Computer can't boot past BIOS check...system just hangs

[Prototype]

Hey all,

A couple of weeks ago our media computer started beeping randomly, and then shut down from XP on it's own. Once rebooted, before the BIOS initialized, a white MSI screen appeared that I had never seen before. After that the BIOS verified the system components successfully, the system just hangs...and never gets to a point where Windows can load.

I've tried rebooting many times, and either get the white MSI startup screen, or it hangs as I previously mentioned. I've checked all the comp's component connections, checked the hard disks, and even tried re-installing XP...all to no avail. The damn system still hangs!

Any ideas for what's causing this, and what can be done to solve the issue?

---

Snorlax,

Your automated thread subscription notices are being returned to us with the error message:

Mailbox disabled for this recipient

These return notices flood our mailbox. For this reason, I have canceled your subscriptions. Please do not subscribe to anymore threads until this problem is corrected.

You do not have PM's enabled so I had to contact you this way.

Thanks for understanding.

AnandTech Moderator

Any help is really appreciated.

 

[marulee]

Originally posted by: Prototype
Hey all,

A couple of weeks ago our media computer started beeping randomly, and then shut down from XP on it's own. Once rebooted, before the BIOS initialized, a white MSI screen appeared that I had never seen before. After that the BIOS verified the system components successfully, the system just hangs...and never gets to a point where Windows can load.

I've tried rebooting many times, and either get the white MSI startup screen, or it hangs as I previously mentioned. I've checked all the comp's component connections, checked the hard disks, and even tried re-installing XP...all to no avail. The damn system still hangs!

Any ideas for what's causing this, and what can be done to solve the issue?

Any help is really appreciated.

Sounds like your cmos or bois settings has been modified accidently or by a subnormal component on your board. Check your settings from bios!

 

[imported_nocturne]

More than likely, the white screen your seeing is just what the Bios shows when you boot to avoid seeing the old-style POST screen (adjustable in BIOS, usually on by default).

Does it even start to load windows? Can you get into the BIOS menu?

Seems like for some reason the BIOS got reset due to some type of mobo failure, but hopefully that's not the case.

I'd start by removing the CMOS battery and try booting without it (without the battery, the BIOS always loads default settings since none can be saved). Another thing to try is switching out the ram, or if you have two sticks try one at a time and in different slots. If that doesn't work, I'd disassemble the computer completely and try booting with the bare essentials (PSU, mobo, cpu, ram, and gfx). If it still doesn't work, try switching out each one of those components if you got an extra (if not, try testing them in a friend's computer or get a PSU tester). As it's unlikely you have a spare mobo laying around, if that's the last component to test you found the problem.

In any case, good luck.