Boot Sequence Problems

I'm running into a bit of bad luck with my computer. Recently some data on both of my hard drives got corrupted, and ever since then I've had to use an old computer of mine. After salvaging some data off of one of my Hard Drives, I decided I would try and zero write my Hard Drive and then install a fresh Windows Vista onto it. Problem is, when I set the boot sequence in my BIOS to boot from the CD/DVD drive before the Hard drive, it skips over the cd/DVD drive and instead boots directly to the hard drive which still has the corrupted OS on it. My mobo is a K8N Diamond Plus, and I really have no idea what's wrong with it. It posts fine, and I can even get into the BIOS and modify the settings, but for some reason it won't listen to the boot sequence. I'm not sure if I should try to update the BIOS or not.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Problem is in your CD/DVD sources (damaged, or not bootable), or your DVD drive is going down.
Leave only boot from CD/DVD, disable all other choices. Re-test, another note usually Windows bootable installation required to press any key after booting from them, if that wont happend until few seconds, then booting from CD/DVD disk will be skipped and boot process forwarded to your second configured boot device.(HDD in your case). If you pressed any key(at the exact moment when asked for that) and still no booting from Installation, there is possibility that actually you have pressed nothing. That can happend if you use USB keyb. and USB Legacy Support is turned off from BIOS.(In those condition the keyboard will no working where you need to press any key and booting from CD will be skipped)

Similar Messages

K7n2 ilsr boot sequence problem

Hi All,
I have problem with my new k7n2 ilsr mobo. I have a Seagate 120 GB SATA HDD on the SATA RAID controller, and other HDD-s on the IDE1 and IDE2.
If the SATA drive is alone in the system, it boots up normally, but if I connect the PATA drives, the computer want to boot from the first PATA drive.
How can I set up the boot sequence between the SATA and PATA?
I cant find any option in the BIOS.
I hope, somebody can resolve my problem.
Istvan
K7N2 ILSR v. 1.3
AMD Barton XP 2500+
2x 512 MB Samsung DDR RAM
Seagate Barracuda 120 GB SATA HDD
WD Caviar 40 GB PATA HDD
WD Caviar 850 MB PATA HDD
LG CD-RW
LG DVD-ROM
Matrox G400 VGA
400 W noname PSU

Hi Raven,
Thanks for Your help.
Istvan

My media center M8000y no longer completes boot sequence...I turn on the desktop and sometimes the b

HP Media Center M800y, System # GG755AV#ABA, Windows Vista Ultimate, Desktop will not complete boot sequence as the Blue & white HP screen which doesn't always appear, will give options to either
a).Press F10 to enter setup or,
b). to press f11 to start recovery partition in hard drive that doesn't work when tried.
Can enter setup when blue & white HP screen appears but do not know what to look for when inside.
If I pick none of the 2 options, the screen just turns black with a horizontal line "-" blinking at the upper left hand corner of the screen. Sometimes the screen will not even show the blue & white HP screen and it just stays black.
I changed the CMOS battery and nothing happened except that now the blue & white HP screen with the 2 options appears even less when I attempt to start up... I also tried using the recovery disks to no avail...
A power surge knocked out the power in my building and the computer suddenly stopped working while streaming netflix video afterwards... Then when attempting to re-boot once power was restored, The screen showed some very wierd, almost alien fonts on the top of the black screen that almost resembled Chinese or hyrogliphics. Upon further attempts to re-boot to no avail, I'm at a loss in diagnosing the possible causes or failure modes... Can somebody help me in the right direction???
I'm leaning towards either a corrupted bios via virus, or a fried hard drive or both. If you think something else or this has happened before and anyone knows a fix, I would be eternally grateful for your guidance in resolving this problem I'm experiencing.
Respectfully,
Henry

I would lean more to a hard drive problem.
A quick test is to temporarily disconnect the hard drive - the system should quickly indicate it can't find the HDD, can't boot, etc. You should also have the option to press one of the function keys to enter system BIOS.
If when you hook the drive up again - it starts getting flaky/slow again to do anything - you've likely found your culprit.
-DM (a long-time HP employee)
-DM (HP Retiree)
NOTE: If this helps you or solved your problem - please say thanks by clicking the white kudos star on the left.
If you think this would also help others, please mark 'Accept as Solution' to help them find it easier.

