Booting problem

[atlantisburn]

I upgraded HDD, Boot from win 2000 CD. BSOD error message "Check for a virus, HDD controller..." Replaced original HDD and same thing. Boot from floppy (which doesn't show up in bios or boot priority that I can see, But lights and seem to respond)and same message. Disconnect all but CD and system loads or says it is, loading different files, but to where? Memory? and I get same error message. Take out CD, boot and system just loops over and over. Tried all F8 option. Confused! any help. There is a flash by message right after mouse detection about enable and it so quick I can't read rest. And I get one beep, short.

 

[BadBigBen]

In the BIOS turn off the ANTI VIRUS CHECK...

Also turn off SMART and Plug&Play OS (or set to NO)...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[atlantisburn]

This is an older system, 266 mhz and I see no mention of anti- virus, The PNP was set to NO with no results. Thanks for trying though. One thing the bothers me is the if I boot up while floppy is disconnected I do not recieved a no floppy drive error of any kind.

 

[wolluf]

What size is new HD? Can older bios recognise it?

 

[dglienna]

Unless it's NTFS, then an older machine would only be able to see PART of the new disk, not the whole disk.

-David
2006 Microsoft Valueable Professional (MVP)
2006 Dell Certified System Professional (CSP)

 

[BadBigBen]

The BOOT ANTIVIRUS Check, has been implanted in the BIOS since Pentium Processors have been made...

Check in the sub menu where you detect the HDD...

on the other matter, if the FDD is turned off, in the BIOS, then pulling the cables on the FDD has no effect whatsoever on the BOOT process and will not spit out an error!!!

I also would suggest that you start from square one, meaning CLEAR the CMOS first... then Load DEFAULT values, then turn off the AntiViral BOOT Check, set SMART and Plug&Play OS to NO/OFF...


@dglienna -

Unless it's NTFS, then an older machine would only be able to see PART of the new disk, not the whole disk.

EH? where do you get this from??? NTFS has nothing to do with the BIOS/PC seeing the whole or part of a HDD... and anyhow, he has probs getting the OLD and NEW HDD ready for INSTALLING W2K...


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[dglienna]

I just meant that the HD might be too big for the BIOS to be able to see, so it would report the wrong size.

Does BIOS see the drive at its correct size? Is the jumper set right? Some BIOS requires that you don't use Cable Select, and plug in the primary in the second connector.

Also, make sure that you don't have the cable reversed.

-David
2006 Microsoft Valueable Professional (MVP)
2006 Dell Certified System Professional (CSP)

 

[BadBigBen]

@dglienna -

I just meant that the HD might be too big for the BIOS to be able to see, so it would report the wrong size.

now that is something completely different... but like he wrote, he has probs now even installing to the original drive, which means that the AntiViral Boot Check is active, and causes probs with the drive...

the rest is good advice...

but lets wait for him to respond to the thread...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[atlantisburn]

This was my first computer and the worst. A Gateway, 266 mhz, pent 2. I restored default settings. The PNP was set to NO. I have been over the "BIOS SETUP UTILITY" by pressing F1 after start up and I see nothing to tell anything about anti virus or even the type or size of hard drive. The only thing I see regardig HDD in first boot device, deley and power. I also see nothing for floppy in first boot device but there is a set up for floppy to set to 1.33 ect... Chain of events, Removed win98se fat32 40 gig HDD (Odd thing, when I replace same HDD, video drivers are not present, but this Hdd does boot up. Traded out for very original win98se fat32 6.8 HDD and I get looping of startup or when ask to boot from a win 2000 cd I get that BSOD. Third HDD is win 2000 NTFS 80 gig that has possible problems and I get same problem. Win 2000 cd can't seem to format last two drives. I swear I remember getting floppy drive not present errors on this machine but could be another machine. I naturaly thought that it was on all machines. Anyways it doesn't seem to boot from floppy. All HDDS show on boot up. I got my video camera , recorded boot up, slowed it down and message "event log message, enter setup to view" flashes by very quick. What and where is this? I also tried putting all HDDs in IDE 2 with same results. This is all weird because all I did was take out a HDD place in another take that one out and replace original.

