XP doesn't boot when USB HDD is switched on

Recommended by Wim's BIOS...

XP (installed on my internal C drive) doesn't boot when my external HDD is switched on.

It hangs on a black screen after the POST screen, and nothing else happens. If I switch on the USB drive after Windows has started to load everything is fine.

I have checked the CMOS boot settings to make sure that USB drives are not in the boot sequence. The only other thing I can think of is to update the BIOS in the hope of solving what appears to be a bug. However, I'm not sure if there is an update available, or what one to download, or if this will even solve the problem!

These are my BIOS Agent Scan Results:

BIOS Type: Phoenix-Award
BIOS Date: September 6th 2004
BIOS ID: 09/06/2004-KT400A-8235-6A6LYJ19C-00
BIOS OEM: V.BN792AL B04 09-06-2004 - 6.00 PG
Chipset: VIA 82C3189 rev 0
SuperIO: Winbond 697HF rev 2 at port 002E
Manufacturer: VIA Technologies, Inc.
Motherboard: KT400A-8235
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2.0
Maximum Memory: 3072MB
Installed Memory: 512MB
Memory Config: Slot1:256 Slot2:256 Slot3:0

Thanks in advance for your help.

[KachiWachi]

This could be a USB timing issue.

The simplest solution is to just do what you are already doing.

Thanks.

[cp]

please read this topic:
http://www.wimsbios.com/phpBB2/topic9288.html

and report back with any markings :)

Thanks.

There is a label on the motherboard, marked B792L. I found the manual for the motherboard and the code referred to is B792AL. Is this any help?

[cp]

http://www.jetway.com.tw/download/downl ... rd=V400ADB

but i guess you already have the latest bios.

I just realised I mistyped the code: it is BN792L, not B792L - but you seem to have understood it anyway.

My current BIOS is dated September 2004, so the 2006 update should be newer?

Thanks again for your help. While browsing the Jetway web site earlier I speculated that the V400 variant with the L in the title was the most likely match. Lucky that I have experts to keep me right.

Please help.

I downloaded and installed the V400ADB BIOS linked to above, but I have discovered that there is no LAN support. The "Onboard LAN Device" and "Onboard LAN Boot ROM" options are missing from the OnChip Device Function section of this BIOS. Everything works okay apart from the LAN, but I now have to connect my modem via USB instead of ethernet.

There are several similar named BIOSes on the Jetway web site. The V400ADBL seems a likely candidate (L = LAN?) but I don't want to guess and need some advice before proceeding. Other BIOSes listed include:

V400DBL
V400DB
V400DA
V400AMAX
V400ADBL
V400ADB
V400MAX

Thanks in advance for your help.

Problem solved.

I downloaded the manual and established that the V400ADBL was the one I needed, so now my ethernet port is back in business.

The BIOS version is the same as I had before so I still can't boot Windows when USB devices are connected. It looks like I will just have to live with it until I buy a new PC.

[KachiWachi]

OK.

Thank you for reporting back in with your progress and updated status.

[edwin]

Can't you disable the USB controller in the bios from the boot order list? Or set it for non-boot devices only? I've seen something like that on several bioses.