For some reason my PC (Dell Dimension 8300) suddenly won't boot.
When I power on I get the BIOS splash screen and then it goes to a black screen with flashing underscore and doesn't go any further.
If I try to reboot and enter BIOS (F2) it says entering BIOS then goes to black screen with flashing underscore
If I try to go to boot sequence (F8 or F12) it bleeps and then goes to black screen with flashing underscore
I have not made any recent (hardware or software) changes to the machine. I have had the machine several years and installed Windows 7 on it from Microsoft.com back in February - and its been quite happy all of this time.
If I put a new Windows 7 Install DVD in - unfortunately this is skipped due to previous setting in BIOS (HDD first)
Its running twin SATA drives - if I pull either of the HDD power leads or SATA leads it then says
>> SATA Primary/Secondary (as appropriate) drive 0 not found
It then sits on that message
The machine is running BIOS Dell A07
I have not moved the machine recently
I used the machine happily last night, shut-down normally. Then today got this problem when I turned it on
I am at a loss - it seems that I have a large paperweight at the moment
When I power on I get the BIOS splash screen and then it goes to a black screen with flashing underscore and doesn't go any further.
If I try to reboot and enter BIOS (F2) it says entering BIOS then goes to black screen with flashing underscore
If I try to go to boot sequence (F8 or F12) it bleeps and then goes to black screen with flashing underscore
I have not made any recent (hardware or software) changes to the machine. I have had the machine several years and installed Windows 7 on it from Microsoft.com back in February - and its been quite happy all of this time.
If I put a new Windows 7 Install DVD in - unfortunately this is skipped due to previous setting in BIOS (HDD first)
Its running twin SATA drives - if I pull either of the HDD power leads or SATA leads it then says
>> SATA Primary/Secondary (as appropriate) drive 0 not found
It then sits on that message
The machine is running BIOS Dell A07
I have not moved the machine recently
I used the machine happily last night, shut-down normally. Then today got this problem when I turned it on
I am at a loss - it seems that I have a large paperweight at the moment