Computer won't load windows

L

lowcar100

New Member
I've had this computer for about 5 years since I built it. It's in my signature.

About a year ago when I started it up the computer would get past the motherboard screen then be stuck on the black screen after it (forget the term.. posting?) and was unable to get past it, I could go into BIOS though and tried different boot options with no success.

It sat collecting dust until today. I bought a new HDD for it since that seemed likely to be the culprit. Since installing it, I tried to install windows and it gets stuck at "Setup is starting windows". This is before I push any buttons, just put the CD in the drive and turn the computer on.

I tried using different RAM sticks that are known to be in working condition. No success. Cleared CMOS (just trying stuff) no success.

Any ideas?
 
It has been sitting at a blue screen: Windows Setup

at the bottom it says:
Setup is starting Windows

I haven't been to anything that gives me any choices, so I'm assuming the answer to your question is no. It boots from CD (Windows XP CD) and loads some files at this same Windows Setup screen then gets to "setup is starting windows" and stays.

It's been at this screen for about an hour now, nothing has changed.
 
I just switched the boot sequence to HDD first, then CDROM. Just to see if I got different results and I did.

It gets stuck at the same black screen as the old HDD. Verifying DMI pool data, the cursor flashes just under those words and it is unresponsive to any key strokes, needs a manual shut down at that point.

So I guess I wasted money on a HDD since that wasn't the issue. And I know it isn't the RAM. Could the motherboard or CPU be the problem? I'm running out of ideas.
 
Have you tested the memory yet? What about removed any hardware not required to boot? Like add on pci cards usb devices
 
memory = RAM correct?

If so, yes. I put known working RAM in and it did nothing different.

I could remove my mouse and my ethernet card. I think those are my only non-essential pieces. Don't know how they're related but hey that's why I'm asking on here lol.

I'll go test it and post the results.
 
If using SATA or IDE, change the wires and or move to diff ports on motherboards. Also swap out power wires on the hard drive.
 
Moved the ports, tried different wires, and swapped power wire on the HDD

No change. These are good ideas I'm surprised it isn't working yet
 
If its reaching the boot menu then its definately posting.
Since you switched the HDD then its not the curlprit.
I dont think the GPU can get it stuck like that.
I would say check the SATA cable connecting to the HDD and also check the PSU or try a different PSU.

TRY A DIFFERENT PSU
 
I'll try the PSU. It might take a second cause I have to get it out of my parents' computer but I'll post back with the results.
 
Tried different PSU
Tried different PSU with different SATA cable
Tried different SATA cable with each PSU

Nothing different.

I did notice that while the computer is starting up in it's various arrangements I can hear the HDD reading and spinning, making different sounds. Up til the "setup is starting windows" message comes up. It spins at one speed, one tone sound, then after 10-15 seconds it stops.

I don't know what that means, seems like it isn't getting a signal from somewhere...?
 
I have recently been experiencing this same issue and have tried many different things to fix it. I have finally discovered a solution that allows me to boot up to Windows with no problems.

It seems like you've tried all the plausible fixes as well so I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to try this. Upon startup, go into the BIOS and disable the different onboard settings such as "Onboard LAN", "Onboard 1394", "Onboard audio", etc... Then save and exit BIOS and see what happens. At this point I was able to get to Windows, so I shut down and enabled each device in the BIOS one by one. When I enabled "Onboard 1394" and saved and exited BIOS it would lock up again soon after that. So I manually shut down and started up again, disabling Onboard 1394. I was able to enable everything else and the Onboard 1394 is what was causing Windows to lock up on startup for me.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure what this means as far as the hardware goes. But I do know that I do not have any devices that I ever hook up to the 1394 port so we'll see what happens from here. If you give this a try let me know what you find out!
 
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