always getting an error:
STOP:0X0000007B at a blue screen.
I cannot boot up using windows XP, it always goes to the error screen. I setup the boot so it would read the CDROM first, but doesn't work, goes right to the error screen.
Does anyone have any ideas what the problem is? I checked out the BIOS, and it seems to be normal, and far as i can tell. That is all I can do with the computer at this point. I thought about wiping the hard drive, but again, I only get the error after BIOS.

Thanks,
Jediwarrior

 

[SimonDavies]

Hit f12 on them, assuming that the bluescreen is Windows based then f12 should give you the boot options for choosing which medium to use (pxe, disk, usb, cd etc).

SimonD.

The real world is not about exam scores, it's about ability.

 

[bummper]

Some things to try:

Uncable the HDD and try to boot. Still get the same error? Will it then boot to the CD?

Is the blue screen the famous Microsoft BSOD? (Blue with white letters? With instructions on removing recently installed hardware, stuff like that?)

If so, then it's getting to the HDD and giving you the Windows error, not the system. At the system level, it should crash at a blk/white screen, not blue. Changing the boot order therefore did not take in the BIOS.

Try booting from a cold start by holding down the Insert key before you press the power. This should let you bypass any quircky CMOS settings, especially any bad video settings. This often only works with a PS-2 connected board, not always a USB, and obviously not a wireless KB. BTW, testing with a PS-2 connected board is a good idea anyways if available.

When booting, just keep rapidly hitting the F12 (boot menu key) to see if it will let you into the system-level, boot menu and thus, the CD or whatever you choose.

Floppy equipped? Put in a known good boot floppy disk. This almost always gets recognized before any HDD.

Put in another HDD if available. See what happens.

Try to reset the CMOS. It's usually a jumper on the mobo, although I'm not sure which one on the 8400. It's usually near the CMOS battery on the board. You must disconnect the power cord to properly do a reset. Just unplug, move the jumper over one pin for a few seconds, and then back again. (There should be 3 pins, 2 covered at any time.)

Pull the CMOS battery and test it if possible with a multimeter (min. 3.0 V), if not, just replace it with a known good battery.

Make sure the ram is fully and firmly seated in every slot. Make sure all the peripheral cards in the PCI slots are not loose. And the vid card (if there), too.

My best guess is that unplugging the HDD will be your best test, and hitting F12 should get you to where you need to be to reinstall the OS.

 

[wahnula]

Are there any peripherals connected? If so, disconnect them. Remove all PCI cards not needed for boot (NIC, etc.). Remove one stick of RAM if there are two. Check the condition of the connection to the CD-ROM, and that it is set correctly to master or slave. Try booting to another CD (like Knoppix) or to a different CD-ROM drive. If possible, remove the HDD from the boot menu in BIOS or remove the drive as Bummper suggested.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[BadBigBen]

In the BIOS, what is the setting for the SATA drive?

if possible set them to IDE or LEGACY Mode, some mobos allow the setting of the SATA to be configured as IDE drive, ergo Windows thinks they are IDE...

because what you are experiencing is that Windows tries to load up using the wrong driver or driver setting, thus you are not getting any further than that BSOD...

PS: just setting the BOOT order, does not work sometimes, as the Windows Setup takes over control of the BOOT order... to circumvent this, use the BOOT MENU mentioned by Bumper, or set the correct BOOT order in the BIOS and then set NVRAM to UPDATE (CLEAR) etc. this will wipe certain settings in the CMOS and update them with the BIOS as it is set...

Post back with what helped or did not help...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[jediwarrior]

Hi all,
I tried all those things, and I did get some results, but still I get the blue screen with white lettering and the usual
STOP:0X0000007B.
I was able to go into the BIOS and change the boot sequence to the CD, which worked. I put in the Windows XP disk to try to reload XP onto the hard drive, BUT... As the cd was loading onto the hard drive, it would ask me to press the ENTER key to continue, F3 to quit, etc. So I would press the ENTER key to format and reload Windows, and nothing would happen, it appears the key board would not work after that. It would work fine up to that point. What is causing the problem here. I never seen it where the keyboard would stop working. Any ideas the would help me here?
Thanks,
Jediwarrior

 

[bummper]

ok, NOW WE GET SERIOUS:


STOP:0X0000007B is Windows telling you that you have an inaccessible boot device. Either the HDD is bad (highly suspected), or there is a conflict with your Windows installation CD's OEM mass storage driver that crashes when it tries to load. Windows halts the system, thus no keyboard or anything else.

Is your Windows CD the Dell CD that came with the system? Is it a Dell CD at all? You'll need the Dell OEM drivers to do it right. Is your drive SCSI or ATA or SATA? How to tell? It will say on the drive label. I don't know your model computer too well. If you want to share the Service Tag on the back, that would greatly help. But not required. If it's SCSI and you don't have the Dell CD for that system, you will need the OEM SCSI driver on a floppy and be quick enought to press F6 (it's brief) during the early portion of the Windows CD setup.

Else,

If you haven't wiped the original hard disk, you can try holding ctrl key and hitting F11 (repeatedly) on startup to try and access the recovery partition mode. If the HDD is any good, and the recovery partition is unscathed from all of this, it will restore itself to the condition it was when purchased.

