Hardware problem. Can't figure out where the problem is coming from.

**Falisa** · 2012-05-13 00:58

Came home from seeing the Avengers yesterday to find my computer frozen on the screensaver. Forced a restart, and it froze every time I started it up at the Windows loading screen. Sometimes it would launch completely, and then freeze pretty soon after. Ran in safe mode, and it froze on crcdisk.sys every single time.

I thought I would just reformat my computer, thinking it was a software issue and it needed one regardless. Unfortunately, that did not fix the issue. During the windows install, it still continues to freeze usually when the install started. Well, then I came to the conclusion my hard drive had died, drove out to the computer store and picked up a new one. After giving my computer a good dusting, I plugged in the new hard drive and attempted to install Windows again. That still doesn't fix the freezing, as it is doing it now as soon as the windows install window opens.

After finding out its doing it after replacing the hard drive, I was told it might be the ram, so I took out each ram stick and tried out each one separately to no avail. It still froze as soon as the Windows install screen appeared. I was told to try running memtest86+ and it came back saying no errors. I am completely at a loss of what to do next, so I thought I'd ask you BG. What do you think the issue is?

Oh, I also burned Ultimate Boot CD but when running that, I have no idea what to do with it. >_>

**chiyio** · 2012-05-13 01:29

I'd check the install media, one thing to eliminate

**Cheerios** · 2012-05-13 02:15

Originally Posted by Falisa

Came home from seeing the Avengers yesterday to find my computer frozen on the screensaver. Forced a restart, and it froze every time I started it up at the Windows loading screen. Sometimes it would launch completely, and then freeze pretty soon after. Ran in safe mode, and it froze on crcdisk.sys every single time.

I thought I would just reformat my computer, thinking it was a software issue and it needed one regardless. Unfortunately, that did not fix the issue. During the windows install, it still continues to freeze usually when the install started. Well, then I came to the conclusion my hard drive had died, drove out to the computer store and picked up a new one. After giving my computer a good dusting, I plugged in the new hard drive and attempted to install Windows again. That still doesn't fix the freezing, as it is doing it now as soon as the windows install window opens.

After finding out its doing it after replacing the hard drive, I was told it might be the ram, so I took out each ram stick and tried out each one separately to no avail. It still froze as soon as the Windows install screen appeared. I was told to try running memtest86+ and it came back saying no errors. I am completely at a loss of what to do next, so I thought I'd ask you BG. What do you think the issue is?

Oh, I also burned Ultimate Boot CD but when running that, I have no idea what to do with it. >_>

On the bright side, you can return your new hard drive for a refund since that's not the cause of the problem.

Fortunately for you, your problem isn't rare, and there are solutions that may work for you.

You'll need to get to command prompt first, so try one of these:

- You can try booting into safe mode with Command Prompt, instead of regular safe mode (it may or may not freeze at crcdisk.sys, but you can try)
- Press (or spam) F8 when starting up and choose "Repair My Computer". You can choose Command Prompt from there
- If you still have your Windows installation DVD, you can boot it up and choose the system recovery options to get to Command Prompt.

Once there, you can try to follow the instructions on this site http://forums.techarena.in/operating...ms/1127074.htm

Goto a command prompt and run the following commands:
cd \windows
del *pcmcia*.* /s/p
del *1394*.* /s/p

If you don't feel comfortable with command prompt, you can use your Ultimate Boot CD and load Parted Magic. It has a full GUI and you can explore your hard drive to find files mentioned in that thread that are the cause of the problem.

**Falisa** · 2012-05-13 12:08

Well, when I pop in that windows installation cd, it goes straight into installation and gives me no option of selecting anything else. But I think I will try the F8 or the option on Ultimate boot cd because I'm not sure how else to get to a command prompt

**Surealistic** · 2012-05-13 12:55

could be your cd/dvd drive dying, ive had similar issues with that being the culprit

**Tajin** · 2012-05-13 12:58

Originally Posted by Surealistic

could be your cd/dvd drive dying, ive had similar issues with that being the culprit

A dying optical drive does not freeze the computer when booting windows.

**Falisa** · 2012-05-13 15:25

By the way, how could I boot into safe mode to start with when both of the hard drives I got this problem with are reformatted with nothing on them? I haven't tried the solution yet, was too busy the past few hours since I posted but... that sounds like a software issue you're trying to tackle when there's no software on either of the hard drives.

**Falisa** · 2012-05-13 15:54

Now my original HDD gives me "BootMGR is missing." whereas the new one can atleast boot to the cds. -_- I can understand why people bring their computers in to shops now.

