Topic awaiting preservation: Bizarre WinXP error on boot (Page 1 of 1)

Yesterday evening, my husband turned on the computer and got a black system screen saying something about an error (I should have read it more closely, but I didn't, my mistake!) and that I should run the Setup Configuration Utility.

It gave me an option to press F1 to continue, or F2 to run Setup. I chose F1, and the system loaded, to all intents and purposes, as normal.

I did the usual scans, checked fragmentation, viruses, etc... found nothing. Shut down the system and rebooted, no problem at all.

James tells me today that he had no trouble at all booting this morning. However, we did notice that the system date had been set to May 26, and the time adjusted by about 11 hours. He reset the date and time today and it seems to be fine.

Anyone have an idea what happened here? And/or how to avoid it in the future?

Thanks in advance!

Some years ago an old system did something similar and a failing battery was the culprit. Even if your system is let's say relatively new... don't be lulled into accepting that the battery is/was when it was installed. Just a thought.

Actually, bodhi, if you think about it- your computer is already *in* the future...


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That has nothing to do with windows, XP or otherwise.
It's your BIOS, the little program that boots your computer into the state where it can actually load windows, which told you it had forgot all it's settings. No big deal, since harddisk et all are all automatically detected nower days, Just the clock would be of.
This can happend, as NoJive mention because of a weak battery, or through mechanical trauma - hit one machine slightly with a foot once, and this happend ;-)>

Interesting... very interesting...

Ok, the pc is a Dell, purchased this past July. Less than 1 year old. Everything seems to be working fine now. Perhaps just a burp in the system... I'll check for BIOS updates on the Dell site - but I can't imagine the battery going in less than a year. The thing's still under warranty, and I'm payin' out the nose for it, so if it is the battery, they can just jolly-well replace it.

Petskull - smartass!

[This message has been edited by bodhi23 (edited 04-05-2004).]

My computer, an old P3-733, gives me similar problem every once in a while. By every once in a while I mean something like once every month. I turn it on, and right away it says that setup has detected a problem and it gives me the option to run the BIOS setup or go on. If I choose to run setup, I'll find nothing wrong with it. If I choose to go on, Windows XP will run as if nothing wrong had happened. In fact, it seems to me that it's some sporadic mal-function of the BIOS that has no consequences at all but to give me a false alert. Another explanation that I have is that my motherboard may be reporting wrong data about itself to the BIOS, so the BIOS think there is something wrong with the motherboard - like a discrepancy in the CPU speed - and it will stop, because it's programmed to stop (halt) "on all errors" during the boot.

Differently from your situation, when it happens my time and day are not changed.

Apparently, there are a couple of FlashBIOS updates. I'll have to see about installing those... It looks like they made fixes for a couple of minor troubles I've been having...

Let me ask what might be considered a stupid question:
In my experience, BIOS updates are installed using the A: floppy drive. I only have a CD-RW drive. I should be able to create the install files on a CD-RW disc, right? Hypothetically, that should work, since I don't have a floppy drive?
Anyone? Anyone?

Can't really help you with your question but it seems clear that if you can boot up from a CD-RW with the files you need, it should replace the need for the drive A:
I never flashed a BIOS. My mainboard's manufacturer, ASUS, tells that if it ain't broken, don't fix it. I don't see my problem as a problem to be fixed. In your case, since it happened only once, as far as I know, I wouldn't update the BIOS if everything else is fine since then. If the same thing starts to happen in a frequent basis, then I'd seriously think about updating the BIOS. Otherwise, not a chance.

Ok, I ran Ad Aware and SpyBot and cleaned the crap off the system. I did not yet flash the BIOS. I have backed everything up (except some recent emails..)...

I am still getting this error. I looked at it good this time, it being the third time I have experienced it's most obnoxious presence. It says the following:

<*the usual copyright brand info here*>

<*the usual system info here*>

<Invalid SETUP configuration. Please run SETUP.>

<Starting automatic IDE configuration.>

... and then the system clock resets to 00:01:09 and Tue, May 20, 2003. It makes you go into the BIOS to fix it.

What in the hell is going on here? We reset the clock and everything boots up like normal, except a little on the slow side. I think I disabled my system clock automatic update (flash of insight) do you think that might be the problem? Trying to stop unnecessary processes... Only, it's sporadic - doesn't occur every time the computer comes up. My husband was on it all day and never saw it happen... this is so odd... any observations anyone might offer would be helpful...


Cell Sweet Cell

(Edited by bodhi23 on 04-28-2004 15:40)

*bump*
Can someone take another look at this an maybe offer some insight? I'm at a loss...

The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
We have done so.
Now Tyberius Prime expects him to start complaining that we removed his 'free speech' since this message will replace all of his posts, past and future.
Don't follow his example - seek real life help first.

Hmm... that's what I was afraid of.

It's a Dell, and less than a year old. I guess I'll have to email customer support and see what they have to say.
Thanks.