Boot Problem

[Wolfehunter]

Computer shouldn't be booting from the USB HDD.. Unless the Bios detects it and uses that as primary.

Boot ini can't be corrupt sinces its installed into the primary HDD. Has to be a bios issue.

It freezes before it even gets to the boot sequence.

Does the external HDD draw power from the Powersupply or does it have its own power?

What is the model of your Motherboard SS and bios version.

Thanks

WH

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Wolfehunter

Computer shouldn't be booting from the USB HDD.. Unless the Bios detects it and uses that as primary.

I wouldn't think so, since it only boots when the USB drive is unplugged.

Boot ini can't be corrupt sinces its installed into the primary HDD. Has to be a bios issue.

Okay. Waiting to find out more.

It freezes before it even gets to the boot sequence.

Yep, unless the external is unplugged from the USB port. Then it starts up normally.

Does the external HDD draw power from the Powersupply or does it have its own power?

It has it's own. I had to move the wall lamp to a different part of the room to make space for the plug.

What is the model of your Motherboard SS and bios version.

Intel D86SPELC
Version AAC66359-401
Bios 63-0100-000001-00101111-042204-iSPGDL

Thanks

No, thank you.

And special thanks to SiSoftware Sandra, which shows me everthing about my computer, or else I would have had no clue as to those numbers.

[FIREWALL]

Good Morning Steve

I've been at this half the nite on that old puter of mine trying to recreat that same problem. I found all kinds of stuff I'de forgotten about.
Even took a break and played GWX

When I build a new rig I use ALL new stuff from case inwards.

Glad I didn't sell or throw it away.

Still havin my first cup of coffee... Ahhhh. Sorry if I ask repeat questions.

Before you moved anything to External hdd....

Would it bootup with EMPTY External hdd plugged in ?

Or did the problem begin after you moved files tooo External ?

[Sailor Steve]

To be honest I don't remember. I suspect I plugged it in and started moving stuff with the computer already running, not restarting it until later. In fact I probably didn't restart it until the next day.

[FIREWALL]

Hmmm?

If, and it's a big if. Something inadvertantly got moved to External hdd and deleted from Internal hdd they could be butting heads during boot.

Without knowing for sure if it booted with External hdd empty and pluggedin.

It becomes a guessing game.

I do have a possible fix without you haveing your OS disc handy.

But you ain't gonna like it.

[Sailor Steve]

Well, since the annoyance has become relatively minor, if I don't like it I don't have to use it. I can live with this if I have to.

[FIREWALL]

Since were not sure about a few things here's. my best guess.

When you moved files to Ex and deleted same files from Internal something got moved and then deleted from Internal hddthat is causing problem.

Since you don't have OS disc to do repair on Internal hdd here's my idea.

Move all files back to Internal hdd then, Delete all stuff off External.

2. Unplug External and reboot. Should reboot fine. Hopefully. GULP!!!

3. Shut down comepletely Then, Plug in Empty External hdd and reboot.

If it boots up okay then be carefull what you move and delete.

My guess was something got corrupted so that your Internal hdd isn't the dominate hdd in the boot order.

This is the only idea I can come up with as you don't have your OS disc handy to repair Internal hdd this might put those file or files back.

I told ya you weren't gonna like it.

[Sailor Steve]

Meh. I'll give it a try.

But it will have to wait. Right now I'm downloading some stuff that is promising to take another couple of hours. I'll let you know later how it works out.

Or not.

[FIREWALL]

Roger that. Hope all goes well.

[SteamWake]

Just had a thought...

Alot of USB external drives come with software built into them..

Look for an autoexec.bat file and rename it to like autoexec.crap then try it again

[Sailor Steve]

Okay, first off I have to apologize for misleading everybody. I made a huge mistake in my description. The new drive is Western Digital, and in the Bios it says WD somethingorother, which it turns out was the description of the original internal drive, so it is reading that drive and it's the new one that's not showing up in the Bios.

That said, nothing is changed. It still won't load up with the new one plugged in, and loads fine if I unpug it from the USB port.

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Just had a thought...

Alot of USB external drives come with software built into them..

Look for an autoexec.bat file and rename it to like autoexec.crap then try it again

Okay, but where do I look for that?
[edit] Never mind that dumb question. I have it searching all of E now.

[Arclight]

Could try going into BIOS and disabling "Legacy USB storage detect", if the option is present.

Should stop the system from trying to detect USB storage devices during POST. Windows should still pick it up as normal.

I remember something like a "boot from external device" option in other systems, could try turning that off as well. Should keep the system from either detecting or trying to boot from anything but what's on the internal cables.

[Sailor Steve]

Oh!


My!


GOSH!



It worked! I now have it plugged into the back again, where I don't have to worry about it or look at it.

After all the warnings I've heard I was deathly afraid to touch anything in the Bios. Now I've learned something. I just hope it sticks with me.

Thanks Arclight!

And thanks SteamWake!

And special thanks to FIREWALL for all the extra time you put in!

[Arclight]

Yay!

Glad you got it sorted.

[FIREWALL]

Congrats Steve And you learned something new too!