Computer won't boot past motherboard screen

Se7ven · 13 Jan 2011 at 09:54

Last night my PC was working fine, when I shut it down it installed some MS updates and that was that.

This morning I switched it on, i went to make a cuppa, when i came back it was still at the Gigabyte screen, I thought that was weird, then a few seconds later the black screen appeared and i thought "ah, there we go" but all that said was "Dell - Entering Power Saving Mode" then as if it reboots itself, goes right back to the Gigabyte loading screen!

Also the keys are unresponsive, which means I cant get into BIOS or anything else, and to top it all off, my first boot device has always been DVD drive, so I put in my windows disc , but nothing! Just the same repeat pattern of Motherboard screen, Entering Power Saving mode, Motherboard Screen.. not matter how long I leave it, it wont change.

So I cant get into BIOS, Cant format, can't use any cd's.

Is my last option to replace the hard drive? It's an SSD too!

Cheers guys appreciate any ideas

Philtor · 13 Jan 2011 at 09:56

First thing I would do is reset the CMOS / pull the BIOS battery for a few minutes.

Crowort · 13 Jan 2011 at 10:07

Are you using a ps2 keyboard? A USB doesn't always work, worth a try anyway if you are using USB.

Semple · 13 Jan 2011 at 10:12

As above firstly try to reset CMOS. If you have a ps2 keyboard connection use that as sometimes USB might not work. Another step you could try is to connect the SSD to a different computer (i can connect mine via USB to my laptop and essentially use it as a portable drive) just to check the things working.

Or if you do have another hard drive take out the SSD, install windows on the normal hard drive and boot up to make sure everythings working fine, and then power down and plug the SSD in and install windows on that.

OLDPHART · 13 Jan 2011 at 13:45

Yes clear c-mos, if you get into the Bios set your DVD-rom as 1st boot device and SSD 2nd and check your voltages for your CPU and Memory are correct.

Se7ven · 13 Jan 2011 at 13:55

how do you clear cmos? sorry for noob question

OLDPHART · 13 Jan 2011 at 13:58

Check your mobo manual it will tell you what to do.

Philtor · 13 Jan 2011 at 13:58

Se7ven said:
how do you clear cmos? sorry for noob question

It's done by moving a jumper on your Motherboard. Check your Motherboard manual.

GreatAuk · 13 Jan 2011 at 16:54

Just to post something unhelpful:
I have a recurring similar problem; 3 times in the past few years, my computer has randomly stopped working and just stopped at the motherboard screen, and I can't get into BIOS.

So, I tried all the turning it off and clearing CMOS and taking the battery out (and getting a new battery), all to no avail. I gave up hope and just left it for a couple of days. When I tried to turn it on just for lols, it had started working again. All 3 times it has seemingly randomly decided to start working again.

Moral of the story: I'm not sure.
I now live in fear of the 'GreatAuk PC Working Electrons Union', who go on strike without warning or reason

.

Ch3m1c4L · 13 Jan 2011 at 17:48

GretAuk, that might just be it having a complete shutdown (powered off at the plug/PSU for long enough for the mobo caps to run out of power) that makes it work again. I dont know why, but it fixes some random problems sometimes, like a networking issue I spent 8 hours a day on for 2 weeks until i gave up and turned it off properly. went to work, came home and thought id play something single player and it worked again lol.

Se7ven · 13 Jan 2011 at 19:06

cmos fixed it

thanks guys.

out of ccuriosity what would cause that?