Vista boot problem

Rob · 07-October-08, 08:33 AM

This is the weirdest damned thing...

I boot my computer and it goes through the quick POST/BIOS stuff and the Windows status bar pops up. After about five seconds, the screen goes black, something in my computer clicks two or three times very softly, and the computer reboots. It goes through the same process, this time stopping me telling me that there was a problem last time and do I want to boot normally, in safe mode, etc. Selecting boot normally, the computer starts up fine.

Anyone?

Rob

THRiLL KiLL · 07-October-08, 10:08 AM

its almost as if the Os partition was not marked active, and your computer is just going through each of the partitions untill it finds a bootalbe one.

Try going to a command prompt and type:

diskpart

That will get you to a prompt that looks like this: Diskpart>

Next type: list volume

This will show all the voulmes you have on your pc.

Next type: select volume 3 (or what ever volume has your os on it)

Once it has been selected type: Active.

If you are running a dual boot system, you must select the partition that has the Mbr on it.

Fred_G · 07-October-08, 10:27 PM

Sounds like a hard drive problem. That is the only thing I can think of that clicks and bad things happen. Download the drive's diagnolstic programs and run them. At worst, you will have wasted some time, and eliminted a possible problem.

Rob · 07-October-08, 10:43 PM

Well, I tried it and hopefully it'll work from now on. If it doesn't, then I'll be back.

It's not the hard drive that clicking...I've had a few of those go out on me before, much to the demise of a perfectly good storm window (that the hard drive went through). I think what was clicking was one of my air flow fans up against a wire.

Fred_G · 07-October-08, 11:15 PM

Yep, been there as well. You should have described the clicking noise better.

I am a noob with the Vista myself.

Rob · 07-October-08, 11:25 PM

So far, it's working....I've done four or five restarts tonight trying to work on my video driver.

I think I got the problem narrowed down on that one. Silly me, I'm using the Asus video driver disc instead of using the latest one from ATI. Going to do a new reformat this weekend to try and straighten the problem out.

Thanks again,

Rob

EDIT: As a side issue, do you know that Vista will not boot off of a SATA connector if you have an external USB hard drive powered up and connected to you computer? Might have to play with the BIOS on that one, but it's not an issue, really.

Rob · 13-October-08, 08:50 AM

Well, I'm still having this issue. I've got a bad feeling that it might be the PSU, but I have no clue at this point.

Slaymate · 13-October-08, 11:35 AM

The Vista Disc has a check for start-up problems. Just insert it and restart, once it loads the basics you'll see the option. It might help.

67_GTO · 13-October-08, 02:10 PM

Unfortunately it does sound like the PSU to me. It's getting just to the point where the drivers are being loaded and all your devices are powering up. In that case, a bad capacitor would explain the clicking.

However, the same thing happened to my brothers computer, except his didn't even make it through POST before it would shut off. So with any luck I may be wrong.

Rob · 13-October-08, 05:36 PM

Yeah, I think it's the PSU. The clicking I heard can be more accurately described as sort of a static crackling, so I ordered a new PSU.

Thermaltake W0116RU 750W Complies with ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V version SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

Should be here later this week. We'll see what happens then.

Rob · 20-October-08, 01:06 AM

Swapped the PSU and the hard drive and I'm still getting the same problem.

Event Viewer isn't picking up anything. I'm going to have to call Asus for some help. Let's hope that they answer their phones.

bingo · 20-October-08, 07:14 AM

I'm not really acquainted with Vista operating system. Wish i could conduct further study regarding that one, oh well, i guess i just have to study it then.

Rob · 20-October-08, 10:10 AM

Well, Asus wasn't much help. Guess I'll have to try and figure this out on my own.

Oh, and I just found out that it's pronounced Ah-Seuss. I was pronouncing it as A-Sus (sus as in suspect).

Rob · 20-October-08, 10:35 AM

Here's something...

When I enter the BIOS from a cold boot, the only SATA device that is showing up is the DVD drive. I had gone in to change the way the mobo reads the drive (from IDE to ACHI). However, even after changing it back, the BIOS won't recognize any SATA drive but the DVD drive.

The manual I got shows that you can view the hard drives in the BIOS.

Anyone?

67_GTO · 21-October-08, 12:10 AM

I'd try taking the DVD drive out and putting the old HD with Windows on it, in using the SATA port used by the DVD drive. It could be a screwed SATA port. I've got one. Try them all just to be sure.

Are you still getting the crackling sound?

If that doesn't help, then I'd say RMA the motherboard. Because what else could it be? Memory maybe? You could try running memtest on a bootable ISO, assuming you can make one. Worth a shot I guess.

