PC won't start past initial screen...Help!

dave-o · 10-15-08, 10:11 PM

Uh oh... I think I may be screwed.

I can't get my PC to get past the initial blue HP screen. Even though it says right on the screen to hit f10 or f1, nothing hapens...how screwed am I?

Is there anything I can do to get it to start that you guys can think of?

If I have to take it in, any suggestions of where I should go (i.e. chain store or local yellow pages listing)?

Thanks for any help you guys can offer, I apprciate it!

Jay G. · 10-16-08, 06:25 PM

It sounds like your PC isn't getting past the BIOS POST (Power On Self Test). It's potentially a hardware issue, typically memory, although it could be the CMOS.

These links are the threads regarding boot POST problems:
http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread27079.html
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=266936
http://www.smartcomputing.com/editor...8r04/08r04.asp
http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windo...nk-screen.html

dave-o · 10-16-08, 10:29 PM

Thanks Jay, those are actually very helpful. They sound very similar to the problem I am having. I can't get to anything other than the brand logo screen (post?).

Unfortunately I am not near proficient or knowledgable enough to attempt this type of fix on my own from what I can tell. So I will probably have to call around tomorrow and see if I can find someone who is that can help. Any ideas of what this might cost me to diagnose and fix?

I just hope it isn't a hard drive failure as I have been somewhat lazy in backing things up as of late...

Thanks again!

FinkPish · 10-16-08, 11:12 PM

This happened to me and it ended up being the motherboard, which I replaced with no data lost otherwise.

Baron Of Hell · 10-16-08, 11:15 PM

Is your keyboard plugged in all the way? Just in case you missed the obvious.

This is what I would try
1. make sure everything is plu8gged in tight
2. make sure nothing is in the drives like cds or floppy disk (do they still make those) or usb drives.
3. I would try to boot a portable version on linux. Ask a friend if they have.
4. If you have the pc on try turning it off for a few hours and try booting again.
5. Make sure all the fans are running correctly. cpu fan, video card fan, and power supply fan.

dave-o · 10-17-08, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baron Of Hell

Is your keyboard plugged in all the way? Just in case you missed the obvious.

This is what I would try
1. make sure everything is plu8gged in tight
2. make sure nothing is in the drives like cds or floppy disk (do they still make those) or usb drives.
3. I would try to boot a portable version on linux. Ask a friend if they have.
4. If you have the pc on try turning it off for a few hours and try booting again.
5. Make sure all the fans are running correctly. cpu fan, video card fan, and power supply fan.

Thanks, I will make sure to check these things when I get home...

harrydoyle · 10-20-08, 04:29 PM

One thing that always got me was that if I had my iPod connected to my PC via the usb when I booted up, it would always get stuck at bootup. It's not for all USB devices though cause my keyboard connects via USB so you might want to check that as well.

10-15-08, 10:11 PM	#1
dave-o DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Unknown Posts: 2,109	PC won't start past initial screen...Help! Uh oh... I think I may be screwed. I can't get my PC to get past the initial blue HP screen. Even though it says right on the screen to hit f10 or f1, nothing hapens...how screwed am I? Is there anything I can do to get it to start that you guys can think of? If I have to take it in, any suggestions of where I should go (i.e. chain store or local yellow pages listing)? Thanks for any help you guys can offer, I apprciate it! __________________ "Have fun storming the castle!"

10-16-08, 10:29 PM	#3
dave-o DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Unknown Posts: 2,109	Thanks Jay, those are actually very helpful. They sound very similar to the problem I am having. I can't get to anything other than the brand logo screen (post?). Unfortunately I am not near proficient or knowledgable enough to attempt this type of fix on my own from what I can tell. So I will probably have to call around tomorrow and see if I can find someone who is that can help. Any ideas of what this might cost me to diagnose and fix? I just hope it isn't a hard drive failure as I have been somewhat lazy in backing things up as of late... Thanks again! __________________ "Have fun storming the castle!"

10-16-08, 11:15 PM	#5
Baron Of Hell DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Seattle and sometimes hell Posts: 3,875	Is your keyboard plugged in all the way? Just in case you missed the obvious. This is what I would try 1. make sure everything is plu8gged in tight 2. make sure nothing is in the drives like cds or floppy disk (do they still make those) or usb drives. 3. I would try to boot a portable version on linux. Ask a friend if they have. 4. If you have the pc on try turning it off for a few hours and try booting again. 5. Make sure all the fans are running correctly. cpu fan, video card fan, and power supply fan. __________________ "Truth has become unacceptable and dissent unpatriotic" PS3 Tag: Baron-Of-Hell Steam: Baron_Of_Hell SSBB: 4425-3985-1734 TWITTER: BaronOfHell

10-16-08, 06:25 PM	#2
Jay G. DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 11,139	It sounds like your PC isn't getting past the BIOS POST (Power On Self Test). It's potentially a hardware issue, typically memory, although it could be the CMOS. These links are the threads regarding boot POST problems: http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread27079.html http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=266936 http://www.smartcomputing.com/editor...8r04/08r04.asp http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windo...nk-screen.html

10-16-08, 11:12 PM	#4
FinkPish DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,657	This happened to me and it ended up being the motherboard, which I replaced with no data lost otherwise.

10-20-08, 04:29 PM	#7
harrydoyle Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 857	One thing that always got me was that if I had my iPod connected to my PC via the usb when I booted up, it would always get stuck at bootup. It's not for all USB devices though cause my keyboard connects via USB so you might want to check that as well.