strange booting problem

gregrocker said:

It isn't necessary to uninstall the mobo drviers. Just download the latest Win7 Chipset from the SUpport Downloads webpage for your model computer or mobo, rightclick to Run as Admin and let it install.

If there is a problem, you'll need to go into the ReadMe to find out what drivers are included in package, then browse to the unzipped file location of the chipset from each Device's Driver tab until it picks up the driver, e.g. SATA controller, SM bus, etc.

Others may have a better way to do it, but this has worked for me in cases except the rare case where the chipset package installs correctly and asks for a restart, but then no Device drivers are updated.

There may also be additional installation steps to follow in the included ReadMe file beyond just executing the file as Admin, then restarting when prompted.

Thanks
but sorry there is no readme file.
I went to XFX support section and downloaded this to my desktop: 15.51_nforce_win7_64bit_whql.
It is an .EXE.
What's up with this Right Click to run as administrator thing? I have never used this to install drivers or softwares. How do I know when to use right click and when not?? (sorry for deviating but I've had this incognita)

ok, I will install over when I receive a reply. I just wonder what will happen with the currently installed driver. Wouldn't that create further conflicts or something??

If there is a problem, you'll need to go into the ReadMe to find out what drivers are included in package, then browse to the unzipped file location of the chipset from each Device's Driver tab until it picks up the driver, e.g. SATA controller, SM bus, etc.

Sorry But I did not understand what you meant...

Thanks a lot,, sorry for asking too much

If there is no Run as Adminstrator on the rightclick context menu for the downloaded .exe then it will either prompt you for elevated permission (OK) or you'll need to click on the setup file at the location where the .exe extracts the driver files, normally in the root of the C: drive.

There should also be a ReadMe file in the extracted files, and/or there may be more instructions for the installation on the page where you downloaded it from.

NForce chipset installations are pretty straightforward so you shouldn't have any problems, though.

gregrocker said:

If there is no Run as Adminstrator on the rightclick context menu for the downloaded .exe then it will either prompt you for elevated permission (OK) or you'll need to click on the setup file at the location where the .exe extracts the driver files, normally in the root of the C: drive.

There should also be a ReadMe file in the extracted files, and/or there may be more instructions for the installation on the page where you downloaded it from.

NForce chipset installations are pretty straightforward so you shouldn't have any problems, though.

Thanks, I saw the extracted folder...

I'll keep posting once I see the results!!

well it seems that installing drivers manually did not solve my situation......


damn it!!!

What were the results from running these tests?

gregrocker said:

I would check all of my mobo connections carefully, swap cables to see if it makes a difference.

Test your RAM using memtest86 CD scan overnight to stress test, or at least 5-6 passes. Swap your RAM sticks.

Test your HD's using maker's full diag/repair CD scan: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

I would also make sure the MBR is not damaged by booting the Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, clicking through to Recovery Tools list to Run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to let it repair or rewrite the MBR. Just to make sure all is correct, mark your Win7 partition Active first: Partition - Mark as Active
System Repair Disc - Create
Startup Repair

Can you remember what you did just before this problem commenced?

Have you ever done a Win7 clean reinstall after wiping the HD? Is that a factory installation? Does it have a Recovery partition, have you made or can you make Recovery Disks?

amoretam said:

well it seems that installing drivers manually did not solve my situation......


damn it!!!

gregrocker said:

What were the results from running these tests?

gregrocker said:

I would check all of my mobo connections carefully, swap cables to see if it makes a difference.

Test your RAM using memtest86 CD scan overnight to stress test, or at least 5-6 passes. Swap your RAM sticks.

Test your HD's using maker's full diag/repair CD scan: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

I would also make sure the MBR is not damaged by booting the Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, clicking through to Recovery Tools list to Run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to let it repair or rewrite the MBR. Just to make sure all is correct, mark your Win7 partition Active first: Partition - Mark as Active
System Repair Disc - Create
Startup Repair

Can you remember what you did just before this problem commenced?

Have you ever done a Win7 clean reinstall after wiping the HD? Is that a factory installation? Does it have a Recovery partition, have you made or can you make Recovery Disks?

HEy thanks a lot for your help...
Before this problem commenced I did nothing but installing Win7 x64 after using Win Xp Pro.
-Then all sorts of booting problems commenced, (Computer did not boot at all with 1 long and two short beeps)
-then reinstall Win7 a couple of times,
-took computer to technnician who made me buy a new PSU and upgrade BIOS,
-1 long and two short beeps solved but then i never could boot my computer normally. (That's when this thread started)

I have like 3 and a half months with this booting problem and posting in several forums and getting all sort of scary recommendations: put your graphics card in the oven... buy new RAM, upgrade graphics card BIOS, buy new mobo, etc, etc ,etc.

About 2 days ago I did a RAM test with Memtest 4.0 for about 5 hours and no errror.

I really need to try to fix this without having to reinstall windows because it took me like a month to get where I am with my audio software installations. I did a stressful system optimization to run Protools, Cubase, a huge amount of Virtual Instruments, Plugins, Libraries, etc to get it all running smoothly when my booting problem is not so bothersome.

