Hard Drive won't boot (I assume)

errlloyd · 02-24-2008, 12:14 PM

Hey all, I am currently have a pretty serious issue with my pc, I posted it here because I think its my harddrive, but I am not sure it might be anything.

Currently I am running Windows Xp service pack 2.
1 X 120 gb Ide with os installed
1 X 500 gb sata with no os
Intel core 2 duo 2.66 ghz
2 x 1 gig corsair 2400 ram.
2 x 512 corsair 2400 ram.
Nvidea 8500 gt
Abit Ab9 motherboard bios version 1.61 i think.

Thats the best I can do off the top of my head.

Anyway onto whats wrong. I can't name the stages of booting so I am just going to describe them. First I get the normal screen that tells me things about my pc. Then my motherboards logo with the standard "press del to enter setup options" ect. Then I get a screen which says something about my 120 gb hdd.

Then I get this screen and it stalls here. Sorry for the poor quaility, digital camera ftw.

I beleive it says Verifying DMI pool data, but haven't a clue what the second line says, only that its not usually there.

Edit : By saying that above I am not insulting your intelligence I had only seen the picture on my camera and couldn't read it on that, but its easy here.

Tumbleweed36 · 02-24-2008, 02:01 PM

I am really having difficulty with this one, because with the exception of the "Pool Data" message, not sure what is happening.

For example, we need to know of the Sata drive has ever been used and formatted?

We need to know if you plan on keeping the IDE drive for the OS, or are you trying to re-install an OS on it?

Are you trying to put an OS on the SAta drive?

Did the computer work fine before you added a drive, or did it just quit working and gives this message? Please provide those details.

The "Pool Data" message could be from a couple of things, including a hard drive (hardware) not set up correctly or even a bios that is corrupted. There are also a couple of others, but let's look at your setup as a first step.

Please understand that I am kind of stabbing in the dark until I know some of the things that I asked you above, but have to assume some things that may not be the case.

Tell me about your drive with the OS on it. It is an IDE, but what is the brand name, how are the jumpers set on the drive, and where is it located on the ribbon cable, and is it on the primary or secondary IDE connector? Also, what else is on that ribbon cable, if there is another drive on there?

Second thing I want you to look at. If you are trying to boot from the IDE drive, go to the Boot Priority in the Bios setup menu under hard drives and make sure your boot drive is listed there FIRST.

Post back with questions/concerns/things I may have said that you don't understand.

errlloyd · 02-24-2008, 02:39 PM

Alright thanks mate.

Ok this is the score. That had been running fine for the last 2 months, today on startup for the first time it didnt' exactly run right, so I restarted again and it appeared t be working fine, I did some stuff and then I went on to play a game. During the game my keyboard stopped working, no big deal, I was forced to cut power to the pc (by holding the power button). Anyway I left it off for a few minutes and then booted it. This is what greeted me.

Idealy (of course) I would like it all to return to working as it was yesterday, however I really am not terribly bothered if I have to ditch the 120 and put an os on the 500gb.

But yes the Sata has been formatted and used. (currently has about 200 gb of files on it)

Thanks a mill for the help mate.

Tumbleweed36 · 02-24-2008, 02:43 PM

If this is the scenario (boy, did I miss that one), then clear the CMOS and see if that helps. Many time with a sudden power cut, the Bios becomes muddled because it did not have a chance to save settings. Let us know if that helps.

errlloyd · 02-25-2008, 02:07 PM

No Joy.

It says now "Verifying DMI Pool Data ........................ Update Success"

Then the same code below. -|Be$-| or whatever it is.

Tumbleweed36 · 02-25-2008, 04:31 PM

Any way you can get in to Safe Mode? Have you tried?

Remove the drive that does not have the OS on it and see if that helps.

errlloyd · 02-26-2008, 12:48 PM

I have tried to get boot in safe mode, doesn't work. I will give removing the hd a go in a bit.

errlloyd · 03-07-2008, 01:13 PM

I was abroad, anyway I tried messing with hd's.

Then I tried booting from a windows cd and got the same errors. But strangely if I boot with a bios floppy it works perfectly each time.

