Computer Boot problem - XP

[RWebb]

I have an old Dell 8300 running XP that will no longer boot. When you turn it on, the Dell logo does appear and the bar below the logo fills over a few seconds (maybe that relates to POST or drivers loading - I dunno).

However, I never see anything having to do with Windows appear on the screen -- it simply goes blank after the bar fills.

Any ideas on what might be wrong? or what I might try by way of fixing it?

[Scott R]

Press "F2" before that bar completes, enter setup and see if your hard drive is being detected still.

[flipper35]

If you have the XP CD/DVD you can boot from that and check the files on the drive as well if it is still recognised. Use the repair console and not the repair install.

[krystar]

first things first. open the case and vacuum/blowgun all the dirt out.

try hitting f8, f10 or f12. oem usually designates one of those to go to boot menu. from there it'll show you the messages as it boots.

i would expect maybe a corrupt system file or something

[johnco]

with my old laptop it was 1 of 2 memory chips bad. pulled the bad one out and everything back to normal

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Scott R

Press "F2" before that bar completes, enter setup and see if your hard drive is being detected still.

did that - HDD is being detected (in fact, I think part of the bar being filled relates to the HHD and some drivers)


krystar - also hit F12 and nothing looks odd in boot menu; no log of problems either

[GH85Carrera]

Try the Del key.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by johnco

with my old laptop it was 1 of 2 memory chips bad. pulled the bad one out and everything back to normal

This is what I would suggest next as well, you start eliminating pieces one by one until it boots. Memory, cards, dvd drives, etc..

[scottmandue]

Dell's prefer flip flops to boots dude!

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Scott R

This is what I would suggest next as well, you start eliminating pieces one by one until it boots. Memory, cards, dvd drives, etc..

shouldn't it generate an error for me to see if it was one of those things?

I also think the video is on the main board, but will see...

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by RWebb

shouldn't it generate an error for me to see if it was one of those things?

I also think the video is on the main board, but will see...

Dell and others use those splash screens over the BIOS post sequence. You used to be able to press ESC and see the post but I think they took that away too.

[johnco]

Originally Posted by RWebb

shouldn't it generate an error for me to see if it was one of those things?

I also think the video is on the main board, but will see...

my laptop would do exactly as yours. get to the same point and shut off each time. after a lot of research on the hp site, I saw it was recommended to pull one chip, try boot, the replace it and remove other. this worked. also checked them on another laptop and got the same problem using the bad chip

[RWebb]

found the reinstallation CD, which I think dates to 1879, so I can try that next time I go to the downtown office

thx all