No, it may not be a bios battery issue.  I just got done helping a client with a 
laptop that had a similar issue.  In that case, the laptop fan came on but the 
display was blank and notheing loaded.

Taking the battery out, disconnecting the power, and holding down the power 
button for fifteen seconds or so is a pretty standard way to reset a computer.

If I had to use an XP machine, I'd make damn sure that it has no way to connect 
to the outside world.  You are asking for trouble now.  Who knows what else 
could be accessed with all the unpatched newer security exploits now.  Tom, you 
are living dangerously if you have anything that could be networked from that 
machine.

Steve, K8SP

----- Original Message ----- 
From: John Miller
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2015 1:00 PM
Subject: Re: Windows XP Logging Computer Issue Solved, at least for now


Sounds like bios battery to me if that worked. It's replaceable, on a laptop
it's very likely under the keyboard.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Tom Behler
Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2015 11:54 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Windows XP Logging Computer Issue Solved, at least for now

Hi, everyone.



Well, it turns out that Albert's suggestion did the trick, at least for now.



I turned off the laptop, took the battery out, and unplugged the DC power
supply connection.  I then let the computer sit for about 15 minutes to make
sure everything was cleared from the machine's memory.



When I plugged things back in and re-booted the machine, things began
working again.



I am not sure this will solve my issue in the long term, since I probably
really do need to think about replacing this old Windows XP logging
computer, but at least I'm up and running again for now.



Thanks to all for such a quick response to my rather desperate plea for help
here.  (LOL)



Tom Behler: KB8TYJ