Computer won't boot.

[Hihihi]

Basically, I have a Dell Dimension 4400 and it won't boot. First it goes to a black screen with a flashing _ at the top left hand corner, then it flips to the WWW.DELL.COM Screen with the logo and stuff, and then it goes to an all black screen with a logo on the top right and a ton of white writing.

Copyright 1996-2002 Intel Corpotation

PT84510A.10A.0014.P04.0201081016

Dell Dimension 4400
BIOS Version A03
Intel(R)Pentium(R) 4 processor, 1.80GHz
768MB System RAM

Fixed Disk 0: ST380021A
(Ultra DMA Mode ATA/100
ATAPI CD-ROM SAMSUNG CDRW/DVD SM - 30
Legacy Keyboard.....................detected
Legacy Mouse.........................detected
USB Legacy...................Enabled

CMOS date/time Not Set

Press <Del> to run SETUP

Hit <F12> if you want to see a boot menu

Previously it used to sometimes flash past that screen and say Boot Failure: System Halted. But now it doesn't say it at all ever since I took the CMOS battery out. When I hit F12 nothing happens, when I hit Del I get to the BIOS. Can anyone help me please? I'm not all that 'computer savy' either. I'll understand some basic terms, but nothing too advanced.

 

[John Connor]

This is for a different Dell computer, but try this. http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/2212213

 

[Hihihi]

Didn't work, problem is still persisting. Though thanks for the try!

 

[Bubbaleone]

Removing the CMOS battery performs the action of "clearing" all the previous CMOS data. If you were getting a "boot failure" error message prior to removing the CMOS battery and now that you've replaced the battery you're no longer getting the boot failure error message, but the computer still won't boot into Windows, you need to perform some further actions:

(Note: Use the number keys, up/down Arrow keys, the Enter key. and probably the +/- keys to navigate through and select the settings in the BIOS setup utility. Look at the bottom of the BIOS screen and there will be a legend listing all your navigation and selection keys, and what they do.)

1. Start the computer and begin tapping the Del key until you enter the BIOS setup utility.

2. Set the correct date and time.

3. Look for a setting called "Boot order" or "Boot priority" (something along those lines) and set the CDROM drive as #1, and the hard drive as #2. If USB and floppy are listed don't worry about them for now.

4. Press the Esc key (or whatever key is used to exit BIOS setup) and select "Save changes and exit". The computer will automatically reboot.

5. The computer will now either boot into Windows, or there will be an error message and it won't.

6. Pay very careful attention and make note of any error messages in the event the computer still won't boot into Windows.

7. Post back here with the result, and any error messages, when you've done the previous suggested steps.

EDIT: Click the following link and go to page 41 in the User Guide, to view all the info on how to setup the BIOS for your Dimension 4400

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