Computer freezing WHILE booting?

Jibu · 07-23-2004, 05:25 AM

hey, I'm having an unusual problem with my computer. When the computer is booting up, it passes the "Compaq" logo and the Windows XP splash screen fine, but when the screen is supposed to go blank briefly after the splash screen, 2/3s of the time the computer doesn't pass that point.

This has only started happening since yesterday. It occurred right after I had installed a new modem into the system. I had also switched around some PCI cards to try and fix a freezing problem I was having before. I'm not sure if this is related to the problem, but I know it has been happening since I installed the modem. I tried removing all of the PCI cards (including the modem) except for the graphics card, but the problem persists. Also, I checked the hard drive LED when the screen changed from the xp splash to the blank screen (just before it is supposed to go onto the log on screen) and the LED basically stops by the time it gets to that blank screen--it may flicker every few seconds or so but that's it. When the computer boots up normally, though, the LED flickers throughout the boot. At least every other boot has been giving me this problem. I end up having to manually shut down the system and reboot again when it happens.

PLEASE help

thanks

**Praetor** · 07-23-2004, 08:59 AM

Quote:

This has only started happening since yesterday. It occurred right after I had installed a new modem into the system. I had also switched around some PCI cards to try and fix a freezing problem I was having before

IRQ conflict

Quote:

I tried removing all of the PCI cards (including the modem) except for the graphics card, but the problem persists. Also, I checked the hard drive LED when the screen changed from the xp splash to the blank screen (just before it is supposed to go onto the log on screen) and the LED basically stops by the time it gets to that blank screen

Reset the BIOS to failsafes

Quote:

At least every other boot has been giving me this problem

Is the memory ok?

Jibu · 07-23-2004, 03:31 PM

I checked for IRQ conflicts in Device Manager, but there weren't any.

What does resetting the BIOS to failsafes exactly do, and how would I go about doing that?

The memory is fine. I even tried switching each memory stick to different slots. I've had the memory sticks for quite some time now. One has been in the computer since I bought it (2000), while the other is about a month old. I don't believe their are the cause of the problem.

Lorand · 07-23-2004, 11:43 PM

You can't be sure about the RAM until you test it. Try http://www.memtest86.com/

**Praetor** · 07-24-2004, 02:00 AM

Quote:

What does resetting the BIOS to failsafes exactly do, and how would I go about doing that?

When you boot up your computer at the beginning it says something like Press F1 or Press F2 or Press Delete to enter setup. Press that button and there should be an option to enable Fail Safe settings.

Quote:

You can't be sure about the RAM until you test it

In BIOS you can also have the option of performing an extended memory test on bootup

Jibu · 08-03-2004, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praetor

When you boot up your computer at the beginning it says something like Press F1 or Press F2 or Press Delete to enter setup. Press that button and there should be an option to enable Fail Safe settings.

In BIOS you can also have the option of performing an extended memory test on bootup

The extended memory test didn't make any difference. I couldn't find any settings that referred to "Fail Safe" so I wasn't sure how to activate fail safe settings. I was able to access the Compaq startup menu (This is probably where the bios settings are) but it didn't show anything about fail safe settings. I read somewhere that failsafe settings are not the optimal settings and it may degrade the performance of the machine. Please tell me what I should do, whether it be this and/or something else. Thanks.

**Praetor** · 08-03-2004, 05:17 AM

Quote:

I couldn't find any settings that referred to "Fail Safe" so I wasn't sure how to activate fail safe settings. I was able to access the Compaq startup menu (This is probably where the bios settings are) but it didn't show anything about fail safe settings.

Well what options are available?

Quote:

I read somewhere that failsafe settings are not the optimal settings and it may degrade the performance of the machine

Well right you are but you're not concerned with performance right now are you....after you get it working you can start to tweak the BIOS

Jibu · 08-06-2004, 07:26 AM

Here are the BIOS options:

Flash_AAA · 08-06-2004, 08:20 AM

Have you tried compaq instant support their pretty knowledgable and if worse comes to worst you should have that partition on you harddrive to revert your computer.

**Praetor** · 08-06-2004, 12:42 PM

Quote:

I couldn't find any settings that referred to "Fail Safe"

Use the "Set Defaults and Exit" option under "Main"

07-23-2004, 05:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jibu New Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 8	Computer freezing WHILE booting? hey, I'm having an unusual problem with my computer. When the computer is booting up, it passes the "Compaq" logo and the Windows XP splash screen fine, but when the screen is supposed to go blank briefly after the splash screen, 2/3s of the time the computer doesn't pass that point. This has only started happening since yesterday. It occurred right after I had installed a new modem into the system. I had also switched around some PCI cards to try and fix a freezing problem I was having before. I'm not sure if this is related to the problem, but I know it has been happening since I installed the modem. I tried removing all of the PCI cards (including the modem) except for the graphics card, but the problem persists. Also, I checked the hard drive LED when the screen changed from the xp splash to the blank screen (just before it is supposed to go onto the log on screen) and the LED basically stops by the time it gets to that blank screen--it may flicker every few seconds or so but that's it. When the computer boots up normally, though, the LED flickers throughout the boot. At least every other boot has been giving me this problem. I end up having to manually shut down the system and reboot again when it happens. PLEASE help thanks

08-06-2004, 07:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
Jibu New Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 8	Here are the BIOS options: Attached Images

08-06-2004, 08:20 AM	#9 (permalink)
Flash_AAA Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: San Antonio, Tx Age: 24 Posts: 132	Have you tried compaq instant support their pretty knowledgable and if worse comes to worst you should have that partition on you harddrive to revert your computer. __________________ AMD 3000+, ASUS A7N8X-LA, 512mb PC2700, 17in LCD, ____________________________________________ "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths. Prov 3:5-6

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07-23-2004, 03:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jibu New Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 8	I checked for IRQ conflicts in Device Manager, but there weren't any. What does resetting the BIOS to failsafes exactly do, and how would I go about doing that? The memory is fine. I even tried switching each memory stick to different slots. I've had the memory sticks for quite some time now. One has been in the computer since I bought it (2000), while the other is about a month old. I don't believe their are the cause of the problem.

07-23-2004, 11:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lorand VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bucharest Age: 42 Posts: 3,042	You can't be sure about the RAM until you test it. Try http://www.memtest86.com/