Fails to run POST after restart
Monday, July 28, 2008 by Daiwa | Discussion: Windows XP
I have an XPP SP2 rig which serves as my home 'server'. I use SyncBack which is set to run every night & backs up my data to an external Seagate USB drive.
This morning when I first sat down at the computer there was an error message saying close to this:
'Windows delayed-write failed on K:\....$MFT. Your data has been lost.' K:\ being the Seagate USB drive.
The system was frozen and unresponsive to any inputs so I powered it off.
On restart, the POST won't run - the Dell splash screen appears and the fan runs but no hard drive activity. Can't get into setup or safe mode. Gonna need to talk to Dell, obviously, but wondered if this rings a bell with anyone.
Thanks.
This morning when I first sat down at the computer there was an error message saying close to this:
'Windows delayed-write failed on K:\....$MFT. Your data has been lost.' K:\ being the Seagate USB drive.
The system was frozen and unresponsive to any inputs so I powered it off.
On restart, the POST won't run - the Dell splash screen appears and the fan runs but no hard drive activity. Can't get into setup or safe mode. Gonna need to talk to Dell, obviously, but wondered if this rings a bell with anyone.
Thanks.
SSG Geezer
Reply #2 Monday, July 28, 2008 3:12 AM
Reply #2 Monday, July 28, 2008 3:12 AM
Have you reste CMOS by removing the battery? Was K your boot system disc?
And were there any power surges or the like when you were shutting down?
Dr Guy
Reply #3 Monday, July 28, 2008 7:24 AM
Reply #3 Monday, July 28, 2008 7:24 AM
Both of the above are great first steps. Both have saved my tail a couple of times. Dell is going to tell you to either reformat, or send it in.
Daiwa
Reply #4 Tuesday, July 29, 2008 1:26 AM
Reply #4 Tuesday, July 29, 2008 1:26 AM
Thanks, guys.
You can be so... subtle, yrag.
I indeed figured there was somethin' serious wrong when no POST progress bar appeared.
The K:\ drive was not my boot drive - it was/is a Seagate external USB HDD I use for nightly backups.
Went through a number of steps with the Dell tech, including pulling the memory modules & video card, unplugging power & data cables to the HDD & DVD, & powering up again with various combinations of hardware replaced.
After assessing various beep codes I relayed to him via chat...
Ah, I love the smell of motherboard toast in the morning!
New motherboard on the way, with a tech to install it - still under warranty, TBTG.
Now, just hope my C:\ drive is still in good shape.
The Meta files....that ain't good.
You can be so... subtle, yrag.
I indeed figured there was somethin' serious wrong when no POST progress bar appeared.The K:\ drive was not my boot drive - it was/is a Seagate external USB HDD I use for nightly backups.
Went through a number of steps with the Dell tech, including pulling the memory modules & video card, unplugging power & data cables to the HDD & DVD, & powering up again with various combinations of hardware replaced.
After assessing various beep codes I relayed to him via chat...
Ah, I love the smell of motherboard toast in the morning!
New motherboard on the way, with a tech to install it - still under warranty, TBTG.
Now, just hope my C:\ drive is still in good shape.
Daiwa
Reply #5 Tuesday, July 29, 2008 4:20 PM
Reply #5 Tuesday, July 29, 2008 4:20 PM
On-site tech was unable to find any issues after putting the system all back together & re-setting the CMOS - booted into XP normally. To be on the safe side, he replaced the motherboard anyway & left a new hard drive with me in case something is up with my boot drive that is intermittent & shows up again within the next 2 weeks. No data lost on any drives as best I can tell & all seems to be status quo ante.
I have to say I've been very impressed with Dell Support in recent months. The online chat is prompt, works extremely well (3 encounters so far), and it's hard to argue with less than 48hr turnaround from hardware problem report to resolution, with 'home delivery' to boot. That's good, since I have about 15 dell rigs at work and 2 at home. If asked, I'll give them 5 of 5 stars for sure.
Game's not over quite yet, but the FL is warming up.
I have to say I've been very impressed with Dell Support in recent months. The online chat is prompt, works extremely well (3 encounters so far), and it's hard to argue with less than 48hr turnaround from hardware problem report to resolution, with 'home delivery' to boot. That's good, since I have about 15 dell rigs at work and 2 at home. If asked, I'll give them 5 of 5 stars for sure.
Game's not over quite yet, but the FL is warming up.
yrag
Reply #6 Tuesday, July 29, 2008 6:09 PM
Reply #6 Tuesday, July 29, 2008 6:09 PM
I really didn't think it was the MB (although, it certainly could have been). The machine actually did POST....you just couldn't read the writing as to where it stopped underneath the Dell billboard (you need to disable that). For what it's worth, I thought then, and still do, that it's that external USB drive. They don't play nice with backup apps (if you upgrade to Vista, sell it) and restoring an active drive from them is tenuous, at best. My guess is that your system just flat out overpowered the USB write capacities. It may never happen again or....... 
....then again, it could just be the wicked computer fairy fuckin' with ya
....then again, it could just be the wicked computer fairy fuckin' with ya
Daiwa
Reply #7 Tuesday, July 29, 2008 6:53 PM
Reply #7 Tuesday, July 29, 2008 6:53 PM
From what I know of you, I'd bet on your diagnosis, yrag. The POST progress bar may have been absent all along (per the tech; since it's still absent after the fix, I'm assuming I just never bothered to notice until the SHTF).
However, the MB apparently gave an error code during the initial troubleshoot. And it wouldn't boot after powering off the USB drives (I have two, one former boot drive that is a data source and the Seagate for daily backups).
