Can't get past POST

[EdDuck]

I've spent the past few days "re-doing" my old computer. Did a low level format on both HD's, Formated, partitioned then, Installed win98se on Master drive (fat32), updated SE (extremely slow with dial up)updated drivers for every thing.
Had it all going very well ... until... installing XP Pro. Booted from CD, installed to new partition. Had xp format to NTSF .. install went well I thought. On reboot from install, Memory tested, master and slave HD's as well as master and slave CD's were detected then nothing. A flashing cursor under the last CD rom detected!
I've tried all the bios settings I could change. Let it sit for 25 minutes that way. unplugged, removed battery and let it sit for another 30 minutes. put it all back together and it is still the same.
Where do I go from here? It all ran well as a dual boot for several months, only thing changed was LL format for clean installs. Im giving the machine away in case your wondering why I did what I did. I'm wondering why myself, now.
TIA . I think.
Ed

 

[Mulga]

Will it boot from a CD? If so I would start again, possibly trying it this time on a FAT32 partition. You can always convert to NTFS later from within XP if that is successful

 

[EdDuck]

No. I've tried bootable CD'd and floppies.

 

[EdDuck]

No. I've tried bootable CD's and floppies.

 

[Cindy1]

What does it do when you try and use a bootable floppy or cd? Did you try checking the boot sequence in the bios? By what you are describing the next order would be for the computer to search for something to boot from if you put a boot diskette in there it should work. After you removed the battery did you turn it on or leave it off? Sometimes turning it on then off then replacing it and turning it back on will fix it.
Keep us posted, and don't get too fustrated.
Cindy

 

[ceh4702]

Make ssure the boot order starts from the floppy first and not from the Hard Drive or the CD. Try different startup disks. I don't think XP has real DOS. If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[EdDuck]

After detecting the HD's and CD's It just get stuck there, cursor flashing, but nothing else. When detecting devices it cranks up the floppy but, never again.
I've tried it with the battery out over night. Booted with it out, with it back in. With different startup disks and, with different bootable CD's.
Tried removing ALL cards. ie modem, video and sound. Unplugged all but the master drive. Still nothing.
I was thinking a bios upgrade but you need to boot from a floppy for that. I'm stuck between s*ht and stink. To the local shop?? Or is it beyond that?
thanks again.
Ed

 

[Cindy1]

Did your floppy up and die on you? Are you certain that floppy disk and drive works? If they do, change the cable. I would strip the system to the m/b, memory, power, cpu and floppy, then see if it boots to the floppy. If it doesn't then check to make sure the floppy is enabled in the bios for read write and the controllers are enabled. Use a test floppy drive if it still won't boot to the startup disk. I'm thinking but slowly running out of clues. When all else fails I usually go back to the basics to see if something is holding it down from booting.
Good luck,
Keep us posted
Cindy

 

[Mulga]

I agree with Cindy's advice but I would also leave the floppy out, it should post and then give a message saying no boot disk present or some such. If it does this then you can try reconnecting the drives one at a time and see if it will boot. Make sure you have removed ALL cards except video first. If this does not work disconnect all motherboard connectors such as speaker, LEDs, reset and any others, except of course the power switch. If it is still no go you may have either a motherboard fault or possibly a short between motherboard and case. To check this remove the motherboard, place it on a soft, insulating surface, conect a power supply, switch and video card and try from there. Another possibility is faulty power supply. I doubt it would be the RAM or CPU but I suppose they could also be considered possibilities.

 

[EdDuck]

OK I'll get to it. thanks again

 

[EdDuck]

And now ... the rest of the story.
Removed "everything" from the system. Bios went ok.
added in floppy, booted from floppy. Good. Added master HD all went back to hell !?! It seems win xpdid something to the HD ... changed sector,head or cylinder numbers. I dont remember which. Any way I had to change jumper to cylinder limitation on the master HD, boot from floppy to reformat with maxtor software. Now I get to reinstall all the programs I just spent sooo much time installing in the first place. Hmmm. cheaper than another system
Thanks to you all for your help and suggestions.
I'm off to low level format and reinstallation land!