Member Avatar for Arsenalfctx

I just installed a new Motherboard and everything appears to be running smoothly. I'm using the same hard drive from my previos computer that has Windows XP Pro installed on it. All the harware is the same from pervious computer (except the motherboard), so I know that it is all in working order.

After the computer posts and runs through the BIOS, it asked me for the Windows set-up disks. I ran through all six diskettes and get to the screen which ask me whether I was to start normally, in safe mode, safe mode with networking and last known successful configuration.

Here's where the problem occurs: no matter which choice I pick, a a blue screen with text on it comes on for half a second (I don't have time to read it at all), then I see the Windows logo for half a second and then the computer "loops" back to the post/boot process.

I ran autochk.exe from a disk to see if that would fix it, but that hasn't helped.

Any ideas on what is causing this and how to remedy it?

I'm running a 2.0 Ghz Pent. 4 on a socket 478 board with 1.24 GB RAM and a GeForce 6200 video card. I have a DVD ROM and CD ROM in serial as well. I've run the system with only 512 RAM and video card w/ no disk drives connected. That doesn't seem to help either.

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Dani AI

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A common cause of the loop you saw is the change in low-level hardware Windows depends on when a motherboard is swapped. As discovered, using the original XP media and running the Repair procedure usually gets the system back to a usable state; was right to point at the install media and OEM differences. The underlying reasons and safer recovery steps are explained below so others who land here later can apply them.

Why it happens: Windows XP installs a specific HAL and mass-storage driver set for the chipset and BIOS SATA mode present during install. Swap the board (or change IDE/AHCI/RAID mode) and Windows may hit an immediate STOP error such as INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE or reboot before the desktop loads. The quickest fixes are to restore the original BIOS drive-mode (set SATA to IDE/Compatibility if possible) or perform a Repair install so Windows can install appropriate drivers.

Practical checklist (in order):

  • Check BIOS: match SATA/IDE/AHCI/RAID mode to the old board.
  • Try Safe Mode and note any STOP code; if it reboots immediately, boot from the XP CD.
  • From the XP CD use Recovery Console and run, in order: 
    chkdsk /r
fixboot
fixmbr
bootcfg /rebuild
  • If Recovery Console does not help, run the XP Repair install (keeps programs/data in most cases).
  • If repair fails, attach the drive to another PC and back up data before a clean install.

Prevention and extras: before moving a disk to different hardware, run Sysprep or uninstall chipset/storage drivers and switch BIOS to compatibility mode. Be prepared to reactivate Windows after a major hardware change. When in doubt, back up user data first — that step avoids the worst outcome.

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Member Avatar for Arsenalfctx

Whoops! I meant I ran dskchk.exe after the set-up disks and get a c:\windows> prompt.

Member Avatar for richh0323

The way XP is setup you will have to reinstall it. Now you mention six disketts, XP comes on a CD, was the computer you upgraded from something like Dell, IBM, ect.? If so the disks you have may not work, you have to have the CD here too. A OEM XP disk look at the BIOS signature to install, if it doesn't see it, it won't install. So look at the disks you have, let us know what they are, and what the old system was.

Member Avatar for Arsenalfctx

Thanks, that was it! Guess the "old" XP on the hard drive didn't "like" the new BIOS. I used the original XP disc and went through recovery and it fixed most of the problems and saved me from re-formatting the HD and losing all my data & applications.

I guess I made it a lot harder on myself than I needed to. Nonetheless, I'm up and running!

Thanks!

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