I thought I have rather large experience on PC, but last year shown I miss sth and still riddles are blundering around making a headach. Today I have already 7th computer in a raw what I cannot diagnose.
Symptoms: Just in one day after switching it out by normal way, when is is switched on in the normal way, the system is looking for any op sys for very long and dont find any, saying "error in pool". Checking the HDD on another machine - everything is OK. Checking it by Viktoria or any other HDD test system it shows HDD is good.
Putting it back, - again pool error. The cure is to open a BIOS settings and nothing do there. Just open and close and system start correctly, one time. Next time for starting there is need to open bios again. Yet is known that resource for re-saving in bios is about 100 times in a lifecycle, so it is vary bad way to start a day in the morning.
Had idea that bios battery ought be changed. No, it helps no.
Had idea that ATX has too large ripple for one of voltages. No, that isnt a problem.
Had idea that is specific virus. Scanned with different high class scanners, no any chicken pox.
And what is worst, in the beginning it was one Siemens computer with Win XP, then it was 3 other Siemens with XP. Then it was 2 non-Siemens PC with Linux Ubuntu, now it is Dell with Win7, thus this defect is not bound (as I thought from beginning) with hardware or software in clear linkage.
WHAT IT MAY BE????? Doing nothing soon the all comps in my workplace will be lost.

 

Are you saying that all 7 computers, of varying brands and OS, are showing exactly the same fault, requiring you to enter and exit the BIOS before they'll boot up? That is certainly weird. Any reports of alien invasions in your area? .

 

Could it be UEFI related? XP probably doesn support it and Win7 might have issues with it too.

 

Some student was playing with BCD(s)?...

 

I thought I have rather large experience on PC, but last year shown I miss sth and still riddles are blundering around making a headach. Today I have already 7th computer in a raw what I cannot diagnose.
Symptoms: Just in one day after switching it out by normal way, when is is switched on in the normal way, the system is looking for any op sys for very long and dont find any, saying "error in pool". Checking the HDD on another machine - everything is OK. Checking it by Viktoria or any other HDD test system it shows HDD is good.
Putting it back, - again pool error. The cure is to open a BIOS settings and nothing do there. Just open and close and system start correctly, one time. Next time for starting there is need to open bios again. Yet is known that resource for re-saving in bios is about 100 times in a lifecycle, so it is vary bad way to start a day in the morning.
Had idea that bios battery ought be changed. No, it helps no.
Had idea that ATX has too large ripple for one of voltages. No, that isnt a problem.
Had idea that is specific virus. Scanned with different high class scanners, no any chicken pox.
And what is worst, in the beginning it was one Siemens computer with Win XP, then it was 3 other Siemens with XP. Then it was 2 non-Siemens PC with Linux Ubuntu, now it is Dell with Win7, thus this defect is not bound (as I thought from beginning) with hardware or software in clear linkage.
WHAT IT MAY BE????? Doing nothing soon the all comps in my workplace will be lost.

Do they all use the same manufacture/type of HDD?

1. Try re-flash BIOS, "Load from default", then save and exit. Make sure HDD is first boot device. Also make sure to use a clean copy of the BIOS image to flash the BIOS.

2. Try booting from a windows Install CD just to see if it will boot from CD.

Might be VIRUS in BIOS...

 

RE:
``Are you saying that all 7 computers, of varying brands and OS, are showing exactly the same fault, requiring you to enter and exit the BIOS before they'll boot up? ``
YES

``Any reports of alien invasions in your area?``
Tested by Avast, by NOD32, by AVG - no viruses. However, probably exist some rare russian or Iranian viruses hidden to well. Because all those comps was in contact each with another. At least infection (if it has take a place) not shows any signs in first year or two after contact.

``Some student was playing``
No, they have no laid near at those machines, and first of them get defect was mine at home.

``Do they all use the same manufacture/type of HDD?``
No, each had different and more likely that not original.

``Try re-flash BIOS, "Load from default", then save and exit``
Not existing command. However, probably, the opening Bios and saving at the fact do what You write, and that is reason why those machines are possible to turn-on.

``Make sure HDD is first boot device``
Yes, all has.

``Also make sure to use a clean copy of the BIOS image to flash the BIOS``
Actually, have no any image. Producer offer a newer version what is incompatible. Probably in older archives I can find it, but I didn try this. Actually I never reinstalled Bios to any machine. That is not the frequent job.

``Try booting from a windows Install CD just to see if it will boot from CD``
Yes, without of problem.

``Might be VIRUS in BIOS``
Yes for sure, but what of both? And probably something with ATX (may be some rare interruption on one of voltages, cold soldering or etc. But oscilloscope shown no such proofs until now.