HP Doesn't Boot - HP Invent Screen

[tamolt]

Hardware is new to me so I am at a total loss with this. I have an approx. 5 year old HP Pavilion (celerion processor) running Windows ME. I have never had any problems with it and all members of my family have used it constantly. A few weeks ago I unplugged all the cables to organize them and dust behind the desk. After plugging everything up the machine will not boot - all you get is the blue HP Invent screen on the monitor. The machine comes on and the CD light flashes as you would expect but nothing comes up on the monitor. At first I thought it was a monitor problem so I switched it out - same problem. Then I remembered that the clock had been slow so I purchased a new battery and installed it. No change. I also don't think it is recognizing the keyboard - I have an MS keyboard and usually I thought the lights across the keyboard flash during boot. I tried using F1, F2 and delete on startup - again no change.

It appears the machine no longer has an operating system, could this be? I tried booting using the "restore" disk that came with the machine - its all I have. Didn't work. Also tried booting from a floppy made from boot up files downloaded from bootdisk.com for Windows ME - again nothing happened.

I would be happy just to find a way to get the files off the hard drive.

Does anyone out there have any ideas? What if I bought a new operating system - liked Windows XP and tried to install that? Do you think this is hopeless?

Tammy

[EvilRick]

When you changed the CMOS battery out, did you accidently unplug anything? You might wanna open it back up and check.

If everything is attached as it should be, try putting the old CMOS battery back in. If it still doesn't boot, try a different keyboard.

You'll have to go back into the BIOS and set the date and stuff again as well.

[tamolt]

It was not booting prior to my replacing the battery. I thought that is what had caused it - a dead battery since I had noticed over the past several weeks the time getting slower and slower (by an hour or more). So I replaced the battery. Still it did not boot. I have unplugged and plugged everything back in but I will try a different keyboard just in case. Any other ideas?

[SocceRich20]

I am having the SAME exact problem. If anyone can help, I would appreciate it too. I also have a MS keyboard.

[tamolt]

I found my old HP keyboard and replaced the MS Keyboard (I guess I have had it about 3 years) and my system booted!!!! I can't believe there wasn't any kind of error! All I can think is that somehow there is a short in the cables for the MS Keyboard.

So switch out the keyboard, if that doesn't work, try another mouse.

[SocceRich20]

Ok, I'll try that.

[Dockins]

im a little late on this yes...ive got several HP`s put a standard keyboard or the one that came with it. then reboot....after you get it up and running you should be able to use the ms keyboard as you did once before.

[tamolt]

Haven't switched back to the MS keyboard yet....but just curious - why would that happen? Did replacing the battery have anything to do with the system no longer recognizing an MS keyboard? Is it something unique to an HP?