XP SR2 dies (literally) in middle of use - now "AWDFLASH.EXE" notfound

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ch33zst34k
  • Start date Start date
C

Ch33zst34k

I was enjoying my favorite MMORPG on line this morning when I found
myself continually disconnecting, forcing me to reboot 2-3 times in
an hour. Finally upon about the 4th reboot, Windows failed to POST
and I could not get it into safe mode. I pulled out my trusty XP disc
(a real, licensed version - no crack here) and upon start-up, I get a
message stating it wants to boot from the dvd drive (a good thing
since my cd is in there) then suddenly I get an error line stating
"AWDFLSH.EXE not found.... insert correct disc." Well, I have
reinstalled and booted from this disc many times so I am concerned
this is a BIOS issue.

I don't have a problem reinstalling Windows but I cannot even get the
thing to read the disc. Any help here guys ?

This is a custom built rig with all high-end parts - I doubt we have a
mobo or ram failure yet.

Any help would be great. TIA.
 
Re: XP SR2 dies (literally) in middle of use - now "AWDFLASH.EXE"not found

Ch33zst34k wrote:
> I was enjoying my favorite MMORPG on line this morning when I found
> myself continually disconnecting, forcing me to reboot 2-3 times in
> an hour. Finally upon about the 4th reboot, Windows failed to POST
> and I could not get it into safe mode. I pulled out my trusty XP disc
> (a real, licensed version - no crack here) and upon start-up, I get a
> message stating it wants to boot from the dvd drive (a good thing
> since my cd is in there) then suddenly I get an error line stating
> "AWDFLSH.EXE not found.... insert correct disc." Well, I have
> reinstalled and booted from this disc many times so I am concerned
> this is a BIOS issue.
>
> I don't have a problem reinstalling Windows but I cannot even get the
> thing to read the disc. Any help here guys ?
>
> This is a custom built rig with all high-end parts - I doubt we have a
> mobo or ram failure yet.
>
What makes you think that high-end parts don't fail? They do and not a
lot less frequently that cheaper parts. I've had several top end server
boards go within a few weeks or months of purchase. One board was
replaced with another board which turned out to be DOA!

This *does* seem like a hardware fault - I'd guess disk, but it might be
RAM.

Cheers,

Cliff

--

Have you ever noticed that if something is advertised as 'amusing' or
'hilarious', it usually isn't?
 
Re: XP SR2 dies (literally) in middle of use - now "AWDFLASH.EXE" not found

Comments at end:

"Ch33zst34k" <Gerry.Vogler@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:d0e01c93-c52e-424e-9f17-12bbd3097858@s19g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>I was enjoying my favorite MMORPG on line this morning when I found
> myself continually disconnecting, forcing me to reboot 2-3 times in
> an hour. Finally upon about the 4th reboot, Windows failed to POST
> and I could not get it into safe mode. I pulled out my trusty XP disc
> (a real, licensed version - no crack here) and upon start-up, I get a
> message stating it wants to boot from the dvd drive (a good thing
> since my cd is in there) then suddenly I get an error line stating
> "AWDFLSH.EXE not found.... insert correct disc." Well, I have
> reinstalled and booted from this disc many times so I am concerned
> this is a BIOS issue.
>
> I don't have a problem reinstalling Windows but I cannot even get the
> thing to read the disc. Any help here guys ?
>
> This is a custom built rig with all high-end parts - I doubt we have a
> mobo or ram failure yet.
>
> Any help would be great. TIA.

Not a windows issue --
[a computer can *not* begin loading *any* Operating System until *after*
the MoBo finishes its POST.]
Failure to POST = motherboard failure.
P.S.
"AWDFLSH.EXE" is the utility used to flash an AWARD BIOS to a newer version.
(or return to an earlier version.)
Steve
 
Re: XP SR2 dies (literally) in middle of use - now "AWDFLASH.EXE" not found

Ch33zst34k wrote:
> I was enjoying my favorite MMORPG on line this morning when I found
> myself continually disconnecting, forcing me to reboot 2-3 times in
> an hour. Finally upon about the 4th reboot, Windows failed to POST
> and I could not get it into safe mode. I pulled out my trusty XP
> disc (a real, licensed version - no crack here) and upon start-up,
> I get a message stating it wants to boot from the dvd drive (a good
> thing since my cd is in there) then suddenly I get an error line
> stating "AWDFLSH.EXE not found.... insert correct disc." Well, I
> have reinstalled and booted from this disc many times so I am
> concerned this is a BIOS issue.
>
> I don't have a problem reinstalling Windows but I cannot even get
> the thing to read the disc. Any help here guys ?
>
> This is a custom built rig with all high-end parts - I doubt we
> have a mobo or ram failure yet.

