startup defective

  • Thread starter Thread starter Thumb
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T

Thumb

When starting up a computer it doesn't get past the "COMPAQ" name and
then stops. At random it does start up, after trying a dozen times.
What causes this? Hard disk worn out maybe? (computer is four years old).
©dk
 
Sounds like it could be failing at the memory test. I would first get a
air-spray can and clean out the inside, pull out the memory chips, hard
drive cables, etc and blow the air on them to get out the dust..
 
Thumb said:
When starting up a computer it doesn't get past the "COMPAQ" name and
then stops. At random it does start up, after trying a dozen times.
What causes this? Hard disk worn out maybe? (computer is four years old).
©dk
Click to expand...

Can you get to the bios setup?
If so set config to - fail safe, or the like
make sure all connectors are on properly and that memory is well sitted.
Does the word 'Compaq' usually appear when detecting HD's?
Does the screen go blank?
 
When starting up a computer it doesn't get past the "COMPAQ" name and
then stops. At random it does start up, after trying a dozen times.
What causes this? Hard disk worn out maybe? (computer is four years old).
©dk
Click to expand...


This is one of the problems with those !@#$Q@#$ compaq systems, that
their logo prevents you from seeing what's going on at POST. You
could get a POST diagnostic card and that may help, but arguably the
card costs more than the board is worth so try the following:

Press F10 to enter BIOS setup while that logo first appears.

Clear the CMOS with the jumper, or if there is no jumper or you can't
find it, pull the battery for 10 minutes after AC power to power
supply is unplugged.

From what you've written so far I have no reason to suspect the hard
drive, but that's easy enough to rule out, just unplug it and any
other IDE devices from the motherboard, then the system should at
least progress till it gets to the point of trying to find boot
devices, displays a system disk not found message (or would boot from
a bootable floppy if you insert one).

If this is a "new" build, try different memory, or jumper settings, or
.... we know nothing about the system, if it's even the whole original
configuration... you have failed to provide enough details of the
hardware like system model, motherboard type (chipset, CPU, onboard
features, etc), any changes from original configuration, what's
changed since it last worked, etc.


Dave
 
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