Computer refusing to boot from hard drive

Darkoda · 01-01-2009, 12:28 AM

I have been having a problem recently. I've just installed windows vista ultimate sp1 x64 on my PC. It installed without a problem, but when the computer resets, all I get is DMI update suceeded, then the computer stays there for awhile and then attempts to boot from a CD, and I have to reinstall vista to bring back the computer.

I have gotten the computer to come back up occasionally, and I already checked the BIOS settings to ensure it boots from the hard drive first, and reinstalled vista on a new hard drive in case my old one died on me. I even tried running a vista recovery disk but it unable to even see my OS.

Does anyone know how to fix this problem? Any help would be greaty appreciated.

Tumbleweed36 · 01-01-2009, 05:46 AM

Specs please.... Also, I know you have it set right in the boot order sequence, but have you checked so the hard drive is listed FIRST in the Hard Drive Priority or Boot drive priority?

Boot Order:

CDRom - 1st
Floppy - 2nd (if you have one)
Hard Drive - 3rd (boot drive)

Hard or Boot Drive Priority

Hard or Boot Drive Listed FIRST.

Darkoda · 01-01-2009, 11:12 AM

I have a Biostar GF7025-M2 motherboard with an AMD 2.5 Ghz Dual processor. Im using the onboard graphics card with the motherboard.

http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en-us/...t.php?S_ID=292

I checked the hard drive priority, it's set to start with the drive with the OS.

Tumbleweed36 · 01-01-2009, 01:00 PM

Clear the CMOS and see if that helps. Then, after you do that recheck the items above to make sure they are still as they should be. If it keeps trying to boot from the CDRom, then change that area to (if not installing the OS) Hard Drive as first to boot.

If that does not help, then download and run the Hard Drive Utility from the drive manufacturer's website and test the hard drive with that utility:

Hard Drive Utilities

BTW, what hard drive do you have including the brand name. Also list Sata or IDE so we know what we are dealing with.

Darkoda · 01-01-2009, 05:42 PM

I have two IDE - Seagate - ST340016A and Maxtor 6Y160P0

And a SATA - ExcelStor Technology J9250S

The SATA drive has the OS on it currently.

The computer still keeps trying to boot from the CD, even if I remove the CD-ROM from the list of boot devices totally.

Tumbleweed36 · 01-01-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tumbleweed36

Hard or Boot Drive Priority

Hard or Boot Drive Listed FIRST.

Darkoda · 01-01-2009, 06:28 PM

The ExcelStor Technology J9250S is listed first.

Tumbleweed36 · 01-01-2009, 06:37 PM

Darn, I know nothing about that brand name hard drive, is a new one on me. Anyhow, for Sata issues, you might want to review these issues to see if any apply to your situation. Remember, you must pick and choose for your particular situation:

In the bios, you should have the Sata set to IDE mode IF you are NOT using Raid, do you?
In the Bios, you should have all the Sata options enabled, do you?
Have you loaded all your chipset drivers from the motherboard disk?
When you start to load the OS, did you load the Sata drivers at the F6 prompt, you should if you have Windows XP? You don't need them for Vista unless you are doing Raid.
Are you certain you have the Sata hooked to the correct connection on the motherboard?
If not using RAID, are you certain you have Raid turned off in the bios?
Do you have the Bios set to boot as follows:

CDRom - 1st
Floppy - 2nd (if you have one)
Hard Drive - 3rd
Do you have the Hard Drive Priority in the Boot area set with the Sata listed FIRST?
Have you tried the Disk Manufacturer’s Hard Drive Utility to see if it recognizes the drive?
Is your motherboard Sata II compliant or Sata I compliant. Some Sata drives have a jumper that you need to set if your Sata drive is Sata II and your motherboard is Sata I. Give that a look and see! (BTW: Hitachi drives use a software patch to do this instead of jumpers.

Post back with questions/issues/concerns.

Darkoda · 01-02-2009, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tumbleweed36

Darn, I know nothing about that brand name hard drive, is a new one on me. Anyhow, for Sata issues, you might want to review these issues to see if any apply to your situation. Remember, you must pick and choose for your particular situation:

In the bios, you should have the Sata set to IDE mode IF you are NOT using Raid, do you?

Yes
In the Bios, you should have all the Sata options enabled, do you?

All SATA options I saw in the BIOS menu are enabled or set to auto.
Have you loaded all your chipset drivers from the motherboard disk?

When I last had the computer up, I updated all the drivers on the motherboard from Biostar's website.
When you start to load the OS, did you load the Sata drivers at the F6 prompt, you should if you have Windows XP? You don't need them for Vista unless you are doing Raid.

Not using Raid, and the system does show all the hard drives connected on the system screen and the BIOS menu.
Are you certain you have the Sata hooked to the correct connection on the motherboard?

Yes
If not using RAID, are you certain you have Raid turned off in the bios?

