Adam Lloyd wrote:

> > Date:    Sat, 8 May 1999 18:27:01 -1000
> > From:    "David Farrington <><" <[log in to unmask]>
> > Subject: Re: Old 486 won't boot up anymore
> >
> > Adam Lloyd wrote:
> >
> > > Hi people,
> > >
> > > Here is what happens at boot up:
> > >
> > > You see the computer POST, summary of computer stats.
> > >
> > > Normally you would see
> > >
> > > Starting MS-DOS ... <I always see this when I boot with a floppy>
> > >
> > > But I don't see that part. The computer just sits at this point.
> > >
> > > ...
> >
> > Unplug everything you don't need. Power up the motherboard, FDD, keep the
> > video card in but take everything else out.  Make sure you have a bootable
> > floppy and try booting again.
>
> I imagine I should try the reformat and fdisk thing with no peripherals
> hooked into the motherboard?
>
> > When you say the computer just sit, does the FDD stop turning?
>
> it lights up and turns off.  I assume checking for a floppy to boot off
> of.
>
> > Can you get in to the bios?
>
> yes.
>
> > Was the computer working before?
>
> yes.
>
>

Adam, where I was going with my line of thinking was that the hard drive may be
bad. I was asking to see it the computer would boot from floppy disk drive to
eliminate the computer (ram, cpu and such) from being a possible problem. Since
the computer starts but locks up you need to start with the least amount of
variables. I was thinking use the computer without extras. Just the video board,
ram, keyboard, motherboard, and floppy disk. See if you can boot to the A
prompt. If so, then turn it off and add the hard drive and boot again.

         The PCBUILD web site always needs good submissions.  If
          you would like to contribute to the website, send any
               hardware tech tips or hardware reviews to:
                           [log in to unmask]