PC Won't Boot after applying XP SP2

[vbredpgr]

I have a PC with a pentium I got around 4.5 years ago. It has XP Home edition. Last night, it was installing XP SP2 and it seemed to take a while. I let it run. When I got up this morning, the screen saver was on but I could not make the screen saver turn off.

I shut down the PC by holding down the power button. When I turned it back on, it began to power up. I got the screen that looked like it was going to run a test and then it shut down.

Now, it won't power up at all. Has the power supply or mother board gone bad? If so, can I at least salvage the hard drive since it hasn't been backed up in some time?

Thanks ahead of time for any help.

 

[franklin97355]

It's possible the power supply has failed. When you say it won't power up at all do you mean NOTHING happens or if something happens what. The drive probably can be salvaged by installing it in another computer as the secondary drive and then BACKING UP YOUR DATA.

The answer is "42"

 

[wolluf]

might be worth clearing the CMOS (usually a jumper on the board or remove the battery for a while).

 

[vbredpgr]

franklin97355 - NOTHING happens. No power from unit at all.

wolluf - I will try that.

 

[wahnula]

If NOTHING is happening, no beeps, no fans, no lights etc. then there is a good chance the PSU is toast, although that would be highly coincidental, but possible. Indulge me, unplug the cable from the power supply, wait 15-30 minutes, then plug it back in. Try changing the cable from the wall to the PC if you have a spare. Make sure the 1/0 (I/O)switch on the back of the PSU (if present)is set to 1.

Tony