head scratcher

[scottdfs]

when i turn my computer on it will post, then the screen goes black. the harddrive appears to keep running. here are the troubleshooting steps i've tried:
boot to dell utility parttion and run extended hardware test. all tests passed.
removed the harddrive, slaved it to another computer. ran an antivirus scan and created an image using acronis.
i have pc doctor on a usb device. booted to it and ran diagnostics, everything passess.
put in windows xp cd to reinstall os. computer posts, then get message to push any key to boot from cd..... i hit a key and screen goes black.
got a new harddrive and restored the image to it. but will not boot, get NTLDR error.
the only thing that has worked is i am able to install windows from the cd onto the new harddrive.

am i to assume the original harddrive is bad, even though it passed all testing?

 

[BadBigBen]

Reimage the new HDD...

then run a Reinstall of XP over it, the only thing you will loose are the updates...

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

reason: Windows does not know the new geometry of the drive and bonks...


PS: old HDD probably could also be saved with the in-place upgrade, as it sounds like a driver issue... way to check that is to try to boot into SAFE MODE, when the POST goes over to the DRIVE, hit repeatedly the F8 key until a menu appears, there choose SAFE MODE... if it will boot up into windows, then definitely there is a problem with the drivers...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[tf1]

It is a bit disconcerting that you cannot boot to the Windows XP CD and run the Recovery Console to Repair from the XP CD.

I suggest concentrating on booting to the Windows CD first. Pull out/disconnect everything that is not needed to boot to the CD. Then try booting to the CD again. Make sure that the BIOS is set to boot from the CD first order priority.

Once you can boot to the CD, you may have a chance of diagnosing or repairing your installation.

Regards: tf1

 

[wahnula]

Look at the motherboard capacitors:

http://www.badcaps.net

Mystery problems like this are sometimes associated with swollen caps.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[fizzak]

Shot in the dark for you,

Check the bios and make sure the video card is set correctly. May be set to run PCI.

 

[BadBigBen]

Another shot in the dark,

I've had a case where it acted just like yours did, would post and then blank screen...

it turned out that the owner turned off the machine while it was in sleep mode, and every reboot it would just go into sleep mode again...

the remedy for this was to CLR the CMOS...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[goombawaho]

^^^^ The above point does NOT take into account trying to boot from XP CD and failing.

Try the CMOS clear, look for bad caps and then maybe a different video card (like a cheapo PCI).

 

[jlockley]

You might want to look at this. It's probably not the same, but removing everything, clearing bios, etc can't be a bad idea.
Working through this issue (the computer did not post), the tech guy for the company suggested that in unplugging it you also hold down the start button for a few seconds.

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1486031&page=1

 

[docjohn52]

Same thing last week,

Moved the machine, first time in four years the box has been off....

Power supply wouldn't start, replaced it and suddenly windows 2000 won't start, posts ok, get to the blue windows splash screen, to the end of the bar and loses video... No safe mode... CMOS works though!

EVEN THE W2K DISC DOES THE SAME THING, NO WINDOWS, NO REPAIR - NOTHING

Just the video dropping dead, the machine continued to boot, but no video... the card was dying when it tried to switch to graphics mode,

Changing the card fixed it.