Unknown Computer Condition

[nixon]

I'm using Windows XP Build 2600, on a AMD Thunderbird 1400 Mhz, 256 DDR ram computer.

Now, sometimes, when I want to restart my computer, choosing Turn Off Computer --> Restart, the computer exits Windows and tries to load it, but fails. I look at the harddisk indicator, which shows a constant light while the screen is black. It can't enter Windows again.

Typically, there is no reset button on the computer, so I press the power button for 5 secs and it turns off. Then I start it again, and a screen prompts where you can choose between Starting Windows Normally, Safe Mode, and Most Recent Settings. Only Safe Mode worked for me, when I turned the computer off and started it again ten times or more, and Windows still wouldn't start.

It varies how many times you have to push the power button on and off, sometimes 2, sometimes 10 or more.

This time, I managed to start Windows normally by entering the BIOS and exiting without having made any changes. I had to try something...



Has anyone experienced this before? And what could it be?


Thank you.

 

[funxus]

IIRC this has only happened to me when I was building my LAN for the first time. Some of the settings I made in the Network Configuration in the Control Panel caused this on the computer. I've spent days to fix this... So, if you've recently made any changes to your network config, this might be the problem.

If not, I'd suggest backing things up and reformat the computer.

 

[nixon]

No..I don't think I've made any changes there, as incidentially, the network doesn't work!

Actually, I ought to start a new thread for this, but simply; the network won't work between a Win98 computer and my own. There's nothing visible on the screen.

Could this be the reason? Is this a known XP issue that Microsoft provides somekind of help wth?

 

[Jeratain]

You need to run the network setup wizard on your XP machine and then make a setup disk for your Win98 computer so you can set that one up to communicate with your XP computer. The wizard tells you how to do it all.

As for your black screen problem - that sounds very strange and the explanation is a bit vague for me, so I don't know what to tell you.

 

[nixon]

Originally posted by Jeratain
You need to run the network setup wizard on your XP machine and then make a setup disk for your Win98 computer so you can set that one up to communicate with your XP computer. The wizard tells you how to do it all.

As for your black screen problem - that sounds very strange and the explanation is a bit vague for me, so I don't know what to tell you.

Yeah, I know. I did LOTS of times, but still no visible computer on my screen. I have NO clue whatsoever what to do about it, other than reformatting the whole thing.

As for the explanation, I'm sorry. Let me sum it up in one sentence: Windows fails to reboot for an unknown reason; it loads normally, but it fails to enter Windows. It's all black.

Now, I haven't been able to establish a pattern. But I assume, that if I left you guys now, and wanted to restart, it would fail, and I would have one helluva problem getting back into Windows.

 

[Jeratain]

But it loads fine with Safe Mode? Well then it's a possibility that you are having an issue with a particular service XP is loading, or that your computer is trying to load something in the registry that it cannot handle. Did you install anything recently that led to this proble, or has it always been happening?

You may have to disable all your services and then load each one indiviudually until you find out which one is your problem but that would take forever to do - literally. There are more than 70 services.

If you cannot find a solution to this problem, I'd recommend just backing up your computer's important files and reformatting it to see if that solves your immediate problem. Then one by one install all the other programs you need and reboot after each one to make sure it doesn't contribute to any problems.

Before you do this, make sure you have installed the XP Service Pack, and all security udates. Basically just download and install all the updates to see if that fixes your problem.

 

[nixon]

OK, thanks, Jeratain.

I've even run my Norton Systemworks, to see if it could solve my problem, but no. But but...Back in time, Norton used to do a helluva mess if you were unlucky. Could any of my Norton applications be doing something? Any of you who have experienced something with Norton?

It's times like these when you wish you had a DVD burner.
Basically, I have about 5-6 gigs of various music, photos, docs, and personal stuff which I'd rather keep and then live with this, than erasing it all. I guess there's no other option than looking for lots of blank CDs now.

 

[nihilistic]

Originally posted by nixon
I guess there's no other option than looking for lots of blank CDs now.

Well, in nyc cd-r's are as cheap as dirt (actually, dirt is quite expensive here in the city, comparatively).

Just visit your local Staples

 

[funxus]

Have you tried to ping the other computer, both the IP-address and the Computer's name? If you have a connection there, you might be able to send files over it instead of burning cds, although I don't know any programs for such needs.

Consider a Router, it costed a lot, but I've never had any problem with the network since then, and before I had about the same problem as you.

 

[nixon]

Yeah, I think I did that. There was no response. And I know it should work, because the other computer and mine are running through a hub which is then wired to the router. The sh't still doesn't work. I'm gonna get real nasty on it, and soon.

Yeah, thanks very much, nihilistic, but fortunately, I have some CDRWs left, which I can use.

Well, thanks for your help. Too bad this wasn't diagnosed.

 

[ainwood]

[bad advice]If backing up is one of your biggest concerns, if you have a bit of money to throw around lol then you could consider buying a new HD, and backing up to that.

It is probably a waste of money, but problems booting into windows could be a sign of a Hard Disk Drive controller being on the way out. An an extra HDD is always useful.[/bad advice]

However - once you get into windows, do you have any other problems? Is it only a problem on restarting? (ie logging off and then restarting? Is starting from a shut-down system working OK?) If so, then it won't be the HDD controller.

