DotDragnet
May 24, 2012, 04:27:59 AM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: follow us on twitter @dotdragnet
 
   Home   Help Search Login Register  
Pages: [1]   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: PC booting problem - fixed!  (Read 727 times)
familychoice
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1185



View Profile Awards
« on: May 06, 2011, 10:28:44 AM »

My old PC which had been working fine, has suddenly started making a fast beeping noise when trying to start-up. It then gets stuck on the start-up screen (XP) and I have to hit E12 to go into the boot menu and select the drive to start up with.

Not a massive problem, but the keyboard doesn't seem to be responding once it's booted up, though the mouse is fine.

Any ideas? This was the Dell that had the hard drive issue a few months ago and has had a brand new drive installed.

TIA
« Last Edit: May 06, 2011, 12:57:58 PM by familychoice » Logged

Just another shite talking, unemployable Walter Mitty character living in a blinkered brassed-off, ITV-drama-esque world...
spannaa
Full Member
***
Posts: 214



Spannaa
View Profile WWW Awards
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2011, 11:01:20 AM »

Is this of any use?
Logged
Tony
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1285



@temps
View Profile WWW Awards
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2011, 11:16:42 AM »

can you not go into the bios and set which drive gets first boot?
Logged

sickpuppy
Site Chimp
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1912



sickpuppysoftwa
View Profile WWW Awards
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2011, 11:21:27 AM »

Is this of any use?

I was also going to say get beep counting and check your bios error codes.

I was then going to refer you to my earlier anti-midas comment
Logged

familychoice
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1185



View Profile Awards
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2011, 11:21:36 AM »

Thanks for the replies.

Is this of any use?


Thanks yes...that's worth a look!


can you not go into the bios and set which drive gets first boot?


I did that when I set up the drive so not sure why it's stopped working, but yes I guess I could go back in and make sure it's still set-up.
Logged

Just another shite talking, unemployable Walter Mitty character living in a blinkered brassed-off, ITV-drama-esque world...
familychoice
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1185



View Profile Awards
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2011, 11:23:02 AM »

I was then going to refer you to my earlier anti-midas comment

I am the God of Broken
Logged

Just another shite talking, unemployable Walter Mitty character living in a blinkered brassed-off, ITV-drama-esque world...
familychoice
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1185



View Profile Awards
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2011, 11:27:02 AM »

I can't count the flipping beeps they're too fast, it's 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-.... which isn't on the list...

Checked the BIOS and the drive is selected.

The keyboard's working now.

Weird.
« Last Edit: May 06, 2011, 11:30:36 AM by familychoice » Logged

Just another shite talking, unemployable Walter Mitty character living in a blinkered brassed-off, ITV-drama-esque world...
Dom
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1681


Taster of pasities. Clanger of both pots AND pans.


DominicNeagle
View Profile Awards
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2011, 12:42:58 PM »

It sounds to me like you had a problem with the keyboard itself (or the interface that the keyboard uses - the USB or PS2 slot it's plugged into).

If you hold down keys on a keyboard during boot-up for too long, or you hold down too many at once, you'll often hear the PC have a hissy in the form of lots of short beeps in quick succession. The fact that you heard this, coupled with the keyboard not working properly when it booted, points to a faulty keyboard. It might be that something was spilt on it, or perhaps one of the circuits is shorting for some reason.
« Last Edit: May 06, 2011, 01:04:28 PM by Dom » Logged

familychoice
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1185



View Profile Awards
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2011, 12:56:49 PM »

It sounds to me like you had a problem with the keyboard itself (or the interface that the keyboard uses - the USB or PS2 slot it's plugged into).

If you hold down keys on a keyboard during boot-up for too long, or you hold down too many at once, you'll often hear the PC have a hissy in the form of lots of short beeps in quick succession. The fact that the you heard this, coupled with the keyboard not working properly when it booted, points to a faulty keyboard. It might be that something was spilt on it, or perhaps one of the circuits is shorting for some reason.

Ooh nice one - I've just tried a different keyboard and there was no problem at all starting up (bloody Tesco keyboards)!

Thanks for that - I didn't realise a dodgy keyboard could cause problems booting up.

Logged

Just another shite talking, unemployable Walter Mitty character living in a blinkered brassed-off, ITV-drama-esque world...
robwhizz
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 615


Would like a pet Chain Chomp


robwhizz
View Profile WWW Awards
« Reply #9 on: May 06, 2011, 12:57:25 PM »

99.9% probability of stuck key on keyboard (or something heavy sitting on the keyboard). Usually a quick smack and flick over all the keys with your hand does the job.
Logged

Great post Jon! I have been following the effort since you started it, and although I have understood its purpose this post does a really great job solidifying the full rationale.
familychoice
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1185



View Profile Awards
« Reply #10 on: May 06, 2011, 12:58:51 PM »

99.9% probability of stuck key on keyboard (or something heavy sitting on the keyboard). Usually a quick smack and flick over all the keys with your hand does the job.

Ah right, cheers Rob I'll give that a go. In fact I'll enjoy doing that.
Logged

Just another shite talking, unemployable Walter Mitty character living in a blinkered brassed-off, ITV-drama-esque world...
Dom
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1681


Taster of pasities. Clanger of both pots AND pans.


DominicNeagle
View Profile Awards
« Reply #11 on: May 06, 2011, 01:03:48 PM »

I can't believe I posted something helpful! That, and the actual work I've been doing at work, will make today a day to tell the grand-kids about.

 banana banana
Logged

sickpuppy
Site Chimp
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1912



sickpuppysoftwa
View Profile WWW Awards
« Reply #12 on: May 06, 2011, 01:16:38 PM »

Usually a quick smack and flick over all the keys with your hand does the job.
pfffftt
Logged

Steve Lampkins
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1326


OOH! *TITTER*


View Profile Awards
« Reply #13 on: May 06, 2011, 02:12:40 PM »

Usually a quick smack and flick over all the keys with your hand does the job.
pfffftt

Mine doesn't sound like that, is there a blockage somewhere?
Logged
familychoice
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1185



View Profile Awards
« Reply #14 on: May 06, 2011, 02:44:19 PM »

I can't believe I posted something helpful! That, and the actual work I've been doing at work, will make today a day to tell the grand-kids about.

 banana banana


You're The Man Dom, if you can sort out my dodgy back as well then there's a pint at the bar with your name on it.

The other success for today is I've just picked up my new glasses and can see properly again, though I'm being careful not to look in the mirror as everything seems to be in HD and I can only handle so much reality in one day.

Logged

Just another shite talking, unemployable Walter Mitty character living in a blinkered brassed-off, ITV-drama-esque world...
Pages: [1]   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF | SMF © 2006-2008, Simple Machines Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!