XP Pro Boot/Install/Problems

[merlinsghost]

Here's a rundown of the problem:

When booting Windows XP, I got a BIOS error message (do not remember what it was). It gave me the option to either continue or enter BIOS setup. I told it to continue.

The actual startup took longer than usual, and when I logged onto Windows, it said it was unable to load "Style XP" because the system clock had been rolled back and was incorrect (or something to that effect). Windows then detected all of my hardware and kept telling me "your new hardware is installed and ready to use."

Things were running normally (albeit a little slower than usual). When I rebooted my computer a few hours later, the computer posted normally, beeped twice, then tried to start Windows. After that, it gave me an error message starting with "We're sorry for the inconvience...." At the end of the two pargraphs, it had five advanced start-up options; the three safe mode options (Safe mode, safe mode with networking support, and Safe mode with command prompt), and it gave me the "Last Known Good Configuration" and "Boot Normally" options.

Neither of these five options work. They all freeze the computer when Windows tries to boot or start up.

The drives are NTFS (120 and 60 GB).
Also, a Norton virus scan was run on the computer during its uptime after the initial hardware re-detection, and no viruses were detected/found.

SP-1 was installed.

Any ideas?

Oh, I cannot get Windows Setup to run either. It gives me an error message that reads something like: An Enexpected Error Occured (0) at line 1768 D drive XP client\base\boot\setup\arcdisp.c

Thanks in advance for any help given.

[DocPC]

Sounds like the CMOS battery may have died?

[TripleRLtd]

Sounds like the CMOS battery may have died?True!!
Your message was probably a CMOS failure.
Try replacing the battery before we go any further.
Also, give us details about your PC: brand, mainboard, etc....

[NooNoo]

Yes, certainly the cmos settings have been reset to defaults. The errors you are getting are because the machine no longer "looks" the way it did to xp. Check your ram timings, your hard disk settings and put them to auto. Update the clock settings so they are correct.

It could also be that a stick of ram died and caused the reset. www.simmtester.com download docmem and test your ram

[merlinsghost]

Hey guys!

Thanks for the help so far. :)

I picked up a different CMOS battery today (pried it off of an Intel mobo), and replaced my old battery with it.

Now, when I turn on my computer, the system gives me 13 beeps... the timing goes something like this:

*beep*beep!* <pause> *beep*beep*beep*beep...(8 times) <longer pause> *beep*beep* <pause> *beep*

Then... nothing.

My screen remains black throughout; the monitor doesn't even seem to register (its light flashes).

(This is merlinsghost's girlfriend btw... he posted on my behalf last night. So if I sound like a newbie... that is why. :p)

Now, when I stick my old battery back in, it gives me the same series of beeps, no difference.

My old battery and the "new" one are both CR2032. However, my old one was + KTR, Japan STD (voltage unknown); the new one is Panasonic, 3V. Could that have made a difference?

I also picked up a 3V Energizer, CR2025 today... haven't tried that yet. Will do so in a moment.


My mainboard is a K7 from ECS Elitegroup... K7S5A Pro (Form factor ATX).

My CPU is an AMD Athlon +1900. (Radeon 8500, erm... I think that's all the relevant stuff.)

Thanks again, guys! =)

- Susan

[merlinsghost]

Errr... whoops!

I think I got those beeps because my video card just wasn't plugged in properly; when I installed the CR2025 battery, I notice that I pushed the VC in further than I did previously. Now, I'm getting what I did before; that "We're sorry for the inconvenience" screen. I never thought I'd be happy to see that again.

I wonder if the different battery CR numbers will make a difference.

Now I'm going to try what NooNoo suggested, and reset my RAM timings and HD settings to auto, etc.

=)

[merlinsghost]

Yes, certainly the cmos settings have been reset to defaults. The errors you are getting are because the machine no longer "looks" the way it did to xp. Check your ram timings, your hard disk settings and put them to auto.

Sorry to be a bother, but... how do I know which RAM timings are the correct ones? How do I set my HD to auto?

Thanks!

- Susan

[NooNoo]

Sorry to be a bother, but... how do I know which RAM timings are the correct ones? How do I set my HD to auto?

Thanks!

- Susan
ok you press del when its counting ram to go into the cmos setup

the first menu item should give you the hard drives etc - there are four possibles, primary master, primary slave, secondary master, secondary slave. using the page up and page down or + - keys depending (read bottom of screen for keyboard controls) change each of them to auto.

Ram is on another menu page...

[merlinsghost]

IT WORKS!!!! ^___^

Thanks again! :D

I don't think I had to set my HDs to auto, but I did disable my onboard sound, and set my RAM latency to 2T. I think that the enabled onboard sound was conflicting with my external sound card and preventing things from working properly even after the battery was replaced. My RAM latency of 2.5T also prevented me from booting properly.

Now, just have to deal with my louder-than-a-fridge CPU fan...

- Susan

[NooNoo]

coool