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Can't boot to C: or A: or CD:
Name: drew Date: November 13, 2003 at 05:32:57 Pacific OS: 98 CPU/Ram: 64
Comment:
I have put together miscellaneous parts to make a computer. Scared yet? After turning on the power it runs through POST, RAM checks out OK, it recognizes the hard drive and CD drive, and I can enter BIOS. It then gives one beep as though it is ready to load the OS and then it goes to a black screen with only a curser (no prompt) in the top left. I tried booting to the hard drive, floppy, and a CD. Nothing makes a difference. I am trying to use a PCI video card. Since I get video up to that point, does that rule out any problem with the video card? Any suggestions?
Name: TopFarmer Date: November 13, 2003 at 07:15:15 Pacific
Reply:
Hi this is the way I would try. 1) Make sure boot floppy is good by booting with it on a different comp. 2)Remove the IDE cable from the hdd and cd. 3)be sure floppy is connect on last connector on flat ribbon 4a)turn on and enter bios setup 4b) when comp on be sure floppy light is not on all the time, if it is flat ribbon is connected wrong 4) be sure floppy drive a: is set correctly "A:1.44mb" very likely, could be different depending on drive. 5)be sure floppy B: is disabled. 6) set boot order to floppy only in bios IF it will boot than connect hdd up, if still boot connect cd, be sure to power off to connect ide devices.
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Response Number 2
Name: sr2owens Date: November 13, 2003 at 09:20:56 Pacific
Reply:
Yeah i think you passed the Post. The cursor indicates video. Does the Bios list all the right info? I think the Bios is looking for system files or an operating sytem & can't find one.
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Response Number 3
Name: ted Date: November 13, 2003 at 12:40:01 Pacific
Reply:
It sounds like the floppy is not first in the bios boot sequence. That is probably why you can't boot from it. Correct that, boot from the floppy and run scandisk on the hard drive.
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Response Number 4
Name: tecy Date: November 15, 2003 at 16:06:40 Pacific
Reply:
It can be many things that is causing this but I had the same problem when APIC mode was turned off in bios. I kept restarting my pc reset bios e.c.t and it was APIC that stop my pc booting just had a blank screen.
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Response Number 5
Name: drew Date: November 17, 2003 at 05:44:50 Pacific
Reply:
I got it to boot! Thanks I removed all but the floppy. Set the bios to boot there first. It still didn't work. I found an old boot disk and tried it instead of the one I was using. It worked. Something had corrupted my boot disk! I then started adding IDE drives. It now boots with the HD and the CD installed. Cool. Thanks for the tips.
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Response Number 6
Name: TopFarmer Date: November 17, 2003 at 06:14:23 Pacific
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What to build...
