Machine won't boot on first try...

[cycleman77]

A couple weeks ago I turn on my computer and walk away to do something else. When I returned, I noticed that my machine had not booted into Windows. It was just sitting there. My monitor wasn't even receiving a signal. I didn't think much of it and just hit the reset button, and the machine booted fine. Ever since then, I now always have to hit the reset button to get the machine to boot.
When I first turn it on, the HD light comes on, stays on, and thats it. My monitor LED blinks, but no signal and the machine doesn't even post.

At first I thought I had a failing hard drive, but can a hard drive prevent BIOS from posting?

I haven't seen this before. Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[Algere]

You can still post without a hard drive and have you tried clearing the CMOS via a jumper?

 

[cycleman77]

Didn't mess with the jumpers. Ill try that though.

Could I have a failing or failed battery?

mmmmm...didn't think of that before. Ill have to whip out the ol'voltmeter.