Windows XP - Desktop Locks/Hangs During POST

Use this checklist when POST splash screen or POST error messages are displayed, but POST fails.

POST (Power On Self Test) refers to activity occurring immediately after turning on the computer, and prior to an operating system starting. During POST, the computer is preparing to initiate operating system startup.

Typical Symptoms

  • Continuous operating system or POST looping
  • System locks before, during, or after POST splash screen display
  • POST error messages
    • Hard drive and other boot device errors
    • CMOS time/date and failed battery
    • Memory size decreased
  • POST warnings and other messages
    • RAID status screen displayed for several seconds
    • Thermal/overheating messages

Notes

Related checklists include:

Check BIOS Setup and make sure settings are correct

  1. Start the computer.

  2. Press the F2 or F1 key repeatedly until the Setup Main page is displayed.

    Note: A message is displayed on the screen as to which key should be pressed.

  3. Make sure RAID option is enabled or disabled (whichever is correct for computer configuration).

    Note: Refer to Product pages for information about correct settings.

  4. Make sure boot order in BIOS Setup utility lists a hard drive.

Unexpected behavior can result when we assume that we have booted from the hard drive, but have actually booted from some other device.

Remove external devices and removable storage media

  1. Start the computer.

  2. Eject/remove all media inserted into Zip drives, floppy drives, CD/DVD drives, card readers, etc.

  3. Power off the computer.

  4. Disconnect all external devices except the monitor.

    5. Note: Include keyboard, mouse, printers, anything connected to the USB ports, anything externally connected to the expansion card ports (except the monitor), speakers, microphones, etc.

  5. Plug power cord into computer and press power button.

  6. Check front panel LEDs (lights) found on bezel (front face) or on optical drives and listen for power supply fan.

  7. If LEDs are on or power supply fan starts spinning, watch for boot screen on monitor.

  8. If computer begins to start, turn off computer.

  9. Reconnect each device one at a time, beginning with keyboard and mouse.

    Note: Make sure to power computer on and off when reconnecting each device.

  10. If computer fails to start after a device is reconnected, this device may be causing the issue. Contact the manufacturer of that device for assistance.

Ejecting Removable Media: The computer may boot or attempt to start using this media. Depending upon the state of the media and the drives in which they are inserted you may observe undesirable behavior that may seem to suggest more serious computer problems.

Disconnecting External Devices: If the computer appears to start normally, one of the devices previously plugged into the computer may have been preventing the system from starting properly.

Operating System/POST loop or locks after POST splash screen display

Start to operating system using the system CD or DVD.

  • If computer starts, restore the Master Boot Record (MBR).

    1. Insert System Recovery CD into CD/DVD drive.

    2. Press power button to start computer.

    3. Gateway System Recovery prompt appears.

    4. Press Ctrl+Backspace. Manufacturers Menu opens.

    5. Press the A key to install Standard Master Boot Record. New Master Boot Record is installed and computer restarts.

      Note: There is no confirmation to actions from this menu. As soon as an item is selected by item number, it executes.
      View Picture

    6. Make sure computer can start into Windows. If it does not, continue troubleshooting.

    • To reinstall Master Boot Record using System Restoration CDs:

    1. Insert blue operating system disk into CD/DVD drive.

    2. Press power button to start computer. Windows Setup screen opens.

    3. Press R key to select Repair Windows Using the Recovery Console.
      View Picture

    4. Recovery Console opens.

    5. Press 1 key, then press ENTER to load first Windows installation listed.

      Note: Depending on security configuration, customer may or not be prompted to select an installation. If customer does not enter "1" (or the proper number for their OS), when prompted, and just presses ENTER, computer automatically restarts.

    6. Enter Administrator password, if you have one, or leave it blank, then press ENTER. Recovery Console opens.

    7. At command prompt, type: Fixmbr, then press ENTER. New Master Boot Record is installed.

    8. At command prompt, type exit, then press ENTER to restart computer.

    9. Make sure computer can start into Windows. If it does not, continue troubleshooting.

    Note: If reinstalling the MBR fails, reload the operating system. Use the software installation for the respective version of Windows XP.

  • If CD or DVD does not start, refer to Desktop - No POST / No Video checklist.

POST locks before or during POST splash screen display

Refer to Desktop - No POST / No Video checklist.

Starting the CD or DVD indicates that POST has successfully completed passing control to a bootable device. If Windows fails to start, data and files required to start Windows may be corrupt.

POST message - Hard drive not found or no bootable device

Error Message (actual text may differ) Meaning Response
No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key This type of message indicates computer was not able to find a bootable device. There may be an issue with hard drive or computer configuration, or a hard drive MBR (Master Boot Record) may be missing.

  1. Restore the Master Boot Record (MBR). (Instructions listed above.)

  2. Refer to My desktop hard drive is not detected checklist to determine if hard drive is detected.

Intel® Boot Agent GE v1.2.28 Copyright (C) 1997-2005 Intel Corporation Intel® Boot Agent PXE Base Code (PXE-2.1 build 084) Copyright (C) 1997-2004 Intel Corporation

PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel Boot Agent

This type of message indicates an attempt to start operating system from a network device using the PXE protocol. There may be a flashing cursor (dash character that flashes) below these messages or a message like:

No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key
Hard disk not found BIOS did not find a hard drive Refer to My desktop hard drive is not detected checklist to determine if hard drive is detected.

These types of messages indicate that either a hard drive has not found or that no bootable device was found. If no bootable device is found it could mean that a hard drive was not detected, or that the data found on an area of the drive required for boot, such as the MBR is not present.

