Windows XP freezes at startup, but then...

Scott L. · #1 03-03-2003, 09:03 AM

Here's the brief version: I have an SGI Zx10 workstation, Dual 1 Ghz P3s. Just added a Seagate 18GB hard drive to it that I actually pulled from my Apple Mac G4. I just installed XP on it. The computer already had a Quantum 18 GB HD with Windows NT 4.0 on it. When I boot up (from the Seagate... Windows XP), the computer "hangs up" (freezes) just when the WIndows XP logo begins to fade up from black. As a matter of fact, it freezes precisely when the logo is only very slightly visible. But, when I power down and restart and go into the BIOS setup and *don't make any changes* and then exit the BIOS, it starts up fine and runs XP perfectly. Also, once it boots up and is running properly, I can choose "restart" and it always reboots fine... no freezes. It only freezes from the initial startup. If I enter and then exit the BIOS, it proceeds to boot up fine, or if I do a restart from windows. Any ideas on why it likes for me to visit the "setup" BIOS during startup? Are there any issues with the hard drive? It is an Ultra SCSI 2 as is the original Quantum. I have installed all patches and upgrades from microsoft for windows XP. Thanks

Scott L. · #2 03-07-2003, 01:06 PM

Well, I just discovered that upon a cold boot, if I go into BIOS setup and then "Exit and Save Changes" (F10) it always boots up fine... even though I have made NO changes whatsoever. HOWEVER, if I go into BIOS setup and simply exit "discarding changes" (even though there were none) it hangs up just as it does if I try a normal startup (without entering BIOS setup. So, the only way it starts up Windows XP correctly (without getting hung up) is when I enter BIOS setup and "save changes and exit". Anyone have a guess? thanks

CONFUSER · #3 03-08-2003, 07:30 PM

If your PC is old, check your battery for the bios on your mother board. It costs 2.50 to replace. You bios may not be saving your setting or worse, you bios may be trashed ( YOUR motherboard as well. I would first open the PC and make sure every damn card is in tight. Your memory chips are tight, All you cabels are tight and all corson the exterior and screwed in tight.

Check your batter. It is a round silver lithium battery, Check it and if poor replace it. I do it once a year. Hope that helps.

scotty68 · #4 04-26-2005, 03:11 PM

I've found the identical problem with a Compaq Profesional Workstation SP700. I hadn't realised that going into the BIOS and saving the settings allows it to boot, but I had found that booting into safe mode then doing a system restore to an earlier point, and subsequent warm boot allows the system to get into XP. The BIOS fix is slightly easier though, so thanks for that!

My battery is ok, and it doesn't come up with any configuration errors at boot like it would do with a low battery.

My machine used to run XP ok, it was only after a full reinstall and an upgrade to SP2 that I started having problems. The old version was a pre SP1 version.

I'd be interested to find if you ever got this fixed?

trueusa · #5 11-26-2005, 11:42 PM

I had put another cd rom in a few days ago. Primary had 2 hard drives and secondary had 2 cd roms. Both the cd roms were set as slaves and this is what caused the conflict.Mine would boot normally sometimes but most of the time it would lockup at the first XP logo. Changed 1 cd rom to master and now all is fine. Hope this helps someone

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yoni5002 · #6 11-26-2005, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueusa

I had put another cd rom in a few days ago. Primary had 2 hard drives and secondary had 2 cd roms. Both the cd roms were set as slaves and this is what caused the conflict.Mine would boot normally sometimes but most of the time it would lockup at the first XP logo. Changed 1 cd rom to master and now all is fine. Hope this helps someone

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Yeah... Help yourself in this case... Very intuitive going and checking what you just have changed days before...

Yoni5002
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Roy Mustang · #7 11-22-2008, 06:42 PM

When my Zx10 locked up just as the windows logo was about to show the cause was the power supply going bad.
I replaced it with a new power supply and the problem was gone.
I had to make an adapter becasue the Zx10 motherboard uses an additional 20pin connector to get more 12V and 5V connections.

Now I am trying to install Vista on it and having problems getting any AGP card to show in device manager.