Boot Problem

[Sailor Steve]

Howdy Hi;

I just bought and installed a 1 TB external hard drive. Everything works fine except this morning when I started up my computer it wouldn't go past the first load screen. This says 'GATEWAY' and <F2 BIOS> and <F10 BOOT>. Hitting either key did nothing so I fiddled around a bit and found out that if I unplugged the new drive from the PC it would go to the BOOT screen all by itself, and from there I could start it with no problems.

So it's hardly a catastrophe but it is annoying. Does anyone have an idea what it's doing and how I can fix it?

[Wolfehunter]

Do you have two HDD now installed? Or did you replace the old one with the newer 1TB?

[Sailor Steve]

The newer one is an external USB drive. So I have both.

[FIREWALL]

I know that when you have two internal hdd's you have to configure one as a Master and the second as Slave with jumpers.

With one being External, in the bios you have the USB in the boot order before your Internal hdd.

That's my best guess with info you gave.

[Thomen]

EIDE or SATA internal drives? If the former, you might have to set jumpers, if the latter you have to fiddle around in the bios.

EDIT: Some older bios versions do not like having USB drives plugged when you turn your PC on.

[Sailor Steve]

Thanks everybody for your advice. I'll fiddle around and see what happens.

EDIT: Some older bios versions do not like having USB drives plugged when you turn your PC on.
That sounds like it, as the PC dates to 2005. Any ideas other than just unplugging it every time?

[Thomen]

Thanks everybody for your advice. I'll fiddle around and see what happens.


That sounds like it, as the PC dates to 2005. Any ideas other than just unplugging it every time?

2005? :hmmm:

Try taking the USB drive out of the boot order, or put it on the very last spot in the boot menu.

If that doesn't help...

Only thing I could come up with would be a bios update, if its not a jumper or boot menu setting.

[FIREWALL]

Thanks everybody for your advice. I'll fiddle around and see what happens.


That sounds like it, as the PC dates to 2005. Any ideas other than just unplugging it every time?

That would be in the Bios and setting your Boot Order.

EXAMPLE:
1. HDD
2. Optical Drive
3. Floppy (if you have one installed) I don't.
4.USB. For external Hdd.

[Arclight]

As a short term workaround you can press F10 during boot and get a dialog where you can select the drive to boot from. Select the primary drive (probably something like "HDD0") to boot as normal.

Would have to do that every boot though, so better to fix the order in BIOS.

[CaptainHaplo]

What they said LOL. Specifically - the boot order in Bios.

[Sailor Steve]

As a short term workaround you can press F10 during boot and get a dialog where you can select the drive to boot from. Select the primary drive (probably something like "HDD0") to boot as normal.

Would have to do that every boot though, so better to fix the order in BIOS.
I already have to do that every boot. The F2 and F10 keys don't even work unless I unplug it first, and even then I have to F10 boot.

I'll try rearranging the order right now.

[Sailor Steve]

Well, I switched everything around, and no change. I disabled the new drive, and it wouldn't boot at all. It seems the problem is that the boot menu is no longer recognizing the original internal drive. Once the computer is running I can bring it up just fine, but the boot menu doesn't have it listed.

The only BIOS update from Gateway is older than my machine itself. It also requires making a boot floppy disc, and I don't have a floppy drive. Does the CD/DVD drive count? Also Sandra the PC explorations system gave me a warning: BIOS is flashable but externally mounted. An incorrect update could be fatal.

Can I get the thing to recognize the internal hard drive again?

[CaptainHaplo]

ok - we are getting into some weirdness - roll up your sleeves. Sounds like either the MBR of the internal HD is going wonky - or the boot.ini file has been modified.

Lets start with a couple of questions....

What OS are you using?

Are you using any odd bootloaders, like LiLo?

[Sailor Steve]

XP Home, and no.

[FIREWALL]

The next step may be using you OS disc to repair corrupt files.in boot.

If not familiar with this I will walk you thru it.

[Thomen]

Concerning the external drive, I doubt that it will be the boot ini..

Since
I already have to do that every boot. The F2 and F10 keys don't even work unless I unplug it first...

Which is a clear indicator that there is something borked in the bios or the bios does not support external drives. :hmmm:

[Sailor Steve]

The next step may be using you OS disc to repair corrupt files.in boot.

If not familiar with this I will walk you thru it.
All of my discs are buried somewhere in storage. :cry:

One thing has changed by itself: Yesterday I had to unplug the external drive and then use the boot screen to start it. Today I still have to unplug the cable but for some reason when I do it starts without help. :-?

[FIREWALL]

Anything new Steve ?

[kiwi_2005]

After reading about your problem its put me of external drives. :o

Don't do any of the below unless your certain its the boot.ini

If its your boot.ini that corrupt your have to do a repair using your OS cd, load up the cd when it gets to the blue menu and gives you a couple of options choose R (recovery console) after it goes through its stages, type 'bootcfg /rebuild' and hit enter. it will ask you to identify so you type windows home edition and hit enter.

