sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Computers & Programming Computers, Software, Accessories Windows XP Boot-up Problem

a similar approach would be to fire up Windows PE (preinstallation environment) from Hiren's... it's a stripped down version of XP that runs entirely in memory.

My guess is that this is due to:

1. Failing memory stick (very likely). There are many utilities out there to check this. However, a quick-and-dirty way to do so is by enabling the "long" memory test in BIOS. It's been a while since I've fooled with Compaq, so I don't know their specific nomenclature. The option may be worded as "enhanced memory test" or "quick boot" (disable if phrased in this manner). Change this option as necessary, save and reboot. If you see anything like "Memory Size Error" or some ROM code, then it's time to look at another memory stick.

2. Video card is failing (very likely). Click on Start and choose Run. Type DXDIAG in the Open dialog. Click on the Display tab and run the available tests for your video card (DirectDraw and Direct3D). Assure that acceleration is enabled for all available render modes.

3. A newly installed driver or process (likely). Enable boot logging if you wish. However, my preference is to use the System Configuration Utility. To do so, click on the Start button and choose Run. Type MSCONFIG in the Open dialog and hit enter. Take a look at the items in the Services tab and the Startup tab. There are ways to get these listings in text form, but if you just want to take several printscreen shots (and save them in MSPAINT or something). I'll be glad to take a look at those items if you want to email me the BMPs.

4. Other BIOS setting (somewhat likely). Play with the cache and hard disc write-back options. If that sounds too scary, you can always choose to load the "Factory default" BIOS settings or the "Optimized default" settings. Save and reboot.

Final note: If you want to try the previous suggestion of using a boot disk (Knoppix could be useful here as well), simply go to www.bootdisk.com . There you will find the utilities necessary to create a floppy, CD or DVD with the boot image of your choice.

I agree with Dagwood. When machines boot slowly, its usually a hardware issue, or something changes in the bios. Compact was really notorious about incompatibility issues with its hardware. Another problem may be related to Windows updates....

Since it is a PC, put a different drive in a see if you get the same issues. I can't tell you how many times someone told me they were having computer issues and we ended up solving it all with a fresh install. In fact, I am having issues with a couple of new Dell laptops. They just want to lock up and crash. Time to reload it cleanly and see what happens.

The older Compaqs had very well put together diagnostics programs that drill the hardware far better and in a much safer way than any 3rd party software (the Compaq hardware debug engineers wrote the routines in sync with the prototyping of the hardware). Assuming ofcourse that the problem is with a Compaq part or a "generic part" such as compatible memory. Almost ALL the old Compaq ROMpacks and other files are still available for download, look under "legacy/discontinued/obsolete etc" support. I would download 2 different ones:
1. The latest diagnostic for your specific model
2. The last diagnostics published for the model SERIES. Even if your model was not the last in the series, the diag should be compatible and possibly a tad (or a lot) more advanced.

Thank you all for this information. Unfortunately I was not able to work on the PC this weekend (thunderstorms kept them powered down). We installed a new monitor on the PC a few weeks before this started happening which I didn't think could have much to do with causing the problems, but it's sounding like it could.

Additionally, this monitor was bright and clear when we first installed it (19" flat-screen Hannsfree LCD), but has developed a background "noise" to the picture. It's almost like the LCD is swimming slightly. Adjusting the refresh rate helped some, but the problem persists. It looks like it might all be intertwined...

i'd be surprised if the LCD had anything to do with the other problems, but.. adjusting the refresh rate shouldn't have made any difference - the vast majority of them run at 60Hz fixed (there are new fancy 120Hz and soon to be 180Hz LCDs but you'd know if you bought one).