Re: Computer won't start
The other suggestions made are quite good, but here is another item to try. There should be a jumper on your mom-board that will clear your CMOS settings. The BIOS gets confused if these settings are corrupted somehow. Hope this helps, Bart Szyszka wrote: > > Hi, > > I've been having problems in both Debian and Windows, > so I'm not sure which one could be causing this (probably > Windows?), but when I turn on my computer right now, it > doesn't start. I get absolutely nothing on my screen except > the default thing that shows up on the monitor if the computer > is turned off and on the older monitor I tried it with it's > just a blank blank space. I hear a little ticking like it's > doing something, but that doesn't last long because when I > put a boot disk in it doesn't go far enough to be trying to > boot of the harddrive/floppy/cdrom. I've tried replacing the > graphics card with a different one so it doesn't look like that's > the problem. My guess is that this is a BIOS problem. Any ideas? > Could a (Windows?) virus have caused this? Is the bios (I have > an AMIBIOS in that computer) replacable? Easily? Inexpenssively? > I'd appreciate some help with this. I'm using a very old computer > right now with a 486 that can barely handle this telnet prompt > in Win95 (I install Debian off the harddrive and don't have > anything downloaded for it in this computer for me to be able to > set it up easily), BTW. I'd appreciate some advice (in private > since this might not be specific to Debian?). > > - Bart > > -- > Unsubscribe? mail -s unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] < /dev/null -- Paul Miller [EMAIL PROTECTED] NRL Administrator http://www.nrl.csci.unt.edu Talons Alumni http://orgs.unt.edu/talons Where do all the bits go when the computer is done with them?
Re: Computer won't start
On Sun, Jan 09, 2000 at 05:59:18PM -0500, Bart Szyszka wrote > Hi, > > I've been having problems in both Debian and Windows, > so I'm not sure which one could be causing this (probably > Windows?), but when I turn on my computer right now, it > doesn't start. I get absolutely nothing on my screen except > the default thing that shows up on the monitor if the computer > is turned off and on the older monitor I tried it with it's > just a blank blank space. I hear a little ticking like it's > doing something, but that doesn't last long because when I > put a boot disk in it doesn't go far enough to be trying to > boot of the harddrive/floppy/cdrom. I've tried replacing the > graphics card with a different one so it doesn't look like that's > the problem. My guess is that this is a BIOS problem. Any ideas? > Could a (Windows?) virus have caused this? Is the bios (I have > an AMIBIOS in that computer) replacable? Easily? Inexpenssively? > I'd appreciate some help with this. I'm using a very old computer > right now with a 486 that can barely handle this telnet prompt > in Win95 (I install Debian off the harddrive and don't have > anything downloaded for it in this computer for me to be able to > set it up easily), BTW. I'd appreciate some advice (in private > since this might not be specific to Debian?). > Did you remove and replace hard drive cables? On many PCs, this is what you get if an IDE cable is installed backwards; try removing them both and see if that helps - if so, connect them back one at a time and check after each. Alternatively, try using a different slot for your video card - the one you're using may be bad/dirty. John P. -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Oh - I - you know - my job is to fear everything." - Bill Gates in Denmark
Re: Computer won't start
Go into your cpu and check all the ribbon cable connections. Push each one in to insure it is tight. Just one loose connection can keep your system from taking its first breath. On Sun, 9 Jan 2000, Bart Szyszka wrote: > Hi, > > I've been having problems in both Debian and Windows, > so I'm not sure which one could be causing this (probably > Windows?), but when I turn on my computer right now, it > doesn't start. I get absolutely nothing on my screen except > the default thing that shows up on the monitor if the computer > is turned off and on the older monitor I tried it with it's > just a blank blank space. I hear a little ticking like it's > doing something, but that doesn't last long because when I > put a boot disk in it doesn't go far enough to be trying to > boot of the harddrive/floppy/cdrom. I've tried replacing the > graphics card with a different one so it doesn't look like that's > the problem. My guess is that this is a BIOS problem. Any ideas? > Could a (Windows?) virus have caused this? Is the bios (I have > an AMIBIOS in that computer) replacable? Easily? Inexpenssively? > I'd appreciate some help with this. I'm using a very old computer > right now with a 486 that can barely handle this telnet prompt > in Win95 (I install Debian off the harddrive and don't have > anything downloaded for it in this computer for me to be able to > set it up easily), BTW. I'd appreciate some advice (in private > since this might not be specific to Debian?). > > - Bart > > > -- > Unsubscribe? mail -s unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] < /dev/null >
Re: Computer won't start
