Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Wont get past POST

Jul 28, 2004 9:35AM PDT

Well, my first post in the Cnet forums, but have been using forums for years.

Okay, my question. I am fixing a computer for my friend's dad, and I thought it would be no big deal because I have fixed it before. But, it was different this time.

When I try to start the computer, it starts like normal, goes into POST, and gets to where it looks for a boot drive. This is where it gets stuck. It won't boot off anything.

I have tried the HD from my HP873n and from my P3 classic, but it won't get halfway through POST on either of those.

I have put that HD into my HP to see if I could at least backup the files, but I cant get it (the HP) to load Windows XP MCE 2002. with the HD from the other PC. I can normally get it to boot up with any extra HD I have.

I have a decent background in computing and am going to take my A+ this fall, so I know a few tricks and have tried all of them. I double- and triple-checked jumpers at all times, checked all connections, and nothing seems to do anything.

I am totally lost on this one, so any ideas supplied would be very highly appreciated!

Thanks in advance guys!

John

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re: Wont get past POST
Jul 28, 2004 9:41AM PDT

I forgot to post specs, sorry!

Its an emachines (typical problem)
1.5Ghz P4
256Mb RAM
Windows XP Home...

I'll get it more detail if it is needed... Tell me and I will get, even RAM manufacturer... lol

- Collapse -
Try no hard disk?
Jul 28, 2004 10:05AM PDT

Boot the floppy or CD. What happens?

Bob

- Collapse -
"A Wag"
Jul 31, 2004 6:24AM PDT

Just a long shot, but are you trying to boot off of a HD that has EZ-Drive? That systen has caused many of what you describe problems for many many people. It has a knack for being true to only the system it is installed on and in many cases it often zaps that systen too. One of the hallmark problems is the disk cannot be seen by the system. If you remember, it puts a jump instruction as the second or third byte of the bootsector where it goes to another page of instructions for the operating system. It sort of acts like a boot sector virus.

The best course of action would be to get rid of it if you have it on the disk. Go to the disk manufacturer's site and down load the removal process.
Norm