Else,

1. Replace the hard disk.
2. If possible, replace or at least reseat the hard disk cable.
3. Reseat the ram dimms, just to be sure. Make sure they snap into place (but don't force them if it doesn't want to go, either! Be careful, if not comfortable, leave it alone, since it is already working to get you to the boot CD. This is just an anciliary maintenance item.
4. Install Windows

Follow the next IF you can't replace the hard disk:

Get your hands on a DOS boot floppy. If the system boots to the a:\ prompt, then it's your hard disk/hard disk controller for sure.

If its a complete boot disk, (a Win 98 boot disk will also do) use 'fdisk' at the a:\ prompt to wipe out your troublesome hard disk and create a new partition. This will eliminate any traces of previous installation attempts with their bad hardware drivers. Do not format. Just run the CD again and see if it goes. Let the Windows installation do the format, et. al.

Bottom line, it's cheaper to try a new hard disk and I think that's your problem. Please keep your results coming.

Good luck.

 

[bummper]

Oops!!

I gotta learn how to read!

Did you originally say it has a Serial ATA?

Stop the presses!!

You may need the SATA drivers on a floppy! I'm sorry I didn't read your original post more carefully!

Unless the BIOS is translating the SATA as an IDE, but with your stop error I don't think so, therefore: Windows cannot install because it can't find the drive.

Try the ctrl +F11 option to restore if the original Dell hard disk.

Else,

Find SATA drivers and put them on a floppy. You will need a real floppy drive only, unless you know somebody that can slipstream a Windows Install CD for you. USB or CD will not work under Windows F6.

If you give me an email, I can send you a zip of the SATA drivers that should work (these are general SATA and they do work most of the time, but there are different ones out there you may need also).

Man, I'm sorry if my earlier replies led you on a goose chase. I'm layed up right now post op, and doing these under pain medication to fight boredom <g>, so I'm not as sharp as I should be.

 

[wahnula]

I'm layed up right now post op

I can relate to that, I was out for five months last year, a lot of my posts during that time loikded loikke thois...and that was with one eye closed! Best of luck for a speedy recovery! BTW it is verboten to post email addresses, but you can hint at it in your profile.

If there was a missing SATA driver the install would commence through the setup until the reboot...and the Dell CD should have the SATA drivers. If you're using a non-Dell Windows CD then look into slipstreaming the SATA drivers at

http://www.nliteos.com

If not, in the BIOS there should be an option to use SATA as "Legacy mode" or "SATA as IDE" but I think the problem here is either lack of necessary drivers, a bum HDD or install CD.

If you have a spare HDD (IDE or SATA) hook it up & give it a try. If you have a working Windows install, look at the CD to see if it will allow you to make an F6 floppy. Pictures I've seen of the Dimension 8400 show it with & without a floppy drive.

You can also try making a copy of the install CD, I've had that work in the past.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[ceh4702]

MS XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324103

You can get this stop error for a variety of reasons. Look at this list and try to figure out why you are getting the error.

This can be a driver issue. One culprit might be Roxio Easy CD Creator, or a CD R/W or a DVD R/W.

So when did this error start?


If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[bummper]

I copy the warning about the email. I'll read the rules more closely. Sorry and thanks for the "get well".

I hesitated about mentioning Nlite, but that is a solution. But you still need the drivers to make it work. Actually, I found that SATA drivers necessary to install Windows XP are missing from the Dell XP CD's. The Vista drivers fail on Dell XP slipstream installs for me.

Look on your motherboard for a part number, model number or even a name. Google it and you may ID the mfg. and their corresponding board model, go to their site and look for SATA drivers for the XP OS. Put 'em on floppy or if none, use Nlite to make a new CD with SATA. BTW, a USB connected actual floppy drive, WILL in most cases, 'F6'. If you can get your hands on one.

I have a set of ASUS SATA drivers that have worked on just about everything so far. FYI. Alot of Dell's newer boards are ASUS I've recently found, but I don't know about your 8400.

If the 8400 has an IDE connector too (?), just get an ATA drive and run from there. Better than looking at a door stop.

All this trouble because MS has supressed newer drivers for XP in order to force Vista onto the market. <sigh> I've been picking up unactivated copies of XP Pro for future use (gone in June?) people ask me to rip Vista from their new machines all the time and these will come in handy until the other peripheral device drivers for XP begin to dry up too.

 

[jediwarrior]

Hi all,
Hey BUMMPER,hope you get well soon. Been in Post OP myself, and what a PAIN. No pun intended.
So here is what i did, pretty much everything you guys threw at me, and non of them worked. I put on new SATA drivers, no joy , I removed both the CD and DVD drives, no joy, and I tried the CTRL+F11 while booting up,no joy. I reseated everything in the computer, SIMMS,video card, network card, reseated all the cables to everyting, and no joy. SO...I replaced the HDD with a known good one from another PC and it worked,it booted just fine. So the problem, seems to be with the HDD, which I'll replace, and the problem should be fixed.
So thanks for everyones,help, I needed it bad. Very useful information. someone's getting a star.

Jediwarrior