My computer locks up and won't boot. What do I do?

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Hi Leo,

I have a problem where as soon as the windows logo boots up, the PC restarts. This happens in all modes of booting - safe mode, last known good configuration and normal mode.

The problem happened after I took out a graphics card to check it after some graphics problems - I replaced and switched on but the above re-setting started. I've replaced the graphics card but that hasn't worked. I've also tried using the XP disc to enter recovery mode but that hasn't worked either. Do you have any suggestions on how to solve this problem?

Thanks

Amir

If you restored the hardware to the way that it was when it was working, than the likely conclusion is that the motherboard's been damaged somehow - probably static. You may need to have a technician evaluate it.

Hi. I just got an other stick of ram and when I put all 3 sticks in my pc won't start up at all. The fans spin but the screen won't come on.

It works fine with 2 sticks in any slots but 3 sticks in all 3 slots it doesnt boot up.

The only time it works normaly with all 3 sticks of RAM is right after I restarted my CMOS and skip the error msg that my CMOS settings are set to deafault but then when I restart again it doesnt work

Hi Leo,

I have a home built system I built over a year and a half ago. About 8 months ago, my 2 yr old spilled milk down the top vent, resulting in my having to replace motherboard and hard drive. Ever since then, I have experienced lock ups while booting up system but only if I have a DVD or a game in the drive. The levels of lock up vary in that sometimes it will ask me for a boot device, or it will ask me to run set up, but mostly, it will load completely into windows and user accounts, then lock up while loading all the software on desk top. This will only happen if I have a cd or dvd in drive. If not, it will run perfectly. What really bothers me is that although this problem is too frequent, it doesn't always happen even if I do have a disk in the cd-rom. I've tried formatting several times, but the problem is always the same. I've even tried swapping out the cd-rom with another computer but the results are the same. I'm running windows xp professional. How can I determine the cause of this anoying problem?

Ven: sounds like you have the wrong type of memory stick, OR your computer requires it in pairs. You'll need to check with the manufacturer of your computer or motherboard.

Juan: sounds like something besides the hard drive or motherboard was hurt. Did you use the same RAM or install new ram on the new motherboard? I's also suspect the powersupply. After that - I'd start swapping other removable parts one at a time to see if any of them make the problem go away. Or take it to a repair shop.

well i dont have windows xp cd and i have those boot floppy disc my computer makes a little noise before it goes to a screen were its says somthing about corrupt file sysem32 i forgot the rest but i tried the boot disks and i really cant find out what to do please help hope you understand

Ramon: only thing I can recommend is that you get a Windows CD. Sounds like you need to reinstall, or at least perform a repair install.

Updating BIOS has left my 'system halted' due to an incompatible processor. I can not safemode to boot from disk. Really, It won't do anything,not ever reboot--just powers on & off. How do I fix this?!

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