Help - I can't boot

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someone

I have been having big trouble with this pesky box of mine for
the past several weeks.

When I start cold, during boot up, just after "Windows 98" comes up,
the whole thing "Quits" - shuts itself down. Black screen, no fan, no
nothing. I have to disconnect power to the machine
for several minutes to "give it time to rest". I repeat a few times
before I "break through" and get it to finish the boot.

Here are some details:

Try #1 - Turn on computer. Starts to boot. Gets to "Windows 98"
screen. Goes to "ScanDisk". Scans C-Drive. Computer quits. Screen
to turns black. I electrically disconnect the computer and reconnect.
No response until computer has "rested" for a few minutes.

Try #2 - Time passes. Push computer start button. Machine starts.
As before, goes to "Windows 98". then to "ScanDisk" then to "Windows
98" screen. Then machine quits.

Try #3 - Turn on machine. Boot reaches the menu containing choices
including "Safe Mode". I select "Safe Mode". Nothing happens, so I
hit "F5" for choice of Safe Mode. Machine quits.

Try #4 - Turn on machine. This time I reach the W98 desktop. Start
up finishes. Machine fully operating.

These procedures take about 5-10 minutes. If I shutdown the
machine or it commits suicide, I have to go through the same steps
again.

Anyone have a suggestion?
 
I have been having big trouble with this pesky box of mine for
the past several weeks.

When I start cold, during boot up, just after "Windows 98" comes up,
the whole thing "Quits" - shuts itself down. Black screen, no fan, no
nothing. I have to disconnect power to the machine
for several minutes to "give it time to rest". I repeat a few times
before I "break through" and get it to finish the boot.
Click to expand...

Check out your memory: download memtest86 from
http://www.memtest86.com or Windows Memory Diagnostic from
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp.

-- Bob Day
Try HomeSentinel free: http://bobday.vze.com, bottom of page.
 
I have been having big trouble with this pesky box of mine for
the past several weeks.

When I start cold, during boot up, just after "Windows 98" comes up,
the whole thing "Quits" - shuts itself down. Black screen, no fan, no
nothing. I have to disconnect power to the machine
for several minutes to "give it time to rest". I repeat a few times
before I "break through" and get it to finish the boot.

Here are some details:

Try #1 - Turn on computer. Starts to boot. Gets to "Windows 98"
screen. Goes to "ScanDisk". Scans C-Drive. Computer quits. Screen
to turns black. I electrically disconnect the computer and reconnect.
No response until computer has "rested" for a few minutes.

Try #2 - Time passes. Push computer start button. Machine starts.
As before, goes to "Windows 98". then to "ScanDisk" then to "Windows
98" screen. Then machine quits.

Try #3 - Turn on machine. Boot reaches the menu containing choices
including "Safe Mode". I select "Safe Mode". Nothing happens, so I
hit "F5" for choice of Safe Mode. Machine quits.

Try #4 - Turn on machine. This time I reach the W98 desktop. Start
up finishes. Machine fully operating.

These procedures take about 5-10 minutes. If I shutdown the
machine or it commits suicide, I have to go through the same steps
again.

Anyone have a suggestion?
Click to expand...

You don't mention anything about your system ( a big no-no by the way). How
old is it? What CPU, what motherboard, how much RAM, how powerful is your
power supply and what brand, how long has Windows been installed? I realise
you may not know all these things but it's nice to know at least as much as
you do. And the most important one: Did you do anything to your PC that
coincided with this behaviour manifesting? Installed new software? Hardware?
Driver?

At this stage, with virtually no information to go on, I'm thinking maybe
something's wrong. :-)

Suggestion: When you finally have the beast running, do a scandisk, thorough
option. It'll take a a while so take the dog for a walk or something.
 
I have been having big trouble with this pesky box of mine for
the past several weeks.

When I start cold, during boot up, just after "Windows 98" comes up,
the whole thing "Quits" - shuts itself down. Black screen, no fan, no
nothing. I have to disconnect power to the machine
for several minutes to "give it time to rest". I repeat a few times
before I "break through" and get it to finish the boot.
Click to expand...

If by "disconnect power to the machine", you mean unplugging the AC cord,
switching the power suppy's rear switch, or switching a surge protector,
etc, such that the end result is removal of AC, "usually" that's a sign of
a failing power supply or an intermittent electrical short in some
component. You might check voltages with a multimeter and inspect case
interior for signs of a problem and verify that all cables and components
are well seated. While you're in the case verify that fans, particularly
the CPU fan but also power supply fan(s) are spinning when power is
applied.

You might also enter the BIOS setup and just leave it sitting there (in
the hardware monitor/health screen if there is one, watching the reported
temps and voltage, else any other menu screen) and see if it shuts down.

