Windows XP Startup Issue

[AccessDenied]

After pressing the power on button on my computer, It shows the Vid Card information and the BIOS screen and then turns black, with a _ symbol flashing at the top left. It does this for awhile and then gives me an error asking me to reboot. I restart my computer and it goes through the same process, instead of giving me an error, it flashes that _ symbol for over a minute and then begins to startup. It is how I have been starting up my computer for some time now, and was hoping that you guys could help me out. I am running the following specs, the computer is just shy of being 2 years old:

Intel Pentium 4 3.06Ghz
Intel D865PERL Motherboard
nVidia 5600 Asylum vid card
1.5gig Kingston Hyper-X DDR400

I have the updated BIOS for the Mobo. Hope this is enough information.

 

[iss]

Just to clarify, it does boot into windows?

my intial suspicion would be a hard drive problem. try running chkdisk, and or the makers diagnostic tools on the hard drive.

 

[AccessDenied]

Yes, it boots into windows. I suspect it did have something with finding the startup information on the hardrive but wasn't sure. I read somewhere that the installed window's partition can be difficult for the startup to locate in some situations. I will perform the recommended actions and see where that takes me. Thanks!

If there are anymore ideas, please feel free to post!

 

[AccessDenied]

Just to clarify, it does boot into windows?

my intial suspicion would be a hard drive problem. try running chkdisk, and or the makers diagnostic tools on the hard drive.

This was not the solution to my problem. I was thinking it may have something to do with the CPU being able to find the Windows information on startup? Again, I turn on my computer, my Video Card information is displayed at top left on a black screen, the computer opens a Intel Motherboard screen, and then to a black screen with the blinking _ symbol at the top left. This continues for a minute or two and then shows the windows XP loading screen.

 

[AccessDenied]

Here are some pictures to help describe what I am seeing.

They appear in order:

Vid Card Info
MotherBoard Screen
Blinking underscore symbol

the error message only appears on initial startup. I must restart the computer and then the system loads properly, but goes through all the previous steps(vid card info, mobo screen, blinking symbol; time consuming).

How can I get windows to recognize the hard drive on the intial startup and allow windows to startup quickly?

 

[C0d3Warr10r]

Set boot order

When you see the Intel screen, press F2 to get into the BIOS. Press the -> until the word "Boot" is selected, and select "Boot Device Priority". Move the optical drive to slot #1, the HDD to slot #2, and the floppy drive into slot #3 or disable it all together. If this doesn't work, try moving the HDD into slot #1. I also noticed that this BIOS has the ability to boot to USB enabled by default. If you have any USB drives attached to your computer I would disable this feature.

Hope this helps,

C0d3Warr10r

 

[AccessDenied]

When you see the Intel screen, press F2 to get into the BIOS. Press the -> until the word "Boot" is selected, and select "Boot Device Priority". Move the optical drive to slot #1, the HDD to slot #2, and the floppy drive into slot #3 or disable it all together. If this doesn't work, try moving the HDD into slot #1. I also noticed that this BIOS has the ability to boot to USB enabled by default. If you have any USB drives attached to your computer I would disable this feature.

Hope this helps,

C0d3Warr10r

I tried to deal with this when the problem first started, however my computer doesn't recognize the hardrive until after the restart. I have tried to move the HDD to first priority many times, but on the initial startup the computer cannot recognize the HDD for some reason. Actually it doesn't recognize my CD-ROM or DVD-RW Drives either; only floppy. I have no USB drives attached to my computer. However, I appreciate your advice nonetheless!

 

[alidabiri]

after the last picture, can you finally boot into windows?
is this a home-built system or an o.e.m. pre-loaded system.

 

[AccessDenied]

after the last picture, can you finally boot into windows?
is this a home-built system or an o.e.m. pre-loaded system.

This is a home built system, and again, Once i get that error message, I must restart my computer and the computer will boot into windows, but it goes through the nvidia text, motherboard screen, and the blinking _ symbol before it does so.

So to make it 100% clear, Ill run through exactly what happens:
1. I turn on the computer
2. nVidia Driver information is displayed
3. Intel Motherboard Screen is Displayed
4. Blinking Underscore (_) icon appears with a black screen
5. I recieve the error message about boot recognition and to reboot the system.
6. I restart the computer
7. nVidia Driver information is displayed
8. Intel Motherboard Screen is Displayed
9. Blinking Underscore (_) icon appears with a black screen
10. Windows XP loading screen appears
11. Windows loads.

 

[alidabiri]

This is a home built system, and again, Once i get that error message, I must restart my computer and the computer will boot into windows, but it goes through the nvidia text, motherboard screen, and the blinking _ symbol before it does so.

So to make it 100% clear, Ill run through exactly what happens:
1. I turn on the computer
2. nVidia Driver information is displayed
3. Intel Motherboard Screen is Displayed
4. Blinking Underscore (_) icon appears with a black screen
5. I recieve the error message about boot recognition and to reboot the system.
6. I restart the computer
7. nVidia Driver information is displayed
8. Intel Motherboard Screen is Displayed
9. Blinking Underscore (_) icon appears with a black screen
10. Windows XP loading screen appears
11. Windows loads.

do you not get the boot recognition erro after you restart?
how do you restart?

 

[AccessDenied]

The steps i explained are exactly what happens, if something is not listed it doesnt happen. The same goes for if something DOES happen it IS listed. Therefor, the answer to your question would be that no, I do not receive a reboot error after I restart the computer, only on the initial boot do I receive that error.

I restart by pressing the restart button in front of my computer.

 

[wlknaack]

When you boot, bios runs POST (Power On Self Test). POST is skipped on reboot. It looks like your HDD is not recognized in POST. This may be that you have an intermittent IDE connection between the HDD and the MOBO.

When you boot, press the function key which will get you into Setup (F2?).
See if the HDD is recognized. If it is not, suggest you make sure the IDE connectors to the HDD and the MOBO are firmly seated. Inspect the cable for any signs of damage. Check to see if any capacitors on the MOBO are leaking.

As strange as the above may seem, I personally experienced "cannot recognize HDD C: and HDD D:" occasionally, then repeatedly, and I reseated the connectors and the problem went away.

Also, make sure there is nothing other than the floppy and CD ahead of the HDD in the boot sequence.