Can't log in

  • Thread starter Thread starter Melanie
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M

Melanie

I just purchased a computer from my old workplace that
already has Windows 2000 on it. They should have blown
the hard drive, but did not. I purchased Windows 2000 &
was just going to reload the software, but I can't even
log in to do anything. When I turn on the computer, it
starts booting up, then stops on a black screen. I have
to hit the space bar several times for it to start loading
Windows 2000. When it gets to the screen that asks you to
hit control + alt + delete, I lose keyboard & mouse
function. Therefore I can't hit control + alt + delete.
It isn't locked up because the screen saver still comes
on. The darn keyboard just won't work. Any ideas?
 
To do a clean install, either boot the Windows 2000 CD-Rom or setup disks.
The set of four install disks can be created from your Win2k CD-rom; change
to the \bootdisk directory on the cd-rom and execute makeboot.exe (from dos)
or makebt32.exe (from 32 bit) and follow the prompts.

When you get to the point, delete the existing NTFS and or other partitions
found. After you delete the partition(s) abort the install, then again
restart the pc booting the CD-Rom or setup disks to avoid unexpected drive
letter assignments with your new install.
 
- Find out what key you have to press at boot time
to get into the BIOS. It is often the "Delete" key.
- Get into the BIOS.
- Change the boot sequence so that the laptop will
boot from the CD drive in the first instance.
- Pop in your Win2000 CD.
- Reboot the machine.
- Win2000 setup will now start. When prompted,
tell it to format drive C:.
 
Thanks for the tip, however, the computer tells me to hit the delete key to get into BIOS, but when I hit the delete key, it just keeps loading & takes me to the control + alt + delete screen again. I also tried hitting F10 to troubleshoot Windows 2000, but that doesn't work either. The lights keep flashing on the keyboard, which tells me it is being recognized, but I can't get anywhere. I have tried two different keyboards & get the same results

----- Pegasus (MVP) wrote: ----

- Find out what key you have to press at boot tim
to get into the BIOS. It is often the "Delete" key
- Get into the BIOS
- Change the boot sequence so that the laptop wil
boot from the CD drive in the first instance
- Pop in your Win2000 CD
- Reboot the machine
- Win2000 setup will now start. When prompted
tell it to format drive C:
 
You may have to hit the Delete key many times during the booting stage. If
this does not get you anywhere then you should ring the helpdesk of the PC
manufacturer. This issue hardware related - it has nothing at all to do with
Windows 2000.

Still - yours would be the first machine ever I have seen that does not
respond to the key posted on the screen. I suspect you have waited too long
until you pressed this key, or you did not press it often enough. Get a
friend who knows about PCs to do it for you!


Melanie said:
Thanks for the tip, however, the computer tells me to hit the delete key
Click to expand...
to get into BIOS, but when I hit the delete key, it just keeps loading &
takes me to the control + alt + delete screen again. I also tried hitting
F10 to troubleshoot Windows 2000, but that doesn't work either. The lights
keep flashing on the keyboard, which tells me it is being recognized, but I
can't get anywhere. I have tried two different keyboards & get the same
results.
 
Try this if the DEL key fails to get you into bios to change boot device.
Use ESC during early POST to start the Initial boot device menu. It's a gray
menu that displays available boot devices available to choose from. It's an
undocumented option but most Bios manufacturers support it.

Is the keyboard a USB keyboard? If so, use the PS2 to USB adapter
temporarily.


Melanie said:
Thanks for the tip, however, the computer tells me to hit the delete key
Click to expand...
to get into BIOS, but when I hit the delete key, it just keeps loading &
takes me to the control + alt + delete screen again. I also tried hitting
F10 to troubleshoot Windows 2000, but that doesn't work either. The lights
keep flashing on the keyboard, which tells me it is being recognized, but I
can't get anywhere. I have tried two different keyboards & get the same
results.
 
If her machine isn't responding to the keyboard at all, then perhaps it
hasn't got anything to do with her timing. Yet, it seems to respond to the
Space key right at the start.

Melanie, if you put a Win98 floppy Boot Disk (www.bootdisk.com) into the PC
before you boot up, does that stop it from loading? Perhaps it is set up to
recognise the floppy drive first if it is an older laptop.
Evi
 
Melanie said:
I just purchased a computer from my old workplace that
already has Windows 2000 on it. They should have blown
the hard drive, but did not. I purchased Windows 2000 &
was just going to reload the software, but I can't even
log in to do anything. When I turn on the computer, it
starts booting up, then stops on a black screen. I have
to hit the space bar several times for it to start loading
Windows 2000. When it gets to the screen that asks you to
hit control + alt + delete, I lose keyboard & mouse
function. Therefore I can't hit control + alt + delete.
It isn't locked up because the screen saver still comes
on. The darn keyboard just won't work. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Are you using a USB-attached keyboard? Or a PS/2-attached keyboard?
The BIOS might not support USB devices (they get supported by a driver
which means an OS has to get loaded that loads the driver).

The lights should flash once. They should NOT keep flashing. The flash
is caused by a reset signal sent to all devices to initialize them to a
known state.
 
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