Computer freezes at BIOS startup screen

[Morelos]

I have a Pentium III 600 Mhz PC with 64 Mb RAM that sometimes freezes at the BIOS startup screen where it displays the type of processor and RAM total, it has the usual "DEL to enter setup" and "ESC to skip memory test" but it has no response from the keyboard. Any suggestions?

 

[fenris]

What do you mean by &quot;no response from the keyboard&quot;? Does it give a keyboard missing error, or does it simple just sit there?<br><br>fenris

 

[Morelos]

What I mean by that is that I press the ESC or DEL keys and nothing happens!! OK but that's irrelevant, the thing is that it freezes on the very first screen, and I don't know what's causing it.

 

[Geordie]

Can you clarify something ?&nbsp;&nbsp;Does the computer not boot at all, and on top of this when you press a key to enter BIOS settings, nothing happens ?

 

[Morelos]

No, it doesn't boot at all. It freezes up at the very first screen, the one that says:<br><br>1999 American Megatrends xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<br>Pentium III processor at 600 Mhz xxxxxx<br>etc.

 

[fenris]

Does it do a ram count? How long has it been doing this? Did you add any new hardware? Was it working properly before?<br><br>This type of problem sometimes occurs when a card isn't working properly, if at all. So you might want to try pulling all your cards out except the video card and see if it boots. If it boots, then add another card. Keep adding cards till it doesn't boot, and that is your suspect card.<br><br>Before you pull the cards out, make sure that they are all seated properly, this has happened to me before.<br><br><br>hope this helps,<br><br>fenris<br><br><br>

 

[Morelos]

No it doesn't do a RAM count; before this problem occurred it was working properly; this is the second time its happened, the first time I pressed the reset button and it worked out fine; I haven't added any hardware OR software for that matter.<br><br>I'll try your tips out and see what happens.<br>Thanx.

 

[bobleona]

You may have a loose chip in there.&nbsp;&nbsp;Like a BIOS chip, or even the RAM Chip.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>1) is the computer under warrantee?&nbsp;&nbsp;If so, take it back and let them deal with it.&nbsp;&nbsp;Its your right, you paid for it so don't let them get away with selling faulty products.&nbsp;&nbsp;If not, then reseat all connection, inside and outside the computer.&nbsp;&nbsp;Every time you use your computer it gets hot and then cools off when you turn it off.&nbsp;&nbsp;Metal parts in there will expand and shrink accordingly.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>Hope this helps.

 

[ATCal]

What brand motherboard? Which chipset?