Weird Problem with Windows unable to boot

[ss4rocky]

Hi, i dont know what started it, but the other day i got home from my mates place, turned on my computer, the BIOS screen where it says all the IDE channels comes up, and if i hit delete i can access the bios. However, the problem is, after that screen goes, the computer screen remains black. No error message, no sound, just black.

The i tried restarting it manually, it did nothing. However, I noticed that the keyboard Caps Lock and Nums Lock keys all flashed every few seconds (indicating the computer was continually restarting). I tried booting up off CD but it wont even let me get to a point where i can, even if i tell the BIOS to boot of CD first.

One fo my dads friend's suggested it could be the battery for BIOS. I dont think it is but my Dad is out buying a new one just in case it works.

Does anyone know what the problem is?

 

[ss4rocky]

More Information

Well i got the battery but it didnt help

Ive also bought a new power supply, it actually booted up and i thought it it must of been working again, alas, i had to restart for something and am now stuck again. If Anyone has any idea, i am open to suggestions.

Ive also tried using a XP bootup disk.. the problem is the same as with the CD not booting up... It doesnt actually get to the point where it boots up the operating system, it seems to restart about the point where the BIOS ends POST and starts up the computer.


Im really confused, im 15 and i consider myself a bit of a whiz at computers (im the only person my age i know who knows what a BIOS is, which i believe is quite scary ) anyway, ive never seen anything like this happen. The only thing i can think of is that i installed Service Pack 2 abhout a day before this started happening.. either that or Kasprowsky (which i installed 2 days before) however, they are software and it doesnt seem to get to any stage where software can affect it.

Thanks for any possible help in this matter.

 

[ss4rocky]

Sorry bout all the replies

Sorry bout all these replies but im adding information as i remember important things..

The reason I had to restart after it was working was because i wanted tor estore my stystem to a restore point id made prior to SP2. However, the Resore Point window when opened, came up but wouldnt repsond. Im now plaaning to (If i get my computer to work again ) back up ALL files i am sure about and want to keep to DVD, Wipe the harddrive and re-install XP and start from scratch. However, i still need to get my Computer working first....

Im gonna try my Hardrive and DVD burner in another computer tonight and see if they work, just to confirm my suspicion that they are both fine and work properly.

Hopefull I'll get a reply soon

 

[psd99]

i think its all to do with your windows xp installation,it may well be corrupt and the master boot record may be corrupt also, this explains why u cant get to the windows xp screen or even get into windows.

do u have the recovery cd?

or u could just do what u are gona do put ur harrddive in another machine save ur data
and then format and reinstall windows xp on ur machine!

its nothng to do with your psu, or bios battery

use your noddle mate if u get to bios, thats working fine
and if u can hear or see anything on screen u know power is getting to it!

 

[psd99]

Ive also tried using a XP bootup disk.. the problem is the same as with the CD not booting up... It doesnt actually get to the point where it boots up the operating system, it seems to restart about the point where the BIOS ends POST and starts up the computer.


.

yes of course ur xp cd will not boot u up into windows
this in ur case has got to help u boot up in bios to install a fresh version of windows or repair your current instalation


your xp cd should be bootable, make sure in bios your primary boot up device is your cdrom but in this case i think it will be dvd rom. save this setting
then restart and just after bios u should see ' press any key to boot up from cd'

u press a key and bingo ur into the windows xp installation
from here i think ur gona have to repair ur exsisiting installation
or format and reinstall

 

[crazylegs]

Well the bit about software not causing a startup problem is wrong..

I installed some security software for keeping my files and folders secure, when i restarted, the machine just kept rebooting, i had to remove my drive shoehorn it onto my other pc as a slave and remove the offending software..

After which when i installed the drive back into my machine the problem was sorted... so don't discount software being the cause of restart problems..

In fact coincidence comes to mind after you installed sp2 and kaprowsky...

You may have to format the drive and start windows afresh.. have you not got a windows XP streamlined cd you could use..as i suffered problems with sp2 after installing it over xp, but never had any irregularities after using a streamlined xp disc with sp2 already a part of windows...

Just a few things to think about there and good luck with your problem...

 

[Techy]

is nobody listening,

he has tried boot from a bootable cd but nothing happens and he has checked the boot sequence in the bios.

Best thing to do with this Rocky is to enter your bios, reset all to default settings, If it still won't boot, disconnect all non essential hardware, so everything bar CPU, Mobo, Graphics card. then try it with your hard disk in and if that fails swop the hard disk for your cd/dvd-rom and try to boot from the cd-rom without the harddrive in place.

If were to place a bet on this my money would be on the PSU.

 

[Raje]

is nobody listening,

he has tried boot from a bootable cd but nothing happens and he has checked the boot sequence in the bios.

Best thing to do with this Rocky is to enter your bios, reset all to default settings, If it still won't boot, disconnect all non essential hardware, so everything bar CPU, Mobo, Graphics card. then try it with your hard disk in and if that fails swop the hard disk for your cd/dvd-rom and try to boot from the cd-rom without the harddrive in place.

If were to place a bet on this my money would be on the PSU.

Damn that some good straight forward advice. If it turns out it is a corrupted hardrive, or even a bad image you are going to need to format and reinstall. If your are having serious trouble getting the system to boot from cd-rom, then get the 6 floppy disk start up. You can downoad it free from microsoft.

 

[ss4rocky]

Well, as mentioned id tried most of these things.. even if hadnt mentioned them.... removing everything non-essential was one of the first things i tried and I assumed it was common sense...

Anyway, basically, i slaved it to another drive, coped important files, reformatted and it now works better than ever... Thanks for the suggestions guys I appreciate it