My first guess is that your computer has setup in the BIOS (f10 key
screen) with the hard drive as the first boot device.
This explains why it doesn't load from the CD or the floppy. The computer
will only revert to those devices if it determines the hard drive doesn't
work. Apparently, your hard drive DOES work, it probably has a problem with
the boot sector or a corrupted system file.
Go back into f10 and select the CD as first boot device, floppy second and
then hard drive. For performance purposes, I might only recommend this order
while troubleshooting or repairing. If you have a bootable XP cd then you
can reinstall without losing any data or settings.
Be careful about using Compaq's restore disk as it can format your whole
drive or almost worse yet, install an older OS on top of your current -- oh
yeah, it'll run but stable? Nah.
Another suggestion would be to try poking around your settings while in safe
mode. You can get there by politely tapping the F8 key repeatedly right
after the system memory check....or some people work it better by tapping
just before the Windows "splash screen" (the screen that appears for a
moment or so before your login or desktop).
If you've hit the F8 key at the right time, you will then see a DOS-like
menu screen wherein you can select "safe mode." If your timing was off, you
will see the splash screen and you should immediately hit your reset button
to retry.
--gary tennesen
[log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Brooks" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 10:21 AM
Subject: [PCBUILD] PC not booting properly
> I have a Compaq, 1.3 ghz Celeron, computer. Yesterday, for a period of
time, the computer would not boot up. After numerous attempts to get it
started I came to the conclusion that the problem was in the hardware
because at times it would not go past the first screen with the large red
letters that say "Compaq". When it stopped on this "Compaq" screen I could
get into setup by hitting F10 but upon leaving setup it would show a blank
screen with the blinking cursor in the upper left corner and go no farther.
Input from the keyboard or mouse would then have no effect at all.
>
> I have had this computer over two years, use it almost every day and never
seen anything like this. If any one has an idea what is happening here I
would appreciate hearing your thoughts on this.
>
> Here are some more details of the time it would not boot properly:
> 1] A complete virus scan has been done.
> 2] PC is dual booted with Windows XP. On those starts when it would get to
the hard drive, on either OS, the Windows Logo would be shown with a small
bar type indicator that is constantly showing a motion from left to right.
While this shows that the computer is doing something (not hanging up) it
would not go beyond this point.
> 3] It would not boot from a CD or floppy. When a bootable floppy was
inserted before turning it on the floppy drive light would come on for a few
seconds as if it was reading the disk but that would be as far as it would
go.
> 4] On two seperate attempts when I let it sit for a long time I was given
a screen with options such as Safe Mode, Normal Start, Last Good
Configuation, etc. Selecting one of them did not seem to help. Also these
messages come from the Windows OS and it seems to me that the problem is not
within the OS being that some times it would not go past the first "Compaq"
screen as I explained in my first paragraph.
> 5] After about 40 minutes of trying I did get it to work and it seems to
be working fine at this time. Nothing I did would have repaired it.
>
> My concern is that it will do this again and may not cure itself the next
time.
> I am baffled and would like to see somebody elses opinion on what may be
going on with this PC.
>
> John Brooks
>
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