As a random thought, try a virus scan. If it is a shutdown / restart issue, then it might be a registry problem - something in a "runonce" key that only tries to run at startup. Would also tend to explain that it works in safemode.

 

[nixon]

The weird part is that my computer works perfectly once it's in.

Nah, money isn't problem. It would be nice to have an extra HD. But I replaced the one that I got with the computer with this one, if I'm not mistaken it is a Seagate Barracuda 60 gig HD.

Now, it exits Windows just fine, boots, and starts loading like it always does, but around the time when it's supposed to enter Windows, the HD light indicator is either constant or without a light. (and then the black screen; nothing happens from here)

Yep, safe mode works just fine. Actually, it's very nice, because it runs a lot faster.

And no other problems with Windows.

 

[wildWolverine]

per your networking problem, are you using a crossover cable to directly connect your xp machine to your 98 machine? If so, networking the two is fairly simple, and requires no setup disk for the 98 machine -- you just need to have the correct protocols installed. Recently i've been forced to do every possble combination of direct connections involving win 98, xp, 2000, and nt. loads of fun....

If this is the case, let me know, and i'll tell you how to easily do it.

 

[sw99]

No idea whats happening with your blank screens, but if you just want to get files off one computer and put them on another, simplest way is to just open up the cases, take the old hard drive out and put it in the destination machine as a slave drive. You'll need to set the jumpers on the hard drive accordingly but other than it's childsplay.

When I got the computer i'm using now, i wanted to transfer a lot of stuff from the ancient 486 I used to use, was quite strange having an 800mb drive alongside a 20Gb one but it worked a charm, just dragged the files across to the new drive.

 

[nixon]

@wildWolverine

It goes like this: cable from the Win98 machine to the HUB - cable from my machine to the HUB - and then a cable from the HUB to the router. It's fairly simple, AND networking has worked between the two. But one day - boom - the Win98 machine disapppeared from my WinXP "My Network Places", and since then, it's been gone. NOW, the funny part is, that the Win98 machine is able to see me, the WinXP machine, and transfer files, etc.!! What the hell? So what puzzles me is WHY the hell the line is closed from my side. WinXP is supposed to handle this all by itself, and configure the protocols all by itself. That's what Microsoft is sooo proud of. Yeah, well, explain this to me, then.

@sw99

Yep, thanks for the advice! It's very neat. So what I plan to do is to insert my 40 gb hard drive into this computer, and then transfer the stuff I need. Then I'll do a format c and move the files again. One thing is this; won't the computer act in an undesirable way if you suddenly remove the slave again? I mean, won't Windows flip out if a hard drive suddenly misses? Or maybe it's like one of these neat USB drives, where you just plug and unplug as you please. Anyway, I'll try it, and thanks a lot for your help!

 

[Jeratain]

Just curious, are you logged into both of your machines? When you turn them on, they should ask you for a username/password (at least the 98 one should) - make sure you enter a username and password, otherwise you'll be locked out of the network.

Of course, I'm sure you're already aware of this.

 

[wildWolverine]

i'm currently away from my puter w/ xp (at work), so i'll put a more detailed explanation up tomorrow, but just a few tips for now: you may want to consider using a crossover cable -- both windows 98 and xp have special software written in that allow them to take advantage of such a device -- in my experience, the fewer components (i.e., a hub), the better (w/ a crossover cable, you directly connect the two computers). you can buy a crossover cable from any tech store (Circuit City, Best Buy) for about $7. Secondly, like Jeratain said, make sure that you're logged into both computers AND that they're still in the same workgroup (I had an xp machine flip workgroups on me once, for not particular reason...) -- but I doubt this is your problem, as the 98 machine can still see the xp machine. Anyhow, sorry about the vagueness. I'll take a look at my xp machine tomorrow and [hopefully] make a better post. [Hopefully] because I currently can't access the xp portion of my puter (just installed 98 in a dual boot config, and am currently having difficulties manipulating the boot.ini)

 

[Hawkster]

just a quick note on the shutdown/black screen issue. I have a win98 pc at work which does exactly the same - I've never been able to figure out why (excpet it's tied in with networking somehow ) but what I've found works is by logging off the current user first, then doing the shut down - which then works fine. I don't know if this helps but posted for info. Good luck.

 

[sw99]

Originally posted by nixon

@sw99

Yep, thanks for the advice! It's very neat. So what I plan to do is to insert my 40 gb hard drive into this computer, and then transfer the stuff I need. Then I'll do a format c and move the files again. One thing is this; won't the computer act in an undesirable way if you suddenly remove the slave again? I mean, won't Windows flip out if a hard drive suddenly misses? Or maybe it's like one of these neat USB drives, where you just plug and unplug as you please. Anyway, I'll try it, and thanks a lot for your help!

Nope, it should just recognise the new drive at the bios, boot as normal from the master drive, and once you're done copying files over, just take it out and windows will act like it's never been connected. Just make sure you don't connect/disconnect the drive with the power on hehe.

 

[nixon]

That's perfect. Thanks for your help. I inserted the other drive, and it works just fine. As for the network issue; it finally works! There is a hole through now, after having reformatted the other computer and re-installed Windows 98 SE. Both computers are visible at BOTH workstations now.