Boot to OS fails, sometimes!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tony Batchelor
  • Start date Start date
T

Tony Batchelor

Guest
I have an odd fault that I can't understand.
I have XP Pro sp3/IE7

When I start my computer after switching on the power, usually, but not
always, it gets as far as the XP "3 blue dots travelling from left to right"
loading bar. and then freezes. Sometimes without any blue dots appearing, but
also with the blue dots stuck halfway across.

Now for the strange thing - if I press the power reset button on the PC
itself, it starts again, but completes the XP boot and I can use the PC for
the rest of the day.

Where do I start looking? I have checked Event Viewer, but I suppose that is
no use as for the first failure the event log has not yet started.

Tony
PS What is LightScribeService? Event Viewer show it starting normally, but
I had not heard of it before.
 
Re: Boot to OS fails, sometimes!

donotspam wrote:

> I have an odd fault that I can't understand.
> I have XP Pro sp3/IE7
>
> When I start my computer after switching on the power, usually, but not
> always, it gets as far as the XP "3 blue dots travelling from left to
> right" loading bar. and then freezes. Sometimes without any blue dots
> appearing, but also with the blue dots stuck halfway across.
>
> Now for the strange thing - if I press the power reset button on the PC
> itself, it starts again, but completes the XP boot and I can use the PC
> for the rest of the day.
>
> Where do I start looking? I have checked Event Viewer, but I suppose that
> is no use as for the first failure the event log has not yet started.
>
> Tony
> PS What is LightScribeService? Event Viewer show it starting normally,
> but I had not heard of it before.

This sounds like a classic case of a failing power supply. While other
hardware components could be failing, I'd start by swapping out the psu for
a known-working one. What happens is that there isn't enough "juice" to get
the hard drive up and spinning the first time. The drive's own momentum
will get it going when you try again.

LightScribe is a function of your optical drive. A quick Google is the place
to look for questions like that:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=what+is+LightScribe&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

Lots of good links there.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
 
Re: Boot to OS fails, sometimes!

eThanks

It is a brand new PC, so the psu should be OK. The monitor shows all the
voltages correct.
Next time I start I will have to chack again to see if the HDD light flashes.

Tony
PS Fascinating about LightScribe - I wonder why it appears as an
application when the supplied hardware isn't lightscribe featured <G>

"Malke" wrote:

> donotspam wrote:
>
> > I have an odd fault that I can't understand.
> > I have XP Pro sp3/IE7
> >
> > When I start my computer after switching on the power, usually, but not
> > always, it gets as far as the XP "3 blue dots travelling from left to
> > right" loading bar. and then freezes. Sometimes without any blue dots
> > appearing, but also with the blue dots stuck halfway across.
> >
> > Now for the strange thing - if I press the power reset button on the PC
> > itself, it starts again, but completes the XP boot and I can use the PC
> > for the rest of the day.
> >
> > Where do I start looking? I have checked Event Viewer, but I suppose that
> > is no use as for the first failure the event log has not yet started.
> >
> > Tony
> > PS What is LightScribeService? Event Viewer show it starting normally,
> > but I had not heard of it before.
>
> This sounds like a classic case of a failing power supply. While other
> hardware components could be failing, I'd start by swapping out the psu for
> a known-working one. What happens is that there isn't enough "juice" to get
> the hard drive up and spinning the first time. The drive's own momentum
> will get it going when you try again.
>
> LightScribe is a function of your optical drive. A quick Google is the place
> to look for questions like that:
>
> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=what+is+LightScribe&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=
>
> Lots of good links there.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
>
>
 
Re: Boot to OS fails, sometimes!

Tony Batchelor wrote:
> eThanks
>
> It is a brand new PC, so the psu should be OK. The monitor shows all the
> voltages correct.
> Next time I start I will have to chack again to see if the HDD light flashes.
>
> Tony
> PS Fascinating about LightScribe - I wonder why it appears as an
> application when the supplied hardware isn't lightscribe featured <G>
>

Is it an HP or Compaq computer? LightScribe, if corresponding hardware
is installed, can label your DVD's or CD's, but you need to buy blank
discs that are marked for that process.

Bill
 
Re: Boot to OS fails, sometimes!

Tony Batchelor wrote:
> eThanks
>
> It is a brand new PC, so the psu should be OK. The monitor shows all the
> voltages correct.
> Next time I start I will have to chack again to see if the HDD light flashes.
>
> Tony
> PS Fascinating about LightScribe - I wonder why it appears as an
> application when the supplied hardware isn't lightscribe featured <G>
>
> "Malke" wrote:
>
>> donotspam wrote:
>>
>>> I have an odd fault that I can't understand.
>>> I have XP Pro sp3/IE7
>>>
>>> When I start my computer after switching on the power, usually, but not
>>> always, it gets as far as the XP "3 blue dots travelling from left to
>>> right" loading bar. and then freezes. Sometimes without any blue dots
>>> appearing, but also with the blue dots stuck halfway across.
>>>
>>> Now for the strange thing - if I press the power reset button on the PC
>>> itself, it starts again, but completes the XP boot and I can use the PC
>>> for the rest of the day.
>>>
>>> Where do I start looking? I have checked Event Viewer, but I suppose that
>>> is no use as for the first failure the event log has not yet started.
>>>
>>> Tony
>>> PS What is LightScribeService? Event Viewer show it starting normally,
>>> but I had not heard of it before.
>> This sounds like a classic case of a failing power supply. While other
>> hardware components could be failing, I'd start by swapping out the psu for
>> a known-working one. What happens is that there isn't enough "juice" to get
>> the hard drive up and spinning the first time. The drive's own momentum
>> will get it going when you try again.
>>
>> LightScribe is a function of your optical drive. A quick Google is the place
>> to look for questions like that:
>>
>> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=what+is+LightScribe&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=
>>
>> Lots of good links there.
>>
>> Malke
>> --
>> MS-MVP
>> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
>> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
>>
>>

If it's a brand new pc, get in touch with the vendor or manufacturer for
warranty service.

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm
 
Re: Boot to OS fails, sometimes!

I have tried a few general tidy up procedures, and can definitely say that it
is not a psu problem.

Now what usually happens is that I get as far as showing a full desktop on
the first boot, and after a minute everything freezes.

After a reboot, then all is well for hours!

Except that yesterday I suddenly got a blue screen with the message
STOP: 0x000000c5 (oxoa250005, 0x00000002, 0x00000001, 0x805515a1)

Hasn't happened today though.

Tony
PS Lem asked about what computer I have - it is an Acer T661. Acer don't
have anywhere to get answers. Not even a Forum. Their after purchase support
is appalling!

"Tony Batchelor" wrote:

> eThanks
>
> It is a brand new PC, so the psu should be OK. The monitor shows all the
> voltages correct.
> Next time I start I will have to chack again to see if the HDD light flashes.
>
> Tony
>
 
Back
Top