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apfriend · Jun 26, 2007, 02:58 PM

Hi There

I have a Pentium D 2.8Ghz, 512MB Ram, 40GB HDD computer that I bought from tesco some time ago.

My PC suddenly went strange and when you turned it on it would get to the screen where it says:
"Start Windows Normally"
"Last Known Good Configuration"
And the "Safe Mode" options.

No matter which one you selected, the PC would simply restart itself again and return to the same screen.

I removed the hard drive and connected it as a secondry hard drive in another PC so I could take the work I required from it.
I then formatted the hard drive ready for a fresh XP install.

I connected the harddive back into the original PC and inserted a Windows XP Disk which my friend had created which was bootable and I knew had worked on other PC's.

Turning the PC on, the screen remain on an "Amber" light instead of going green as it did before when the PC was working.

Things I have tryed:
1. connected a hard drive with working XP on it but no luck.
2. I had also been told to try Windows 2000 Disk but again the CD Drive span for about a min or so but nothing happened on screen as it remained black and on "Amber"

Please could someone help?

Many Thanks, Andy :)

Haxzor50 · Jul 1, 2007, 09:08 AM

Well, one thing I will tell you is that it wouldn't be software if your hard drive is totally formatted, so what I suggest is checking every bit of hardware out and inside of your computer...

Does your hard drive work on a different computer?

apfriend · Jul 1, 2007, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Haxzor50

well, one thing i will tell you is that it wouldn't be software if your harddrive is totally formatted, soo what i suggest is checking every bit of hardware out and inside of your computer...

does your hard drive work on a different computer?

Hi there thanks for the reply.

Yes the hard drive works fine in other computers andni have also tried two other HD's in the problem PC.

We had a power-cut the day before the PC started acting like this. Could a powersurge have damaged something on the motherboard?. e.g. a resistor or capacitor etc?

Many Thanks

Haxzor50 · Jul 1, 2007, 06:02 PM

Yes, that would have deffinitley affected it...

Your best bet is to check your power supply... it might have done something to that, try to get a friends power supply, and hook it up to your computer, then if it is that, you might have to go buy one for yourself, please keep me informed, and I will be able to tell you more about your problem, thank you!

Sorry it took so long to reply :)

apfriend · Jul 2, 2007, 02:09 AM

Originally Posted by Haxzor50

yes, that would have deffinitley affected it...

your best bet is to check your power supply... it might have done something to that, try to get a friends power supply, and hook it up to your computer, then if it is that, you might have to go buy one for yourself, please keep me informed, and i will be able to tell you more about your problem, thank you!

sorry it took so long to reply :)

No worries mate!

I'm afraid that didn't work either.

Is there anything else that could be "fryed" from the surge?

Thanks again :)

Haxzor50 · Jul 2, 2007, 02:33 AM

Hmm, if it isn't the power supply, then it might be your processor, the fan might not be running at full capacity because it got fried... you might want to check it, and check every wire that is hooked into the back... especially the one that connects the monitor to the modem, it may be fried... again, your best bet would be to try a friends before you buy a new one...

Hope this helps!

benn11 · Jul 2, 2007, 02:40 AM

Can your PC work with another Monitor?

apfriend · Jul 2, 2007, 03:23 AM

Originally Posted by Haxzor50

hmm, if it isnt the power supply, then it might be your processor, the fan might not be running at full capacity because it got fried... you might want to check it, and check every wire that is hooked into the back... especially the one that connects the monitor to the modem, it may be fried... again, your best bet would be to try a friends before you buy a new one...

hope this helps!

Hi

Do u mean the processor might be knackered? Or if the fan is spinning too slow then the processor won't work correctly?

And did u mean check where the monitor port connects to the motherboard, rather then modem?

Thanks again pal

apfriend · Jul 2, 2007, 03:24 AM

Originally Posted by benn11

Can your PC work with another Monitor?

Hi there

Yes tried it on 5 different monitors, both LCD and Normal one's because I thought it may have been something to do with the refresh rate set on the PC.

No Luck I'm afraid.

Thanks Andy

benn11 · Jul 2, 2007, 03:29 AM

It might be a problem with your VGA card! Is it onboard?

apfriend · Jul 2, 2007, 03:43 AM

Originally Posted by benn11

It might be a problem with your VGA card! is it onboard?

Yes its built-in to the mother board.

Is there any chance of the PC being protected by the manufacturer to prevent the PC being used again after it being formatted?

Plus if I was to get hold of a graphics card, what is the name of the type of graphics card?
The PCI slot for the graphics card looks like this:
(Nearest back of PC) <---- [__] [_________________] ---> (Inside PC next to the clip)

Many thanks

benn11 · Jul 2, 2007, 03:54 AM

If you can buy a new graphics card I would recommend Nvidia, Check out their website >>

apfriend · Jul 2, 2007, 04:03 AM

Originally Posted by benn11

If you can buy a new graphics card I would recommend Nvidia, Check out their website >>

Ok Thanks Mate.

But the socket for the graphics cards only has one slit in it. Does that mean I need a PCI-Express GraphicsCard or other?

benn11 · Jul 2, 2007, 04:08 AM

Yes you can use any PCI graphics card that is compatible..