PC won't boot up

R

Reg

Active member
Guys, I need some help please.
I missed the tech guys by about 5 mins when they closed today, so after some internet browsing for some possible problems(taking some with a pinch of salt of course)and a new HDD I've come to my limitations.

The problem:- I decided to give my pc a clean install of windows as it was getting slow(hadn't done a clean install since bout it new from here in 2011) did the install, although have found out since that I should have formatted the HD when I did it as can cause problems.
Finished install and all was fine, however when it restarted it start up and wouldn't recognise my H drive, so had to go into BIOS and do it manually to get it to start up as had previously used dvd drive when using win 7 disk. After another restart that was when the problem happened. :mad:

My pc will start up, fans running, but doesn't get to the 'beep' stage and the HDD doesn't kick in, which leaves me with a blank screen and doesn't even reach the BIOS stage.
Can anyone help please?
 
mitchell65

mitchell65

Gold Level Poster
You say "wouldn't recognise my H drive, so had to go into BIOS and do it manually to get it to start up as had previously used dvd drive when using win 7 disk."
What is you "H" drive, a second internal hard drive perhaps? Why was it important for it to be recognised at boot up? What did you do to the BIOS to get the "H" drive recognised. That I fear is where the problem is. After a normal clean install you should not need to go into the BIOS at all. Are you totally familiar with the intricacies of your BIOS settings?
 
R

Reg

Active member
when it would start up it came up with a message telling me it couldn't find my hard drive, do something(can't remember exactly head is battered) and press any key. Sound familiar?

I had to go into BIOS to get it to start up a couple of times.

I have tried resetting CMOS, removed little battery, switched jumpers etc. removed and swapped the RAM to see if it picked up there was no memory(it did as it beeped lots of times).
The only thing I can 'guess' at now is the PSU, unless you guys can think of anything else for me to go through?
 
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vanthus

vanthus

Member Resting in Peace
Check in bios that your OS drive is set as first boot device.
 
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mitchell65

mitchell65

Gold Level Poster
vanthus said:
Check in bios that your OS drive is set as first boot device.
Click to expand...

I don't think Reg will get into the BIOS now as no Bios detail comes up when he switches on!.
Reg. My advice would be. Wait until Monday Morning and contact PCS. Explain everything you have done especially that you went into the BIOS.
Just realisewd, this PC is two years old, have you got extended warranty?
 
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R

Reg

Active member
vanthus said:
Check in bios that your OS drive is set as first boot device.
Click to expand...

That's what I did before it wouldn't restart. Now when it starts it doesn't even get that far, starts up fans spin, but no boot up after that and screen stays blank.
 
mitchell65

mitchell65

Gold Level Poster
Another thought has occured to me. Reg, Did you take a note of the jumper positions before you altered them? Also did you take appropriate anti static precautions before touching any components inside the case?
 
R

Reg

Active member
Yes, I referred to the manual to find them and which position they should be in left 2 is normal position, right to for about 5-10 secs to reset. Reference the static yes i'm lead to believe you only need to touch the non finished part of the case for a couple of seconds etc
 
vanthus

vanthus

Member Resting in Peace
Seems strange this happened after setting the OS disk as first boot,bit of a long shot but I would check you haven't disturbed the graphics card and make sure the monitor connections are OK.
failing that it does look like something has gone wrong with the motherboard.
 
R

Reg

Active member
have done but will double check in a minute, thanks for the help. When you say OS disk as first boot? I changed it from dvd drive to my Hitachi HDD after install and updates from windows and asus drivers etc.
 
vanthus

vanthus

Member Resting in Peace
Reg said:
have done but will double check in a minute, thanks for the help. When you say OS disk as first boot? I changed it from dvd drive to my Hitachi HDD after install and updates from windows and asus drivers etc.
Click to expand...
I mean the disk drive that has the operating system installed on it.
 
mitchell65

mitchell65

Gold Level Poster
Reg said:
Reference the static yes i'm lead to believe you only need to touch the non finished part of the case for a couple of seconds etc
Click to expand...
Well IMHO you have been ill lead! But I suppose you unplugged the PC from the mains before "going inside"?
 
R

Reg

Active member
yes definitely, I unplugged the power lead from pc as always.
I think I paid the extra £5, am just logging onto the PC site to check, I bought it APR 2011(still have the box it came in- just in case)
 
R

Reg

Active member
3yr silver warranty is what I took out 1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour
 
mitchell65

mitchell65

Gold Level Poster
Reg said:
yes definitely, I unplugged the power lead from pc as always.
I think I paid the extra £5, am just logging onto the PC site to check, I bought it APR 2011(still have the box it came in- just in case)
Click to expand...
Good about the warranty but whether you are covered or not is a bit debatable but PCS will do their best to help I know. Just tell them everything and see what they say!

Unfortunately unplgging the power lead is exactly what you should NOT do! You need to leave the power lead in the wall socket but turn the switch off. Your PC frame is then earthed through the earth connection of the lead. If that frame is not connected to a good earth then there is no way that it will discharge the static that your body generates which could easily be in excess of 500 volts. You may well have fried the memory modules or the chips in the motherboard. The latter is the more likely I think as even if the memory modules are damaged the BIOS should boot up. I would wait till Monday and try PCS support!
 
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