What the - - -

whitecree · March 9th, 2007

One dead HDD later, I decide I just gotta reinstall the OS. Thankfully, I was smart fromt he start, and all I lost was the OS and a couple of minor files that were of no real serious value.

I'm too cheap to buy a brand new drive, and the prices locally are ridiculous ($80 for a 20GB!!!??!!) and getting one in online is too long a wait.

So, dust off old reliable #2 - a Maxtor 30GB/5400 rpm - plug it in, insert XP disc, and away we go.

Now, I have nothing all that exciting on my system, just what you see in my sig below. Good, stable, middle-of-the-road system. But it seems to be a real problem lately.

During the install, the system reports that it "cannot install autochk.exe", did I want to continue or abort?

So I told it continue, thinking I can always dig 'autochk' out of my wife's system and copy it over to the appropriate folder. But when the install finished, the autochk file was in it's proper place - Windows/System32. Hmmmm.

Dig out the mobo disc, install the chipset & sound drivers, then the ATI disc for the vidcard. Reboot each and every time just to settle things in.

Taking a break, I fire up the built in Spider Solitaire game. I like to play this in lower res than 1024x768 to spare my aching eyes, so I switch it down to 800x600/16bit color. The machine restarts, even though I've told it to just apply the settings.

Hmmmm, again.

I then decide a hard shutdown is in order. I do this thing, and what happens is I get -

"We apologize for the inconvinince, but it appears Windows didn't start. Recent hardware or software changes might cause this.

If the computer stopped responding or restarted unexpectedly or automatically shut down to protect files/folders, choose "Last known Good Configuration" to revert to most recent settings that worked.

If previous attempt was interrupted due to power outtage, power button uise or reset button use or you don't know why the system restarted, choose "Start Normally"

(pick one)

Safe mode
Safe mode with networking
safe mode with command prompt
Last Known Good
Normal

So what the heck is going on? The SMART doesn't report a drive failure and this drive worked just dandy as a Win98 drive as recently as last week. And yes, I formatted as NTFS before installing XP.

Jokerswild · March 9th, 2007

Did you restart with last known good configuration? The problem on the install makes me wonder if there might have been a install problem even though you found the file. If you have the time I would reinstall the OS again or if the system came back up and is running ok with last known good config. then just run it awhile and look for anything out of the ordinary.

screwballl · March 9th, 2007

Did you use the same ATA ribbon? that may be the problem... or the hard drive controller port on the motherboard itself...
or if it is the same power supply it may be on the way out...

whitecree · March 9th, 2007

I'll be trying a complete reinstall this weekend. The PSU is maybe a year old, nothing major, but I find them very reliable - Enhance, if the name means anything.

Yes, used same ribbon cable.

Tried the 'start from last known good' but it still craps out.

Something else I just noticed an hour or so ago is the system gives a sort of buzz, pasues, buzzes again, then does a POST beep. Sometimes it will buzz once more before the first screen comes on.

No, the buzz isn't one of the HDDs, the floppy or an optical. I disconnected all of those, and I still get a buzz. Sort of an accelerated click. Click codes, anyone?

Dread · March 9th, 2007

The 'buzz' might be your system speaker trying to beep, but is getting a corrupt signal or interference from another device.

Can you get a better locate on where it might be coming from?

Could also be coming from your PSU, or a system fan.

Lead Head · March 9th, 2007

Enhance is a good maker of PSUs, makes soem of the silverstone PSUs AFAIK, not sure about your problem though.

whitecree · March 9th, 2007

Well, so far I've chased the buzz out. Would you believe a small piece of cellophane wedged (somehow) under the exhaust fan? Methinks my grandson must have come in and 'helped' his grand-dad. He's fascinated with the things I do to various boxes.

I'm wondering if it was a bad or incorrect driver somewhere. Reinstalling the system is such a routine, I don't really pay attention to every detail as I work. I did a clean reinstall of XP, then the chipset driver, onboard sound and videocard drivers. Reboot after each, of course. So far, no major hassles, but I'll know for sure when I reinstall COD2 (wishing it was COD3!!)

Keeping my fingers crossed...

Jokerswild · March 10th, 2007

Cool, keeping my fingers crossed for COD2.

whitecree · March 10th, 2007

Aw crap!

(sigh) back to the drawing board...

**stinger608** · March 10th, 2007

The first thing that brings up an alarm is..........A Soyo motherboard!!!!!

I have had 2 of them in the past, and both took a big dump on me

March 9th, 2007	#1
whitecree Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: deep in the forest, chipping away at some yellow cedar Posts: 173	What the - - - One dead HDD later, I decide I just gotta reinstall the OS. Thankfully, I was smart fromt he start, and all I lost was the OS and a couple of minor files that were of no real serious value. I'm too cheap to buy a brand new drive, and the prices locally are ridiculous ($80 for a 20GB!!!??!!) and getting one in online is too long a wait. So, dust off old reliable #2 - a Maxtor 30GB/5400 rpm - plug it in, insert XP disc, and away we go. Now, I have nothing all that exciting on my system, just what you see in my sig below. Good, stable, middle-of-the-road system. But it seems to be a real problem lately. During the install, the system reports that it "cannot install autochk.exe", did I want to continue or abort? So I told it continue, thinking I can always dig 'autochk' out of my wife's system and copy it over to the appropriate folder. But when the install finished, the autochk file was in it's proper place - Windows/System32. Hmmmm. Dig out the mobo disc, install the chipset & sound drivers, then the ATI disc for the vidcard. Reboot each and every time just to settle things in. Taking a break, I fire up the built in Spider Solitaire game. I like to play this in lower res than 1024x768 to spare my aching eyes, so I switch it down to 800x600/16bit color. The machine restarts, even though I've told it to just apply the settings. Hmmmm, again. I then decide a hard shutdown is in order. I do this thing, and what happens is I get - "We apologize for the inconvinince, but it appears Windows didn't start. Recent hardware or software changes might cause this. If the computer stopped responding or restarted unexpectedly or automatically shut down to protect files/folders, choose "Last known Good Configuration" to revert to most recent settings that worked. If previous attempt was interrupted due to power outtage, power button uise or reset button use or you don't know why the system restarted, choose "Start Normally" (pick one) Safe mode Safe mode with networking safe mode with command prompt Last Known Good Normal So what the heck is going on? The SMART doesn't report a drive failure and this drive worked just dandy as a Win98 drive as recently as last week. And yes, I formatted as NTFS before installing XP. P4 2Ghz, soyo dragon2 mobo, 3x256 pc3200, radeon 9200 128Mb, pioneer 4x cd/dvd combo, 40G + 80G Hdds, pinnacle firewire, onboard sound, 35W psu