External monitor in boot sequence

Hi all,
i have a hp dv6000 laptop with a busted monitor.. so far, i had managed to get by using an external monitor. but the problem is, the external monitor only works when windows loads up..
how do i 'force' the laptop to detect the external monitor during boot sequence, especially now when im trying to reformat the laptop.
i know you have to press f11 during start up but if i cant see anything. the external monitor will only start detecting during windows login screen.
help..

I have a HP Mini 1000 and I am having the exact same problem. I think I need to change a BIOS setting, but I can't see anything since the LCD was broken, and I completely removed it. I can see when Windows starts, but I need to see the boot so I can install a new operating system. Does anybody know the BIOS sequence key by key so that I can do this blindly? I can get in with F10 as Windows does not start when I am in the this mode, so I am definitely in the BIOS.

IMac shuts down on 1/3 of boot sequence

Hello,
My 20 inch 2007 iMac suddenly started shutting down on 1/3 of boot sequence. This happened after the mac just shut down while i was working on it, since this happened the mac will not boot. The Apple logo appears, the loading bar appears, it gets to 1/3 off the bar, then it disappears, and the mac shuts down. I already used the disk utility to check the disk, there seems to be no problem. Also, i already re-installed MacOS, this did not have any effect as well.
Does anyone know how to fix this problem?
Mac info:
iMac 7,1 20 inch
Processor: Intel core 2 duo, 2.4 ghz
4GB of Ram.

Reinstalling OS X Without Erasing the Drive
Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
Reinstalling OS X Without Erasing the Drive
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the main menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.
When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility and press the Continue button. After Disk Utility loads select the Macintosh HD entry from the the left side list. Click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If Disk Utility reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit Disk Utility and return to the main menu.
Reinstall OS X: Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.
Also see:
Reinstall OS X Without Erasing the Drive
Choose the version you have installed now:
OS X Yosemite- Reinstall OS X
OS X Mavericks- Reinstall OS X
OS X Mountain Lion- Reinstall OS X
OS X Lion- Reinstall Mac OS X
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet
if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

P67A-GD65 : Boot sequence keeps changing after installing SSD

Hi,
Before I had the SSD, all was fine and running on IDE. After installing SSD and changing mode to AHCI, the boot sequence keeps changing after reboot. I did not reset the CMOS after installing the SSD. I had disabled all boot except for the SSD (which is connected to SATA Port 1). And I did save by pressing F10 after changing the sequence in BIOS.
Appreciate your advise.
Thank you.

I have the same problem. The board decides to try and boot from some other device, even though the SSD is detected. Very annoying.
I'm using the sata cable that came with the board; e.g. brand new.
system:
P67A-GD53, bios 1.E, i5-2500K, 4x4 GB Corsair Vengeance, Corsair AX850W, OCZ Vertex LE

Ibook g4 (2005) wont boot from cd. always wants to boot from hd. how do i change the boot sequence?

so my ibook as i wrote will not boot from the cd rom. it always wants to boot from the hd but i had the hd wiped b/c it had linux and it would not allow me to access the firmware. now that the hd is clean i was able to access the firmware but i dont know how to change the boot sequence. the starts to spin in the drive and acts like it want to boot from the cd but the cd just keeps spinning and i get a screen with a blinking question mark and smiley face.

Hello and welcome to the support community.
Why do you need to go into the firmware?
If the disk is a boot disk like Mac OS X, then all you need to do is hold down 'C' key or the option key while the disk is in the drive and the iBook is booting up (After the chime)
If either doesn't work, then there must be an issue with the disk not being a boot disk or corrupted. Alternatively a problem with the optical drive. You don't need to go into the firmware to change any boot selection.
Hope this helps

Tecra A2: Very slow booting sequence

Hi,
I'm using Toshiba Tecra A2 Laptop, In my laptop booting sequence is very slow, it is taking almost 10-15 min to show the login screen from the window XP booting Screen. I formated my laptop & installed fresh XP twice but the problem is still thier.
Please Help me out..
Thanks in advance.
Somu

Hi
Well, the slowly booting sequence of 10-15 min is very strange and I dont think that it has something to do with the software.
In my opinion there could be something wrong with the memory modules or/and the HDD.
I would recommend checking these both parts. Try to remove one module and run the notebook only with single module. Check different HDDs.

