Computer not starting
So, I sold my old computer to a friend of mine and now the problems are starting. I don't know what he did - he doesn't know what he's doing so he has a hard time explaining things.
Anyway, it's just not getting past the first start-up screen. It just stops. This is the screen with "Award Modular BIOS...." etc. etc.. It goes through the memory test, Award Plug & Play etc. and then just stops. Nothing works after this. Pressing "del" to enter set-up doesn't even do anything.
This is Win 98 BTW, on a P-200 with 48 MB RAM. We did upgrade the RAM on Sunday (switched 2 8's for 16's) but it was running fine until last night.
Any ideas??? We might have to take it to a professional. This makes me mad because I've never, ever had a problem with that machine that wasn't self-inflicted.
nike_guy_man posted this at 00:02 — 13th December 2001.
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Did you make this computer or did a company?
Check with the company if they made it, or go to the site of the MB maker and try and to get a BIOS upgrade maybe?
I'm thinking that is the problem because you can't get past the BIOS....
Are the new memory modules compatible with that BIOS?
Megan posted this at 00:40 — 13th December 2001.
She has: 11,421 posts
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It was built by a small shop about 4 years ago, so calling the manufatcturer wouldn't help.
I'm really not sure about the RAM at all... I wonder if we could try taking out the new ones? That would only leave it with 16 but that'd be enough to see if that was the problem.
Megan
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Gurudev posted this at 01:13 — 13th December 2001.
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I think it is a windows problem and it needs to be reinstalled.
mjames posted this at 01:38 — 13th December 2001.
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It could be the RAM - sometimes it won't be faulty right away, and this may be the case, where it just is delayed, but still faulty.
Mark Hensler posted this at 05:44 — 13th December 2001.
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Does it make any sounds? A persistent beep usually indicates that the RAM is not seated properly or is "nackerd".
Windows is not the problem if pressing DEL doesn't work (unless DEL is the wrong key for this BIOS, other keys are F10, F8, ESC, and a few others).
Did you zap anything when playing inside the box? Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) can do wacky things to your computer. That is why you should always ground yourself before opening your box.
Did the machine ever make it into windows after you put the RAM in it?
What excatly is is 'nothing'? Does it hang (there was an error loading), or does it loop back and count RAM again (this mean there is no OS on the drive)?
Some things you may try:
-Does it boot off a floppy?
-Does it work with the old placement of the RAM?
Mark Hensler
If there is no answer on Google, then there is no question.
Megan posted this at 14:12 — 13th December 2001.
She has: 11,421 posts
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It just stops. Nothing happens after the memory test. No noises, no nothing.
We put the RAM in on Sunday and it worked fine until Tuesday night. Will try taking out the new stuff (don't have two of the old sticks anymore... kinda sold them but 16 will be fine just to see if it works)
It does say "Press Del to enter setup" but doesn't work... probably because it's frozen and won't do anything! Booting from a floppy won't work either - I'm guessing because it hasn't gotten to the point of checking that drive???
Megan
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Mark Hensler posted this at 16:48 — 13th December 2001.
He has: 4,048 posts
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I think Marc's right. It's probably faulty RAM that took a while to reveal it's dark side.
RAM is sooo cheap right now, you could buy 128MB of PC133 for about $30 US. I'm kicking myself now because I bought 512MB of PC133 just before the prices took that plunge. It cost me over $200.
Mark Hensler
If there is no answer on Google, then there is no question.
Megan posted this at 17:34 — 13th December 2001.
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Have you checked lately? Maybe it's different in the 'states but we were looking on Saturday and were told that the prices just went up again over the past couple of weeks. I think they were asking $80 Canadian for a 128 stick... or maybe that was a 256....
Megan
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mairving posted this at 18:32 — 13th December 2001.
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Actually if it is a P200, it uses SIMMS not SDRAM. The price from Crucial for a 128MB SIMM, 72-pin is $122US. They have to make money somewhere. I would pull the RAM out and try reseating it.
Here is a listing of Award Beep Codes. As long as your speaker is hooked up you should hear beeps.
Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states
Megan posted this at 19:46 — 13th December 2001.
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Doh! I don't think we had the speakers on! I forgot to check that because I just leave mine on all the time.
Thanks for all your help guys.
mairving posted this at 20:32 — 13th December 2001.
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It's not the external speakers. There is an internal speaker built into the case that causes the beeps.
Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states
Megan posted this at 04:08 — 15th December 2001.
She has: 11,421 posts
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Oh.... sorry, I didn't think of that. :blush: I'm not exactly a hardware person as if you can't tell.
Well, the problem is solved. He didn't have it put in right - just fit it back in again and everything's working fine now. He insisted on putting it in himself even though he's never touched the inside of a computer in his life. You know men, always wanting to do it themselves.... oh, wait, you guys are men
.... or are you.....
Just kidding
Megan
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