02-24-2008, 12:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
errlloyd Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Win Xp Sp 2	Hard Drive won't boot (I assume) Hey all, I am currently have a pretty serious issue with my pc, I posted it here because I think its my harddrive, but I am not sure it might be anything. Currently I am running Windows Xp service pack 2. 1 X 120 gb Ide with os installed 1 X 500 gb sata with no os Intel core 2 duo 2.66 ghz 2 x 1 gig corsair 2400 ram. 2 x 512 corsair 2400 ram. Nvidea 8500 gt Abit Ab9 motherboard bios version 1.61 i think. Thats the best I can do off the top of my head. Anyway onto whats wrong. I can't name the stages of booting so I am just going to describe them. First I get the normal screen that tells me things about my pc. Then my motherboards logo with the standard "press del to enter setup options" ect. Then I get a screen which says something about my 120 gb hdd. Then I get this screen and it stalls here. Sorry for the poor quaility, digital camera ftw. I beleive it says Verifying DMI pool data, but haven't a clue what the second line says, only that its not usually there. Edit : By saying that above I am not insulting your intelligence I had only seen the picture on my camera and couldn't read it on that, but its easy here. Last edited by errlloyd; 02-24-2008 at 12:17 PM.

02-24-2008, 02:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,650 OS: XP Professional	Re: Hard Drive won't boot (I assume) I am really having difficulty with this one, because with the exception of the "Pool Data" message, not sure what is happening. For example, we need to know of the Sata drive has ever been used and formatted? We need to know if you plan on keeping the IDE drive for the OS, or are you trying to re-install an OS on it? Are you trying to put an OS on the SAta drive? Did the computer work fine before you added a drive, or did it just quit working and gives this message? Please provide those details. The "Pool Data" message could be from a couple of things, including a hard drive (hardware) not set up correctly or even a bios that is corrupted. There are also a couple of others, but let's look at your setup as a first step. Please understand that I am kind of stabbing in the dark until I know some of the things that I asked you above, but have to assume some things that may not be the case. Tell me about your drive with the OS on it. It is an IDE, but what is the brand name, how are the jumpers set on the drive, and where is it located on the ribbon cable, and is it on the primary or secondary IDE connector? Also, what else is on that ribbon cable, if there is another drive on there? Second thing I want you to look at. If you are trying to boot from the IDE drive, go to the Boot Priority in the Bios setup menu under hard drives and make sure your boot drive is listed there FIRST. Post back with questions/concerns/things I may have said that you don't understand. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread. Last edited by Tumbleweed36; 02-24-2008 at 02:02 PM.

02-24-2008, 02:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
errlloyd Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Win Xp Sp 2	Re: Hard Drive won't boot (I assume) Alright thanks mate. Ok this is the score. That had been running fine for the last 2 months, today on startup for the first time it didnt' exactly run right, so I restarted again and it appeared t be working fine, I did some stuff and then I went on to play a game. During the game my keyboard stopped working, no big deal, I was forced to cut power to the pc (by holding the power button). Anyway I left it off for a few minutes and then booted it. This is what greeted me. Idealy (of course) I would like it all to return to working as it was yesterday, however I really am not terribly bothered if I have to ditch the 120 and put an os on the 500gb. But yes the Sata has been formatted and used. (currently has about 200 gb of files on it) Thanks a mill for the help mate.

02-24-2008, 02:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,650 OS: XP Professional	Re: Hard Drive won't boot (I assume) If this is the scenario (boy, did I miss that one), then clear the CMOS and see if that helps. Many time with a sudden power cut, the Bios becomes muddled because it did not have a chance to save settings. Let us know if that helps. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

02-25-2008, 02:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
errlloyd Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Win Xp Sp 2	Re: Hard Drive won't boot (I assume) No Joy. It says now "Verifying DMI Pool Data ........................ Update Success" Then the same code below. -\|Be$-\| or whatever it is.

02-25-2008, 04:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,650 OS: XP Professional	Re: Hard Drive won't boot (I assume) Any way you can get in to Safe Mode? Have you tried? Remove the drive that does not have the OS on it and see if that helps. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread. Last edited by Tumbleweed36; 02-25-2008 at 04:33 PM.

02-26-2008, 12:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
errlloyd Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Win Xp Sp 2	Re: Hard Drive won't boot (I assume) I have tried to get boot in safe mode, doesn't work. I will give removing the hd a go in a bit.

03-07-2008, 01:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
errlloyd Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 5 OS: Win Xp Sp 2	Re: Hard Drive won't boot (I assume) I was abroad, anyway I tried messing with hd's. Then I tried booting from a windows cd and got the same errors. But strangely if I boot with a bios floppy it works perfectly each time.