Computer won't boot

SophiesDad · February 18th, 2002, 10:05 PM

I am trying to help a friend and have a situation that requires the help of my TechIMO friends.

The machine, a NEC Ready 9616, will not boot every time I hit the power button. It loads the video bios, Phoenix Bios, and then the NEC Bios. That seems like alot of Bios , doesn't it? Anyway, when it tries to locate the Hard Drive and CD-Rom sometimes the machine freezes, but not always. I have to power it down, with the power button, and restart it. Sometimes it "boots", many times it doesn't.

Anybody got an idea here for me?

Thanks for your help.

Specs:

Pheonix Bios V4.05.7
120MB Pentium
16MB Ram
2GB Maxtor HD

tobu · February 18th, 2002, 10:20 PM

Hello and Welcome to TechIMO.

Does the bios beep? Does it do anything or does it just stop?

I really have no experance with anything as you discribe it but it might help others

swamp-fox · February 18th, 2002, 10:34 PM

When you say boot. Do you mean into windows?? Do the hdd and cd-rom show up in bios? Check power cords or ribbon cables Maybe on backwards??Does hdd spin or cd light up and spin??
swamp

SophiesDad · February 18th, 2002, 11:23 PM

Thanks for the responses CAT and FOX. This computer is now at work so I will have to try your solutions tomorrow.

CAT: I'm not sure if I hear a beep everytime, I'll have to check that tomorrow.

FOX: I never get past POST. I was able to enter the CMOS on one of the times it worked and both the cd and HDD are listed. I am going to check the cables and power cords and might even break the machine down and rebuild. The HDD does spin and cd does light does come on when the machine does get past POST.

I will try to report back tomorrow night on my progress. If I have to rebuild it will be a couple of days as I am doing this on my lunch hour.

Talk to you all soon.

Richard Cranium · February 19th, 2002, 03:05 AM

What o/s,, Win98 ?

SophiesDad · February 19th, 2002, 10:22 PM

Well, I'm back with an Update. Here's what happen today. The operating system is Win95.

The machine will not completely POST for the first three times I turn it on (BTW, I have to use the power switch to turn it off). Then on the fourth time I get the error..."Previous Boot Incomplete -- Default Configuration Used". On the next time I hear the floppy drive, the hard drive and CD are reconized, and we're off and running. This has me quite baffled.

There are problems with the HD which I am in the process of correcting, i.e. no system files. For those who are wondering, I boot to a Win95 boot disk. This machine is really hurtin' alot.

Tomorrow, I will run AV and try to reconstruct the sys files. As time allows I will run Scandisk and NDD. Next, I will be tearing the machine down and put it back together. That will elimate loose cables. I will reseat memory and processor. I guess I have to look at everything. I have alot of work ahead of me. But alas, this is for a friend's kids so it's worth it.

Am I missing anything?

Thanks for your time.