March 9th, 2007	#3
screwballl Colonel Calamity Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sandy South Posts: 6,277 Blog Entries: 6	Re: What the - - - Did you use the same ATA ribbon? that may be the problem... or the hard drive controller port on the motherboard itself... or if it is the same power supply it may be on the way out... Thanks HL and Corsair! My opinions are my own and not representative of this site or its members.

March 9th, 2007	#4
whitecree Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: deep in the forest, chipping away at some yellow cedar Posts: 173	Re: What the - - - I'll be trying a complete reinstall this weekend. The PSU is maybe a year old, nothing major, but I find them very reliable - Enhance, if the name means anything. Yes, used same ribbon cable. Tried the 'start from last known good' but it still craps out. Something else I just noticed an hour or so ago is the system gives a sort of buzz, pasues, buzzes again, then does a POST beep. Sometimes it will buzz once more before the first screen comes on. No, the buzz isn't one of the HDDs, the floppy or an optical. I disconnected all of those, and I still get a buzz. Sort of an accelerated click. Click codes, anyone? P4 2Ghz, soyo dragon2 mobo, 3x256 pc3200, radeon 9200 128Mb, pioneer 4x cd/dvd combo, 40G + 80G Hdds, pinnacle firewire, onboard sound, 35W psu

March 9th, 2007	#5
Dread Jumpmaster Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lansing, KS Posts: 674	Re: What the - - - The 'buzz' might be your system speaker trying to beep, but is getting a corrupt signal or interference from another device. Can you get a better locate on where it might be coming from? Could also be coming from your PSU, or a system fan. AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo @2211.3 MHz MS-7125 Rev 1.0 nForce4 K8N-Neo4 Plat Phoenix 6.00 PG 05/22/2006 BIOS 2 x OCZ4001024PF 1 GB PC3200/400 3-3-3-8 2T nVidia XFX GF8800GT 512 DX9c Samsung SyncMaster 930B 1 x WD800JB / 2 x WD2000JD HP DVD640 OCZ 520ADJ SLI PSU

March 9th, 2007	#6
Lead Head Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rhode Island USA Posts: 1,716	Re: What the - - - Enhance is a good maker of PSUs, makes soem of the silverstone PSUs AFAIK, not sure about your problem though. Opteron 64 165--1.5GB DDR--ECS KA1 MVP(thanks HL!)--x1800GTO 256MB--Seagate 320GB SATA--Antec 550 Watt--Antec P180

March 9th, 2007	#2
Jokerswild ButtHead Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5,217	Re: What the - - - Did you restart with last known good configuration? The problem on the install makes me wonder if there might have been a install problem even though you found the file. If you have the time I would reinstall the OS again or if the system came back up and is running ok with last known good config. then just run it awhile and look for anything out of the ordinary.

March 9th, 2007	#7
whitecree Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: deep in the forest, chipping away at some yellow cedar Posts: 173	Re: What the - - - Well, so far I've chased the buzz out. Would you believe a small piece of cellophane wedged (somehow) under the exhaust fan? Methinks my grandson must have come in and 'helped' his grand-dad. He's fascinated with the things I do to various boxes. I'm wondering if it was a bad or incorrect driver somewhere. Reinstalling the system is such a routine, I don't really pay attention to every detail as I work. I did a clean reinstall of XP, then the chipset driver, onboard sound and videocard drivers. Reboot after each, of course. So far, no major hassles, but I'll know for sure when I reinstall COD2 (wishing it was COD3!!) Keeping my fingers crossed... P4 2Ghz, soyo dragon2 mobo, 3x256 pc3200, radeon 9200 128Mb, pioneer 4x cd/dvd combo, 40G + 80G Hdds, pinnacle firewire, onboard sound, 35W psu

March 10th, 2007	#8
Jokerswild ButtHead Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5,217	Re: What the - - - Cool, keeping my fingers crossed for COD2.

March 10th, 2007	#9
whitecree Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: deep in the forest, chipping away at some yellow cedar Posts: 173	Re: What the - - - Aw crap! (sigh) back to the drawing board... P4 2Ghz, soyo dragon2 mobo, 3x256 pc3200, radeon 9200 128Mb, pioneer 4x cd/dvd combo, 40G + 80G Hdds, pinnacle firewire, onboard sound, 35W psu

March 10th, 2007	#10
stinger608 Silence..Or I kill you! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In the Zone! Posts: 2,849 Blog Entries: 1	Re: What the - - - The first thing that brings up an alarm is..........A Soyo motherboard!!!!! I have had 2 of them in the past, and both took a big dump on me