Stupid computer problems

[00Bolt]

i swear i always have bad luck with computers... anyway, one of my computer at work has been acting up... just out of the blue it would restart... then lately if the computer went untouched for like 5 mins I would get this blue error screen and would have to restart. since i rarely use this computer, i didnt mess with it... but its really getting annoying for the few times I do use it. Anyway, so decided I would get a windows disc and just reinstall windows and get rid of any bugs I might have. I only use one program on this computer and would just reinstall that also....

now when I turn on the computer there is an "HP INVENT" screen that usually pops up real quick, then the windows screen, then the desktop loads.... well now it wont go past that HP invent screen.... just stays put there.... what can I do to reinstall windows now??? can I make a windows boot up disc with a floppy and put in there? or something else I can do by pressing some kind of keys on the keyboarD?

[00Bolt]

well the boot disc doesnt work, it goes straight to the hp invent screen before it even checks for discs....i dont think a key strike of some sort would work either... but i dont know what to pres anyway

[George G.]

what OS? Check the boot order in the BIOS. Make sure it's set to boot from the CD first, then the hard drive. If your trying to boot to a floppy disK, then set it to boot from a floppy first, then the hard drive.

[Lyfisin]

I'm not exactly sure what the problem might be, I would check the BIOS to make sure that the floppy and CD drive are bootable.

A Windows install CD should be bootable, but if you have your BIOS set for Hard Drive first then CDRom you can change the order.

[Lyfisin]

Bah. George types faster than me. :hammer:

[00Bolt]

how do you get into bios to change the order.... isnt it an Fkey??

[Lyfisin]

It depends on the BIOS. It's typically the delete key for Phoenix BIOS. Other's use F1 and more. It should say when you boot up. If not, you'll have to resort to the owner's manual.

[00Bolt]

well its not getting very far... i turn it on and immediately get this HP INVENT screen, then it would typically then show the Windows ME screen (im sure this is probably when the bios flashed up for a sec, i just dnt remember)... then the desktop would load.... well now i turn it on and it never gets passed the HP INVENT screen....

[00Bolt]

okay, i found an old Maxtor 40g hard drive laying around that im about 99% sure is good and plugged it in and took out old HD... it wouldnt work either.... just immediately goes to that HP screen and doest give you a chance to put in a floppy, cd or press any bios key.....

[00Bolt]

okay, i somehow just got into bios screen... what should I do from here?

[Lyfisin]

There should be some kind of "Advanced" section where it shows the boot order of the devices on the computer. Make sure CD is listed first.

If there's no CD in the drive, or one that won't boot, the computer will still boot from the hard drive, which should be listed 2nd.

You can put the floppy in there also, but I recommend 3rd. No reason to exercise the floppy drive when there's seldom anything in it anymore.

[microsuck]

Either bad ram, hdd, floppy, or cdrom. unplug everything you dont need. just leave the power supply, memory, cpu, and video card, nothing else. power it on. if it gets past the HP screen. one of the disconnected devices is bad. if it still hangs. the motherboard is dead. no two ways about it. It's hanging trying to intialize a piece of bad hardware that wont respond. I do this all day long.
Andrew

[PoorSvtman]

haha his problem is that hes running windows ME.... Thats the worst windows. I had nothing but problems on my first computer with windows ME. It always got the blue screen..... Then one day it deleted a bunch of stuff on its own, or mom did it. and all its good for now is to look at pictures but takes like 5 mins to look at one.

Glad its an extra computer now.

[Silver_2000]

haha his problem is that hes running windows ME.... Thats the worst windows. I had nothing but problems on my first computer with windows ME. It always got the blue screen..... Then one day it deleted a bunch of stuff on its own, or mom did it. and all its good for now is to look at pictures but takes like 5 mins to look at one.

Glad its an extra computer now.

WIN ME is the devil .....:evil :evil

[PoorSvtman]

Me is the devil .....:evil :evil


Glad im not the only one that feels the same way

[my2002lightning]

I'll agree about Win. ME. :hammer: Nothing but problems with it.

Running XP Home on the 2 home PCs (and laptop) and Win 2K Pro. on both work laptops. Very solid.:)