Windows wont boot... mostly not even to bios screen

ant_j

ant_j

ant_j

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Joined
20 Oct 2008
Posts
25
For the past few days my xp has decieded not to boot.
This morning when i tried, the pc didnt go to self check, thus couldnt get
into bios. Its happened a few times over last few days!

When i have been able to get to check screens and press delete to get into bios, the bios opens but then freezes.
Sometimes the pc will start loading xp, then freezes on the screen where
the green dots are moving across (if you know what i mean).
Wont boot in safe mode either
If I can get into the logon screen and log in, it works fine from there
with no problems.. its just trying to get there!!

I have removed the hard drive / soundcard / memory in an attempt to rule out things, but still no joy!

Things started going wrong since my chip fan died, was replaced, then sound on MB died, brought pci soundcard > all ok until a few days ago!

Ta in advance

Help

Asus a8n sli se
generic soundcard
1g crucial ram
250 gb westen digital caviar HDD
LG dvd burner
Floppy/ mem card reader combi
 
Ta for reply.
Someone said on another forum may be a virus and to re-install xp fresh.
But even if its not booting to the bios without the hd, then it ?must? be the MB
Am i correct in think that?
 
No, none.
most of the time i turn on, and monitor will go to sleep straight away.. wont do a self check and hdd indicator light stays off.

The bios freezes if i do get in it.

If it does boot and gets past windows log in its fine
 
Just something you could try is resetting the CMOS, I've resurrected some seemingly dead computers just by doing this.
 
do you know what model motherboard you have? -if you can tell us this, we can find out the rest for you

it's usually a 'jumper' on the motherboard that you have to move to the reset position, then back to the normal position

it'll just reset bios settings, won't have to reinstall etc
 
"The CMOS battery and CMOS reset jumper are located just to the right of the lower 2 USB 2.0 headers."

Simply move the bit of plastic from its current position to the otherpin and middle pin. (Whilst off).
 
ta guys!

i'll give that a try when i get home later.
Could that MB battery go flat at all, is that a possibility?
Its going out the window if cant sort it, or a new MB!
 
well.. it sort of worked.. for one boot.. then when i restarted or shut down the system wont boot again! its like for every 10 attempts to boot (turning on and off/reset the pc) it'll boot once).
so maybe a new MB needed?
 
I'd flash the BIOS first. I once had a computer which started to drive me insane as sometimes it wouldn't post. However re flashing the BIOS solved the issue; I think somehow the BIOS got corrupted over time. This happened to the same motherboard later on again!
 
Xon said:
I'd flash the BIOS first. I once had a computer which started to drive me insane as sometimes it wouldn't post. However re flashing the BIOS solved the issue; I think somehow the BIOS got corrupted over time. This happened to the same motherboard later on again!
Click to expand...

I *STRONGLY* advise against flashing a BIOS in this situation when it wont even boot, especially as ant_j has said he is not great with computers.

Could well be that the battery is dead. This happened to a PC of mine once and I experienced the exact same thing as described in the OP. Basically meant the BIOS kept losing settings and only recovering part settings etc, causing it to fail to boot. Try replacing it with a new one.
 
there may not be enough voltage getting to the EPROM causing it to freeze and at different times.

i bios update is a good idea but i would be worried that it would freeze at the time of flashing it.



try the battery first.
 
you've got crucial ram.. it doesn't happen to be ballistix or 10th anniversary does it?
 
Ta for replies again guys.
I tried booting this morning and got to the windows loading screen with the bar moving across, and then frooze.
The ram i have is CRUCIAL 1GB DDR PC3200 400MHz 184-PIN UNBUFF 128MX64 Memory Modules (copied from my email when purchased), so no, neither ballistix or anniversary.

I'll try to get a battery later to see if that helps

Thanks again
 
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