B(lack)SOD: Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device or Insert Boot Media

Factual Questions
1

Windows Update was failing to install the November Malicious Software Removal Tool (KB890830). It retried several times, but it never installed (error code 80200053).

I ran a Windows Live scan and it found TrojanDownloader:Java/OpenStresm.AM. Windows Live didn’t remove it right away (it came back with a “failed” message a couple times), but the local version of MSE did. It’s now showing up in my MSE history as “removed.”

Windows Update still wouldn’t install the MSRT. I downloaded Spybot S&D, updated, immunized, and scanned—the only things that showed up were a couple tracking cookies.

I ran Update again, it failed to install both the MSRT and an optional graphics update (ATI ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series, error code 80070103). During the install attempt, my screen winked in and out, as if the graphics drivers were trying to install or change mode.

I rebooted into Safe Mode with Networking. That worked fine, but the update service wasn’t running.

I shut down the machine via the start button, then hit my power button (didn’t have a reason to shut down—I meant to restart but hit the default choice instead).

It booted past POST fine, but then I ended up on a black screen with the message: “Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device or Insert Boot Media in Selected Boot Device and Press a Key.”

It did this several times. I verified the proper boot device was selected via F8 during POST, restarted (Ctl-Alt-Del), and still received the message. I powered down once, and the message came back.

I powered down again, left the room for a good five to ten minutes, and it booted into Windows. During the boot process, after the Welcome but before the desktop, the entire screen went orange—a shade very close to the default background of Ubuntu (someone telling me something?). Then the regular wallpaper appeared and the system seems stable.

The only other thing that * might* be worth mentioning is that several hours ago I opened a new 16 GB USB drive (new in box from Newegg) and viewed its empty space.

Now what do I do? I’d like to find a way to install the MSRT, and I’d like to find out (if possible) what caused the error. I’d rather not shut down and restart until I’ve taken a few steps in that direction.

If it matters, here’s the relevant hardware:
Boot drive is a Crucial 128 GB SSD
Data drives are a pair of WD drives in RAID 1
CPU is an i7 920
Board is an Asus P6T

Thoughts?

2

Try to download the update manually and intall it after downloading it

Go to here

About a quarter of the way down you’ll see links for downloading it manually. Select the corect version for your Windows machine (either 64 bit or 32 bit)

After you download it make sure when you try to run it, you RIGHT CLICK on it and choose “run as administrator”

See if this helps.

3

Is this Windows 7 or Windows XP?

Either way, look in the Event Logs to tell you exactly what has happened with regard to the installation failures. For the boot failure, I’d double-check your HD cable.