Computer Problem, need you geniuses please

Magic_x_uk · 31 Aug 2006 at 12:32

Okay I have a Computer problem and I am after some diagnosis.

I am not too bad with computers, I have built quite a few my self but not that good at narrowing down problems if they wont start.

Right this computer is from my sisters (vet) works. All they have told me is wont start up.

I am 99% sure,, or so I am led to believe it is running Windows 2000 O/S

It has on it a CD Drive, Floppy Drive, Zip Drive, Network card, Modem card, 2 x Hard Drives and that is all I know.

I have connected my monitor to it,
If I have BOTH hard drives connected I see nothing on the screen. Hard drives are connected through ribbon cable with master and slave.

If both HD are connected no POST etc. If I unplug slave (power cable) HD then I get to 1st screen. But then nothing, screen just goes off to standby. (My OSD on screen says DPMS. going to off mode)

The 1st screen all I can see says the following on it (black screen)

American Megatrends released 08/01/2001
AMIBIOS ©1999 American Megatrends Inc
7VMM F4
AMD Duron ™ Processor – 850MHz
122880kb OK

WAIT…
Auto detecting Pri Master…IDE Hard Disk
Auto Detecting Pri Slave…Press <ESC> to abort
Press any key to continue.

The only thing that happens next (eventually is I hear a beep then it should start to load the OS but I just get nothing, screen goes to standby as no signal, I can hear the hard drive trying to do things, but nothing ever appears on screen.

I have left it a long time just in case it is a very slow computer and still nothing.

I can press F1 at start up and get to the following screen

AMI BIOS Flash Utility v1.03
Flash ROM Type………………..HYUNDAI HY29F002T

I have the option LOAD BIOS from floppy
And ENTER>Run ESC>Reset F10>Power Off

I have reset CMOS and nothing changed, not tried searching the net for the BIOS yet, perhaps someone here can help

Thank you a lot hopefully

Magic_x_uk · 31 Aug 2006 at 12:47

cant get into BIOS., only the flash bios thing, it just tried to start to load windows a second ago but then screen went to standby mode.

What is the usuall F key for BIOS on older systems, i have tried all the f1-f0 keys ?

Magic_x_uk · 31 Aug 2006 at 13:03

RIght Apparently windows 2000 to get into BIOS you hit KEY DELETE, NOW I AM IN BIOS!

Time to have a look around here

Magic_x_uk · 31 Aug 2006 at 13:10

had a look round, reset cmos again and nothing.

Think the OS may be borked. Any way of telling, If the only thing I can do is get the data off of the HD's by attaching them to one of my pc's then fine.

But i dont have a copy of windows 2000 O/S and neither do they as they have had it years.

mmmmmmm

Bit stuck now

Magic_x_uk · 31 Aug 2006 at 13:21

okay i shall try that but i have no knowledge of Linux, what do i need please. if you could perhaps let me know what i need re: live linux

cheers

Magic_x_uk · 31 Aug 2006 at 13:40

yes i have broadband, just downloading linux knoppix about 630mb .iso i think

will that be ok

thank you

I do also have a XP OS Cd, which perhaps i could try that as well ?

Magic_x_uk · 31 Aug 2006 at 22:14

Welcome back,

Right, back from a work shift,

tried a OS install disk and nothing

tried the Linux disk, Upuntu, nothing. These all work fine on other pc's at home though, so i know cd's are fine.

Unconnected absolutely everything except bare essentials, tried loads of configurations and still wont boot any OS / Linux Live OS's

Any other ideas, This must rule out the HD's. Just a bit stuck, perhaps something dead on MOBO, but im lost now

Magic_x_uk · 31 Aug 2006 at 23:02

Okay, although no G-card in it, on board graphics with this machine.

Will have a go at that tomorrow,

Magic_x_uk · 4 Sep 2006 at 22:42

right, its dead.

BUT,

I have had both hard drives out of that PC and connected them to one of my main computers, and i can access all the date etc on it.

On the dead computer i can see BOTH HD's in the BIOS screens.

I have tried a Live Linux CD on it and nothing, wont load it, even when I have choosen boot from CD etc.

Can get the floppy to run, ie mem test etc.

But CD Drive not even trying to install anything. Perhaps that is dead ?

No idea how to get into DOS on this machine ? Anyone >?

(windows 2000)

So the owners are not bothered about having the PC back so i was thinking of either ripping it apart and flogging the stuff, but the HD are only 4GB and 10GB anyhow,

there is a ZIP drive, but im not sure people use them anymore. ?

Anymore ideas of things i could try, Why wont it boot anything from CD. tried to different OS and nothing and like i said the Live Linux OS (Ubuntu)