oh, thought u said u were on a 486 ..thats why i suggested that :) nate On Sun, 9 Jan 2000, Bart Szyszka wrote: barts > barts > barts >On Sun, 9 Jan 2000, aphro wrote: barts > barts >> however unlikely did you try setting the date back before the year2000 barts >> ? one of my friend's computers had a similar problem(although not as barts >> severe) and when he set the clock back it was ok, i have a barts >> 486DX4-100(rather new ~1995) and sofar it hasnt experienced any problems. barts >The computer I'm having this problem on is a newer oone (about 2 years barts >old?) with a 233 processor so I wouldn't think Y2K affected it. And if Y2K barts >would do that, then why would it happen one and a half week after it hit barts >Jan 1st? barts > barts >> have you done anything odd to your computer before this happened? besides barts >> changing the date only thing i can think of is keep swapping things till barts >> it works..not more more anyone can do then that:) barts >Nope, haven't done anything to it. I can't change the date because nothing barts >on the screen shows up. No memory count, no Energy Star compliat logo, barts >no 'Press DEL to run setup' or anything like that. barts > barts >I'm trying to save some time here because I need to use the 28.8 barts >connection through pine (REALLY slow) so I'll answer something from a barts >different message. No, the floppy drive isn't being checked for at all. It barts >doesn't reach that stage where it's supposed to check the barts >floppy/harddrive/cdrom drives. Stops before then. I really think it could barts >be the BIOS. Can anyone confirm and offer some advice/URLs I can try? barts > barts >(I'm sorry, I need to leave the rest of this message here because it would barts >take forever for me to delete it) barts > > > barts >nate > > On Sun, 9 Jan 2000, Bart Szyszka wrote: > > barts >Hi, barts >> barts > barts >> barts >I've been having problems in both Debian and Windows, barts >> barts >so I'm not sure which one could be causing this (probably barts >> barts >Windows?), but when I turn on my computer right now, it barts >> barts >doesn't start. I get absolutely nothing on my screen except barts >> barts >the default thing that shows up on the monitor if the computer barts >> barts >is turned off and on the older monitor I tried it with it's barts >> barts >just a blank blank space. I hear a little ticking like it's barts >> barts >doing something, but that doesn't last long because when I barts >> barts >put a boot disk in it doesn't go far enough to be trying to barts >> barts >boot of the harddrive/floppy/cdrom. I've tried replacing the barts >> barts >graphics card with a different one so it doesn't look like that's barts >> barts >the problem. My guess is that this is a BIOS problem. Any ideas? barts >> barts >Could a (Windows?) virus have caused this? Is the bios (I have barts >> barts >an AMIBIOS in that computer) replacable? Easily? Inexpenssively? barts >> barts >I'd appreciate some help with this. I'm using a very old computer barts >> barts >right now with a 486 that can barely handle this telnet prompt barts >> barts >in Win95 (I install Debian off the harddrive and don't have barts >> barts >anything downloaded for it in this computer for me to be able to barts >> barts >set it up easily), BTW. I'd appreciate some advice (in private barts >> barts >since this might not be specific to Debian?). barts >> barts > barts >> barts >- Bart barts >> barts > barts >> barts > barts >> barts >-- barts >> barts >Unsubscribe? mail -s unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] < /dev/null barts >> barts > barts >> barts >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ]-- barts >>Vice President Network Operations http://www.firetrail.com/ barts >> Firetrail Internet Services Limited http://www.aphroland.org/ barts >>Everett, WA 425-348-7336http://www.linuxpowered.net/ barts >> Powered By:http://comedy.aphroland.org/ barts >> Debian 2.1 Linux 2.0.36 SMPhttp://yahoo.aphroland.org/ barts > barts > barts > barts >-- barts >Unsubscribe? mail -s unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] < /dev/null barts > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ]-- Vice President Network Operations http://www.firetrail.com/ Firetrail Internet Services Limited http://www.aphroland.org/ Everett, WA 425-348-7336http://www.linuxpowered.net/ Powered By:http://comedy.aphroland.org/ Debian 2.1 Linux 2.0.36 SMPhttp://yahoo.aphroland.org/ -[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ]-- 10:25pm up 143 days, 10:25, 2 users, load average: 1.91, 1.76, 1.62
Re: Computer won't start
Bart Szyszka wrote: > > On Sun, 9 Jan 2000, aphro wrote: > > > however unlikely did you try setting the date back before the year2000 > > ? one of my friend's computers had a similar problem(although not as > > severe) and when he set the clock back it was ok, i have a > > 486DX4-100(rather new ~1995) and sofar it hasnt experienced any problems. > The computer I'm having this problem on is a newer oone (about 2 years > old?) with a 233 processor so I wouldn't think Y2K affected it. And if Y2K > would do that, then why would it happen one and a half week after it hit > Jan 1st? > > > have you done anything odd to your computer before this happened? besides > > changing the date only thing i can think of is keep swapping things till > > it works..not more more anyone can do then that:) > Nope, haven't done anything to it. I can't change the date because nothing > on the screen shows up. No memory count, no Energy Star compliat logo, > no 'Press DEL to run setup' or anything like that. > > I'm trying to save some time here because I need to use the 28.8 > connection through pine (REALLY slow) so I'll answer something from a > different message. No, the floppy drive isn't being checked for at all. It > doesn't reach that stage where it's supposed to check the > floppy/harddrive/cdrom drives. Stops before then. I really think it could > be the BIOS. Can anyone confirm and offer some advice/URLs I can try? A few weeks ago I was trying to get a motherboard to work, and I was getting pretty much the symptoms you're describing. I pulled all the expansion cards, replaced the CPU and RAM, checked and double-checked and octuplet-checked and etc the jumpers. Fortunately I had an identical motherboard so I was able to configure the two boards exactly alike, then pull the stuff (CPU, RAM) from the working board and put it on the non-working board for testing. I finally just pronounced the motherboard "dead" (whether it was the BIOS or a support chip or what, as far as I was concerned it was the m/b). I'll just shell out the $99 bucks to replace it with a FIC VA503+ (or is it 503A? I always forget until I compare them).