Boot Sequence Virus...help

Hello, first post so ill get right to it.
I have a boot sequence virus. Found this out when i bought a new 500g Hard Drive, bios did the scan and presto got a BOOT SEQUENCE VIRUS CONTINUE Y/N? My goal here is to flash a new bios, do a low level scan of my old hard drive and then install my OS. The problem i am having is the command sequence without a c-drive. Obviously my c-drive has been removed and I need to use the A drive to get the flash to work. I have a bootable floppy with a new bios ready to go, just need the commands.
hardware: K9N SLI platinum 570 SLI chipset

Leave BIOS alone.
Quote
bios did the scan and presto got a BOOT SEQUENCE VIRUS CONTINUE Y/N?
Go to BIOS and Disable it, or answer with 'Y' once.
OS is updating the MBR{when installing} or some bootloader is threat as Virus and BIOS makes that false warning.

Imac 266 booting sequence

I have an imac 266 with 160 MByte of memory, 20GB disk with 10.4.2 and the firmware 3.0 f3.
Each time I boot, I enter in the openfirmware prompt.
with printenv I can see the value of the nvram variable boot-command equal to "0 bootr".
When I reset the firmware default with reset-nvram, I have for the value of boot-command : "mac-boot", it's the right value to boot to mac osx 10.4.2.
Now if I enter the command reset-all the imac boots normaly and I have the 10.4.2 desktop.
OK. Just fine.
If I restart the computer, I enter in the openfirmware prompt and the nvram variable boot-command has a value of "0 bootr".
It seems that somwhere in mac osx a conditional path go to a command writing the nvram with a bad value for the variable boot-command.
Can anyone help me ?
Thanks
Pierre Breuer

The 266 MHz IMacs are incompatible with Mac OSX 10.4.2 you are maybe right, but Mac OSX 10.4.2 runs perfectly on this old timer.
I have also other Mac Computers (macmini, powerbook titanium, imac 400MHz etc ..) and many others computers (sun, PC etc.) and this one is for the fun.
In 1980 I ran unix on a computer with a 8" floppy as swap partition and since this time I have learned that unix is very flexible and programable
I plan to upgrade the memory to 512 MBytes, I have upgraded my disk with a old 20GB 7200 rpm
The 266 MHz is a good configuration for browsing the web and have my email ( and I repeat it works very well for that).
I have just the little problem with the boot sequence and I am shure It may be solved.
best regards
Pierre

