[SpungeX]

Hello,
i've had a problem with my other computer for some time now and have tried many things but to no avail, maybe someone can help.

Its an old P3 dell with 256 MB RAM.

When i try to load windows by turning it on, it first does the whole bios thing, checks the ram etc, but no sign of windows loading, it just goes from the bios stuff to a blank, black screen with a horizontal flashing line on the very top left of the screen.

Now i know it detects the drive as it shows up during the first loading.
I know the hard-drive and windows installation on it work as they work on my other computer.

So far ive tried, different hard-drives, re-installing XP many times, changing graphics cards, trying with different ram sticks, taking out the sound card., but im still in the same position.

Could it be the motherboard or bios or something?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[karanislove]

Try to reset the BIOS........ Take out the CMOS battery for about 10Min and put it back.... Also go to Bios and select Fail Safe Default settings!

 

[SpungeX]

Ok i've got the battery in my hand, i'll give it a few minutes, fingers crossed.

Edit: Ok didn't seem to work. I'll try again for good measure.

 

[SpungeX]

Ok, don't think its working, may i need to buy a new mobo off ebay or something?

 

[Chevy]

Boot to your XP cd and do a repair installation:

1 - Boot to the CD

2 - Press ENTER at the first screen

3 - Press F8 to accept the EUAL

4 - Press R to repair an existing installation

(if you don't get this option, you may need to do a format/reinstall)

5 - Select your XP installation (there should only be one) and press ENTER

Let it rip!

 

[SpungeX]

I've tried to re-install and repair a few times but it didn't work.
I've now even tried to flash the bios but when i put in the boot floppy the exact same thing happens as when it tried to boot to windows.
Just goes to the little dos cursor on the top left of the screen.

EDIT- I successfully flashed the bios but no progress. I'll try windows install again.

 

[SpungeX]

Ok i tried to install windows 2k, but same old same old. I boot the Win2K cd, select sto install on selected partition, it copies the files, then restarts to install, but when it gets to the point where it should start installing after rebooting its back to the flashy cursor on the top left.

 

[karanislove]

use www.memtest.org to test ur memory errors!

 

[speedster123]

Slow the ram down, if the bios menu permits. Relax the timings. After the install, do what you want. Many times an "install loop" points to the ram.
How old is the power supply? As old as the machine I would think.