Sounds like hardware failure.
High-end, low-end - all things fail.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
 
Re: XP SR2 dies (literally) in middle of use - now "AWDFLASH.EXE" not found

"Ch33zst34k" <Gerry.Vogler@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:d0e01c93-c52e-424e-9f17-12bbd3097858@s19g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> I was enjoying my favorite MMORPG on line this morning when I found
> myself continually disconnecting, forcing me to reboot 2-3 times in
> an hour. Finally upon about the 4th reboot, Windows failed to POST
> and I could not get it into safe mode. I pulled out my trusty XP disc
> (a real, licensed version - no crack here) and upon start-up, I get a
> message stating it wants to boot from the dvd drive (a good thing
> since my cd is in there) then suddenly I get an error line stating
> "AWDFLSH.EXE not found.... insert correct disc." Well, I have
> reinstalled and booted from this disc many times so I am concerned
> this is a BIOS issue.
>
> I don't have a problem reinstalling Windows but I cannot even get the
> thing to read the disc. Any help here guys ?
>
> This is a custom built rig with all high-end parts - I doubt we have a
> mobo or ram failure yet.
>
> Any help would be great. TIA.


have a look here

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp
 
Thank you all for the feedback - I will revise my statement to say
that I DOUBT I have a hardware failure to I HOPE I don't have a a
hardware failure.

I will run the windiag utility then look to any recourse I might have
with either the builder (Ibuypower) or the manufacturers (ASUS mobo
and Mushkin RAM). I guess the sad presumption I made was that
investing in better quality parts would ensure a smoother experience -
apparently not so.

Thanks again. Any additional comments or ideas are welcome.



On Dec 8, 8:11 pm, "philo" <ph...@privacy.net> wrote:
> "Ch33zst34k" <Gerry.Vog...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:d0e01c93-c52e-424e-9f17-12bbd3097858@s19g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > I was enjoying my favorite MMORPG on line this morning when I found
> > myself continually disconnecting, forcing me to reboot 2-3 times in
> > an hour. Finally upon about the 4th reboot, Windows failed to POST
> > and I could not get it into safe mode. I pulled out my trusty XP disc
> > (a real, licensed version - no crack here) and upon start-up, I get a
> > message stating it wants to boot from the dvd drive (a good thing
> > since my cd is in there) then suddenly I get an error line stating
> > "AWDFLSH.EXE not found.... insert correct disc." Well, I have
> > reinstalled and booted from this disc many times so I am concerned
> > this is a BIOS issue.
>
> > I don't have a problem reinstalling Windows but I cannot even get the
> > thing to read the disc. Any help here guys ?
>
> > This is a custom built rig with all high-end parts - I doubt we have a
> > mobo or ram failure yet.
>
> > Any help would be great. TIA.
>
> have a look here
>
> http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp
 
Re: XP SR2 dies (literally) in middle of use - now "AWDFLASH.EXE" not found

"Ch33zst34k" <Gerry.Vogler@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:dea90cc6-3002-47d9-bdc5-d332a4456903@p69g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
> Thank you all for the feedback - I will revise my statement to say
> that I DOUBT I have a hardware failure to I HOPE I don't have a a
> hardware failure.
>
> I will run the windiag utility then look to any recourse I might have
> with either the builder (Ibuypower) or the manufacturers (ASUS mobo
> and Mushkin RAM). I guess the sad presumption I made was that
> investing in better quality parts would ensure a smoother experience -
> apparently not so.
>
> Thanks again. Any additional comments or ideas are welcome.
>
>
>

I've had stuff fail in as little as 4 weeks...
and it was good "name brand" stuff too.

that's what warranties are for
 
Yeah - that's the good news - the machine is well within warranty and
for that I am happy, but the prospect of shipping it off for 6 weeks
is not a good one, as is losing all the progress and saved games on
the machine. I am hoping there is a change to replace the bad part
without a reformat.

We'll see I guess.

Thanks all.

On Dec 9, 8:27 am, "philo" <ph...@privacy.net> wrote:
> "Ch33zst34k" <Gerry.Vog...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:dea90cc6-3002-47d9-bdc5-d332a4456903@p69g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
>
> > Thank you all for the feedback - I will revise my statement to say
> > that I DOUBT I have a hardware failure to I HOPE I don't have a a
> > hardware failure.
>
> > I will run the windiag utility then look to any recourse I might have
> > with either the builder (Ibuypower) or the manufacturers (ASUS mobo
> > and Mushkin RAM). I guess the sad presumption I made was that
> > investing in better quality parts would ensure a smoother experience -
> > apparently not so.
>
> > Thanks again. Any additional comments or ideas are welcome.
>
> I've had stuff fail in as little as 4 weeks...
> and it was good "name brand" stuff too.
>
> that's what warranties are for
 
Re: XP SR2 dies (literally) in middle of use - now "AWDFLASH.EXE" not found

"Ch33zst34k" <Gerry.Vogler@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:d0e01c93-c52e-424e-9f17-12bbd3097858@s19g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>I was enjoying my favorite MMORPG on line this morning when I found
> myself continually disconnecting, forcing me to reboot 2-3 times in
> an hour. Finally upon about the 4th reboot, Windows failed to POST

Hardware failure.