I've been running this backup app on this setup for nearly a year without any hiccups. However, I have it running multiple backup profiles in parallel, also running backups from both the 'server' itself and a notebook to the same USB drive at roughly the same time - you think that volume of data could overwhelm USB2?
Coupla other questions: How can you tell if the POST ran? Also, how do you disable the Dell 'billboard' & for what purpose?
Thanks!
However, the MB apparently gave an error code during the initial troubleshoot. And it wouldn't boot after powering off the USB drives (I have two, one former boot drive that is a data source and the Seagate for daily backups).
I've been running this backup app on this setup for nearly a year without any hiccups. However, I have it running multiple backup profiles in parallel, also running backups from both the 'server' itself and a notebook to the same USB drive at roughly the same time - you think that volume of data could overwhelm USB2?
Coupla other questions: How can you tell if the POST ran? Also, how do you disable the Dell 'billboard' & for what purpose?
Thanks!
yrag
Reply #8 Tuesday, July 29, 2008 9:35 PM
In the bios, there should be a setting to disable Splash Screen. Being proprietary, it might not be there. Never owned one, so I don't know.
If you're asking why it's there...it's nothing more than advertisement. If you're asking why disable it.....that's where your post is showing (underneath it) on the screen at boot. That's also where it tells you why it stopped.
Absolutely. The speed of USB 1.0 or 2.0 is inherently slow. There was a time that it could run in a 'normal' system without being demonstratively evident of its shortcomings. Those days are long gone. My recommendation (if you want one) is to get an external eSata drive. Even with that, I would still monitor as to how much data from different sources I was attempting to write at the same time....there's only one arm dancing on that platter.
When your USB went off line (errored out), it borked the bios boot sequence. My guess is you also have a wireless keyboard/mouse. Thus the beeps. Proprietary boards have no means by which to initialize USB devices, so it just stalled before it could get to the Windows drivers load (that's why active drive image restores via a USB drive are problematic). When he/you reset the bios defaults, the active drive (C:) was restored. If this happens again, plug in a PSU keyboard and access the bios to reset defaults. Failing that, short the JBAT jumper or pull the battery for thirty seconds.
Reply #8 Tuesday, July 29, 2008 9:35 PM
how do you disable the Dell 'billboard'
In the bios, there should be a setting to disable Splash Screen. Being proprietary, it might not be there. Never owned one, so I don't know.
for what purpose?
If you're asking why it's there...it's nothing more than advertisement. If you're asking why disable it.....that's where your post is showing (underneath it) on the screen at boot. That's also where it tells you why it stopped.
I've been running this backup app on this setup for nearly a year without any hiccups. However, I have it running multiple backup profiles in parallel, also running backups from both the 'server' itself and a notebook to the same USB drive at roughly the same time - you think that volume of data could overwhelm USB2?
Absolutely. The speed of USB 1.0 or 2.0 is inherently slow. There was a time that it could run in a 'normal' system without being demonstratively evident of its shortcomings. Those days are long gone. My recommendation (if you want one) is to get an external eSata drive. Even with that, I would still monitor as to how much data from different sources I was attempting to write at the same time....there's only one arm dancing on that platter.
However, the MB apparently gave an error code during the initial troubleshoot. And it wouldn't boot after powering off the USB drives (I have two, one former boot drive that is a data source and the Seagate for daily backups).
When your USB went off line (errored out), it borked the bios boot sequence. My guess is you also have a wireless keyboard/mouse. Thus the beeps. Proprietary boards have no means by which to initialize USB devices, so it just stalled before it could get to the Windows drivers load (that's why active drive image restores via a USB drive are problematic). When he/you reset the bios defaults, the active drive (C:) was restored. If this happens again, plug in a PSU keyboard and access the bios to reset defaults. Failing that, short the JBAT jumper or pull the battery for thirty seconds.
Daiwa
Reply #9 Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:34 PM
Reply #9 Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:34 PM
'Preciate the advice & tips, yrag. Really kind of you.
I'll stagger my backups & run profiles sequentially rather than simultaneously.
FWIW, the rig has USB keyboard & mouse input.
I'll stagger my backups & run profiles sequentially rather than simultaneously.
FWIW, the rig has USB keyboard & mouse input.
yrag
Reply #10 Wednesday, July 30, 2008 12:03 AM
That's the same as a wireless. If your machine fails to initialize the USB ports on boot and you squirreled away an old PS2 keyboard (you don't need the mouse) just plug it in (you don't have to remove the USB connectors - your computer doesn't care how many keyboards are attached) and hit the appropriate bios key to enter the bios. After you reset the bios and exit, remove the PSU keyboard.
If you can't disable the Dell howdy-do screen in the bios press ESC key during the Splash Screen to see the boot up information. Press the Pause/Break key if the text displays too fast (ENTER to resume).
My pleasure.
Reply #10 Wednesday, July 30, 2008 12:03 AM
the rig has USB keyboard & mouse input.
That's the same as a wireless. If your machine fails to initialize the USB ports on boot and you squirreled away an old PS2 keyboard (you don't need the mouse) just plug it in (you don't have to remove the USB connectors - your computer doesn't care how many keyboards are attached) and hit the appropriate bios key to enter the bios. After you reset the bios and exit, remove the PSU keyboard.
If you can't disable the Dell howdy-do screen in the bios press ESC key during the Splash Screen to see the boot up information. Press the Pause/Break key if the text displays too fast (ENTER to resume).
'Preciate the advice & tips, yrag. Really kind of you.
My pleasure.
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Reply #1 Monday, July 28, 2008 12:25 AM