Computer keep testing memory during boot up - aaarrrggghhh!!!

Essexdelboy

My PC when it is switched on, it keeps testing the memory in the dos part of the boot-up, before it loads windows and it takes a good 5 minutes. Why i dont know! But it is getting on my wick

Can anyone help and suggest a remedy?

Chippy_Minton

Press the key to go into the BIOS setup as it starts up - it should say which key to press, usually F2, F10 or Del. Then change the Power On Self-Test (POST) settings to not test the memory.

MercilessKiller

out of interest how much memory do you have and what speed memory is it if you know?

It should be a lot quicker..

Gib_Gib

Chippy_Minton wrote:

Press the key to go into the BIOS setup as it starts up - it should say which key to press, usually F2, F10 or Del. Then change the Power On Self-Test (POST) settings to not test the memory.

I agree

Some times it is written as quick boot (well it is with me)
It was under the boot menu. Normally F10 saves and exits the bios

Essexdelboy

when i press del to go into the bios, i cant see any boot menu or POST.

My dos screen upon startup says Phoenix-AwardBIOS v6.00PG.

Is there any thing else i could try?

flang

Does your pc boot into windows eventually?
I had this problem so i chkdsk the hard drive and rewrote the boot sector and its been fine since. (mine wouldnt boot though crashes half way through)

Essexdelboy

yes it does.

flang could you explain how i would go about doing that?

Essexdelboy

**bump**

can anyone help me?

bingo_bango

Do you mean that you can't access the BIOS from startup (pc just continues to load Windows), or that the machine enters but doesn't show the CMOS setup?

Essexdelboy

it enters the bios but i cant see cmos setup!

johnmc

Chippy_Minton wrote:-
Then change the Power On Self-Test (POST) settings to not test the memory.

Go into the BIOS and flick around the various screens until you find this setting, change and then save it.

CMOS is just a name for any digital logic circuit.