07-October-08, 08:33 AM		#1 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli	Vista boot problem This is the weirdest damned thing... I boot my computer and it goes through the quick POST/BIOS stuff and the Windows status bar pops up. After about five seconds, the screen goes black, something in my computer clicks two or three times very softly, and the computer reboots. It goes through the same process, this time stopping me telling me that there was a problem last time and do I want to boot normally, in safe mode, etc. Selecting boot normally, the computer starts up fine. Anyone? Rob

07-October-08, 10:08 AM		#2 (permalink)
THRiLL KiLL PcApEX's PuNK ROckER	Re: Vista boot problem its almost as if the Os partition was not marked active, and your computer is just going through each of the partitions untill it finds a bootalbe one. Try going to a command prompt and type: diskpart That will get you to a prompt that looks like this: Diskpart> Next type: list volume This will show all the voulmes you have on your pc. Next type: select volume 3 (or what ever volume has your os on it) Once it has been selected type: Active. If you are running a dual boot system, you must select the partition that has the Mbr on it.

07-October-08, 10:27 PM		#3 (permalink)
Fred_G !! Sm-hoe-k Free !!	Re: Vista boot problem Sounds like a hard drive problem. That is the only thing I can think of that clicks and bad things happen. Download the drive's diagnolstic programs and run them. At worst, you will have wasted some time, and eliminted a possible problem.

07-October-08, 10:43 PM		#4 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli	Re: Vista boot problem Well, I tried it and hopefully it'll work from now on. If it doesn't, then I'll be back. It's not the hard drive that clicking...I've had a few of those go out on me before, much to the demise of a perfectly good storm window (that the hard drive went through). I think what was clicking was one of my air flow fans up against a wire.

07-October-08, 11:15 PM		#5 (permalink)
Fred_G !! Sm-hoe-k Free !!	Re: Vista boot problem Yep, been there as well. You should have described the clicking noise better. I am a noob with the Vista myself.

07-October-08, 11:25 PM		#6 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli	Re: Vista boot problem So far, it's working....I've done four or five restarts tonight trying to work on my video driver. I think I got the problem narrowed down on that one. Silly me, I'm using the Asus video driver disc instead of using the latest one from ATI. Going to do a new reformat this weekend to try and straighten the problem out. Thanks again, Rob EDIT: As a side issue, do you know that Vista will not boot off of a SATA connector if you have an external USB hard drive powered up and connected to you computer? Might have to play with the BIOS on that one, but it's not an issue, really.

13-October-08, 08:50 AM		#7 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli	Re: Vista boot problem Well, I'm still having this issue. I've got a bad feeling that it might be the PSU, but I have no clue at this point.

13-October-08, 11:35 AM		#8 (permalink)
Slaymate PCApex Reviewer From Hell	Re: Vista boot problem The Vista Disc has a check for start-up problems. Just insert it and restart, once it loads the basics you'll see the option. It might help.

13-October-08, 02:10 PM		#9 (permalink)
67_GTO Apex Tech Fanatic	Re: Vista boot problem Unfortunately it does sound like the PSU to me. It's getting just to the point where the drivers are being loaded and all your devices are powering up. In that case, a bad capacitor would explain the clicking. However, the same thing happened to my brothers computer, except his didn't even make it through POST before it would shut off. So with any luck I may be wrong.

13-October-08, 05:36 PM		#10 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli	Re: Vista boot problem Yeah, I think it's the PSU. The clicking I heard can be more accurately described as sort of a static crackling, so I ordered a new PSU. Thermaltake W0116RU 750W Complies with ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V version SLI Ready CrossFire Certified 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail Should be here later this week. We'll see what happens then.

20-October-08, 01:06 AM		#11 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli	Re: Vista boot problem Swapped the PSU and the hard drive and I'm still getting the same problem. Event Viewer isn't picking up anything. I'm going to have to call Asus for some help. Let's hope that they answer their phones.

20-October-08, 07:14 AM		#12 (permalink)
bingo Apex Techie Wannabe	Re: Vista boot problem I'm not really acquainted with Vista operating system. Wish i could conduct further study regarding that one, oh well, i guess i just have to study it then.

20-October-08, 10:10 AM		#13 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli	Re: Vista boot problem Well, Asus wasn't much help. Guess I'll have to try and figure this out on my own. Oh, and I just found out that it's pronounced Ah-Seuss. I was pronouncing it as A-Sus (sus as in suspect).

20-October-08, 10:35 AM		#14 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli	Re: Vista boot problem Here's something... When I enter the BIOS from a cold boot, the only SATA device that is showing up is the DVD drive. I had gone in to change the way the mobo reads the drive (from IDE to ACHI). However, even after changing it back, the BIOS won't recognize any SATA drive but the DVD drive. The manual I got shows that you can view the hard drives in the BIOS. Anyone?

21-October-08, 12:10 AM		#15 (permalink)
67_GTO Apex Tech Fanatic	Re: Vista boot problem I'd try taking the DVD drive out and putting the old HD with Windows on it, in using the SATA port used by the DVD drive. It could be a screwed SATA port. I've got one. Try them all just to be sure. Are you still getting the crackling sound? If that doesn't help, then I'd say RMA the motherboard. Because what else could it be? Memory maybe? You could try running memtest on a bootable ISO, assuming you can make one. Worth a shot I guess.

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