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FAQs
Troubleshooting Your PC
This guide is for advice only. If you do not feel confident with opening your PC and messing with components etc - see an expert. We take no responsibility for loss or damage caused by this guide.
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Does the machine boot Ok? |
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| yes | no | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Does Windows load in normal mode? | Does BIOS startup screen appear? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| yes | no | yes | no | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Do you get any error or message box problems? | Does it load in safe mode? | Does the BIOS show the correct amount of RAM? | Do you hear any beeps? | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| yes | no | yes | no | yes | no | yes | no | |||||||||||||||||||
| Does the error appear in safe mode? | Can you run your applications? | go to * | Does the dos prompt appear? | Does the BIOS show your CPU correctly? | Try reseating your memory chips and making sure they are compatible. | Do the beeps start with a short beep? | Do the LED's light up? | |||||||||||||||||||
| yes | no | yes | no | yes | no | yes | no | yes | no | yes | no | |||||||||||||||
| Try reinstalling Windows | *
Does your machine load in normal mode if you hold shift during bootup? |
System seems to be fine - any other problem ask someone in blueyonder.users.self-help | Try reinstalling the application in question. | Type WIN and hit
[return]
Does this load Windows? |
You may have a hardware problem - go back to start | Does it detect your hard drive correctly? | Have you overclocked it? | How many beeps do you hear? | How many beeps do you hear? | You have a power or a system board error. Check your connections and start again. | Check your power supply | |||||||||||||||
| yes | no | yes | no | yes | no | yes | no | one | two short | lots | one short, one long | one long, 2 or 3 short | 3 long | |||||||||||||
| You have a problem with a program in your startup folder. Remove all programs and replace them in turn to eliminate it. | Try stripping back your drivers in safe mode. - delete the devices in device manager. Does normal mode load now? | Your IO.SYS should automatically load Windows. Either get used to starting in this way - get a copy of IO.SYS to replace yours or reinstall Windows. | Reinstall Windows | Does it boot? | Make sure BIOS isn't set to ignore your hard drive's IDE channel | Set your CPU back to its original settings | Make sure your motherboard has been set up correctly. | Normal. System is Ok. Try stripping back system to core elements to locate your problem. | POST error - your system has an unspecified error. Check your connections - or your motherboard could be faulty. | Power supply or system board error. Make sure the power connectors on your motherboard are the right way round. | Error in motherboard. Make sure your key components are connected properly - if they are you'll probably have to replace your motherboard | Display adaptor error. Try reseating the graphics card. Some motherboards like the graphics card in the first slot - the one nearest the keyboard connector. | ||||||||||||||
| yes | no | yes | no | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Try adding the components back one by one to diagnose which one is failing? | You may have
a problem in system.ini
See if you can remove anything (make a copy of it first). Did you find anything? |
Your system hardware is fine. | The boot sector on your hard disc may be damaged. Try booting from a floppy. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| yes | no | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Remove references from system.ini one at a time and reboot to see if Windows loads. Did this work? | Try reinstalling windows | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| yes | no | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You may have to reinstall some applications but at least your system is now working. | Try reinstalling windows | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Amended : 2003-03-31 by elfin
Original Author : DJ & Angua
This page was last updated at