The computer reboots instead of loading Windoz

[surrealchereal]

I had a problem with my computer it wouldn't start after I swapped out the video cards, tore the whole thing down, couldn't get power to the mobo, it would stat to start and then quit! The guy at the computer store had the same problem, then shorted out the switch connection. It started right up. I brought it home and it's going good but I am having a windows problem, it won't boot into windows, it will only boot into safe mode, if I try to skip safe mode and boot into windows it just reboots, and reboots, or it freezes after the windows splash screen, when it's loading up the drivers, just goes to a black screen. Is there somewhere something could have gotten deleted or corrupted in the start files? I ran Norton utilities looking for a registry problem or configuration problem trying to figure out why it booted into safe and not into full Windoz, Norton utilities said I really shouldn't run it in safe mode, but no problems were found. I also poked around in the start menu, disableing what I knew that I didn't need. Unforutuntley the windows help is missing also. (The hh.exe file needed to open the windoz help file is missing, ) Also on the boot log I see several font failure loads, but that's about it, could these fonts be needed in windows? It has an error code of 0016 I believe. Is that why it's rebooting because It can't load? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif Wah! I tried a step by step confirmation boot and got to the last step (it was a virtual driver I think anyway a VDX file) loaded it and it just rebooted again. In safe mode it looks fine, becuase there aren't any drivers. Should I just reload windows? I can do that without losing anything can't I? Does it make a huge mess of the registry?
I don't usually ask abouth these kinds of things but I got to get my puter back on the road to wellville! I don't have time to spend hours on it, to learn about this problem, this time. please any help or even quick fix advice appreciated. (unexpected company from out of town has my puter repair time cut way down http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif) thanks in advance!

[Richard_Cranium72]

Just a shot in the dark here,, can you run SFC in SAFE mode and check for corrupted files ?

[surrealchereal]

I did that, it had me replace some, no help tho, I still can't boot into windows other than in safe mode. That's why I was wondering if I could just reinstall the win98, wouldn't it write over everything but the non win98 stuff?

[This message has been edited by surrealchereal (edited 06-11-2001).]

[awwall]

You might try the following:

remove all cards, except the video card.

try re-boot. If it boots normally, try re-installing your cards, 1 at a time, then re-starting. Do this until the problem card is found. Then deal with this, hardware problem,driver problem, etc.

Have seen this happen with bad hardware/drivers. Windows will BSOD, but do it so fast you don't see it. Then initiate a reboot.

hope this helps some

aw

[surrealchereal]

The only other card it has in it is a network card, wah! I just did that, ok, thanks I know that's what I should do,, just hoping to not dig into everything again!
Nothing new is added, and where are the windoz files that seem to be missing? Like the help files? I still need to replace those.

[Richard_Cranium72]

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum2/HTML/007516.html

[BFlurie]

Surreal, you can try reinstalling "overtop", but I'd say you'd have to use yer boot floppy since there's no CDRom support in Safe Mode. If no joy, try BBA's post above.

[surrealchereal]

B, I tried the advice from BBA's Richard showed me. I didn't do too well, I got to the first deltree command, and couldn't get it right (I must have written it wrong?) got irritated and just fired it up and did the Windoz install. It's a little messy, but was OK till it corrupted one of it's own files and it won't reboot now, (same thing as before on and off on and off)
I'm about ready to FDISK but been too busy!
What do you think?

[BFlurie]

The trouble w/the "install overtop" is that it usually won't solve more than superficial problems. You can try the "scanreg/ restore" function if it hasn't been too long, and if you can get to windows in Safe mode. The Deltree protocol is, assuming Deltree.exe is on yer boot floppy:

deltree c:\windows

or whatever folder you're trying to delete.

[BJB]

OK your computer was working fine. You swapped out the video card and then it wouldn't boot. I could be wrong but that's most likely where the problem lies. Incompatable driver or incomplete install of the software for the new card. Now you've taken the computer apart (?) and back together and you still have approximately the same problem.
Go into safe mode remove the new video card replace the old card and get your system back and then find a different new video card. Just a thought.

