Startup problem - Hangs when starting.

Well it does sound like it's finishing POST ok then, you do have the DVD/CD Rom connected and the HDD right? Of course you have to boot from the Win CD first then format HDD etc.

Lol i havent even connected a CD case to my computer :S

But should it really hangup there just because i dont have the Windows CD in?

if so, its a big selfslap

I need a smack too. Yes this is why the CMOS is hanging it's looking for something to boot from and goes, "ahhhh?"

Cheers.

Hehe. Thanks for the help, ill try to get hold of a Windows CD asap.

Atleast i can be sure that i didnt waste money on components

- Gfx card
- RAM
- Processor
- Mobo

Haha, i hadnt formatted my HDD either..

- NOOB QUESTION -

im not sure if the problem is that i dont have the windows CD... i have tried to start with only the PSU Vid card RAM etc... and pressing F12 when it starts to see the boot menu...

But it hangs and says: Loading Boot Menu... nothing happens.

i think i should atleast be able to see the boot menu, or its something with the mobo.?

Wait, did I overlook that you have never been into the BIOS menu?
If you can't press DEL or F12 and enter BIOS, then we are back to where I said it's a CMOS problem or therefore a motherboard failure. This is where we were at this morning at 7:40am:

I'm thinking you have faulty/dead mobo you need to return/exchange it.

Ok i have now sent a mail to the store where i bought it from. Let's see what they say.

I just found out something... It is actually touching the case! But there didn't come anything with the mobo so it doesn't touch the case...

Can this be the problem? If so, i will go buy those things asap.

You can just make some cardboard disks and put a hole through the middle for the stand-off screw. Use them on top and bottom side of the mobo at each mounting point.

|screw
__ __ crdbrd disk
____ ________ mobo
__ __ crdbrd disk

|stand-off
|

Cheers

Tried to do that.. Still the same problem with the CMOS.

Got a reply from the store now, gonna send it back to them and they are gonna check it.

Ok, that's probably best. I think we've tried just about everything we can and it really looks like a mobo failure.

Cheers.

Sent it to the store... Yup, they said it had an error.

They have sent a new one to me now, will just have to wait for the slow postman to deliver it

Will post results when i have received the mobo!

Ok, today i got my new mobo from the store. I still havent got WIN XP cd though, but will get tomorrow.

So i tried the system with only the needed components, PSU, Gfx, RAM etc. And it worked, came to this screen "DISK BOOT ERROR". But that is because i dont have a HDD in.

So everything works fine now!!

Cheers

Frostyrod

While you're waiting for the XP cd, go into your BIOS and set the boot order to CD 1st then HDD 2nd. This way when put the XP disc in it will automatically boot to the set-up screen for you. Good news.

Cheers.

Ok, her comes a reeeal noob question.

I need to format my old HDD first, but when starting with Windows CD, i can only repair it or install a new WinXP.

How to format??

Noob question again...

Can you format it by going "Run" and writing Format C:

??

So you have the new WinXP cd? Boot from that and select install new.
If this is a SATA Hdd then you need to install the SATA drivers first by hit F6 when prompted and running the drivers from the floppy or cd. If it's IDE (ribbon cable) HDD then just follow the "new install" on screen instructions.
You're HDD must be installed at this point. You will be given the option to format the drive you select and partion it. Partion is to divide up the drive. Example, a 200GB, might be partioned into two 100Gb, C: and D: drives.

Cheers.

But i need to format it before installing in with the new motherboard, or i will get the CMOS error again?

You cant format it from Run; Format C:
?

If you set your BIOS to boot from the WinXP cd you can just follow the installation instructions on screen. It gives you the option of formatting the target drive before installation. If it's a new drive and you didn't select format option, the installation would just kick out and tell you have to format first.

If you have a previous copy of a boot disk. you can try the Format c: option if you like. You still need to boot from the boot disk first though.