Here are some details:

Try #1 - Turn on computer. Starts to boot. Gets to "Windows 98"
screen. Goes to "ScanDisk". Scans C-Drive. Computer quits. Screen
to turns black. I electrically disconnect the computer and reconnect.
No response until computer has "rested" for a few minutes.
Click to expand...

Is it possible that if you'd just left the machine turned off for same
time interval, then it'd boot? If you DON'T disconnect power, what then
happens if you try to power-on, nothing at all, not even fans or LEDs
working?

You could try booting to boot menu ( <F8> after bios enumeration screen)
and choose to make a bootlog. On subsequent boots you can use the menu to
go to DOS (command prompt) and view bootmenu with command "type
bootlog.txt". The last entry(s) are significant. You might also leave it
sitting at the command prompt and see if it shuts down.

Try #2 - Time passes. Push computer start button. Machine starts.
As before, goes to "Windows 98". then to "ScanDisk" then to "Windows
98" screen. Then machine quits.

Try #3 - Turn on machine. Boot reaches the menu containing choices
including "Safe Mode". I select "Safe Mode". Nothing happens, so I
hit "F5" for choice of Safe Mode. Machine quits.

Try #4 - Turn on machine. This time I reach the W98 desktop. Start
up finishes. Machine fully operating.

These procedures take about 5-10 minutes. If I shutdown the
machine or it commits suicide, I have to go through the same steps
again.

Anyone have a suggestion?
Click to expand...

Inspect motherboard for failed capacitors... residue, vented, leaky, or
domed "cracked" tops are common symptoms.

How long will the machine keep working if it completes step #4?

Remove (disconnect) all nonessential components then see if it boots or at
least progresses any further. If you had a different video card, power
supply, or motherboard you could swap in, it might be useful to do so.

You made no mention of hardware specifics, including CPU, video card, make
and model of power supply, motherboard, number of drives, etc.
 
I have been having big trouble with this pesky box of mine for
the past several weeks.

When I start cold, during boot up, just after "Windows 98" comes up,
the whole thing "Quits" - shuts itself down. Black screen, no fan, no
nothing. I have to disconnect power to the machine
for several minutes to "give it time to rest". I repeat a few times
before I "break through" and get it to finish the boot.

Here are some details:

Try #1 - Turn on computer. Starts to boot. Gets to "Windows 98"
screen. Goes to "ScanDisk". Scans C-Drive. Computer quits. Screen
to turns black. I electrically disconnect the computer and reconnect.
No response until computer has "rested" for a few minutes.
Click to expand...

Here's some thoughts...in no particular order...

You've got Scandisk set to check for errors when the computer does not
shut down properly. This is a royal PITA. Turn off this
feature...then do a scandisk as part of your weekly maintenance
routines.
Try #2 - Time passes. Push computer start button. Machine starts.
As before, goes to "Windows 98". then to "ScanDisk" then to "Windows
98" screen. Then machine quits.

Try #3 - Turn on machine. Boot reaches the menu containing choices
including "Safe Mode". I select "Safe Mode". Nothing happens, so I
hit "F5" for choice of Safe Mode. Machine quits.

Try #4 - Turn on machine. This time I reach the W98 desktop. Start
up finishes. Machine fully operating.
Click to expand...

The next time you get to this point, create a rescue disk for the
machine (I forget how to get to that area in 98 anymore). I think its
right click on My Computer/Properties.

Then, do a virus check, Ad-Aware, CW Shredder, HiJack This, etc.
Also, run msconfig for things that shouldn't be there...or aren't
really needed at startup.
These procedures take about 5-10 minutes. If I shutdown the
machine or it commits suicide, I have to go through the same steps
again.

Anyone have a suggestion?
Click to expand...

The first thing to do is figure out whether you have a software
problem...or a hardware problem. And sometimes that isn't easy.

Boot into that rescue disk you just made. If it boots okay, go to the
C drive...and just let it sit there for an hour or so.

Then try that a few times...with enough time in between to let it
cycle to the #1 example.

Let us know how you make out.

Good luck.


Have a nice week...

Trent

What do you call a smart blonde?
A golden retriever.
 
Sounds like your Windows files for bootup are corrupt. You may have to
reformat the harddrive and do a clean install of Windows.
 
DaveW said:
Sounds like your Windows files for bootup are corrupt. You may have to
reformat the harddrive and do a clean install of Windows.
Click to expand...
IMHO this isn't likely to cause intermittant problems. Rather, you'd
never bake it boot normally. There have been exceptions, of course, but
I'd point to the hardware first...

--
-Luke-
If cars had advanced at the same rate as Micr0$oft technology, they'd be
flying by now.
But who wants a car that crashes 8 times a day?
Registered Linux User #345134
 
Turned out to be the power supply.

Seems okay now, with a replacement.

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

Cya
 
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