Stays in DOS...no Window startup

[Phylactery]

*hopefully I put this in the right location mods*

I’m helping my nephew figure out what’s wrong with his computer.

Specs:

OP System: XP
Chip: Intel Pentium 4 CPU 2.8GHz
Motherboard: Abbit-IC7 (875 socket)


I was getting this message:

“CPU is unworkable or has been changed. Please recheck – CPU SOFT MENU”

…then I get the option to:

“Press F1 to continue, DEL to enter SETUP”

I pressed DEL…went to setup and changed the speed from “user defined” to “2800”.

It did take away the message and moved on to another screen but it stopped with the message:

“We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this.”

And it goes on to give you the options:

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Last known good Configuration………

Start Windows Normally

I’ve tried them all and I get the same result; it just restarts all over again.

Any suggestions?

 

[StrangleHold]

Try resetting the bios and see if it will boot. If it does try Start Windows Normal first.

 

[Analizer]

Did he change his CPU recently? Took it out?

 

[Phylactery]

Try resetting the bios and see if it will boot. If it does try Start Windows Normal first.

Is this an option in the BIOS set up?

 

[Phylactery]

Did he change his CPU recently? Took it out?

I asked...he said he tried running it at a lower speed. Have no idea why. But I've changed that now and he was actually running fine at the lower speed.

 

[Analizer]

Is this an option in the BIOS set up?

No. He needs to take a battery out of the motherboard to reset the BIOS and put it back in after about 30-60 seconds.

If he did run it at lower speed through IOS then everything will change back to normal if it will be reset.

 

[Phylactery]

No. He needs to take a battery out of the motherboard to reset the BIOS and put it back in after about 30-60 seconds.

If he did run it at lower speed through IOS then everything will change back to normal if it will be reset.

Ok....doing it now.

 

[Phylactery]

No luck...

 

[StrangleHold]

Whats it doing now?

 

[Phylactery]

Taking me to the sceen that gives me options on how I want to start up Windows. Then it just restarts again.

 

[StrangleHold]

Does it still do if you pick Safe Mode? Have you got the XP cd.

 

[bkribbs]

Taking me to the sceen that gives me options on how I want to start up Windows. Then it just restarts again.

Could something have really whacked the computer, knocking the CPU a little bit out of place? If you know how, maybe try checking to be sure it is seated correctly. But I wouldn't check if you don't know how.

 

[Phylactery]

Does it still do if you pick Safe Mode? Have you got the XP cd.

Yes it does do it in Safe Mode. I can see it loading the basic drivers and then suddenly it restarts again.

I do have the XP cd but I can't even get it to boot to the cd. I can see the red light reading it and trying to read it but then it just does the same thing.

Bad CPU?

 

[Analizer]

Maybe the CPU is not connected properly into the motherboard socket?

 

[Phylactery]

Maybe the CPU is not connected properly into the motherboard socket?

I checked it; it looks fine. It seems it can only be:

Corrupted XP boot files
Corrupted Drivers
Malfunctionning HDD
Overheating PCU (processor)
Malfunctionning PSU (Power Supply Unit)
Malfunctionning RAM

......for it restarting/freezing every time I try to get through with the options:

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Last known good Configuration………

Start Windows Normally

It won't even boot off the CD. You can see the command "Boot CD:".....twice and it just stays there until I press ENTER.

There comes a point when trying to save a computer is futile. I'm not even sure I'm doing it to save it anymore. I just want to know what the hell is wrong with it...even if I can't save it.

 

[Analizer]

Did you try repairing Windows through CD? Formatting the HDD?