Re: Computer won't start
> It sounds like a strange ATX problem to me. I had similar things happen before. For > whatever reason the switch on my computer doesn't work to power it up. My switch does seem to be working. The power stays on and everything, but it's just that the computer doesn't seem to be doing what the BIOS is supposed to tell it to do, including boot from floppy/harddrive/cdrom. I tried putting a floppy in since that would be the easiest way to check if it was starting to boot from the floppy/harddrive/cdrom, but it didn't touch the floppy drive. No activity there. It just does some clicking like it usually does when the computer is turned on and then stops with the power still being turned on. Like I said, I've tried two monitors with two different video cards to now avail. - Bart (BTW, I have Outlook Express here now. It's still slow, but a lot easier to delete blocks of text)
Re: Computer won't start
On Sun, 9 Jan 2000, aphro wrote: > however unlikely did you try setting the date back before the year2000 > ? one of my friend's computers had a similar problem(although not as > severe) and when he set the clock back it was ok, i have a > 486DX4-100(rather new ~1995) and sofar it hasnt experienced any problems. The computer I'm having this problem on is a newer oone (about 2 years old?) with a 233 processor so I wouldn't think Y2K affected it. And if Y2K would do that, then why would it happen one and a half week after it hit Jan 1st? > have you done anything odd to your computer before this happened? besides > changing the date only thing i can think of is keep swapping things till > it works..not more more anyone can do then that:) Nope, haven't done anything to it. I can't change the date because nothing on the screen shows up. No memory count, no Energy Star compliat logo, no 'Press DEL to run setup' or anything like that. I'm trying to save some time here because I need to use the 28.8 connection through pine (REALLY slow) so I'll answer something from a different message. No, the floppy drive isn't being checked for at all. It doesn't reach that stage where it's supposed to check the floppy/harddrive/cdrom drives. Stops before then. I really think it could be the BIOS. Can anyone confirm and offer some advice/URLs I can try? (I'm sorry, I need to leave the rest of this message here because it would take forever for me to delete it) > > nate > > On Sun, 9 Jan 2000, Bart Szyszka wrote: > > barts >Hi, > barts > > barts >I've been having problems in both Debian and Windows, > barts >so I'm not sure which one could be causing this (probably > barts >Windows?), but when I turn on my computer right now, it > barts >doesn't start. I get absolutely nothing on my screen except > barts >the default thing that shows up on the monitor if the computer > barts >is turned off and on the older monitor I tried it with it's > barts >just a blank blank space. I hear a little ticking like it's > barts >doing something, but that doesn't last long because when I > barts >put a boot disk in it doesn't go far enough to be trying to > barts >boot of the harddrive/floppy/cdrom. I've tried replacing the > barts >graphics card with a different one so it doesn't look like that's > barts >the problem. My guess is that this is a BIOS problem. Any ideas? > barts >Could a (Windows?) virus have caused this? Is the bios (I have > barts >an AMIBIOS in that computer) replacable? Easily? Inexpenssively? > barts >I'd appreciate some help with this. I'm using a very old computer > barts >right now with a 486 that can barely handle this telnet prompt > barts >in Win95 (I install Debian off the harddrive and don't have > barts >anything downloaded for it in this computer for me to be able to > barts >set it up easily), BTW. I'd appreciate some advice (in private > barts >since this might not be specific to Debian?). > barts > > barts >- Bart > barts > > barts > > barts >-- > barts >Unsubscribe? mail -s unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] < /dev/null > barts > > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ]-- >Vice President Network Operations http://www.firetrail.com/ > Firetrail Internet Services Limited http://www.aphroland.org/ >Everett, WA 425-348-7336http://www.linuxpowered.net/ > Powered By:http://comedy.aphroland.org/ > Debian 2.1 Linux 2.0.36 SMPhttp://yahoo.aphroland.org/
Re: Computer won't start
