I have recently been trying to build a computer for a friend, but am having difficulties 
with booting from the HD. I first attempted to install windows xp pro sp2, but when 
the screen saying setup is starting windows, the computer froze and returned the 
BSoD, so I attempted again, with another harddrive - the same problem. I switched 
the harddrive to another spare I had lying around - note that I know all of the drives 
are good - and the same thing.  
Trying to rememdy the problem, thinking it may have been a formating issue, I booted 
to linux to clear all the partitions into just a single partition, but the same problem 
happened later.  I also tried to install linux and was unable to do so - no drive 
to install to was listed. 
I then installed windows to one of the harddrives using another computer, no problems. 
I tested the install on a second computer - no problems booting, just need to reinstall 
drivers and such. But when trying in the computer I am building, the comp still won't 
boot, no error comes up, just a black screeen after the boot screen (with the buttons 
listed to get into the bios - which recognizes the HD).  
I am lost as to what to try next - it is an IDE drive, and the comp used to work 
just fine, but has been sitting around unused for about 6 months. Could there be 
some really small problem in the ide of the mobo causing an issue, or is it more 
serious than that?

Thanks,
Arthur

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re: Boot Question Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 11:21 am Posted by MartinM (7551 messages posted) 99.9% likely to be a hardware issue - as I think you already know. So I'd post at a hardware forum for best responses - Tom's hardware is one I use, there are others. [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Boot Question Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 2:57 pm Posted by bob wells (1636 messages posted) First try another IDE Cable, be sure the HDD is jumpered as Master on Primary IDE cable. Try the Secondary IDE Channel. Possible Motherboard Problem. Bench test with MOtherboard out of Case on insulated surface. Connect HDD, 1 Stick of RAM, Powersupply, PS2 Mouse & Keyboard. NO USB anything. Set BIOS to Optimized Defaults in BIOS SETUP. Listem for BIOS beep code. Anything but single BEEP indicates Problems. Try loading OS via CD/DVD Drive on secondary IDE after initial bench test with successful single BIOS beep, indicating hardware is OK. What BSOD? Specifics please. Try the Fourm below. http://www.computing.net/forum/hardware/1.html You have to sign in, UserName &PW. Provide Motherboard #, Processor type & speed, HDD specs, Installed RAM, specific OS Version. BW On Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 10:40 am, Arthur wrote: >I have recently been trying to build a computer for a friend, but am having difficulties >with booting from the HD. I first attempted to install windows xp pro sp2, but when >the screen saying setup is starting windows, the computer froze and returned the >BSoD, so I attempted again, with another harddrive - the same problem. I switched >the harddrive to another spare I had lying around - note that I know all of the drives >are good - and the same thing. >Trying to rememdy the problem, thinking it may have been a formating issue, I booted >to linux to clear all the partitions into just a single partition, but the same problem >happened later. I also tried to install linux and was unable to do so - no drive >to install to was listed. >I then installed windows to one of the harddrives using another computer, no problems. >I tested the install on a second computer - no problems booting, just need to reinstall >drivers and such. But when trying in the computer I am building, the comp still won't >boot, no error comes up, just a black screeen after the boot screen (with the buttons >listed to get into the bios - which recognizes the HD). >I am lost as to what to try next - it is an IDE drive, and the comp used to work >just fine, but has been sitting around unused for about 6 months. Could there be >some really small problem in the ide of the mobo causing an issue, or is it more >serious than that? > >Thanks, >Arthur [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Boot Question Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 7:27 pm Posted by Johnb33 (2283 messages posted) Go into the bios and see if the bios recognizes the hard drive. If it doesn't then you know there is a setting wrong, could be the jumper on the hard drive itself. What motherboard are you using? On Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 10:40 am, Arthur wrote: >I have recently been trying to build a computer for a friend, but am having difficulties >with booting from the HD. I first attempted to install windows xp pro sp2, but when >the screen saying setup is starting windows, the computer froze and returned the >BSoD, so I attempted again, with another harddrive - the same problem. I switched >the harddrive to another spare I had lying around - note that I know all of the drives >are good - and the same thing. >Trying to rememdy the problem, thinking it may have been a formating issue, I booted >to linux to clear all the partitions into just a single partition, but the same problem >happened later. I also tried to install linux and was unable to do so - no drive >to install to was listed. >I then installed windows to one of the harddrives using another computer, no problems. >I tested the install on a second computer - no problems booting, just need to reinstall >drivers and such. But when trying in the computer I am building, the comp still won't >boot, no error comes up, just a black screeen after the boot screen (with the buttons >listed to get into the bios - which recognizes the HD). >I am lost as to what to try next - it is an IDE drive, and the comp used to work >just fine, but has been sitting around unused for about 6 months. Could there be >some really small problem in the ide of the mobo causing an issue, or is it more >serious than that? > >Thanks, >Arthur [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: Boot Question Monday, November 2, 2009 at 7:58 pm Posted by NigelHH (1324 messages posted) It sounds like one of the motherboard devices drivers is causing it. Nothing to do with the hard disk. Try disabling devices in the BIOS until the computer will boot. Start with USB. Also try another graphics card. [Reply or follow-up to this message] Tip: Use one of the [Reply or follow-up to this message] links above to add a message to this thread Search this forum Start a new thread on a different subject Report abuse of the forum Return to the Windows XP Discussion Forum