(By the way, yes I am using Windows 7)
Tried a whole bunch of things, none of which have worked. Huge post incoming:
Looks like you've got a competing bootloader. Disable other boot options in BIOS, see if that works.
If you can't disable other boot options, try and disconnect the backup drive and restarting.
I can't exactly disable the other boot options in BIOS, since for whatever reason my main HDD has never shown up in the BIOS boot menu (the one where I can disable/prioritize boot devices), despite it automatically booting Windows from it since forever.
When I unplug/disable my secondary HDD, I don't even get the blinking underscore; it seems as if my mobo doesn't even acknowledge that my primary HDD is a bootable device if the secondary one isn't plugged in.
I tried both of those; unfortunately, neither did the trick. It still bothers me that my main HDD has never shown up in the BIOS boot menu (despite it automatically booting Windows from it since forever).
try taking the CPU out of the socket and airclean the socket and the CPUs pins,
Then using fresh TIM reapply the cooler, clean the cooler too if needed.
this type of a problem seemed to occur if the HSF was on too tight on my PC
also make sure you didnt bend any CPU pins.
also make sure your RAM sockets are dust-free clean them with air.
also check that the sata cable to your HDD is connected tightly at both ends
and that there isnt any dust there either.
Unfortunately I don't have fancy cleaning supplies, as I'm stranded in my college dorm. I did remove and clean the heatsink, cleaned off any dust in that general area, and reapplied new thermal fluid. I also dusted off the RAM sockets to the best of my abilities, and made sure the SATA cables were as snug as I could get them.
I also believe the issue deals with boot order and hard drive issues. I have had this issue before when i was messing with my computer and had to unplug all of my hard drives. If your main hard drive doesn't appear in the boot list then there might be an issue with your SATA cable or socket on the motherboard. You may want to back up your information onto another drive and attempt reformatting the drive or formatting a spare hard drive and seeing if the computer can boot from that spare drive in all the ports you've tested so far with the bad drive. usually the underscore means its trying to access something but having issues. It sees that there is something to boot from but cant seem to boot from the device for some specified reason.
I did some experimentation with switching around SATA cables, plugging them into different mobo sockets, and neither of which worked, unfortunately.
All i can say is check the hard drive since that seems to be the issue since you can boot from a CD.
Perhaps I wasn't specific enough in my original post (or maybe I'm misreading yours). I can't actually boot my regular Windows from a CD; I'm only able to access the recovery options that pop up when booting from the Windows disc.
Also see if the backup hard drive isnt first in the booty priority since my motherboard gives boot priority and then has an option to select which hard drive to boot from first in line.
It is first in boot priority, but it always has been for whatever reason. See above for more details.
I don't think your HD is necessarily bad, and this might not be your problem either, but I've seen viruses lately that corrupt the boot sector and cause that blank screen with the flashing underscore.
Funny story (not really), but I had to reformat my main HDD due to a "rootkit" virus that I got prior. I haven't the slightest clue where I got it, since I'm pretty careful with downloading. Perhaps the rootkit is still rooted to the boot sector of my HDD?
If you use the Windows disc, get to Repair Your Computer, and then choose the command prompt, you can go to your drive letter (assuming C
and then run:
/code here
And that will attempt to repair it. It doesn't always work, but it's worth a shot. It usually only takes a few minutes for each process.
As per my luck, the CMD window by default says (X is my backup drive letter) "X:\Sources\". When typing in the commands you suggested, it says that 'fixmbr/fixboot' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file." It seems that my computer really doesn't want to recognize my C:\ drive (despite me selecting it prior [as a Windows-installed drive] when in the repair menu).
Instead of doing a repair, you should be able to launch the CMD prompt from that Windows 7 DVD (If I recall). Launch that and run the following:
Chkdsk /f C:\ see if anything picks up in that scan.
This returns me with "The drive, the path or the file name is not valid." Possibly because it's trying to find it in my X:\ drive (as explained above)?
it still does except they would be switches so..
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuildbcd
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392
My computer said that all three of those operations were completed successfully (though in /rebuildbcd it says that there were 0 identified Windows installations). Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to have done the trick. Again, perhaps because it's trying to use the X:\ drive?
You could always download and make an ultimate boot cd which loads up before windows does. There are a bunch of HDD tests in there you could use to verify the HDD isn't bad so you can rule that out officially. I think it would work since you can get to the boot menu?
http://ultimatebootcd.com/
I'll pick up a CD at my university shop tomorrow, thanks for the tip.
BIOS locking up, boot problems, this points to a couple of possible issues:
- Failing processor (heat? any dust in the coolers?)
- Failing motherboard (Northbridge possibly, due to its effect on the boot order)
- Failing HDD
Fortunately, my BIOS didn't lock up after that one time mentioned earlier. I did clean the living hell out of my processor/heatsink/mobo/HDD , though (dust-wise).
In either case, back up your data first, then check your components individually.
- Test your HDD in a different PC. Use HDTune or something similar and scan the hell out of it.
- Test if your PC boots fine from a Linux live disc (Ubuntu for instance). Use 1 stick of RAM and no HDD's to eliminate everything from the equasion except the DVD/CD, Motherboard and CPU.
-Will look up HDTune and see where that takes me. Do I run that via another computer's HDD (like with my HDD plugged in via a secondary SATA cable or USB), or is it a CD that runs when booting my PC?
-I'm not incredibly familiar (read: at all) with Linux, so I'm not completely sure I'm going to go down that road unless absolutely necessary.