Startup problems

[mobileman]

I have a desktop that will not startup after a power outage. The power went off three time and back on - then the computer started for the third time. It starts to load Win2000 then goes to a blue screen and says there is no bootable device. Did windows get corrupted or do you think the hard drive lost a sector?

 

[brainweed]

Blue screen means driver or hardware issue. Let me Know what the blue screen says 0000x something. You can try pulling out memory and reseting it. Also pull out any add on cards to see if that is the problem. Usually the modem if its a PCI.

 

[wahnula]

If you value the data on the hard drive and have access to another PC I would immediately connect your hard drive as a slave drive in another PC and image or copy it before turning the machine on again. There is a possibility the PSU or MB was damaged by brown power (less voltage than standard) or there was some surge damage to some of the components, hopefully not the hard drive. If you're all backed up & OK then I would download and run your drive maker's diagnostic tool. It runs in DOS so Windows is not involved. Next check out the PSU, test the output voltage with a multimeter or a $20 PSU tester.

You could also try a repair install (second repair option) of Win2K from the CD, you will lose all your updates but it might get you back up.

There are Smart UPSes (battery + surge protector) with power regulation, correction and conditioning features that cost less than $100. Remember power-strip surge protectors deteriorate over time and 'wear out' to the point they offer no protection. A smart UPS will also safely shut your PC down unattended. I wish you the best.

Tony

 

[mobileman]

The computer starts to load 2000 then changes to the blue screen with:
Stop : 0x0000007b {ox814b0470,0xc0000032,0x00000000,0x00000000)
INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE

 

[wahnula]

mobileman,

Have you tried booting into Safe Mode (press F8 while booting)?

You can always try "Last Known Good Configuration" but that has NEVER worked for me.

First clear CMOS on the MB by moving the jumper or removing the battery for a few minutes.

To test the drive, look at the hard drive and get the make & model, go to that company's website and download the HDD diagnostics utility for your drive. It will load itself onto a floppy or you can burn the file to CD, it runs in DOS not Windows. Go into BIOS (usually 'Delete' during boot) and enable the machine to boot first from floppy or CD, whatever the case.

Another thought would be to create a Knoppix CD:

http://www.knoppix.net/get.php

or BartPE CD:

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

and see if you can get to your files. Another option is to enter the Recovery Console while booting from the Win2K CD, then run Chkdsk /r.

I have a dozen Win2K machines, if the hard drive checks out I would do a repair install from the Win2K CD. Works every time.

Tony