however unlikely did you try setting the date back before the year2000 ? one of my friend's computers had a similar problem(although not as severe) and when he set the clock back it was ok, i have a 486DX4-100(rather new ~1995) and sofar it hasnt experienced any problems. have you done anything odd to your computer before this happened? besides changing the date only thing i can think of is keep swapping things till it works..not more more anyone can do then that:) nate On Sun, 9 Jan 2000, Bart Szyszka wrote: barts >Hi, barts > barts >I've been having problems in both Debian and Windows, barts >so I'm not sure which one could be causing this (probably barts >Windows?), but when I turn on my computer right now, it barts >doesn't start. I get absolutely nothing on my screen except barts >the default thing that shows up on the monitor if the computer barts >is turned off and on the older monitor I tried it with it's barts >just a blank blank space. I hear a little ticking like it's barts >doing something, but that doesn't last long because when I barts >put a boot disk in it doesn't go far enough to be trying to barts >boot of the harddrive/floppy/cdrom. I've tried replacing the barts >graphics card with a different one so it doesn't look like that's barts >the problem. My guess is that this is a BIOS problem. Any ideas? barts >Could a (Windows?) virus have caused this? Is the bios (I have barts >an AMIBIOS in that computer) replacable? Easily? Inexpenssively? barts >I'd appreciate some help with this. I'm using a very old computer barts >right now with a 486 that can barely handle this telnet prompt barts >in Win95 (I install Debian off the harddrive and don't have barts >anything downloaded for it in this computer for me to be able to barts >set it up easily), BTW. I'd appreciate some advice (in private barts >since this might not be specific to Debian?). barts > barts >- Bart barts > barts > barts >-- barts >Unsubscribe? mail -s unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] < /dev/null barts > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ]-- Vice President Network Operations http://www.firetrail.com/ Firetrail Internet Services Limited http://www.aphroland.org/ Everett, WA 425-348-7336http://www.linuxpowered.net/ Powered By:http://comedy.aphroland.org/ Debian 2.1 Linux 2.0.36 SMPhttp://yahoo.aphroland.org/ -[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ]-- 3:33pm up 143 days, 3:32, 1 user, load average: 2.35, 1.99, 1.73
Re: Computer won't start
It sounds like a strange ATX problem to me. I had similar things happen before. For whatever reason the switch on my computer doesn't work to power it up. The switch DOES work, I have check that via multimeter, but I need to manually short the jumpers to get the computer to start. So, try this. Open up your machine, locate the two powerswitch pin's (they have the power switch currently plugged into them) remove the plug, and touch a screwdriver to those two pins, CAREFULLY. Now, realistically, on my motherboard, the two pins next to the power switch pins are not hooked up to anything, but its not the sort of chance you want to take. Touching a screwdriver to those pins will tell you whether or not the switch is bad. Btw, you said that it didn't boot a floppy, was the machine on at that point? Did the floppy drive seek? Did the power LED stay on for more than a few seconds? If the answer to any of these is yes, than it is probably a bigger problem. -Aaron Solochek [EMAIL PROTECTED] Bart Szyszka wrote: > Hi, > > I've been having problems in both Debian and Windows, > so I'm not sure which one could be causing this (probably > Windows?), but when I turn on my computer right now, it > doesn't start. I get absolutely nothing on my screen except > the default thing that shows up on the monitor if the computer > is turned off and on the older monitor I tried it with it's > just a blank blank space. I hear a little ticking like it's > doing something, but that doesn't last long because when I > put a boot disk in it doesn't go far enough to be trying to > boot of the harddrive/floppy/cdrom. I've tried replacing the > graphics card with a different one so it doesn't look like that's > the problem. My guess is that this is a BIOS problem. Any ideas? > Could a (Windows?) virus have caused this? Is the bios (I have > an AMIBIOS in that computer) replacable? Easily? Inexpenssively? > I'd appreciate some help with this. I'm using a very old computer > right now with a 486 that can barely handle this telnet prompt > in Win95 (I install Debian off the harddrive and don't have > anything downloaded for it in this computer for me to be able to > set it up easily), BTW. I'd appreciate some advice (in private > since this might not be specific to Debian?). > > - Bart > > -- > Unsubscribe? mail -s unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] < /dev/null
