System won't boot.

[blondebier]

I've got a PC that won't boot.

Spec:
MSI 6380e motherboard
Athlon XP 2200+ Chip
256Mb RAM
Seagate 60Gb HDD
etc...

Basically, I switched the machine on this morning, fans start up, it won't boot and no picture on the screen.

I've got a D-Bracket Diagnostic tool that came with the board and it shows lights 1 and 2 Red, lights 3 and 4 Green. It says this means "Initailizing Hard Drive Controller" in the manual.

I've tried using an alternative HDD but the lights still come on and it won't boot.

Any ideas what the problem could be?

Cheers,

Francis

 

[awingnut]

You need to provide more information. Would I be correct in saying you can see the BIOS come up and you can boot from floppy and/or CD? Only the HD hangs? What OS?

 

[blondebier]

When I press the power button, it powers up and I can hear the fans operating as normal. There is no display on the screen.

Windows XP Home is installed on the HDD.

 

[wolluf]

Check all cabling/connectors properly attached inside case. Also check cpu fan working ok - so cpu has not been fried.

If that simple check does nothing, disconnect everything except keyboard & graphics card - see if it boots to a POST screen. If it does, put things back one at a time. If it doesn't, try another graphics card. If no good, try swapping memory out (if > 1 stick, try each on its own otherwise get hold of a known good stick & try that).

If no good, points to mobo or cpu likely....