Freezing & Bootmgr Corrupt. The system cannot Boot

[ac1]

Hi

Please help with this issue.
I have a client who brought a desktop PC running Windows 7 who claimed to be having issues with it freezing randomly while using it, and issues where it sometimes would not boot giving the message "Bootmgr corrupt"

However in the shop I only found issues with it freezing in Windows 7. I tried to boot up from a Windows 7 installation disk and I kept getting the mesage

1Windows has encountered a problem communicating with a device connected to your computer Error Message 0xc00000e9 An unexpected I/O error has occured.

I then checked the hard drive by booting in safe mode with cmd, and scheduling a chk disk but that did not work. I booted up Seatools after this and found the HDD to be failing.

So I place another HDD in and boot up with a Windows 7 disk and it paused at expanding files 75%. I tried another disk and I continued to get the message (1). I tried changing the disk numerous times even with the HDD unplugged and somehow i got the message "BootMGR image is corrupt. The system cannot boot".

What I have tried
- changed sata cables
- changed optical drives (2)
- replaced RAM

Sorry for the long post. Just a bit confused about what way to go now?
Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

 

[DCGPX]

Its possible that you have either a failing board or a SATA controller.

You could either :

Fit a temporary SATA controller card and try that

If it still has an older IDE connection, try an old IDE drive

Does it boot up to a Linux Live CD?

Once you get it up and running(hopefully) I'd run a suite of diagnostics to test hardware thoroughly before handing back.

 

[ac1]

Its possible that you have either a failing board or a SATA controller.

You could either :

Fit a temporary SATA controller card and try that

If it still has an older IDE connection, try an old IDE drive

Does it boot up to a Linux Live CD?

Once you get it up and running(hopefully) I'd run a suite of diagnostics to test hardware thoroughly before handing back.

Thanks for your response. I was thinking about that, but wasn't that sure. Sometimes the BIOS would show PATA in the 'Boot Options Menu' instead of 'SATA', but maybe it was not plugged in properly at the time. The computer is quite new, so I was thinking that there might be some other issue, but that might be a possibility. However it would be strange for both the hard drive and sata controller to fail at the same time?

I don't think it has an IDE controller. I have not tried a Linux Live CD. I was looking for one, but couldn't find it. I will try that as soon as I see the computer.

Any other suggestions?

 

[ac1]

Sorry. Additional info

Expanding on Message 1
the full message is

Windows has encountered a problem communicating with a device connected to your computer.

THis error can be caused by unplugging a removable storage device such as an external USB drive while the device is in use, or by faulty hardware such as hard drive or CD-ROM drive that is failing. Make sure any removable storage is properly connected and restart your computer.

Status: 0xc00000e9 An unexpected I/O error has occured.

Sorry for not including this in my first post.
Any other suggestions? Anyone experience something like this?

 

[FremontPC]

What brand/model of computer is this? If custom, what motherboard is installed.

Have you checked power supply voltages?

 

[ac1]

What brand/model of computer is this? If custom, what motherboard is installed.

Have you checked power supply voltages?

Its a Custom. Don't have it in front of me now, but that is the motherboard model

Motherboard: Asus P8H67M LE
Processor: Can't remember either Intel Core i5 2500K or 2500

No I have not checked power supply voltages yet. Will try and check when possible. Do you think power supply could cause this behaviour?

But that is the motherboard model if it helps.

 

[FremontPC]

I could just be a bad mobo, but no harm in checking the voltages. You should be able to view them in BIOS.

 

[FremontPC]

Hmm.....

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx...rd_id=1&model=P5KPL+SE&page=1&SLanguage=en-us

 

[ac1]

I could just be a bad mobo, but no harm in checking the voltages. You should be able to view them in BIOS.

Agree, that could be possible but don't want to go ahead unless I am sure it is the motherboard as it could be costly. I am thinking motherboard or sata controller.

As i said the hdd failed the test, but i should test it from another pc to rule out the bad motherboard or sata controller.

Thanks for the Interesting link. Will consider that. Not identical but worth a look

 

[Galdorf]

Does it have the latest bios?

 

[ac1]

Does it have the latest bios?

No, don't think so. Its about one or two versions behind. Why?

 

[FremontPC]

Depends on the mobo. Check the notes on the bios updates to see they might address your situation.

 

[ac1]

Additional Info. Might try a replacement PSU>

The computer sometimes gives these messages during startup
' Power surges detected during previous power on'
'Asus anti-surge was triggered to protect system from unstable power unit'

Not sure if this is because of the multiple shutdowns caused by the previous freezings or whether it is a failing powers supply.

 

[FremontPC]

Sounds like good cause to swap out the PSU.

Hopefully it didn't damage the mobo or other components.

 

[ac1]

Did a memtest which passed successfully. Thanks for your help so far

These are the Powers supply voltages

3.3 voltage +3.384V
4V voltage +5.124 V
12V Voltage +12.080V

I checked BIOS and found Sata mode set to IDE and enhanced

Will try live CD
ANy ideas?

 

[FremontPC]

Voltages seem ok, but the power surge messages still bother me.

Do you still run into problems with the Win7 DVD?

 

[westom]

3.3 voltage +3.384V
4V voltage +5.124 V
12V Voltage +12.080V

Voltages measured by the motherboard voltmeter are not reliable until confirmed with a multimeter. Plus you have not included another critical voltage. Also the numbers mean little until virtually every peripheral is being accessed at the time of that measurement. IOW search the disk drive, while downloading from the internet, while playing complex graphics (ie a movie), while, using some USB device, while playing sound card loudly, while ... Only then are those voltage numbers relevant.

Voltage numbers can explain so much of what you have posted. But you also shorted your help of critically important facts. The E9(?) error message included other critically imiportant words and numbers. Without that additional information, then replies must use more speculation. In particular, exactly what device suffered an IO error?

That type of Asus message is common to defective voltages. And is also dependent on a motherboard voltmeter being accurate. You do not even know that voltmeter's accuracy until confirmed using a multimeter.

 

[ac1]

Since the board has two sata controllers. One for the standard sata 2 ports, and another for the sata 3 ports. I plugged in the hard drive into the sata 3ports and it worked fine. Seatools also said the HDD passed (failed on the sata 2 ports).

So i think the sata controller is the problem as as many have suggested. Agree?

Anyway will order a new motherboard for this PC or place a SATA card.

Will consider your advice Westom.

Just wondering now whether I should replace the power supply?

I found that when i turn the PC of at the power supply, opposed to shutting in down through Windows, I get that message at startup. (Asus...)
Does anyone know if the message means serious power surges and that the power supply should be replaced OR the fact that it was shutdown through the power switch?

 

[FremontPC]

Sounds like a Cougar Point issue.

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2589

 

[easytechnician]

I can't give you definites here, I can though say that a very high percentage of similar issues are caused by a seemingly fine power supply. As was stated the MB reading of voltages and even the standard power supply testers are not reliable. If this is a problem that you have been able to reproduce then the first and fastest step would be to put a test psu in and see if the problem continues...I would think it is a jump to be looking at MB or Controller problems before going with that step first.