Windows XP Pro computer won’t go past the BIOS screen.

[VenturaGary]

Yesterday morning my Compaq Presario SR2000 computer running W98ProSP3 failed to boot was hanging on the BIOS screen. I did the Restore BIOS using the Windows/B key operation, and was able to access BIOS. I used a Windows Boot CD, and was able to boot. I ran diagnostics on the drive, both short and long, and it came out clean, but Windows was not loading. I tried to repair and then re-install Windows on the existing drive, but it appeared to be not accessible. I ran the Recovery Console from the CD, but didn’t appear to do anything. I removed the old drive; bought a new 1TB Seagate Barracuda drive, and set it up in the BIOS, formatted it, and successfully installed Windows XP Pro on it. But when I shut the computer down and attempted to reboot it, I got the same hanging blue BIOS screen. Windows/B key operation doesn’t work any more. Nothing I seem able to do gets me past the hanging BIOS screen.

Suggestions, please?

[mdklassen]

My personal preference is not to "touch" the BIOS in any way, especially as the FIRST step in trouble-shooting.

My first step would have been to run a RAM-tester, e.g,. www.memtest.org

That RAM-tester also is an intensive test of the processor -- not all instructions, of course, but it does "push" the processor.

My second step would have matched your second step, namely to try a different disk-drive.

My third step would have been to make a close inspection of the capacitors on the motherboard.

There was a year, during the life of Windows XP, where "bad" capacitors were manufactured and used in many motherboards. But, those capacitors failed (bulging, leaking) much sooner than "normal".

Take a look at your motherboard.

Reboot, and launch the built-in HP Hardware Diagnostics, to test the RAM and the motherboard.

Anything?

[VenturaGary · Accepted solution]

Mdklassen,

Thank you for your reply. Actually I found the solution: it was to remove and replace the RAM boards.

BTW I'm not sure how I would have been able to run a RAM-tester, since the computer was non-functional, and even the Windows boot CD would not run? It looks like a nice tool, though.

[mdklassen]

> BTW I'm not sure how I would have been able to run a RAM-tester, since the computer was non-functional.

Good point. However, if your computer has more than one stick of RAM, boot that MEMTEST CD-R with only one stick installed. If it boots, and that stick tests as OK, power-off, remove that stick, insert the next stick, and try again.