[Problems starting Windows]

Well I reinstalled Windows XP yesterday and everything was running smoothe. I wake up this morning and my computer said it was turned on yet my monitor was blank and at first i thought there was a problem with the monitor so it took me all day to realize that after 1 successful boot my computer would sometimes start, and other times the lights would just turn on but never actually boot. The few times I managed to start up and bring up programs it freezes within 5 minutes. Any ideas?

 

Welcome LCLobo,

You'll have to give more background info in order to get better help.

It's a big guessing game at this point so I'll put my money on a HD going south.

Tell us how you did the reinstall (clean or repair) and did you format the drive? What kind of install disk do you have, OEM or MS full version? Did you have any errors or problems while doing the install?

What kind of symptoms or problems caused you to reinstall?

Do you have a floppy drive?

That's a start, post back those particulars and let's see where it points.

 

If the screen is blank during startup, that is, before Windows starts to load, then it will be a problem with the hardware or the BIOS. You will probably find that a connector/connection is loose. As mentioned, it will be important to find at which point the startup is failing. You seem to be able to get further on some boots than others, that may reinforce a bad connection problem. If it only happens after Windows starts to load then it could be within Windows, but may still be a hardware problem, although more probably drivers.

Matt

 

It was a clean reinstall and I'm not sure what formatting the drive means. My computer was custom made at Altex and I used the Windows XP CD that they used to originally install it. I had no errors during the install and I originally reinstalled because a game that I play was not working and I had a virus that just would'nt be deleted. And no, I do not have a floppy drive.

~Edit~ Also I dont know if there is a certain part of the internal computer that would effect the startup but I did clean it out using a regular vacuum.

 

OK, of all the things given so far, I'd say take a look inside and see if you might have dislodged some connector or possibly crowded some cable into a fan. Power up while the cover is off and verify that all fans are running, especially the one on the CPU, which is located down on the Mother Board.

Push on all plugs and connectors to ensure that they are seated properly. If you feel confident, remove the RAM chips and clean the card edges with a pencil eraser. Then wipe clean with rubbing alcohol. Give the contacts a final light buffing with clean kraft paper.

There's a good chance that may get you back in shape.

If the above fails, try can try doing another install just to see if the CD is accepted and report back if you are allowed to do that. That will tell us if the MOBO is working and if the Primary drive is being recognized.

Good luck.

 

Ok, I figured out the solution I think to the start-up problem. There was a cord hanging loose from the back of my CD Drive and when i plugged it in the computer started up. I let it continue booting, then it froze and i had to restart. I put the Windows Installation CD in and 30 seconds into the installation the computer froze again. 1 problem solved 1 to go.

~Edit~
It still starts up but my CD Drive keeps making a noise as if its trying to open but cant, then a few seconds later the computer starts. I dont know if thats significant or not.

 

I can't over stress verifying that all fans are running...power supply fan, CPU fan, video card fan, case fan, et al

 

There are only 2 fans that I can see. There is one on the motherboard and one on the back of the computer, thats all I can see.

 

OK, then review my post #5 and give it your best shot. You obviously have a hardware problem and if you can't get it sorted, you'll have to get some shop to help. Double check and reseat all plugs that you may have moved.

In the absence of any error message on your screen, it hard to diagnose a hardware problem without laying hands on the beast. The CD drive noise may be significant since you found and plugged a wire back into it. Be certain its properly plugged and that the other cables running to the CD ROM drive are seated well. If you suspect that the drive is bad, unplug it and see if you get any different reactions.

As a test, try this:

Put the XP install CD in the drive and boot to it. Do NOT start an install yet. Just let it idle and see if it still crashes. That could tell us something. Post back what that yields.

 

I cant even get it to start I might just take it in and have them fix it. All the fans run fine, the connections are fine, but the disk drive keeps making that noise, and the freezing and all. Thank you anyway.

 

OK, thanks for posting back. Let us know what the final outcome is so that all may learn. I hope it's something simple and you don't even get charged.