Possible hard drive problem?

[Akhkharu]

okay, yesterday I rebooted my machine. (Nothing has changed hardware or software wise) I have win2k and the computer boots until the point that windows should start. Then it just reboots again. It will do this all day if you leave it on. I've tried going in through safe mode, and just about every option in the f8 boot menu....nothing, same thing. I've tried booting from a floppy and it doesn't see the c: drive at all. The drive shows on the list during boot up, but that's it. I've also ran checks on the drive using western digital's "data lifeguard tools". Nothing came up. Could this be a virus? I know there are viruses that cause your c: drive to not show up... I'm doubtful though. Can anyone think of any way to get the data off that drive? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

-Bill

 

[aldog]

Start Windows in safe-mode.

Go to Start--> "Run", and type in: msconfig.

You most likely have enabled your config.sys or autoexec.bat file by accident, or else there is a bad line.

You can disable these files from being loaded at startup by clicking on the tab and unchecking the MSCONFIG.SYS and/or AUTOEXEC.BAT from startup.

I had this same exact problem with Windows 98. Unfortunatley I am running Windows XP right now and I'm not sure what lines are doing this.

 

[aldog]

If the computer won't start in safe-mode, then select F8 and step-by-step and hit yes for GUI, hit no for Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files and yes for everything else except device drivers...this should work.

 

[Akhkharu]

aldog: I cannot boot the PC, therefore I cannot go to start--> "Run" anything. And to your other post, win2k does not have a "step-by-step" in the f8 boot menu. Thanks though.

 

[wolluf]

Are you using ntfs or fat32 filestore? (if ntfs, boot floppy - presumably win9x/ME wouldn't see C: drive).

Is drive being recognised by the bios (does it appear on POST screen at boot)?

You wrote 'I have win2k and the computer boots until the point that windows should start'. Do you get anything displayed (messages, start of the 2k line of bars across the bottom etc)?

Have you tried recovery console?

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;229716.

If it will run, I'd try chkdsk.

 

[techpluscomputers]

I ran into this very same issue with a compaq computer that had originally been loaded with ME. It was a 700 celeron that I found had been severely overheated. The CPU core was royal blue instead of silver. I eventually changed the processor and motherboard. The data on the HDD was corrupted and lost. I hope you have better luck with yours.