how to start my computer
- Thread starter Elmo89m
- Start date
More info is definately necessary. wont turn on could mean
1. computer stays completely lifeless when power button is pushed.
2. power comes to computer when button is pushed but screen is black
3. power turns on, things are on the screen but it freezes or shows an error before the OS
4. gets to the OS but cant log in
which of those seems most like your problem?
1. computer stays completely lifeless when power button is pushed.
2. power comes to computer when button is pushed but screen is black
3. power turns on, things are on the screen but it freezes or shows an error before the OS
4. gets to the OS but cant log in
which of those seems most like your problem?
legionserial
New member
If you mean it wont turn on as in there is no power going to it, then its a hardware problem, the first port of call I guess would be to check the power supply. However if its to do with some kind of configuration screwing up, then I'm not sure it will be that.
If its that you can't boot to windows, I had the same problem once. I bought a cheap IDE drive and installed windows on it.
Then using that install of windows I looked on the other hard drives to check everything was ok. Then I salvaged my data and reinstalled windows on the original drive. Luckily it was partitioned between my OS and everything else in this case, so I was able to just format the OS partition and reinstall windows on it, and my music etc was still sitting in the other partition where it was before.
If its switching on, but you aren't even getting to BIOS then it sounds like your motherboard could possibly be screwed, or your memory or your CPU.
From what you say tho it sounds like your nephew was screwing with the BIOS. There is way to reset the BOIS but its a little dodgy and you might want to get an 'expert' to oversee while you do it. Basically if you drain the BIOS battery, it will completely reset the BIOS back to default. This involves some kind of short circuiting of the battery. Thats why I say get some who know a lot to oversee it. I'm not going to go through the exact procedure because I don't want you to total your PC on my account as I may be wrong. I would look on google about it. The only time I drained my BIOS is when I knocked my power cord in and out by mistake, and sent a surge through my pc, luckily it merely reset the BIOS. Luckily.
If its that you can't boot to windows, I had the same problem once. I bought a cheap IDE drive and installed windows on it.
Then using that install of windows I looked on the other hard drives to check everything was ok. Then I salvaged my data and reinstalled windows on the original drive. Luckily it was partitioned between my OS and everything else in this case, so I was able to just format the OS partition and reinstall windows on it, and my music etc was still sitting in the other partition where it was before.
If its switching on, but you aren't even getting to BIOS then it sounds like your motherboard could possibly be screwed, or your memory or your CPU.
From what you say tho it sounds like your nephew was screwing with the BIOS. There is way to reset the BOIS but its a little dodgy and you might want to get an 'expert' to oversee while you do it. Basically if you drain the BIOS battery, it will completely reset the BIOS back to default. This involves some kind of short circuiting of the battery. Thats why I say get some who know a lot to oversee it. I'm not going to go through the exact procedure because I don't want you to total your PC on my account as I may be wrong. I would look on google about it. The only time I drained my BIOS is when I knocked my power cord in and out by mistake, and sent a surge through my pc, luckily it merely reset the BIOS. Luckily.
Creamyapples1
www.murphycabs.com
Never underestimate the power of resetting CMOS. It amazes me how many silly little problems can be fixed with a 30 second operation, and people still pay big bucks for someone else to do it!
Glad you got your rig fixed!
Glad you got your rig fixed!
fraserhutch
Flypaper for freaks
That's what manuals are for 
FWIW, I would not recommend people pulling those batteries as it is quite easy to damage its connectors.
The jumpers are the way to go.
FWIW, I would not recommend people pulling those batteries as it is quite easy to damage its connectors.
The jumpers are the way to go.
BillyBo said:hehe... yeah, but it could be in diff places for each mobo, so i wasnt about to try to figure out what mobo and all he had,
glad you're back up and running!
Bless.
Creamyapples1
www.murphycabs.com
For someone who doesn't know much about PCs, CMOS esspecially, do you honesty think that they
A) know what a motherboard is in the first place?
B) know what model mobo they have?
C) know where to find the manual for their mobo?
D) know how to identify the jumper to reset CMOS?
They should however, be able to follow simple instructions.
Turn off PC, unplug PC, hold in power button for 20-60 seconds, Look for the watch battery looking thing-a-ma-hoochy, (ground yourself by touching something metal) take said thing-a-ma-hoochy out, count to 30-60, put said thing-a-ma-hoochy-back in, plug in PC, turn PC on.
All in about the same ammount of time as it will take someone to locate a manual
A) know what a motherboard is in the first place?
B) know what model mobo they have?
C) know where to find the manual for their mobo?
D) know how to identify the jumper to reset CMOS?
They should however, be able to follow simple instructions.
Turn off PC, unplug PC, hold in power button for 20-60 seconds, Look for the watch battery looking thing-a-ma-hoochy, (ground yourself by touching something metal) take said thing-a-ma-hoochy out, count to 30-60, put said thing-a-ma-hoochy-back in, plug in PC, turn PC on.
All in about the same ammount of time as it will take someone to locate a manual
Creamyapples1
www.murphycabs.com
Elmo89m said:
Not dogging you, just pointing out my observations with friends, family, etc.
Someone of higher PC learning may indeed find that resetting the jumpers works best for them, however, as long as they aren't using pliers to pull the battery, there isn't anything wrong with the battery method.
yeah, that was the point i was trying to make. it would be difficult to get someone nearby to do this using their manual and such with a house call, but on these forums, you gotta go with the easiest solution, as you are unaware of the type of people you are dealing with.Creamyapples1 said:They should however, be able to follow simple instructions...........
All in about the same ammount of time as it will take someone to locate a manual
eh - it's fixed. who cares, lol.