Message on start up

mintymoneysaver

Since yesterday when I switch the computer on I am getting a blank screen and the message

I/O card parity interrupt at F000:F188
Type (S)hut off NMI, (R)eboot, other keys to continue

followed by a flashing cursor

Nothing happens when I press any of the keys. If I then turn the computer off and reboot it will either come up again, or just switch on normally and work perfectly fine. Now I realise it obviously needs looking at but can anyone tell me what this means, what will need fixing and what it will cost me?

Thanks in advance

victor2

Might get some clues from here: http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php?topic=90919.0

Tell us what hardware and operating system you've got and I'm sure you'll get a bit more help.

mintymoneysaver

It's a Dell computer running XP. ( Dimension 5000 if that's any help) It has a netgear router attached plus an external portable hard drive for back up which my computer doesn't seem to like very much as sometimes it recognises it and sometimes it doesn't. I'm not very techy so I know nothing about cards etc I'm afraid, just what I can see on the outside.

Thanks for the link , nice to know I'm not the only one with the same problem...

victor2

Sounds like it could be some hardware on its way out. You could try the last post in the link above and see if that makes any difference. Could just be postponing the demise of something though!
Worth just trying it as it is first, but without the router and external drive connected to see if that can isolate the problem.

RussJK

Funny that everyone I've read with this problem have a Dell!

The solutions that worked for various people from the first page of google:
1. Went into bios, and changed it from "quick boot" to "slow boot";
2. Removed a firewire card that was faulty;
3. Tightened all connections inside the case (with power off and unplugged).

Just search on google with the error, and you'll see loads of threads with the same issue.

mintymoneysaver

I'm wondering if it's something to do with the expansion drive as when it was first installed the computer didn't seem to recognise it although the laptop's perfectly happy with it.
I know I seem dim but not sure what bios is or how I get into it.

Have just switched computer off and on again and it seemed to be doing a huge clear up as it said something about drive c?

Will see what happens next time I switch it off and on again.