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Strange startup problem - NVRAM ?

  • 11-09-2006 4:15pm
    #1
    cr1spy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 77 ✭✭


    I'm at a loss here guys, so any help would be much appreciated. My computer has stopped booting all the way to Windows. It started showing weird grayness across the screen with random digits. I tried a old video card and the corrupt screen problem was solved. But I still can't get into Windows.

    When on the boot screen the motherboard doesn't make any beeps, whereas usually it made 3 (I think). It then runs a check, which it normally doesn't do, and keeps saying "Checking NVRAM..."

    Then: "A: Drive Error"

    "Press F1 to resume" (see attached picure)

    I've tried putting in a XP disc to reformat the Windows partition, it saying push any key to boot from CD, but then hangs there and does nothing. However when I disconnect the hard disc, the setup process runs fine.

    I have no idea how this came about, whether its a hardware or software problem. I don't mind reformatting the entire thing, but theres loads of pictures of a month long trip to Oz, that aren't really replaceable. Some of the pics are backed up, but not all.

    The drive is a SATA one, if that makes a difference, and the computer is custom built one, that I've had for 18 months and had no problems at all.

    Any help would be great. Thanks


Comments

  • #2
    rogue-entity
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,664 ✭✭✭rogue-entity


    I wouldnt say that "A Drive Error" would have any impact on your system booting from the HDD, it simply means that either the computer cannot access/detect the floppy drive, or there is an error with the floppy drive. This used to come up on occasion on my system, but when I just pressed the connector cable for the floppy into the motherboard better, it seemed to work. On occasion my system will just crash when running, and fail to reboot because the connecter for the HDD comes slightly loose (a motherboard problem). Again, same solution.

    I have also noticed the setup programme on my computer hanging when trying to reinstall windows, but I was able to start the Win2000 setup programme from a W2K disk and wipe the partitions, when I rebooted the windows setup programme then worked fine from the XP CD and I could reinstall as normal.

    My point: You could have a hardware problem, or some form of incompatibility with your hardware. Open your computer, take out all the PCI cards and your graphics card. Disconnect all the drives. Then put back only your graphics card and your hard disc. Try booting, if it boots into Windows, then shut it down, and connect your other drives, try again. If it boots fine, you then add your PCI cards one or two at a time until you get the problem again, hopefully you wont.


  • #3
    Ruu_Old
    Closed Accounts Posts: 36,634 ✭✭✭✭Ruu_Old


    A google search suggests clearing the CMOS memory, you can remove the little CMOS battery that is on the motherboard for a few hours, then put it back in. Make sure to record the hard drive settings and others as you might have to input them manually in the BIOS startup menu.
    Otherwise it looks like it might be a hardware issue as listed above.


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