QUESTION: My Windows XP computer is not booting. It is showing standby position in DOS mode only (BIOS screen) — even my keyboard or mouse are not working, and I can't start Windows. Please try to advise me how to start the computer ...
Anup Kumar
ANSWER: Turn off the computer when you are plugging in or unplugging things in the following instructions:
Unplug everything that is plugged into the back of the computer except the keyboard, mouse, and monitor (I've seen USB devices cause this kind of behaviour). If it still won't boot open the computer and remove all expansion cards except the video card (I've seen a faulty modem cause this behaviour too). If it still won't boot unplug the IDE cables (hard drive and CD-ROM) and remove the video card and RAM. When you turn it on now you should get a RAM error (usually a long beep repeated over and over). If not then your motherboard is likely shot. If so then reinstall the RAM. Then when you turn it on you should get a video error (usually a long beep followed by two short beeps). If not then you probably have bad RAM, replace it with new RAM. If so then reinstall the video card. Then when you turn it on you should get a message but the hard drive not being detected. If not then you probably have a bad video card, replace it with a new one. If so then plug in the hard drive and CD-ROM again. If that stops it from booting you might have a had hard drive or CD-ROM. If it boots then plug in the other stuff one by one until you find the culprit.
I have also seen bad mice and/or keyboards cause this so I would try swapping them before cracking the case open.
If the keyboard and mouse are P/S2 and are plugged in to each other's ports that will cause the behaviour described.
Nerds On Site Support Team and Globetechnology.com
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