785GTM-E45 MOBO BIOS V 8.80 RANDOMLY RESETS BOOT SEQUENCE

785GTM-E45 MOBO W/ PHENOM 9750 QUAD CORE CPU/4 GB WINTEC DDR2 PC6400 (2 x 2 GB) / WINDOWS XP SP3
PROBLEM: BIOS V 8.80 RANDOMLY RESETS BOOT SEQUENCE
I HAVE 4 HARD DRIVES (2 SATA II - 1 USB 2.0 1 USB 3.0) ALL OF WHICH HAVE MULTIPLE PARTITIONS WITH 1 ACTIVE ON EACH DRIVE
SATA II DRIVES / DEVICES:
ON SATA 1: HITACHI 1TB SATA II DRIVE
ON SATA 2: MSI DVD-CW RW
ON SATA 3: MAXTOR 320GB SATA II DRIVE
USB DRIVES:
1. SEAGATE FREE AGENT EXTERNAL USB 2.0 1TB HD
2. FANTOM EXTERNAL USB 3.0 2TB HD (VIA DIABLOTEK USB 3.0 PCI-E CARD)
EXPLANATION OF PROBLEM AND FIXES ATTEMPTED TO DATE
IN BIOS BOOT SEQUENCE I SELECT THE HITACHI HD AS 1ST DEVICE AND ALSO SET IT 2ND 3RD AND 4TH AND BOOT OTHER DEVICE DISABLED. SAVE/EXIT BIOS AND WHEN SYSTEM REBOOTS IT RANDOMLY SELECTS ANY OF THE 4 DRIVES TO BOOT FROM. WHEN I ENTER BIOS AGAIN IT SHOWS WHATEVER DRIVE IT HAD SELECTED TO BOOT FROM AS 1ST, 2ND, 3RD AND 4TH DEVICE. ENABLING OR DISABLING BOOT FROM OTHER DEVICE MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.
ORIGINALLY MY HITACHI WAS ON SATA 3 AND THE MAXTOR ON SATA 1 - I SWITCHED THESE AND NO DIFFERENCE. BIOS SWITCHES BOOT DEVICE NOT ONLY TO THE MAXTOR SATA DRIVE BUT ALSO TO THE USB DRIVES. USUALLY WHEN I REENTER BIOS AND CHANGE THE BOOT SEQUENCE BACK FROM WHATEVER HD IT SHOWS TO THE HITACHI IT WILL USUALLY THEN BOOT FROM THE HITACHI SOMETIMES THOUGH IT TAKES 2 OR 3 TRIES TO GET IT TO BOOT FROM THE DRIVE I HAVE SELECTED AS 1ST BOOT DEVICE.
I HAVE TESTED ALL DRIVES EXTENSIVELY USING ONTRACK EASY RECOVERY PROFESSIONAL SOFTWARE AND ALL DRIVES SHOW NO PROBLEM.
MSI LIVE UPDATE 5 REPORTS THAT THE BIOS IS 8.80 HOWEVER IT ALSO SHOWS MY OS AS WINDOWS 2000 WHICH IS INCORRECT. MY CURRENT OS IS WINDOWS XP SP3. MY XP INSTALLATION WAS AN UPGRADE FROM WINDOWS 2000.
PROBLEM IS NOT DEVASTATING JUST ANNOYING IF ANYONE KNOWS OF A FIX I'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT IT. IF THIS IS A BUG IN THIS VERSION OF THE MOBO BIOS I SURE HOPE THEY EXTERMINATE IT AND RELEASE AN UPDATED VERSION IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