**Tajin** · 2012-05-13 16:08

If you formatted both hard drives your only option is to re-install the system (duh) if your install disk is not working just download some windows7 from the net and burn it to a cd, optionally you could download Linux LiveCD burn it or put in on a USB pendrive like: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...Stick#live-usb and see if you can boot your computer from there.

**Falisa** · 2012-05-13 16:49

I don't think you really read my issue. I already said I am trying to reinstall Windows. The problem is that my computer is freezing up every single time it opens up into the install, either while its loading or when the install windows appear. It is acting exactly like it did before I reformatted. It's plain as day to me that this is a hardware issue, when I get the same exact problem with two completely different hard drives.

**Intrinsic** · 2012-05-13 20:22

If memtest came back clean, then your next step is an HDD test through Ultimate Boot. If that comes back clean, then it's likely a board problem.

**Falisa** · 2012-05-13 21:00

Would you happen to know which test I should use on Ultimate boot? The diagnostic window opens like 10+ tests I could run and I have no idea what would tell me what I need to know.

**Intrinsic** · 2012-05-14 01:54

Originally Posted by Falisa

Would you happen to know which test I should use on Ultimate boot? The diagnostic window opens like 10+ tests I could run and I have no idea what would tell me what I need to know.

It's been awhile since I've used UB, but there should be indicators for which test is compatible with your brand of HDD. If not, check the UB site, it will have an updated list.

**Cheerios** · 2012-05-14 21:48

Originally Posted by Falisa

Would you happen to know which test I should use on Ultimate boot? The diagnostic window opens like 10+ tests I could run and I have no idea what would tell me what I need to know.

Parted Magic would be your best bet. It's a full GUI and runs in Live Mode (runs by loading into your RAM), and it has a utilities within to diagnose hard drives and memory. It also has Internet access/Firefox too if you need to look shit up.

If you're running into the BOOTMGR error on Drive A and not on Drive B, and you can't boot from any CD on Drive A, then there are still ways to repair that hard drive (you can send me a PM if that's the case)

However, if both Drive A and Drive B produce the same errors, I'm not too sure how well the tools on the Ultimate Boot CD (UBCD) are even going to work for you. There really aren't any programs that I can think of that'd try and diagnose other hardware aside from hard drives, optical drives, RAM, and Video reliably.

Also, how long did you actually run Memtest for? Did it pass all of the tests, or did you stop it when it passed only some?

**Omniyoji** · 2012-05-15 14:30

After you do the HDD Test Fali, either wipe the HDD (1 pass, should be a program on UB disc) or reformat the HDD (non-quick, not sure if you did that the first time) then see if Windows installs.

**Falisa** · 2012-05-15 16:29

After running through some tests with a friend, I've ruled out pretty much everything on my computer except the mobo and processor. The problem may still lie in a cord, maybe my SATA cable from the HDD but I plan on booting through USB into Linux. If it doesn't freeze, it is probably the cord. If it does, it is the mobo most likely.

As for the questions, I let the Memtest86+ run to 100% completion. It took like four hours for that to finish.

And the BootMGR error only comes from my original hard drive. The new one works fine I believe, other than the freezing issue which was taking place before I even owned it. I thought maybe the error was coming from not resetting my BIOS after swapping them.

All this troubleshooting is drawing up memories from a hardware class I took 6 years ago that I barely remember. :>

**Airenn** · 2012-05-15 17:23

I would say Mobo or processor. Those were my first guesses. Overheating?

**Minions** · 2012-05-15 22:52

Got a old PSU to test? PSU's that are in the process of failing can cause some really wonky shit to happen. If you don't you could always check the voltages. Just one more thing to test before ordering a new cpu/mobo.

**Falisa** · 2012-05-21 20:40

Well just to update you guys, I did the Linux USB boot with the SATA cord that was connecting to my dvd drive. It still froze trying to boot or install ubuntu so I am 95% certain it is my mobo. I believe I am getting a new mobo with some better RAM soon so we shall see if my computer works after that. I also returned that new hard drive last week.

**Katoke** · 2012-05-28 23:51

Originally Posted by Falisa

Well just to update you guys, I did the Linux USB boot with the SATA cord that was connecting to my dvd drive. It still froze trying to boot or install ubuntu so I am 95% certain it is my mobo. I believe I am getting a new mobo with some better RAM soon so we shall see if my computer works after that. I also returned that new hard drive last week.

May just have been the SATA port you were putting the HD into. Did you try multiple sata ports?

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