Desktop Model: HP Pavilion a6554f. Problem: Computer hangs at the hp intro (splash?) screen.

[haagdrka]

When powering on desktop computer, monitor displays hp intro screen, but hangs at that point.  No response from keyboard when trying to diagnose (F9) or setup (f10).  Removed and reconnected hard drive.  Removed and reseated memory.  Removed and reseated CMOS battery.  No change.  Fans work ok.  Tried accessing recovery CD, but computer never gets beyond the hp intro screen.  Any suggestions?

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

Have you made any hardware changes to your PC?

Unplug all of the external devices expect the keyboard, mouse and monitor? Now can you get into the bios?

If you have any PCI cards then remove them and connect the monitor to the on board video. Now can you get into the bios?

Unplug the hard drive(s) and optical drives. Now can you get into the bios?

Remove the memory dimms? Do you hear any beeps? Is yes, how many etc..

[haagdrka]

thanks for the reply.

I unplugged the hard drive, and the computer got past the hp logo screen.  I then managed to get it into diagnostic mode:  processor is ok, memory is ok, but HD is not detected (i did plug it back in for this test).  Ran the diags a couple of times:  BIO2-HD not detected....

disk is spinning, so not sure if it has failed.

Still down....

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

Try clearing the CMOS.  If this doesn't solve the issue then try the below suggestion.

Plug the hard drive into a differnet sata port on the motherboard and see if you can then boot into the bios.

If you can't get into the bios with the hard drive installed then your HD is faulty.

[haagdrka]

thanks Dave...

I tried clearing the CMOS earlier, and I also had tried a different SATA port on the motherboard.  Same result...I believe the drive is faulty.

Question:  Could this issue be caused by a virus?

[Big_Dave · Accepted solution]

Hi,

If you can't get into the bios with the hard drive installed then the hard drive is faulty. 

Even if the hard drive is not initialized or unformatted with no boot records, modified boot records etc.. you still should be able to enter the bios.

Caused by a virus? Not this type of error as the issue is before the hard drive is asked to boot.