Quote from: Bas on 26-August-11, 18:07:03
How do you know it's randomly booting a different drive?
What are the messages you get?
As this:
That looks like a broken drive to me, where it can't find the bootsector/mbr in time to boot from, so the BIOS moves to the next drive and tries again.
I built this box about 2 months ago or so and this is the version of BIOS that came with the MOBO. I have not flashed the bios in this board.
As for knowing that it is randomly booting from a different drive as I stated each of my 4 drives has at a minimum 1 active partition. The Hitachi has a dual boot setup in Windows and if it is booting from the Hitachi drive I will get the Window giving me a choice of booting from either the Hitachi or the Seagate. If I select the Hitachi I also have it setup for two hardware profiles so it then gives me that screen to select profile 1 or 2. If I get these screens no problem - I select the Hitachi and profile 1 and it boots without any further problem.
If it has switched lets say to the maxtor (remember I have selected the Hitachi as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th for boot sequence and the boot from other device is NO) I get no multi boot option it just automatically starts Windows from the active partition on the MAXTOR (I can tell because the last time I used the Maxtor didn't shut down Windows properly so I get the option screen to boot normally or use safe mode etc). The active partition on the Maxtor is a duplicate of the Hitachi but about 2 months old - basically a backup of the Hitachi active partition but out of date and without the multi boot option.
In addition if it has switched boot drives and I hit my reset button and del to open up bios again and go to the boot sequence menu it will no longer show my hitachi as all 4 choices but sometimes it will show all 4 drives in varying order (including the hitachi but not as first device), sometimes 1 drive in all 4 (as in the seagate or the maxtor or the fantom drive in all 4 of the boot sequences) this seems to occur randomly and each time the list of boot sequence is different.
Keeping in mind that I had initially selected the Hitachi drive in all 4 of the boot sequences and selected NO to boot from other device - If the Hitachi drive was not ready or had a bad bootsector/mbr should I not get a message similar to "cannot boot from selected device so and so is missing etc?? I was under the impression that when one disabled the boot from other device as in NO then the bios should not attempt to go any further then attempting to boot from the selected device(s)????
As for the broken drive and bios moving to the next drive and trying again I could understand that 1. If I had not supposedly disabled its ability to do that 2. I could perhaps understand this going to the next drive if I had selected the Seagate USB drive as my initial drive because of it's so called sleep mode which I have now turned off as it was causing errors in windows. In addition I have run numerous and rigorous tests on the drives and they all passed with flying colors.
Yesterday after a couple of tries I booted from the Hitachi drive (it was listed as 1,2,3,and 4 in bios and the boot from other device was NO) and was using that all day and was on it when I posted my help request here. Shortly thereafter I properly shut down my computer. Now I would think that when I turned it on again this morning the BIOS would have maintained its previous settings of the Hitachi in all 4 of the boot sequences and the No on enabling it to boot from other device? However when I booted up again this morning it tried to boot from the Maxtor (I can tell because I get the option screen to boot normally or use safe mode etc) so I hit the reset button and then entered bios and boot sequence and now it showed the Seagate as 1 (it had just tried to boot from the Maxtor when I hit the reset button), the Fantom as 2, the Maxtor as 3 and the Hitachi as 4 and boot from other device still said NO - changed them once again to show the Hitachi in all 4 positions and exited bios and it did then boot from the Hitachi and here I am writing this message using Windows XP located in the active partition of my Hitachi drive.
I'm not exactly a novice as my computer experience goes all the way back to mainframe days of the IBM 360 series computers. I have built so many boxes I have lost count including numerous one using MSI mobos and I have never encountered a problem similar to this. As I said it is not devastating just annoying - the only thing I can think of to totally eliminate the possibility of it being the mbr/bootsector of the Hitachi drive is to back up the drive and rewrite those sectors even though no errors have been reported.
I could be wrong but after messing with this for sometime it really seems to be a bios bug or perhaps just my bios is defective - I was able to dl a copy of v8.8 from another post in the forums - and have not used it yet. Sent all of this info in a Tech support request and posted it here to see if there were any solutions I may have overlooked before flashing the bios with a dl copy of the same version I have installed.
As for downloading the current v of bios from the forums here it was apparently the only way I could get a copy as Liveupdate 5 shows that I have the current version installed and only gives me a message that my mobo bios is current and no download is needed or something like that and the MSI site no longer gives one the ability to download the mobo bios without using liveupdate 5 or at least I couldn't find one. Guess they got tired of people killing their boards with bad flashes.

BIOS doesn't show SATA Drive as Boot Sequence option

Hi,
I recently bought an MSI MEGA 865 Pro, and can't get the SATA hard drive to work (Western Digital Caviar 400GB)
When it boots up, it auto-detects an 'IDE Hard Disk' as Primary on IDE Channel 3, but when I go into the BIOS setup, the only Boot Sequence options I get are Disabled and my DVD Writer.
In On-Chip IDE Configuration, I've got P-ATA Channel Selection set to Both and On-Chip Serial ATA set to Native Mode. These, and also Combined Mode Option, are the only options I have, and I've tried changing them with no result.
When I try to install Windows, or use the Western Digital Tools for setting up the HD, they both say there's no hard drive.
I've tried it in my Shuttle, and it finds it fine. I used it to write a disk signature, and set up partitions, leaving some space free for InstantOn. Put it back into the MSI, .. same thing.
My AMI BIOS is at version 1.0 at the moment, and I'm going to try to upgrade it to 1.1 tonight. According to MSI's website, it fixes a restart issue with EM64T processors, which I have, but I'm not sure if it's going to fix the HD.
Is there anything else I can try?

I've just tried something which helps a little.
If I reset CMOS by shorting pins 2-3 on the JBAT1 jumper on the motherboard, when I turn the PC on it works, and complains about CMOS settings. In the BIOS this time the HDD is recognized, and everything seems OK. But .. after a reboot I get the same problems again.
Also, I've tried creating a bootable CD with the BIOS files on it, but when I try to upgrade the BIOS, it just comes up with the usage instructions like I did something wrong. I am typing 'ADSFI718 A7122IMS.110 <enter>'.
Please help.