POST message - Hard drive DATA invalid or corrupt

Error Message
(actual text may differ)		 Meaning Response
Hard disk boot sector invalid Invalid system disk Indicates bad or corrupt data in a boot sector which is an operating system structure used to initiate boot.

  1. Restore the Master Boot Record (MBR). (Instructions listed above.)

  2. Try to backup computer data.

  3. Run GWSCAN.
Invalid partition table MBR (Master Boot Record) has determined that its partition table is not valid.
Error loading operating system Missing operating system MBR is not able to find a valid boot sector at the address indicated in the partition table.

These types of messages do not necessarily indicate that the drive is bad. They indicate that the data found on an area of the drive required for boot, such as the MBR, is not valid.

POST message - SMART failure

Error Message (actual text may differ) Meaning Response

Imminent hard drive failure

SMART failure

A problem with hard drive has been detected - Consult the trouble shooting section of your user's guide.

 These types of messages indicate POST had tested hard drive, (initiated hard drive SMART Status Test) and hard drive indicated it would probably soon fail. Replace hard drive. Contact Gateway for service or replacement policies.

These types of messages indicate SMART detected hard drive failure.

POST message - CMOS time/date and failed battery errors

Error Message (actual text may differ) Meaning Response
The battery failed messages: Actual message may indicate that the CMOS or Real Time Clock Battery failed. These messages indicate that the CMOS battery has failed. The system battery should last for several years.

  • Battery must be replaced.

  • Refer to Product pages for location of CMOS battery.

  • Contact Gateway for service or replacement policies.

System date/time has not been set or the date and time values found are invalid.

These types of messages indicate that a time and date are not set. Enter BIOS setup and set Time and Date.
CMOS checksum is Bad and/or CMOS defaults have been loaded. If this occurs, the system will tell you that system default values have been loaded and prompt you to enter BIOS setup or continue using the default values. Enter BIOS setup and set default values, then set any custom values if used.

The term CMOS refers to a battery powered memory device that is used to store BIOS Setup values. The same battery also powers the Real Time Clock which is the device that maintains the computer's time and date settings after it has been set.

Memory size decreased

A "Memory Size Decreased" or related POST error message indicates memory size has decreased since last start. If no memory was removed, then memory may require reseating or is bad, or motherboard may be faulty.

  1. Turn off computer and unplug power cord.

  2. Disconnect everything except the monitor and keyboard.

  3. Place computer on a stable work area with case cover facing up.

  4. Remove cover.

  5. Find memory module(s).

  6. To reseat memory in each slot, place thumbs on either side of module, and press module down until retaining clips fully lock into place.

  7. Reconnect power cord, then press power button.

  8. If computer begins to start, turn it off. Replace cover and reconnect any external devices.

    -OR-

    If computer does not start, turn the computer off.

  9. Replace memory modules one at a time.

    1. Pull retaining clips outward from memory module to release it and lift straight up.

    2. Make sure retaining clips are pushed down to side.

    3. Insert memory module into socket, make sure notches on module and socket clips align.

    4. Place thumbs on either side of module and press module down until retaining clips fully lock into place.

    Note: Make sure to power computer on and off when installing each memory module. If computer fails to start after a peripheral card is reconnected, this module may be causing issue.

  10. If all memory modules have been replaced and computer is working properly, removing and reinstalling memory may have resolved issue. Replace cover and reconnect all devices.

  11. Check for bad memory modules or bad memory sockets.

    1. Install memory module in either (but not both) end slot (slot selected is only a starting point).

    2. Power up computer. If beep codes are no longer heard, memory module is good.

    3. Remove installed module, repeat with each memory module.

    4. If all modules failed (beep codes were heard), repeat using each memory slot.

  12. If any of the memory modules work in one slot but not the previously tested slots, the motherboard is probably bad. Contact Gateway for service or replacement policies.

    -OR-

    If any of the memory modules work in one slot but not all the modules work in that slot the failing modules may be bad or incompatible with the computer. Contact Gateway for service or replacement policies.

    -OR-

    If memory modules do not work in any slot, it is possible all memory modules are bad, replaced or added memory modules are incompatible with the computer (check product for memory module requirements), or that the motherboard is bad. If possible, try a new or known good memory module to determine whether it's a motherboard problem.

If memory had been removed, this type of error message is normal. It does not lock the system but will require some user action such as hitting a key to continue. Based on the operating system's minimum memory requirements, the operating system may fail to start. If it does start it will operate at a lower performance level.

POST RAID status screen displayed for 8 seconds

RAID BIOS status screen is displayed shortly after Gateway logo screen if both of following are true:

  • RAID is enabled in the BIOS
  • At Least two SATA Hard Drives are detected, or a RAID volume is detected.

RAID screen is normally displayed for only a second.

If RAID Status is Normal, the RAID screen appears for no longer than two seconds. If it appears significantly longer it is reporting that RAID status is not normal. If Failed is reported, the RAID volume will not boot. If RAID 0 or RAID 5 volume status is reported as Degraded, the volume may be bootable, but the security provided by those volume types has been lost.

Thermal/overheating messages

Given time to cool, the computer displays a warning message such as the following indicating that thermal or overheating event had occurred: The CPU was previously shutdown due to a thermal event (overheating)

You also may hear four alternating beeps (high, low).

Contact Gateway for service or replacement policies.

Overheating warnings provide an indication that the temperature of computer's processor had reached an unsafe operating limit and the processor forced the computer to turn off. The audible tones and warning messages indicate that action is required to prevent future occurrences.

If following the above procedures did not resolve your problem, please contact Gateway through one of the following methods: