Re: HELP! cannot boot in win2k!

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: William W. Plummer (William.Plummer_at_alum.mit.edu)
Date: 09/13/04 

Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 13:09:31 GMT

Tim wrote:
> Dave, thanks for your message. I can't even get anywhere
> near a boot menu. System is frozen in the state
> described. No function keys working, no keyboard or mouse
> inputs accepted. Just the power save message as described!
First, try using a standard mouse and keyboard. The wireless ones
caused many problems where I used to work.

Second, unplug (not just turn off!) the machine and discharge the CMOS
memory. Usually there is a three-pin header that has a jumper on 1-2.
   Move the jumper to 2-3 for a second and then back to 1-2. Boot and
reenter your settings and the time and date, etc.

Third, strip all cards out of the machine except a display card if its
not integrated into the mobo. Leave some memory in. The machine should
boot, at least enought to run the BIOS setup.

Fourth, Find the ATX power supply spec on www.intel.com . This will
tell what voltages should be on which pins of the main power connector.
  Check these.

Fifth, sometimes the power button logic fails and won't command the
power supply to turn on. One pin of the power connector (IIRC 4th from
one end, green wire) needs to be grounded to do this. You can fashion a
jumper from a paper clip to connect this wire to the black ground wire
next to it.

Sixth, either your CPU is dead (no likely) or your mobo died. Maybe
you can substitute in a different machine. Or, for about $30 you can
buy a cheap mobo just for the purpose of testing your CPU and power
supply. A really nice mobo will cost you about $150. If you go that
route, you will probably get sucked into buying a fast CPU and more
memory. At that point it's just plain easier and faster to buy a new
computer and install your old hard disk in it where you can copy files
from it.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: PC only starts if I blow on it!
    ... Buy a decent power supply and be done with it. ... I was hoping to avoid expense, but a new mobo will cost about half ... proceeded to boot into the OS as if nothing had happened. ... All fans on, power ...
    (alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt)
  • System wont boot? Mobo and PSU are brand new.
    ... Testing, and replacing the PSU, indicated that the mobo had ... but it won't boot at all - not even to BIOS. ... I would really rather not buy a new CPU if I don't ... seems to do nothing at all except power the fans when I press the ...
    (alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt)
  • Re: P4T533-C wont boot
    ... It sounds like the motherboard has failed. ... When I hit the power switch everything starts. ... > I took the video card out and it still doesn't boot. ... > memory and CPU, the system boots and keeps saying "No CPU installed, No ...
    (alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus)
  • Re: System wont boot? Mobo and PSU are brand new.
    ... Testing, and replacing the PSU, indicated that the mobo had ... but it won't boot at all - not even to BIOS. ... I would really rather not buy a new CPU if I don't ... seems to do nothing at all except power the fans when I press the ...
    (alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt)
  • Re: Feature or a big thing?
    ... duel boot with XP. ... The 'hlt' CPU instruction literally HaLTs the CPU until the next ... the "normal" power. ... kernel source, you'll find this discussed in the Documentation files. ...
    (alt.linux)