Beige G3 boot from **** problem; open firmware issues; bad motherboard?

Dear all,
I'm having huge boot/startup problems with my beige G3 that had been happily running OSX 10.3.9, but for purposes of this discussion we can (mostly) revert to OS 9. Originally, the machine was a G3 @300; was upgraded more than a year ago to a ZIF G4 @500.
To make a long story short, it won't boot from any hard drives, will not boot from any OS X CD, and will only occasionally boot from a 9.x startup CD (whether Apple or Norton Utilities). I think it's an open firmware issue, possibly caused by a bad motherboard (rev. 2).
All this started happening after I used techtool pro, but I think that's coincidence (even though I acknowledge that, for cops and computer users, there are no coincidences.) Also, as discussed below, I'm having the same problems with an HD that wasn't even in the computer when all these things began.
Here are some of the things I've done.
--repeatedly reset PRAM, both with key combinations and removing battery. The only time it will boot from a 9.x CD is after resetting PRAM.
--removed all add-on PCI cards.
--removed additional VRAM
--removed all memory cards and tried replacing one at a time.
--disconnected both existing hard drives and replaced with an older OS 9.x hard drive (approx 60 mb) that I'd used before. Also tried different ribbon cables.
--unplugged floppy drive
--disconnected PCI ATA disk controller that I'd been using for running a large (1.8 gb) hard drive.
--regarding open firmware: readenv usually shows totally normal default AND installed settings. Using reset-all works fine -- at least it makes the machine reboot, but doesn't solve the problem. reset-nvram does NOT work -- says it's an "unknown word."
--using startup keys like holding down the option key, or shift key, or X key or cmd-option plus two others I can't remember, has no effect. Again, after I've tried any kind of reboot, the ONLY way to get the C-key at startup to boot the CD is by resetting the pram (key combination). Otherwise, the usual result of these experiments is a dark screen on startup -- nothing at all (and the LCD monitor tells me "no input.")
--regarding OSX: sometimes (and I emphasize sometimes) I can get the machine to start booting from an OSX 10.2 CD, but it won't complete the process. Sometimes I get a "prohibited" (as in no-parking, no-smoking) icon; sometimes it will start booting (grey screen, OS X Apple icon), then crash (horizontal grey and white jagged bars); sometimes it will show the OS 9 start icon (the tiny smiling Mac SE), but not boot at all.
--when I get the mac successfully booted with an OS 9.x CD (again, this works sometimes, but not always), the old hard drive with two partitions does show on the desktop and can be accessed. Using either disk repair or Norton Utilities shows the 9.2 system partition on the hard drive to be fine. But if I go to the startup disk control panel, confidently set the 9.2 partition as my startup disk, then reboot, there's no change. It won't boot and I'm back at square one.
--even when I do get successfully booted with 9.x, the machine will still occasionally crash for no reason -- ie when I'm moving a Window.
--the only thing I haven't done is slowed down the processor. It's a ZIF G4 bought more than a year ago from XLR8 your Mac. I'm running at the default 500 mhz, and it's never given me any trouble.
So I think it's a bad motherboard or ROM. Thoughts?
Thanks.

