XP will not boot and can't boot from CD

[killermeteor]

Thanks in advance for any advice given - I consider myself to be a high level computer technician. I have a friend who has a desktop computer. For the past two months she has only been able to boot into safe mode. If you try to boot into normal mode, the splash screen just keeps going and going and it never progresses past that point. That tells me that her MBR is not right. However, I also can't boot from the emergency Windows XP SP2 disc I created. When booting from CD, I am presented with "BOOT FROM CD:" but not "press any key to boot from cd". The CD drive is set to the first boot device. The drive is good because you can see the contents of the CD in safe mode. She has a ps2 keyboard but I have also tried enabling USB legacy in the BIOS and using a USB keyboard but that was unsuccessful as well. I have tried everything at the following link:

http://forums.techguy.org/windows-xp/577323-solved-cant-boot-cd.html

System restore is not working correctly either. If you try to go back past the current month, it takes you to March 2004. I have run virus and malware scans and deleted anything that was malicious. This has become extremely frustrating because I can't restore or reload her machine if I wanted to. Please help.

System Manufacturer: VIA Technologies
BIOS version: Phoenix Technologies LTD 6.00 PG
AwardBIOS

 

[flyboytim]

If it boots at all, and you state it boots into safe mode, then the MBR is likely to be ok, I would think.

Safe mode uses a basic set of drivers. If the windows registry is corrupt, some drivers may not be loading hence the hang on the splash screen. Some system drivers may be missing, or have been accidentally moved, deleted or corrupted. Perhaps there is a device that is not responding correctly.

The first thing I would do is to open the case, clean off all the dust and fans, and make sure all connectors were in place, and firmly seated, including the CD and hard disk cables, memory modules and all expansion cards and other connectors and cables.

It would be useful to know the system manufacturer, model number and basic specifications (processor, Hard disk, RAM, etc.) beyond the VIA chipset and Phoenix/Award BIOS version.

Have the BIOS options been altered? Is there a fail-safe mode?
The BIOS is probably rather old (12/2003 perhaps?), perhaps the original version, and upgrades may be available, which may improve USB detection/performance, and extend the boot options.

If the owner did not have a Windows install disk, does the hard disk have a recovery partition, and can this be accessed by a key combination from the BIOS splash screen?

Can you boot from the CD on another PC? Have you another bootable CD (whatever flavour) that you can try?

 

[G0AOZ]

Make a note of any special settings in the BIOS. Clear CMOS either using the relevant motherboard jumper, or pull the battery for a few minutes.

Try running a memory test, something like MEMTEST86 -

http://www.memtest86.com/download.html

Use a clean unscratched original manufacturer's CD to boot Windows XP, and if that fails, check your CD/DVD drive by substitution.

Next step would be to check the motherboard for bad bulging or leaking capacitors -

http://www.badcaps.net/pages.php?vid=5

Whilst you're checking the motherboard, see that the CPU heatsink/fan assembly is seated correctly. Look at the BIOS hardware monitor and observe the CPU temperature. If deemed necessary, separate from CPU, blast out any accumulated dust and dirt, clean contact surfaces, then apply a thin smear of new compound and reseat.

Try changing the PSU for a known good one of the same or higher Wattage output.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[goombawaho]

Not sure about your troubleshooting logic if you didn't do memory tests, hard drive tests, reset the BIOS, swap optical drives, try a different install CD OR boot from a bootable (linux or windows) CD to see if the system would operate BEFORE posting.

I wouldn't have cried uncle until I had done all of those things and in the following order.

1. Memory Test
2. Check all connections on motherboard and look for bad caps
3. Reset BIOS
4. Boot with a bootable CD (BARTPE or LINUX CD)
5. Manufacturer's hard drive test
6. Change optical drives
7. Change XP CDs
8. Swap power supplies

After all that, I'd kind of start to think "bad motherboard". The lack of an a-ha moment after doing any of the above would leave me at that conclusion.

 

[killermeteor]

Thanks for the responses. The logic behnid my troubleshooting is that my resources were limited and I was unable to do things such as switch optical drives. Anyway, the problem wound up being her motherboard. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[goombawaho]

Okay - but you didn't say that. Yeah, you have to be really prepared to troubleshoot these tough problems (spare power supply, different optical drive, different OS CD) - it's a pain to be prepared to do battle.