[NicceLe]

After numerous different kind of errors over a long period of time everything culminated today as my system crashed into a black screen just after BIOS loaded and numlock booted up but before XP started loading.

Since then my system crash with black screen at every start up attempt. BIOS menu is available but it's not possible to boot up in safe mode.

I suspect some kind of overheating issue as I don't have an extra chassi fan. Besides, I guess it could be some motherboard error if it wasn't for the fact that I replaced it less than a year ago.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Go into the BIOS, reset it to factory defaults, save and reboot.

Go back into the BIOS and see if it is able to identify the hard drive, (show the model number of the hard drive).

Let us know what you find ...

[SpywareDr]

Go into the BIOS, reset it to factory defaults, save and reboot.

Go back into the BIOS and see if it is able to identify the hard drive, (show the model number of the hard drive).

Let us know what you find ...

[123Runner]

I suspect some kind of overheating issue as I don't have an extra chassi fan

This must mean a desktop.
When was the last time the fans were cleaned and the dust removed?

[NicceLe]

I installed a new fan and everything seemed to be working, although I'm not so sure it was the fan that made the case. A few days later thue, the problems came back.

This time instead of a black screen replacing Windows start-up screen I'm stuck after the boot prompt displaying that a boot record was found. I've tried to run a repair installation but the Windows Installation CD can not find a Windows partition and lists my C:-partition as damaged.

Edited by NicceLe, 16 July 2010 - 07:27 AM.

[Peterkorse12]

I think there is a problem with your system operating system configuration. Check out the BIOS and make its settings default. Then insert your operating system's installation CD and reboot the system. It is listing you that your C partition has been damaged so I think there is only one thing can do and that is totally formation of system.

[NicceLe]

I managed to fix the boot sector with the recovery console so now my drive is visible again. It doesn't boot up thue, as NTLDR seems to be missing. This could have been fixed in the recovery console aswell if it wasn't for the fact that now I get BSODs while trying to enter the recovery console.

I've tested switching video card, I unplugged two of my other harddisk, my motherboard is new as of less than a year. Clearly it's hardware-related but what could be the problem?

How do I fail search in the ringht way?

How do I re-set my BIOS?

Edited by NicceLe, 17 July 2010 - 11:00 PM.

[SpywareDr]

How do I re-set my BIOS?

In the BIOS/CMOS Setup, look for something like "Load BIOS Defaults", "Load BIOS Setup Defaults", "F6: FailSafe Defaults", "F6: Fail-Safe Defaults", etc.

Another way to do it is to remove the CMOS battery for a few minutes.

Some motherboards also have a jumper that can be used to reset the CMOS.

[NicceLe]

Reset BIOS, still with same problems.

[SpywareDr]

Is the BIOS able to identify the hard drive, (show the model number of the hard drive)?

Edited by SpywareDr, 18 July 2010 - 05:15 AM.

[NicceLe]

Uhm. Yes.

[SpywareDr]

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287 (or http://www.bleepingc...opic28744.html). Make sure you select tool which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.

Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD. If downloaded file is a ".iso", use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn the .iso file to a CD, (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, unfortunately you're out of luck, because Toshiba doesn't provide a diagnostic tool.

(Thanks to Broni for these instructions).

[123Runner]

I ran across a note one time where Hitachi diagnostics claims to be able to read other drives.