Windows wouldn't boot up, but now does. What happened?

TimStitt · 16 Dec 2009

Sam Saints said:

So I have updated sata and chipset drivers directly from Asus. Didn't do any good. I am running a 600W Power Supply. So if the hard drive is bad, why is it when I connect it while windows is fully booted up and I do a scan for new hardware it gets recognized and works. What is it about a hard drive that would stop a computer to even get to the POST. Especially when it is only a second drive and not the boot drive. I am sure all cables and connections are good. I was always under the impression if a BIOS routine doesn't even finish or begin (in my case), it is always hardware related.

I thought the drivers might have been it.

600W PS is fine for your system specs.

I can't explain why it fails on boot then works later.... maybe it's using shared resources... hmm....I'll think on it.

Is the bios up to date, is the drive firmware current?

There's many reasons that the HD freezes the bios, most of which we've all mentioned (faulty hardware, chipset and sata drivers, cabling etc).

In regards to others comments about hot-swapping SATA drives. It is possible and part of the industry specifications for SATA. http://www.serialata.org/technology/why_sata.asp. However, it is risky as you may bump other connections or cause power surges that your PS or mobo may not be designed for. GregRocker said "It will catch up with ya quickly", I think it "will catch up with you eventually" :)

Lastly, if bios and firmware check-out. Maybe it's time for a reformat or an external case (borrow a friends if you can)..... any other ideas anyone?

Sam Saints · 16 Dec 2009

Chipset and BIOS is up to date. So I'm at a loss. I'll format the drive and see if that works. Just don't think that will help as the Drive is technically working if I hot swap. Appreciate all the suggestions.

TimStitt · 16 Dec 2009

Sam Saints said:

Chipset and BIOS is up to date. So I'm at a loss. I'll format the drive and see if that works. Just don't think that will help as the Drive is technically working if I hot swap. Appreciate all the suggestions.

Agreed... it was the last thing on my list too.

Sam Saints · 17 Dec 2009

So I have cleared the cmos and it didn't do any good. So I'm leaning towards a bad drive. Even though the thing works when I connect it while windows is on. So if I summaize:

- I disconnected both drives, turn on the computer and it posts.
- I connect both drives and it doesn't post.
- I connect the good drive (has the OS installed on it) and it boots up fine.
- I disconnect the cable from the good drive, and connect it to the bad drive (has no OS on it) leave it connected to the same sata port and that being the only drive connected and it doesn't post.

So as weird as it sounds, it's gotta be the drive. Would this be logical to conclude?

The only thing I didn't try is reformat the drive. Only because I don't think it'll do any good. It's gotta be the stangest problem I've had in 12 yrs. Any other suggestions, I appreciate all the input.

Frostmourne · 17 Dec 2009

If the cable from the good drive doesn't work its the drive. However, did your mobo come with a L-shaped sata cable? Try connecting that to your hard drive and the other to SATA_0. Does the drive show assigned to a channel to a BIOS? I connected my to SATA_0 and its on Channel 2 with my DVD drive in SATA_1 on Channel 3 I think.

gregrocker · 17 Dec 2009

Your HD maker has diagnostics available to download in DOS to CD, boot and full scan the HD. Look on the Support Downloads page for you model.

It will fix many problems and can save HD's if they aren't too far gone.

Data Lifeguard for Western Digital works on most if you can't find yours.

Unless you want to guess...

Frostmourne · 17 Dec 2009

Seagate Seatools should do it too.

Sam Saints · 17 Dec 2009

I've tried running a scan on both drives with Data Lifeguard in Windows. I did the quick test and extended test. On both Drives I get this:
Cable Test:: Write sector error
I then click on OK
and in the bottom of that next error message box it says:
Test stopped with errors
Cable test failed! Please check the cables.

When I look at the test results, it shows:

SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: FAIL
Test Error Code: 11-Cable Test::Write sector error!

There's no way the cables are bad. The cables are good. I've tried 6 differnt new sets of cables, including the L-shaped ones and get the same error. And the connections are snug and good. So I can't even run a scan without some kind of weird problem. I wouldn't be surprised in the end if it was my mobo. Gonna buy a new drive and see if this continues.

TimStitt · 17 Dec 2009

Yep, it doesn't look good. If you have tried everything that we have suggested, then I'm not sure if there is anything left to try. Gents? any last ideas?

I'd go for an external usb case test first; but that's just personal choice. It might be the drive, it might be the mobo, nothing is certain. I guess you're up to the expensive stage of narrowing these down.

Good luck! and if you do work out what the problem is, please let us know.

Sam Saints · 17 Dec 2009

OK everyone, problem solved. Aparently when I updated my BIOS via Asus updater through the internet it didn't work. UGHHHH!!!
You see, I assumed it actually worked because it did everything as if it was updated. CMOS was cleared had to go back in redo the settings. So I assumed BIOS was updated. Can't believe I didn't bother to confirm the BIOS version after updating.
But on my last boot up I caught a quick glimpse of the BIOS version and noticed it was not the current version. Couldn't believe it. So I did an update via boot disk. Rebooted and checked the version and all was good. Then hooked up the second drive rebooted (crossed fingers) and BAM!!! it's all good.

Thanks for all the input people.