If your lucky the boot.ini will be fix and your at least be able to get back into windows.


On another note.
Ubuntu got my pc out of a mess. Windows xp pro came up corrupt on startup, not even the repair would fix the boot.ini I was locked out of windows so i gave up and install Ubuntu so at the very least i could access the windows drive from ubuntu OS and backup all my important files to dvd, then reformat damn Windows and reinstall. But installing Ubuntu it fixed the problem cause Linux installs its own boot menu so you can choose either windows or Linux on startup. To my surprise there was WindowsXP alongside Ubuntu 9.10. I was able to get back into windows without having to reformat and start again.

Can't fix the bootup in windows, don't want to reformat, use ubuntu as the last resort. And its a good OS to use :)

[FIREWALL]

Me thinks you need to take a trip to storage and get all your software. :hmmm:

[Sailor Steve]

After reading about your problem its put me of external drives. :o
Shouldn't. I was sold on the idea after listening to Kim Komando on NPR. She said the main benefit is in case of fire. You can replace your computer, but you can't replace all your work. The external can go out a window and be pretty much guaranteed to survive intact.

If your lucky the boot.ini will be fix and your at least be able to get back into windows.
As I said, if I unplug the drive before startup I have no problems now. I just wonder why it stopped recognizing the main drive (which still works fine, just doesn't show up in the Boot menu).


...at the very least i could access the windows drive from ubuntu OS and backup all my important files to dvd, then reformat damn Windows and reinstall.
Which is why I bought the external drive in the first place. With a Terrabyte of storage ALL my files are stored outside the computer. Everything I have. And I've filled up a whopping 90 Gigs, so I have about 800 GB left to play with. I love it!

Me thinks you need to take a trip to storage and get all your software. :hmmm:
Oh, I absolutely agree. It's inside one of the 60+ boxes of books and stuff crammed into a 5 x 10 unit. Should only take a full day to pull everything out, look at each box and jam it all back in. Though I'm not sure I have the physical endurance to do something like that anymore.:dead::D

[FIREWALL]

Though I'm not sure I have the physical endurance to do something like that anymore.:dead::D[/QUOTE]


Hire Emanual Labor for heavy lifting and toteing. :haha:

[FIREWALL]

Got it sorted out ? If so, Post how you fixed it to help out others.

If not I have another fresh approach to solveing this that involves useing Task Manager.

[Sailor Steve]

Not.

It's not so much of a problem now that it boots by itself with the new drive unplugged, but it would be nice if I could get rid of that little annoyance.

[FIREWALL]

Not.

It's not so much of a problem now that it boots by itself with the new drive unplugged, but it would be nice if I could get rid of that little annoyance.


Especially if your usb ports are all in the back of the case.

I have an old Puter I'm pulling out of the closet. Don't know why I ever kept it.

Maybe now's the reason.

P4 3.0 Hyperthread
2 gb ddr ram
7600GT 512gb
320gb hdd
XP Pro sp2

Gonna use my EXTERNAL hdd to see if I can recreat you problem and fixit.

Believe it or not. I call this FUN. :D

[SteamWake]

I have this same issue with a media player device.

It appears to be the device itself because if I move it from any machine to another machine and then try to boot that machine with the device plugged in it hangs at the bios screen and never even gets to the POST.

Simple solution is to unplug it and poof the machine takes off.

I think it has something to do with how it uses the V+/- of the USB buss.

[FIREWALL]

@ Steve What do you have on the EX hdd ?

Did you put a Whole system backup on it ?

[Sailor Steve]

Especially if your usb ports are all in the back of the case.
Fortunately I have two in front, so the hassle is now truly minor.

Believe it or not. I call this FUN. :D
I would too, if I had a clue what I was doing. :doh:

@ Steve What do you have on the EX hdd ?

Did you put a Whole system backup on it ?
No, I moved over all of My Documents and my personal Downloads folder. Program files and everything else is solely on the main drive.

[FIREWALL]

When you say move... Did you move the files and delete same said files on Internal hdd.

Or did you just copy them to External hdd and leave originals on Internal hdd.

[Sailor Steve]

Deleted. I wanted to not have the main drive be full.

[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]

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 :sunny:

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. :haha:
Even took a break and played GWX :rotfl2:

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. :88)

[FIREWALL]

Hmmm? :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.:cry:

[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. :DL

[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. :rotfl2:

[FIREWALL]

Roger that. Hope all goes well. :up:

[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.

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. :doh:

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 :woot: And you learned something new too! :up:

[Wolfehunter]

Cool :salute: Glad to hear you sorted it out. I was searching about your motherboard version but it doesn't look right for an intel mb. My old one was D865PERL.

Sorry for the delay. I'm glad Arclight had it on the nose. :yeah:

[Sailor Steve]

Oh, and thanks to you too! Sorry I left you off my list, but I just took a quick glance at the immediate previous posts and didn't think too much. I was excited, ya see? :D

And you did a lot to help as well.