> and I could not get it into safe mode. I pulled out my trusty XP disc
> (a real, licensed version - no crack here) and upon start-up, I get a
> message stating it wants to boot from the dvd drive (a good thing
> since my cd is in there) then suddenly I get an error line stating
> "AWDFLSH.EXE not found.... insert correct disc." Well, I have
> reinstalled and booted from this disc many times so I am concerned
> this is a BIOS issue.

Or a more fundamental motherboard failure.

> I don't have a problem reinstalling Windows but I cannot even get the
> thing to read the disc. Any help here guys ?

Hardware failure. It's going to need some hands-on diagnosis and parts
swaps to determine the failed components.

Unfortunately, this can get expensive.

Try removing all cables from all the drives - power and data - and see if it
still fails POST.

> This is a custom built rig with all high-end parts - I doubt we have a
> mobo or ram failure yet.

You can certainly doubt that, but alas, it won't make it true.

If you can't get the system to boot from the CD at all, and if the system
fails the POST, this does not point to any kind of software issue.

HTH
-pk

>
> Any help would be great. TIA.
 
Re: XP SR2 dies (literally) in middle of use - now "AWDFLASH.EXE" not found

"Ch33zst34k" <Gerry.Vogler@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:d226fc7c-faf4-4de5-9f87-b2806a665946@v4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Yeah - that's the good news - the machine is well within warranty and
> for that I am happy, but the prospect of shipping it off for 6 weeks

That is an unreasonably long time.

> is not a good one, as is losing all the progress and saved games on
> the machine. I am hoping there is a change to replace the bad part
> without a reformat.

The drive isn't likely to be the failed part. Pop in another drive and
send it with that, and/or image yours first. Do not make an assumption
that the repair shop will respect your data.

HTH
-pk


>
> We'll see I guess.
>
> Thanks all.
>
> On Dec 9, 8:27 am, "philo" <ph...@privacy.net> wrote:
>> "Ch33zst34k" <Gerry.Vog...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:dea90cc6-3002-47d9-bdc5-d332a4456903@p69g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
>>
>> > Thank you all for the feedback - I will revise my statement to say
>> > that I DOUBT I have a hardware failure to I HOPE I don't have a a
>> > hardware failure.
>>
>> > I will run the windiag utility then look to any recourse I might have
>> > with either the builder (Ibuypower) or the manufacturers (ASUS mobo
>> > and Mushkin RAM). I guess the sad presumption I made was that
>> > investing in better quality parts would ensure a smoother experience -
>> > apparently not so.
>>
>> > Thanks again. Any additional comments or ideas are welcome.
>>
>> I've had stuff fail in as little as 4 weeks...
>> and it was good "name brand" stuff too.
>>
>> that's what warranties are for
>
 
On Dec 9, 9:35 pm, "Patrick Keenan" <t...@dev.null> wrote:
> "Ch33zst34k" <Gerry.Vog...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:d226fc7c-faf4-4de5-9f87-b2806a665946@v4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>
> > Yeah - that's the good news - the machine is well within warranty and
> > for that I am happy, but the prospect of shipping it off for 6 weeks
>
> That is an unreasonably long time.
>
> > is not a good one, as is losing all the progress and saved games on
> > the machine. I am hoping there is a change to replace the bad part
> > without a reformat.
>
> The drive isn't likely to be the failed part. Pop in another drive and
> send it with that, and/or image yours first. Do not make an assumption
> that the repair shop will respect your data.
>
> HTH
> -pk
>
>
>
> > We'll see I guess.
>
> > Thanks all.
>
> > On Dec 9, 8:27 am, "philo" <ph...@privacy.net> wrote:
> >> "Ch33zst34k" <Gerry.Vog...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> >>news:dea90cc6-3002-47d9-bdc5-d332a4456903@p69g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
>
> >> > Thank you all for the feedback - I will revise my statement to say
> >> > that I DOUBT I have a hardware failure to I HOPE I don't have a a
> >> > hardware failure.
>
> >> > I will run the windiag utility then look to any recourse I might have
> >> > with either the builder (Ibuypower) or the manufacturers (ASUS mobo
> >> > and Mushkin RAM). I guess the sad presumption I made was that
> >> > investing in better quality parts would ensure a smoother experience -
> >> > apparently not so.
>
> >> > Thanks again. Any additional comments or ideas are welcome.
>
> >> I've had stuff fail in as little as 4 weeks...
> >> and it was good "name brand" stuff too.
>
> >> that's what warranties are for

Thats a very good suggestion - thanks.
G
 
Back
Top