Failure to boot
 

My Gateway 700 seems is having problems. First indication
was that it would stop at the Gateway screen (with press tab
for information at the bottom). Pressing tab would go to an
simple info screen that just said the type of processor and
hard disk. To get out of that screen, I had to turn the
machine off. Then it would boot normally. This has happened
several times.

It seemed to get worse and I had to go through this sequence
2-3l times before it would boot normally. Once it didn't
show any info on the hard disk. Then on starting it would
go to a screen saying to insert a boot disk in A: Sometimes
if I turned it off it would just boot normally.

Two times when it went to the A prompt, I inserted a Western
Digital Data Lifeguard Tools disk, which it booted and then
I went to diagnostics which said the hard disk was ok, (then
it would boot normally). I've also used PC Doctor (came on
the machine) and did a complete test of the hard disk and
the system and all were working fine. I was beginning to
think this was a software problem, but today, while on the
internet, it went from netscape to the A prompt and wouldn't
even recognize the WD diagnostic disk. To me that suggest
some kind of hardware failure. I've pulled and replugged in
the data and the power cables to the HD. It's been working
for the past few hours, but I expect it to again not boot
properly.

I looked at the system event log and it shows several
Errors --a device/H/D/O failure during paging.
So:
It could be the HD, but the tests indicate it is ok.
It could be the cables. I don't have another cable to try
yet, but I don't think this is the problem.
It could be the power supply, but I don't have any evidence
for this and my computer is not really hot and the output
air is barely warm.

Have I missed anything or what else should I look at?
Thanks.

George,

I am sure one of the Guru's here will answer your question, but here is a
microsoft website
where you can enter the event viewer message source and ID and get some
information about your
specific error:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/support/ee.asp

Hope this helps,

Kevin


"George E. Cawthon" wrote in message
...
My Gateway 700 seems is having problems. First indication
was that it would stop at the Gateway screen (with press tab
for information at the bottom). Pressing tab would go to an
simple info screen that just said the type of processor and
hard disk. To get out of that screen, I had to turn the
machine off. Then it would boot normally. This has happened
several times.

It seemed to get worse and I had to go through this sequence
2-3l times before it would boot normally. Once it didn't
show any info on the hard disk. Then on starting it would
go to a screen saying to insert a boot disk in A: Sometimes
if I turned it off it would just boot normally.

Two times when it went to the A prompt, I inserted a Western
Digital Data Lifeguard Tools disk, which it booted and then
I went to diagnostics which said the hard disk was ok, (then
it would boot normally). I've also used PC Doctor (came on
the machine) and did a complete test of the hard disk and
the system and all were working fine. I was beginning to
think this was a software problem, but today, while on the
internet, it went from netscape to the A prompt and wouldn't
even recognize the WD diagnostic disk. To me that suggest
some kind of hardware failure. I've pulled and replugged in
the data and the power cables to the HD. It's been working
for the past few hours, but I expect it to again not boot
properly.

I looked at the system event log and it shows several
Errors --a device/H/D/O failure during paging.
So:
It could be the HD, but the tests indicate it is ok.
It could be the cables. I don't have another cable to try
yet, but I don't think this is the problem.
It could be the power supply, but I don't have any evidence
for this and my computer is not really hot and the output
air is barely warm.

Have I missed anything or what else should I look at?
Thanks.

It happenned to me and over time it nolonger start the HD as in CMOS it
was not there. Turned out to be a MBR corruption. Wiped the HD (30%)
with gwscan and reloaded XP pro. End of problem.

Albert


George E. Cawthon wrote:
My Gateway 700 seems is having problems. First indication
was that it would stop at the Gateway screen (with press tab
for information at the bottom). Pressing tab would go to an
simple info screen that just said the type of processor and
hard disk. To get out of that screen, I had to turn the
machine off. Then it would boot normally. This has happened
several times.

It seemed to get worse and I had to go through this sequence
2-3l times before it would boot normally. Once it didn't
show any info on the hard disk. Then on starting it would
go to a screen saying to insert a boot disk in A: Sometimes
if I turned it off it would just boot normally.

Two times when it went to the A prompt, I inserted a Western
Digital Data Lifeguard Tools disk, which it booted and then
I went to diagnostics which said the hard disk was ok, (then
it would boot normally). I've also used PC Doctor (came on
the machine) and did a complete test of the hard disk and
the system and all were working fine. I was beginning to
think this was a software problem, but today, while on the
internet, it went from netscape to the A prompt and wouldn't
even recognize the WD diagnostic disk. To me that suggest
some kind of hardware failure. I've pulled and replugged in
the data and the power cables to the HD. It's been working
for the past few hours, but I expect it to again not boot
properly.

I looked at the system event log and it shows several
Errors --a device/H/D/O failure during paging.
So:
It could be the HD, but the tests indicate it is ok.
It could be the cables. I don't have another cable to try
yet, but I don't think this is the problem.
It could be the power supply, but I don't have any evidence
for this and my computer is not really hot and the output
air is barely warm.

Have I missed anything or what else should I look at?
Thanks.