 

[wolluf]

You really need to establish whether devices you're using are in working order and whether hard drives (if ok0 are compatible with motherboard. If its P266, very good chance its got 32GB drive size limitation. 2 of the drives your are trying are larger than that. Have you tried connected all 3 drives to another machine to make sure they are all operational?

Are you sure the CD drive and 2k install CD are both ok?

If you think the floppy drive is defective, disconnect it entirely, it could be causing problems

Disconnect any 'unnecessary' hardware (eg, network, modem, sound cards) while trying the install CD.

Can you boot this machine with NO hard drives connected using the 2k install CD, without it blue screening? (It should get as far as looking for a hard drive to install to). If you can, and the smallest drive IS operational, try the same thing with small drive connected. If you can't, you've got a hardware problem elsewhere (RAM, cpu, graphics,
PSU, mobo etc).

 

[atlantisburn]

The 6 gig came with, the 40 gig has run OK for over a year or two, this one does work. All items worked fine two weeks ago.

I have tried to boot from CD with floppy disconnected. Changed out floppy and still doesn't work. With all drives except CD disconected, system acts it is installing info then BSOD, same as if drive is connected. I am cusious as to where it is putting five minutes worth of installing where HDD is not present. I expected to get a "can't find HDD..." or something.

I tried back up CD a same result.

Just hooked up 6 gig HDD to newer CPU as a second drive. I can see the contents. My error, the 6 gig is NTFS format and not FAT. Is it possible that an older CPU could only reconize FAT fomated HDD?

Removed memory that is fairly new, same result.

 

[BadBigBen]

Is it possible that an older CPU could only reconize FAT fomated HDD?

a CPU is DUMB until it gets fed with information... btw. CPU is the PROCESSOR not the whole PC... a PC old or new can not tell what FILE SYSTEM is installed on a HDD until the OS is loading...

I am afraid I do not know my ways around GATEWAY's... UGH... and could not tell you where to look for in the BIOS as to the various settings... the AntiViral Boot check is usually found along with the HDD recognition, in these older systems...

but I can tell you this, 98SE is less HARDWARE Banging than W2K, Win98 will install on a damaged PC and still will run, where as W2k will balk and thoss out a BSOD... so what Wullof said should be considered and you could try to swap out RAM and go bare minimum...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[atlantisburn]

SO, the OS only cares about file systems, not the CPU. Thanks.

Where we are now, besides being confused.

Tried at least 3 different floppy drives and CD-ROM drives.
CD is prim IDE and HDD sec IDE I get eroor mwss "OS not found".

Reversed, I get "NTLDR missing".

Removed HDD PCI controller (that I had removed before and saw no results).

Moved IDE cable to another CD-ROM.

Rebooted to bios, CD-ROM and HDD show up in bios area that used to say "NONE" (DUH!) and set CD as first boot as did before.

Rebooted, computer finds CD and installs wihout error.

I was fooled, because, if Computer seems to find CD-ROM and reads from it then it must see it. but it doesn't see it in the bios which I guess makes a difference. Bios made this area look like a delay seting area.

This still leaves floppy drive but I think it will show it self once installation is complete.

Thanks all!

 

[BadBigBen]

SO, the OS only cares about file systems, not the CPU. Thanks.

NOT quite... a little more complicated, but basically so...

On older systems and Older Win OS's, the HDD HAD to be on the Primary IDE and the Partition for the OS, had to be in the first Partition...

I am glad that you got it to install, as it seemed from your reply, that it was all about recognition of the said drives from the BIOS... if the CD ROM is bad then the BIOS may hickup or lock, same goes for an HDD...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[atlantisburn]

Actualy, it is more of, my not trusting the error message. From my understanding the culpret was a HDD controller in the PCI slot. No drivers were installed. I was thinking it was a little more automatic such as HDD controller in the HDD. Honestly I cant see much difference in this controllerwhich came withthe 40 gig HDD. My system is 33mhz (FSB I think). The controller is 100mhz but I am sure it bottlenecks somewhere. Thanks again