What's wrong with this PC?

[d1abolic]

I just finished building a PC for my mom, from old spare parts. I power it on, it goes to the black screen to list all the IDE devices, and just when it's supposed to go to the next screen, freezes. Well actually it keeps on working and all, and the little underscore keeps blinking. It just doesn't do anything. I tried powering it up with just the CPU, ram and video card - same result. What's wrong?

 

[ScrapSilicon]

uhm...need more info...ty....like OS,components,etc.

 

[d1abolic]

What OS? It doesn't even get past the first DOS screen. Mobo is Abit BH6. Processor is Celeron 300A. Ram 128MB PC100.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

 

[wasnlos]

I assume you can get into BIOS, so here's my suggestion:
Unplug the powercord from the mainboard, take out the CPU and put it back in, clear CMOS, plug in powercord, get into BIOS and load SETUP DEFAULTS.
I hope that does the trick.

 

[d1abolic]

How the hell do i clear CMOS?

 

[Jiggz]

There are two way to clear the cmos either with jumpers (check your mobo manual) or removing the battery from the mobo. As for your problem, there could be two causes, (assuming the system at least go thru the posts) the HDD does not have the system files or the bios settings are incorrect. To set the bios settings, press on the "Del" key while the system is counting memory. Then re-set the settings to default settings. To transfer system files to the hdd boot from a floppy and format the hdd with the following command: format /s c: The switch /s will transfer the system files after a full format. Or if you do not want to format just type: sys c:.

 

[dude8604]

have you tried booting with an OS install cd?

 

[GR8Madmax]

Are you trying to run the c300A @ 450mhz? If you are, try running it at 300mhz to see if it'll load. One of the 300a chips I had does the same thing on my BH6 when I try to overclock it to 450mhz. The most I could get out of that chip was 374mhz(83x4.5).