My computer is reluctant to start

macman

Borrow another monitor and retest, that way you can see if the startup is normal, if it is then it's the monitor, if not then it may be the graphics side.

squeaky

basmic wrote: »

It's not uncommon for graphic cards to fail, onboard or not.

It could be just a simple driver issue, but I personally don't think so.

Well, as you can see from a later test, it's looking more like the monitor than the on board graphics or driver issue.

Hmm... probably

squeaky

macman wrote: »

Borrow another monitor and retest, that way you can see if the startup is normal, if it is then it's the monitor, if not then it may be the graphics side.

Yeah. I might have to hit Freecycle. It's the obvious way to go now that the problem is mostly narrowed down.

squeaky

Cancel my last.

The problem is still with me, as described in the first post and it doesn't matter whether the monitor is on or off.

So am I still not getting a start up or seeing the POST report because I have a graphics or monitor problem, or am I not seeing this report because the POST cannot complete because of some other problem which, from eyeball and earlug is most likely to be drive access?

Anyone have any ideas on how to check?

Once I've managed to get it to start - all devices show normal and running correctly in Program Manager, all drivers report as up to date and running correctly too.

Does anyone know how I can edit the bios AFTER start up so I can see if forcing a boot from a disc makes any difference?

basmic

If you turned the computer from cold would you see a black screen until it loaded up to the desktop?

What happens when you load into Windows, then restart the machine - would you consistently see the POST report during each restart?

Basically I'm wondering if you have a heat related issue - ie: takes a warming up, before it works.

What monitor do you have - is an old CRT style, or a flatscreen?

I have seen certain LCD monitors refusing to show certain resoloutions - one I remember in particular, when the flatscreens first came out, wouldn't show the POST or BIOS setup screens.

squeaky

basmic wrote: »

If you turned the computer from cold would you see a black screen until it loaded up to the desktop?

I see a black screen and my monitor stays on standby until what is apparently the POST operations stop and the windows XP software starts loading the operating system.

What happens when you load into Windows, then restart the machine - would you consistently see the POST report during each restart?

That's right - no evidence of POST

Basically I'm wondering if you have a heat related issue - ie: takes a warming up, before it works.

I've wondered too. But then I'm still stuck... as in... a heat related issue with what?

What monitor do you have - is an old CRT style, or a flatscreen?

I have seen certain LCD monitors refusing to show certain resoloutions - one I remember in particular, when the flatscreens first came out, wouldn't show the POST or BIOS setup screens.

CRT.

It can really be inferred from my posts that I normally see the POST report on screen briefly before windows starts - because I keep saying that I can't see it now

squeaky

Sigh.

OK, my computer has been on for several hours now and I just did a series of start ups.

Soft starts as in using the restart option from the Start Button.

Hard starts by turning the power off completely and switching on.

In all cases I got a clean first time start and with the POST report showing.


So... very probably a heat related problem. But with what? I'm pretty convinced that access to Drive C hangs during POST because the red indicator LED stays on solidly during the hang. What I don't know is the sequence used in the bios and so perhaps the hang is graphics related and is immediately prior to possible drive access.

Now that I can get a clean warm start I'm going to edit the bios to check for a boot disk before looking at drive C:
Since the computer is currently nice and warm I'll not be able to check this until trying a cold start tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed!

chili2001

One think you haven't tried is to disconnect everything unnessarry for startup like the printer, webcam etc. I find that faulty usb devices can cause startup issues.

basmic

Things might be adding up then - I remember CRTs sometimes take time to warm up and show you display. But you're saying the standby light shows - I'm wondering if you have a dry solder joint in your monitor?

To get into the BIOS setup, just keep tapping the DEL key as soon as the machine is powered up, and you see (or expect to see) the POST screen - it should enter the BIOS shortly after that.

I think it might be worth your while gathering the makes of the drives in your machine, going to manufacturer's website and downloading the diagnostic disks. At least after testing you'll know if the drives are in good health or not.

squeaky

chili2001 wrote: »

One think you haven't tried is to disconnect everything unnessarry for startup like the printer, webcam etc. I find that faulty usb devices can cause startup issues.

I'm wa-a-ay ahead of you

Sorry, forgot to mention it - but that was part of my basic troubleshooting before I started asking for help.