So I will try to follow your suggestion before deciding myself to start over and wipe my hard disk.

What about creating a DISK IMAGE, could that be my solution to get back to where I am now, after reinstalling windows?

Also, I wish to know how could I stop Win7 from installing drivers automatically.
I know how to do it once it boots for the first time, but everytime I reinstall Win7 it automatically install drivers before it boots for the first time. You know what I mean??


Thanks a lot

You want the drivers given by the WIn7 installer and quickly updated after install via optional Windows Updates. This is not XP or Vista, MS spent a fortune building drivers so they would have them in the installer/Updates first. I would only supply drives missing in Device Manager after install. Then I would replace only based on performance issues, starting with chipset and display.

Google repeat errors in Event Viewer>Admin View to learn how others have resolved them. Check also Performance log on Advanced Tools page accessed by clicking through WEI score at Computer>Properties. Look for issues cued at top of Advanced Tools page, then Generate a System Health Report.

You can save externally a Win7 backup image so you have a path back quickly if reinstall fails.

Go back over all of the troubleshooting steps given in this thread to make sure you have completed them all, then report back with results or any other questions.

gregrocker said:

What were the results from running these tests?

gregrocker said:

I would check all of my mobo connections carefully, swap cables to see if it makes a difference.

Test your RAM using memtest86 CD scan overnight to stress test, or at least 5-6 passes. Swap your RAM sticks.

Test your HD's using maker's full diag/repair CD scan: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

I would also make sure the MBR is not damaged by booting the Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, clicking through to Recovery Tools list to Run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to let it repair or rewrite the MBR. Just to make sure all is correct, mark your Win7 partition Active first: Partition - Mark as Active
System Repair Disc - Create
Startup Repair

Can you remember what you did just before this problem commenced?

Have you ever done a Win7 clean reinstall after wiping the HD? Is that a factory installation? Does it have a Recovery partition, have you made or can you make Recovery Disks?

My Win7 installation is not a facctory installation, I have installed it several times and the same problem.
I imagine that by recovery partition you refer a partition where I have my Win7 files backed up right??
well nop, but I did a (C) partition image backup with Acronis TrueImage 2 days ago.

I did this because my system is running so smooth with this booting problem only.
Somehow I expect to fix this without having to reinstall everything.

If I do a reinstallation and everything is fixed somehow, would I be able to use this (C) partition image to go back to where I am now?? or would that bring the booting problem back?

As you suggested I did the Startup Repair 3 times, but I could not do the full diag/repair CD scan because the burned ISO CD would not boot don't know why.

Oh, also I changed my dvd/cd drive from from a SATA one to a IDE one, that because I read there is an issue with SATA dvd/cd drive and my particular mobo.
The problem went away for one day, I was so happy.
But the other morning the problem came back.


Thanks a lot man.... thank you for guiding me. I hope you don't give up on me...

Sure sounds like a mobo problem. Other than checking carefully all of the connections, making sure fans and CPU are free of dust, the only thing that comes to mind is reflashing your BIOS with latest version from Win7.

I would start a new post in Hardware coming at it as a hardware problem to get fresh eyes on this from the hardware experts.

If you have reinstalled Win7 several times with the same problem, your BIOS is flashed to latest with defaults, SATA controller set first to ACHI for install, then IDE if necessary, your memory is stress tested with memtest86 CD, hard drive testing with maker's diagnostics full scan, cables all swapped to test, then I don't really know what else to suggest.

Someone may have some mobo tests for you in Hardware forum, or be familar with issue.

Don't get discouraged, as the net effect of all of what you are going through is that you will learn more about computers than most people ever will and be able to handle other issues in the future with confidence.

gregrocker said:

Sure sounds like a mobo problem. Other than checking carefully all of the connections, making sure fans and CPU are free of dust, the only thing that comes to mind is reflashing your BIOS with latest version from Win7.

I would start a new post in Hardware coming at it as a hardware problem to get fresh eyes on this from the hardware experts.

If you have reinstalled Win7 several times with the same problem, your BIOS is flashed to latest with defaults, SATA controller set first to ACHI for install, then IDE if necessary, your memory is stress tested with memtest86 CD, hard drive testing with maker's diagnostics full scan, cables all swapped to test, then I don't really know what else to suggest.

Someone may have some mobo tests for you in Hardware forum, or be familar with issue.

Don't get discouraged, as the net effect of all of what you are going through is that you will learn more about computers than most people ever will and be able to handle other issues in the future with confidence.

Or... I could just learn to live with this problem until the end!!
After turning my PC on, I wait 1 minute and press reset button, sometimes it will boot from the first reset, sometimes it takes 3 or 4 resets. That's it.

Thanks a lot for your help and sticking with me!!
Yeah, hopefully I am getting to understand a lot about the PC world.

I will keep you posted on what I've done to my system to solve this issue,
if you want to.

Thanks