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General discussion

bootup/restart problem

Mar 10, 2011 11:57AM PST

Hello all,

I run Win XP SP3. My system information are as follows:-

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name HOME-C52A55FF2A
System Manufacturer To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Model To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 107 Stepping 1 AuthenticAMD ~1808 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. P1.50, 05/02/2009
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume3
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name HOME-C52A55FF2A\Smarty
Time Zone SA Western Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.12 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.59 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

I was just attempting to restart my computer because sometimes my webcam or scanner do not load at startup. When the re-booth started I got the following message:-

"Non system disc or disc error. Replacce then press any key to boot up".

I tried over and over the restart and got the same message. I then pressed F11 key to get to bootup and selected the maxtor drive and the system booted up properly but very slowly.

I would like to know what may have caused that and how to fix the same. I still don't know much much about computers so I really do need some guidance here.

I am indeed greatful for any assistance that can be given as I am now weary of shutting down because the systyem may not boot up again.

Thanking you.

Discussion is locked

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This sounds like those old Athlon Socket A machines.
Mar 10, 2011 12:02PM PST
http://forums.cnet.com/7723-6121_102-515430.html has more clues but if this is one of those Socket A machines I find most owners will not pay for the new motherboard and CPU. It could be a failing HDD which is still a problem since the shops rarely accept these Socket A machines for repair.
Bob
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bootup/restart problem
Mar 11, 2011 11:29AM PST

Hi Bob,

Many thanks for your reply. The link you gave directs me to my older post and the replies thereto.I was able to use the F11 key to get to the bootup. The system requires the floppy disc to start first. so I clicked the Maxtor drive exited and the system successfully re-started. I fished around for clues and found that there was a floppy disc forgotten in the drive which impeded the startup, hence the message, "Non system disc or disc error. Replace, then press any key to boot up". After removing the same the system has repeatedly booted up properly.

Permit me to say that the motherboard and processor was changed One year and eight months ago and approximately three weeks ago the cooling fan for the heat sink was changed because one of the blades of the old fan broke. It is my intention to upgrade to windows 7 in the very near future thus eliminating the matters referred to in your reply.

Thank you so much for your time and patience your reference has educated me so I can look out for problems of the sought.

Best regards,

standeb.

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Is this the old Socket A machine?
Mar 11, 2011 12:00PM PST

If so, the end is near. Be sure to test the HDD with the maker's test software. Sorry but those machines are hard on their owners as just one failure of the fan and the CPU can be cranky. Yes, I've pulled a few back from the edge by turning off the L1 and L2 CPU cache but that's so slow that most get the message.

It could be BAD CAPS too. We see that a lot.
Bob

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Im Sorry
Mar 11, 2011 12:40PM PST

I am sorry bob but you don't know what you are talking about. At all. Turning off the L1 and or L2 cache will cripple any CPU. I am a professional IT professional and your advise insults me.

It is people like you that give IT guys a bad name.

Excuse me while I go puke.

I apologize standeb, hold this guy off with a stick!

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Re: disabling cache
Mar 11, 2011 11:08PM PST

That's exactly what Bob said: "it's so slow that ...". You call it "cripple" but you two mean the same. Nice to see you two agree that you shouldn't do it.

Kees

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Let me explain it with a medical analogy.
Mar 12, 2011 2:59AM PST

Let's say you have a broken leg. If the doctors set it and then hand you crutches so you can get around, is that bad advice?

Back to the L1, L2 Cache. It's a workaround to help folk eek out access to the machine and keep going just like the crutches.

Hope this helps you see what's going on. The choice is to fix it or to get by. Their choice.
Bob

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Possible solution
Mar 11, 2011 12:34PM PST

First make sure that you don't have any CD's or usb flash drives plugged into the computer. This is 90% of the reason this might happen. If it were a physical issue, AMD Socket A machines are no problem to fix despite what someone may have said. These machines are equivalent to Pentium 4 computers.

Hope this helps.

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bootup/restart problem
Mar 12, 2011 12:36AM PST

Hello all,

I have looked at all replies and thank you for them. Question Can a look at the system info. provided in my initial post confirm whether I am using a socket machine? or if not, what other system info would be needed to confirm the same? I would be obliged to give all info I can.

I am now noticing a lot of static on my monitor screen. Maybe you guys call it flickering.

Thanking you.

standeb

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That's a great clue.
Mar 12, 2011 3:02AM PST

I'm having to guess what this machine is made of but let's see that "Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.12 GB" above and use that to GUESS there is some onboard video system.

As these old machines get old the video system and the video cards can fail. It could be heat related but without age or make/model to work with I'm left to guess.

For example it could be that well known Nvidia 8400/8600 chip!
Bob

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bootup/restart problem
Mar 12, 2011 8:50AM PST

Hello Bob,

This machine was not store bought but build. You may call it a clone. The mother board is As Rock N61-S Nvida GeForce 6150SE/nForce 430 Chipset. Processor AMD Sempron (TM) Dual Core. x86 Family 15 Model 107 Stepping 1 AMD Speed 1,808 Mhz. The following info. may help.

Video Codex:-
c:\windows\system32\ff_vfw.dll Not Available ffdshow video encoder OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\FF_VFW.DLL Not Available 83.50 KB (85,504 bytes) 27/07/2010 06:54 PM
c:\windows\system32\iccvid.dll Radius Inc. OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\ICCVID.DLL 1.10.0.11 78.50 KB (80,384 bytes) 04/08/2004 08:00 AM
c:\windows\system32\ir32_32.dll Intel(R) Corporation OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\IR32_32.DLL Not Available 194.50 KB (199,168 bytes) 04/08/2004 08:00 AM
c:\windows\system32\ir41_32.ax Intel Corporation OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\IR41_32.AX 4.51.16.03 828.50 KB (848,384 bytes) 04/08/2004 08:00 AM
c:\windows\system32\ir50_32.dll Intel Corporation Indeo

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That's some good clues.
Mar 12, 2011 10:49AM PST

Ok, now we know it's not the old Athlon Socket A machine.
And we know it's not the nvidia 8400/8600 issue.

But we do see 4GB on a 32 bit OS so there can be issues that could cause odd displays.

Given the troubles this machine has given you it may be time to ask its maker to fix this machine. At worse it's a new motherboard. At best they'll update the BIOS and reload the OS and drivers.

Odd choice to install more than 2GB with this OS?
Bob

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bootup/restart problem
Mar 13, 2011 8:27AM PDT

Hello Bobb,

Thank you for the reply. As I previously said I intend to upgrade to windows 7 in the very near future. Now comes your advice. Therefore I shall be doing the upgrade which will entail a change of mother board and processor as well as a bios update among other things. Then the 4GB memory will not be odd.

Be advised that your advice is well respected and will be followed. When the Job at hand has ben done I shall post back.

Again, thank you for your kind attention.

Standeb.

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bootup/restart problem
Mar 26, 2011 5:00AM PDT

Hello Bobb,

I had my techie come in and check the machine. the bios and drivers were updated among other things. The system seems to work good at least for the time being. I still have the upgrade job for windown 7 at hand however. I am gearing up for the same.

Thank you so much for you assistance. You have been very patient and professional.

Best regards.

standeb