Pc Won't Start. No Errors.

[TiXer]

Sometimes my pc is really strange. It won't start properly. It manages to get to the image where I can enter BIOS, but I can't enter BIOS. The last time I encountered this problem with my pc, I just restarted it a few times and it "got better" and worked fine. Since that I have reinstalled everything. No new hardware or anything.

This weekend the s*** started acting weired again, and it didn't start no matter what. After a talk with a "super geek" I know, I removed the battery from my motherboard. When I put it back in the pc worked perfectly.

Now I'm confused and without any info about what might have caused this thing. I have a quite s***y pc, a two year old Compaq, but haven't had any really big problems besides the boot thing. I'm running Windows XP pro, but I don't think it's any problems with the OS.

@ admins: I didn't know where to post this.. Plz move it to a proper place if I'm way off.

[trickytwista]

had a similar problem in past (freezing at boot screen) it turned out 2 be a stick of ram so u could try taking 1 out if u have more than 1 in or try using 1 stick at a time...and see how it goes....cheers

[TiXer]

That's actually a good ide... I've got two RAM sticks, one original and one I put in myself.. Maybe one of them's sick.. If the pc starts freezing again I'll remember too try that..!

[Dave332]

there are tons of things that could cause that. the ram thing is something good to check. However, if clearing CMOS (what happened when you pulled the battery) fixed it, then I would say that it's probably a bios issue. see if there's a bios update available for your motherboard. I believe Compaq/HP should have one available. If not, you might try to look for a compatible third party bios, or if you or someone you know is good with assembly, you could try to fix the bios yourself, although optimally you should probably just try for an official update from compaq/HP.

[TiXer]

I thought of looking for a BIOS update, but I'm not sure how I update the BIOS. (never done that before.. ) Can updating the BIOS scrue up my pc more? I always keep backups of things I need that I have on the pc, but I can't risk not having my pc availalble now... Tricky..

[Dave332]

If you can give me the model number on the compaq I'll see if i can find a bios update and specific instructions. BIOS updates are usually done via a dos boot disk. You usually just have to use a provided executable (like awdflash.exe) and give it a rom file to flash to the BIOS chip. Bios flashing can be harmful only if it gets screwed up. It's been known to happen, but it usually doesn't. I've heard of a few people jacking something up, but I've flashed BIOS more times than I can count and I've never had a problem. If you don't want to risk it, ask your super geek to do it for you. Any good alpha geek should have no problem.

[prathapml]

First, BIOS updating/flashing is easy. You don't even need a boot-disk. Can be done right from within windows - then rebott, and you see you are now on new version BIOS. As simple as that.

But please keep in mind that bios upgrading should have no effect on your problem. It will neither improve the situation, nor screw it up. As such, its probably better to not do it, and instead see what else the cause could be.

[TiXer]

It's acctually that easy? Good.. Incase I ever have to do it..

I think I'll keep checking every possibility besides BIOS updating/flashing before I do that.. But if I in the end chooses to try this, is there anything, besides backing up my stuff, I should do before starting?

[D.Celt]

Perhaps the battery is not providing enough power to the CMOS for it to maintain its settings and is becoming corrupt. Putting in a new battery should fix it.

[TiXer]

I think I'll try to buy a new battery if this problem continues. Today it wouldn't start again, but I had to go to work so I didn't have time to try anything to make it start. If it doesn't start when I get home I'll try the things u have suggested.

I hate my pc just now..

@D.Celt Won't I get an error message or something if the battery was bad?

Edited March 4, 2005 by TiXer

[D.Celt]

@D.Celt Won't I get an error message or something if the battery was bad?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm not aware of any battery error messages.

[TiXer]

I'm not aware of any battery error messages.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok.. I'm going to buy a new bettery today.. My stupid computer didn't work all weekend.. (Didn't have a chance to buy one then either)

If this doesn't help, I'm really near giving up..