Computer won't start

[tglimp]

I'm running Windows XP Pro on my 2002 desktop system.

I updated Norton Systemworks from 2002 to 2003 with
seemingly no problems; used it for a few days without
trouble.

I got the SOS from my wife, saying that the computer was
frozen in Outlook application. After unsuccessfully
trying to shut down via Ctrl-Alt-Del, I powered down the
computer.

Upon attempting to restart, I get nothing but a black
screen. It appears that the hard drive is being accessed,
but no Windows start up screen, nothing. I've checked my
monitor, and it is fine.

I'm wildly panicked as, of course, I've not been diligent
about backing up.

Any suggestions on how to start to solve this, or direct
me to an online resource to troubleshoot this?

Thanks-

 

[Malke]

I'm running Windows XP Pro on my 2002 desktop system.

I updated Norton Systemworks from 2002 to 2003 with
seemingly no problems; used it for a few days without
trouble.

I got the SOS from my wife, saying that the computer was
frozen in Outlook application. After unsuccessfully
trying to shut down via Ctrl-Alt-Del, I powered down the
computer.

Upon attempting to restart, I get nothing but a black
screen. It appears that the hard drive is being accessed,
but no Windows start up screen, nothing. I've checked my
monitor, and it is fine.

I'm wildly panicked as, of course, I've not been diligent
about backing up.

OK, no need to panic yet. First, answer this question honestly: are you
computer savvy enough to do hardware diagnosis? If yes, then start by
slaving the hard drive to another machine and copy over your data. Then
put the drive back in the original machine. Now do hardware diagnoses,
checking your video card, RAM, hard drive, power supply etc. If no,
then take the machine to a good local computer shop (not a BestBuy or
CompUSA store) and have them back up the data and vet the machine. And
obviously you now know to back up your data regularly.

Malke

 

[Bob Eyster]

Try booting to Safe Mode.

Bob Eyster

 

[Bob Knowlden]

Do you really get nothing at all during startup? No BIOS messages?

If your post can be taken literally, it's not a Windows problem. The only
thing that I can think of, prior to going into hardware troubleshooting, is
to clear the CMOS. There ought to be a jumper for that on your mainboard;
it's usually near the CMOS backup battery. I hope that the manual for the
system (or information from the maker's web site) will show you how to do
that. (Alternately, remove the CMOS backup battery for a few minutes.)

If that doesn't fix it, start messing with the hardware. I'd start with the
power supply. Next, the mainboard. If it sounds like this could lead to
rebuilding the PC, that is correct.

Good luck.

Bob Knowlden

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