The beige Mac is now operating happily again. My original tentative diagnosis remains the same (although still tentative): corrupted PRAM from bad battery, compounded by bad cables that wrote corrupted data to hard drives, and also (possibly) allowing Tech Tool Pro (a utility that I now regard with deep suspicion) to create a "virtual" startup partition.
A few things I've learned along the way that hopefully may be useful:
--remember that the Ex Post Facto utility can be used to help OS X startup, not just installation. This applies to hard drives, emergency CDs, installation CDs, etc. If you can boot into any working hard drive partition (OS 9 or a backup OS 10), then run Ex Post Facto (same program runs on either OS 9 or X -- don't ask me how) and tell it what system you want to start up from. Also, the utility has sometimes told me that the startup extensions on the disc that I wanted to boot up from were bad, and offered to fix them (which works).
--at least on my Mac (beige, v. 2 motherboard), resetting the CUDA button, resetting the PRAM, resetting Open Firmware and "draining" the memory by unplugging the computer and disconnecting the battery for several hours ALL DO DIFFERENT THINGS.
Specifically, if I'm having trouble booting (from a hard drive or a CD), the FIRST thing I do is restart and resetting the PRAM on the fly -- holding down command, option, P and R at startup, and waiting for the chimes (preferably at least 3-4 times).
If I do that and DON'T hear the chimes, that's my cue for my SECOND action -- restarting into open firmware (command, option O and F keys on startup). That should bring up the black text on white background open firmware screen. View other posts or apple support for details, but if you do PRINTENV and see a bunch of weird gibberish after the default/installed lists, you know that it was messed up and you need to clear it through reset nvram and reset all commands. Be aware some of these commands do or do not work depending upon what version of Open Firmware you have.
After I've rebooted with Open Firmware, then on restart I should be able to reset the PRAM on the fly. If that works, then either let the machine run and see what happens, or hold down the C command and see if it will boot from the CD
Usually, if I've fixed everything as above, the machine will boot into whatever version of OS 9 it finds on a hard drive. That's fine with me -- at that point, use Ex Post Facto to reboot into your OS X. (Before I forget: I used the shareware startup CD creator program BootCD to make an emergency boot CD based on OS 10.2.8 (which theoretically will support a beige mac in native fashion) and Disk Warrior, the god of disk repair utilities. Even though the CD should boot just by holding down the C key on startup, it doesn't -- but if I use Ex Post Facto to boot it, no problems (although the process is very slow -- be patient). Then I can fix almost anything using Disk Warrior.)
If none of the above works, then I'll try resetting the CUDA (on my beige minitower, it's a very small black button inconveniently located between a PCI slot and the side of the computer housing). Hold it down for 15 seconds. That should REALLY clear the PRAM. I know this does something different from the previous steps because this is the only action (except the battery disconnect -- next) that clears the date and time from the memory.
If all else fails, I will unplug the computer and disconnect the battery, then push the CUDA button for 15 seconds and let the machine sit overnight.
One final finding -- I thought I'd fixed everything, but both my hard drives suddenly quit working, I discovered that during all this repeated connect/disconnect of things, one of the male pins inside one of the connectors on my Acard ATA PCI card had broken off. Not good. Fortunately, the card had a second connector, which works fine. And I did some extensive shaking of the computer to make sure (I hope) that the broken pin hadn't landed on a circuit board.
All this took more than two weeks, and the advice of this board was much appreciated. Now I'm on to my next adventure -- trying to figure out why a combo Firewire/USB PCI card won't mount an external drive on Firewire, but will on USB. I've tried two cards with same result -- but a Firewire-only card works just fine.)
Regards to all,
Graham

Bootable CD not detect in boot sequence

We are having 4 nos of Desktop PC Model: Z 230 Workstation. Found bootable CD was not detecting in boot sequence while same CD is working fine in other Laptop.
By pressing F9 goes to boot sequence but there is in 'UEFI boot sources' bootable CD was not detecting.
Restatred PC 3-4 times but same result. Selection of ATAPI CD/DVD drive also not worked.

Hi:
You may also want to post your issue on the HP Business Support Forum -- z Workstations section.
http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Workstations-z-series-xw-series/bd-p/bsc-272#.VH3N3uktC9I

How do I change default boot sequence?

I just got a K8T Ne0 FIS2R. I am booting to a SATA 120G drive that has Win XP Prof loaded up. When I attach my IDE drives, I have to stop the post (F11) to manually point to "BBS-0 RAID" or my machine will default to an IDE drive (which ever is plugged in) and give me "NTLDR not loaded."
Can I change the default boot sequence (i.e. so that I don't have to manually stop-n-point every time)?
All my drives (1 SATA, 2 IDE) work once I point to the right startup device (SATA 120G).
Thanks for any helpful hints.

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Originally posted by 3degs
I recomend that you read your MANUAL carefully again. Also if you dont have the manual you can download it on the main site.
This is not here and neither is that.
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Just view the mainboard specs. and to the right you will se links that will point your way.
Good luck.
I recommend that you review the advice that you leave others, as it is incomplete and incorrect....this, of course, is not to call you stupid, but it is to say your offering is.

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