Nothing involving RAID appears to be on within the BIOS
Do you have the Bios set to boot as follows:

CDRom - 1st
Floppy - 2nd (if you have one)
Hard Drive - 3rd
I don't understand the point of this. Isn't the computer booting from the CD first defeating the purpose, to get it to boot from the hard drive instead of the CD? I don't have a floppy drive so I left the 2nd as disabled.
Do you have the Hard Drive Priority in the Boot area set with the Sata listed FIRST?

Yes
Have you tried the Disk Manufacturer’s Hard Drive Utility to see if it recognizes the drive?

I cannot find one for ExcelStor yet, and will I be able to use a utility without booting the computer?
Is your motherboard Sata II compliant or Sata I compliant. Some Sata drives have a jumper that you need to set if your Sata drive is Sata II and your motherboard is Sata I. Give that a look and see! (BTW: Hitachi drives use a software patch to do this instead of jumpers.

The motherboard is SATA II compliant.

Post back with questions/issues/concerns.

The screen just says Boot from CD for about 5 minutes, then states disk boot failure and asks for the system disk.

01-01-2009, 12:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
Darkoda Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Vista ultimate sp1	Computer refusing to boot from hard drive I have been having a problem recently. I've just installed windows vista ultimate sp1 x64 on my PC. It installed without a problem, but when the computer resets, all I get is DMI update suceeded, then the computer stays there for awhile and then attempts to boot from a CD, and I have to reinstall vista to bring back the computer. I have gotten the computer to come back up occasionally, and I already checked the BIOS settings to ensure it boots from the hard drive first, and reinstalled vista on a new hard drive in case my old one died on me. I even tried running a vista recovery disk but it unable to even see my OS. Does anyone know how to fix this problem? Any help would be greaty appreciated.

01-01-2009, 05:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,697 OS: XP Professional	Re: Computer refusing to boot from hard drive Specs please.... Also, I know you have it set right in the boot order sequence, but have you checked so the hard drive is listed FIRST in the Hard Drive Priority or Boot drive priority? Boot Order: CDRom - 1st Floppy - 2nd (if you have one) Hard Drive - 3rd (boot drive) Hard or Boot Drive Priority Hard or Boot Drive Listed FIRST. __________________ ---------- 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.

01-01-2009, 11:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
Darkoda Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Vista ultimate sp1	Re: Computer refusing to boot from hard drive I have a Biostar GF7025-M2 motherboard with an AMD 2.5 Ghz Dual processor. Im using the onboard graphics card with the motherboard. http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en-us/...t.php?S_ID=292 I checked the hard drive priority, it's set to start with the drive with the OS.

01-01-2009, 01:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,697 OS: XP Professional	Re: Computer refusing to boot from hard drive Clear the CMOS and see if that helps. Then, after you do that recheck the items above to make sure they are still as they should be. If it keeps trying to boot from the CDRom, then change that area to (if not installing the OS) Hard Drive as first to boot. If that does not help, then download and run the Hard Drive Utility from the drive manufacturer's website and test the hard drive with that utility: Hard Drive Utilities BTW, what hard drive do you have including the brand name. Also list Sata or IDE so we know what we are dealing with. __________________ ---------- 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; 01-01-2009 at 01:02 PM.

01-01-2009, 05:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Darkoda Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Vista ultimate sp1	Re: Computer refusing to boot from hard drive I have two IDE - Seagate - ST340016A and Maxtor 6Y160P0 And a SATA - ExcelStor Technology J9250S The SATA drive has the OS on it currently. The computer still keeps trying to boot from the CD, even if I remove the CD-ROM from the list of boot devices totally.

01-01-2009, 06:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
Darkoda Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Vista ultimate sp1	Re: Computer refusing to boot from hard drive The ExcelStor Technology J9250S is listed first.

01-01-2009, 06:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,697 OS: XP Professional	Re: Computer refusing to boot from hard drive Darn, I know nothing about that brand name hard drive, is a new one on me. Anyhow, for Sata issues, you might want to review these issues to see if any apply to your situation. Remember, you must pick and choose for your particular situation: In the bios, you should have the Sata set to IDE mode IF you are NOT using Raid, do you? In the Bios, you should have all the Sata options enabled, do you? Have you loaded all your chipset drivers from the motherboard disk? When you start to load the OS, did you load the Sata drivers at the F6 prompt, you should if you have Windows XP? You don't need them for Vista unless you are doing Raid. Are you certain you have the Sata hooked to the correct connection on the motherboard? If not using RAID, are you certain you have Raid turned off in the bios? Do you have the Bios set to boot as follows: CDRom - 1st Floppy - 2nd (if you have one) Hard Drive - 3rd Do you have the Hard Drive Priority in the Boot area set with the Sata listed FIRST? Have you tried the Disk Manufacturer’s Hard Drive Utility to see if it recognizes the drive? Is your motherboard Sata II compliant or Sata I compliant. Some Sata drives have a jumper that you need to set if your Sata drive is Sata II and your motherboard is Sata I. Give that a look and see! (BTW: Hitachi drives use a software patch to do this instead of jumpers. Post back with questions/issues/concerns. __________________ ---------- 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.