[Nathan]

What appears on the screen when you say it doesn't boot up into windows?

[Nathan]

What appears on the screen when you say it doesn't boot up into windows?

[surrealchereal]

Nathan, It started with a reboot after the flash screen. I'm sure it was originally a driver problem and I am not sure it's totally video related, figures, it was such a clean easy install and the control panel was the first place I checked in safe mode once I got it up and going.

BjB, thanks dude, been there done that several times but that's on the Video forum "video gods must hate me" thread.

Ben, yep it was there (deltree.exe). I have decided it's just that time. I am inspired by BBA after seeing what he used verses the junk on my boot disk. I'm going to have to learn enough of the software process master minor problems. Shall we call it my Computer Confirmation?? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif So tomorrow I am going to learn about the boot process, the files needed but more importantly why the files are needed, what they mean, where they go, and which ones interact and are interdependent. Know any good DOS websites?? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Michael Chiew]

surrealchereal

The step-by-step confirmation executed by you is revealing. The last step, or last vxd to be loaded is MSMOUSE.VXD. After that, Windows initializes and you're right into your desktop. A faulty MSMOUSE.VXD does not stop Windows from loading. If anything, your mouse will be affected. If it's just an OS driver problem, reinstalling your OS should clear it. In this case, I believe it could be your video display card driver.

Run Msconfig at the DOS prompt. Check your system configuration tabs: General, Config.sys, Autoexec.bat, System.ini, Win.ini and Startup.

In System.ini, go through the items under BOOT. There are, I believe, 16 items. Every one of them should be checked. Run through BOOT DESCRIPTION. Check to see whether your video display card driver is mentioned. If it's not, you've found your problem.

Another thing you can do is this.

Click START - PROGRAMS - ACCESSORIES - SYSTEM TOOLS - SYSTEM INFORMATION.

MICROSOFT SYSTEM INFORMATION dialog box appears. Click TOOLS menu, click DIRECTX DIAGNOSTIC TOOL. Another dialog box appears. Click DISPLAY tab. You'll see 3 boxes: DEVICE, DRIVERS, DIRECTX FEATURES. In the DEVICE box, is your video display card listed. Is it correct. In the DRIVERS box, are the drivers listed correct. Are they listed at all. In the DIRECTX FEATURES box, is DIRECTDRAW ACCELERATION enabled. Is DIRECT3D enabled. You can test DIRECTDRAW and DIRECT3D by clicking on their buttons. These tests are good. They isolate problems related to your video display card.

Take a look at the NOTES box. If there are problems with your video display card, they will be listed here.

Sometimes, Windows OS has difficulty loading because of interference by 16-bit device drivers. At other times, it may not be able to load if Himem.sys is corrupted. As a last resort, you should check your Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files and REM out 16-bit drivers to see whether Windows initializes. Incidentally, both Config.sys and Autoexec.bat are not executed in Safe Mode.

If all these measure fail, it's time to look at hardware: power supply, CPU, ram, all capable of contributing to your present misery.

Michael Chiew

[surrealchereal]

Michael, Thank you so much for taking the time with your detailed answer.You got me thinking and I ended up going in the right direction. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[surrealchereal]

Doh! Sorry,,
Yep a bad stick of ram. I had a lot of problems with 3 boards, and the common denominator,
The Ram, which I finally ran a SIMM tester from SIMM Tester (http://www.simmtester.com/)
One bad stick, I haven't had any more problems since I pulled it. You wouldn't believe the troubles that &%#$@! stick caused me! (on 2nd thought I bet you would http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif)

[madfish]

surrealchereal
Thanks for the linky
Madfish

[TOAD6147]

surrealchereal,
So Darlin', would you like to share with us what you found and what you did to fix the problem? Pretty Please??