pc wont boot

**mart3310** · May 23rd, 2003, 02:20 PM

I installed some sdram memory on my other pc and now it wont load windows, When i turn it on it says checking update then it shows the memory is there and then it takes a few minutes and then says boot failure(reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot device. The problem is the pc boots to IDE 0 1st then floppy second, Is there any way i can get back into bios so i can boot to floppy 1st. Help

**thegladiatorgy** · May 23rd, 2003, 02:27 PM

Once it's booting to that point you should be able to use Del earlier to go in to BIOS. Did you disturb the ribbon cable for the hard drive when installing the memory?

**mart3310** · May 23rd, 2003, 02:31 PM

It dont get that far to press delete, I dont know if i disturbed the ribbon cable

**Bruneau** · May 23rd, 2003, 02:38 PM

Pull that new ram and try it. It may not be up to snuff, or it's incompatible.

**mart3310** · May 23rd, 2003, 02:40 PM

Ive put the old ram back in there but its not doing anything different and ive also tried different ram out of other pc that works perfect.

**DoctorReno** · May 23rd, 2003, 02:41 PM

When your system is POSTing usually somewhere on the screen it will display a message to the effect "Press xxxx to enter Setup" by pressing whatever key xxxx is, some use delete like thegladatorgy says and other mfgs use other keys like F1, F2 etc.
Anyhow, this will get you into your BIOS Setup where you can change your boot order.

In this case I agree with thegladatorgy, it sounds like you must have disturbed the IDE cable at one end or the other and that is why the hard drive is getting a boot failure. Some cables and/or connectors are very fussy.

**DoctorReno** · May 23rd, 2003, 02:46 PM

If you are getting to the point where you are getting the boot failure than you have gone past the point where you should have hit the key to enter BIOS setup.
Usually the message that tells you which key needs to be hit is displayed during POST at about the time you see the memory counting up. If you wait a few seconds past this it is too late to enter BIOS Setup because the machine it then searching for the boot device.

**mart3310** · May 23rd, 2003, 02:51 PM

It says wait after it checks the memory then it takes a few minutes then it just goes straight to the system boot failure, Yes usually it does say press delete to enter bios but since this problem happened it dont say it

**thegladiatorgy** · May 23rd, 2003, 02:58 PM

As soon as you put on the PC start pressing Del like if your life depended on it

**DoctorReno** · May 23rd, 2003, 03:00 PM

On some machines the message may or not appear, as well as seeing the memory count up can depend on if you are restarting or completely turning the machine off and then starting it.

But again, it seems like you are avoiding checking the most likely problem.... the IDE ribbon cable. It is very easy to slightly dislodge it when reaching into the case to change memory. Press the IDE cable in firmly at the hard drive end and also at the Motherboard end...and use two fingers one at both sides of the connector to make sure that it is not just a little bit cocked. You might have to hold the computer case so you can apply firm pressure without sliding the case.

**mart3310** · May 23rd, 2003, 03:00 PM

I have tried and it asked me for current password?

**thegladiatorgy** · May 23rd, 2003, 03:07 PM

Have you been in the BIOS before? Was it always password protected?

**DoctorReno** · May 23rd, 2003, 03:07 PM

So, someone other than you has put a password to enter BIOS Setup.
If you know who had ther machine B4 you, call them and ask them what the password is.
If you can't find out the password it is relatively easy to fix. Do you have the manual for the computer or know the motherboard make and model? Most all motherboards have a jumper near the BIOS chip just for this problem. The manual will tell you how to set the jumper fo set the BIOS chip back to default settings and also removes any passwords.
At worst if you can't determine the jumper setting then remove the little watch battery that will be near the BIOS chip and leave it out for several minuites. This will do the same thing as the jumper.

**thegladiatorgy** · May 23rd, 2003, 03:10 PM

Sometimes the jumper setting for the BIOS is in another color...either red or blue.

**DoctorReno** · May 23rd, 2003, 03:10 PM

Mart... I will reiterate one more time. I think you are obcessing over the BIOS when your problem is simply with the IDE cable. Check the cable and then tell us you have eliminated that as the problem. Please!

**mart3310** · May 23rd, 2003, 03:19 PM

Ive just checked the ide cable and everything seems tight and snug

**DoctorReno** · May 23rd, 2003, 03:21 PM

How about the power connector to the HD? If you feel the drive after you start your machine can you feel the drive running?

**mart3310** · May 23rd, 2003, 03:22 PM

the motherboard is a M571LMR cyrix 11

**DoctorReno** · May 23rd, 2003, 03:24 PM

Mart... about booting from floppy. If you put a bootable floppy into the floppy drive and start the machine, although you have it set to boot to the HD first, when it dosen't detect the HD it should move on and check the next boot device and if you have a bootable floppy inserted it will boot from the floppy.

**DoctorReno** · May 23rd, 2003, 03:27 PM

M571LMR cyrix 11... that sounds like the model numbers used by Amptron/PcChips and that bunch. Let me see if I can find a diagram and jumper setting for you.