Okay, this is odd... My computer was once getting a Driver_IRQL_Not_Less_Or_Equal error. So I decided to reformat and reinstall Windows XP. I got this same error during installation. Through this forum, I was able to get everything installed, by changing the Power Management to Standard PC during the installation process. My computer has been running fine for the past few weeks, but now, I'm in trouble... I was surfing the net one day, and all of a sudden my screen flashed black, flashed blue (kinda looked like a memory dump screen was about to come up) then the computer restarted. During the initial restart, nothing unusual happened. The bios screen came up and then the initial boot process recognized all of my drives. Then after that, my screen usually blanks out, my computer beeps, and then the Windows XP logo comes up while loading. But after this happened, my screen blanks out and nothing happens afterwards. I don't get a beep, and I don't see the Windows XP logo. It's like my PC just died! I had Norton SystemWorks 2003 installed and updated, so I would like to think it wasn't a virus. Any ideas on how I can fix this or get onto my PC? Any help would be greatly appreciated.... Thanks...
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Computer just Died!!!!!!!!!
- Thread starter dcusick
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- #3
You know, when I have been booting my computer recently, there has been a VERY loud humming noise. It seems to be coming from my Power Supply or the Power Supply Fan. Sometimes if I just reboot, it'll go away. But after this, it is always loud and annoying. Any links/ideas on how to troubleshoot your power supply? And if it is the power supply, could that be causing Windows not to boot up? Wouldn't my whole computer not want to work? Actually now that I'm thinking back to the installation, when I was forced to chang the Power Management setting in order to get the installation to complete... This could be a possible hint towards a Power Supply failure... Any thoughts on this? Thanks.
Doug
Doug
Power supplies fail in many ways, from catastrophic to just losing their ability to output some of the various volatages required. It would not be unusual to have a failing/failed power supply give out 12 + volts for case fans but no +5 for the system board.
please check the hard drive...
thanks,
Josée Parent
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thanks,
Josée Parent
Communication is the key to success...
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- #6
I actually have a Western Digital 100 GB Drive and it comes with a diagnostic diskette. I ran the tests during my original problem, and everything came back normal. It didn't report any problems. So I would like to assume that the HD is fine... Is there any better checks I can run?
If you cannot boot it is a little tough to run anything. If it can boot from the CD try an extended memory test:
If you cannot boot it is a little tough to run anything. If it can boot from the CD try an extended memory test:
Do you have a Linksys network card? I saw a page where someone else had the same error as you:
Computer diagnosis is a process of elimination in most cases. Try starting with a bare bones config (i.e. just the video card, CPU, minimal RAM and HD). If your system works correctly, then add one component at a time (i.e. network card, sound card, CD/DVD drives, etc.).
best regards,
Dan
Computer diagnosis is a process of elimination in most cases. Try starting with a bare bones config (i.e. just the video card, CPU, minimal RAM and HD). If your system works correctly, then add one component at a time (i.e. network card, sound card, CD/DVD drives, etc.).
best regards,
Dan
- Thread starter
- #10
Funny thing about that... I had a no-name network card in my PC. The initial IRQ happened when I was doing things online. So I thought it might've been my NIC. I went out and got a new Linksys NIC, which was supposed to be XP Compatible. It actually didn't help anything out, with the IRQ error, but has been working fine since the re-install...
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- #11
Well, it's official... The computer is to be put out to pasture... I tried to boot into the Windows XP CD to go to recovery mode, and my system won't even allow me to boot from a CD or Floppy... It stays at that black screen after recognizing the IDE devices. I tried switching the power supplies, and got the same results. I tried hooking up a different Hard Drive, and got the same results. I tried taking out the RAM and trying one at a time, and got the same results. I took every piece of hardware out of my machine, except Video, HD, and Ram chip, and got the same results. I've been building my own PC's for the past 8 years or so... I think it's time for me to go out and buy a custom-built machine from the Pro's! Thanks to everyone for you help!
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- #13
Well, my computer has an initial picture and all.. All the PC's I've worked with in the past have done two things... a) given the BIOS beep code... 1 long 3 short... and then b) not shown any picture at all... Wouldn't I have nothing at all if my Video Card went down?
Not if there were a video RAM error. Once it tries to flip to anything other than VGA mode it dies as you suggest.
Your BIOS display is pure VGA.
I would also be very suspicious of a bad cable, wrong jumpers or possible death of the IDE controllers. A bum IDE cable would also repeat the error you have.
Your BIOS display is pure VGA.
I would also be very suspicious of a bad cable, wrong jumpers or possible death of the IDE controllers. A bum IDE cable would also repeat the error you have.
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