[sam9309]

Hi guys, my old trusty XP has now given up the ghost, and I'm looking for suggestions to get it back on it's feet again!

Basically, after turning off the unit, I came to turn it back on the day later, and I cannot get past the Packard Bell flash screen. I've tried to boot via disk, but still no joy - after removing all other hardware, but the keyboard, I have had no luck in getting past the flash screen.

To me, it seems as though the computer is no longer accessing the hard drive on startup, as the HD light only briefly comes on the front.

It is a Packard Bell Imedia 1408, these are the specs I've found online for it:
2.93GHz Intel Pentium 4 516 Socket 775 Serial ATA, Ultra ATA/133 PCI/AGP 160.0 GB Windows XP Home, 1 socket ATI RADEON IGP 340M 32 MB 2 MB

[maxibhoy]

When the PB Splash screen does appear can you then get into bios by pressing either del,f2, f10. Whatever the splash screen says to enter SETUP.?

[etaf]

have you tried safemode - tap F8 as the PC boots

[sam9309]

Neither BIOS nor Safemode will work unfortunately

[sam9309]

Actually - i've tried it again BIOS does work. But holds on entering setup?

[maxibhoy]

This is a desktop - yes?? I would then look at trying to put a known to be working, atx same ballpark wattage psu in to replace the one i would suspect may be failing.

[sam9309]

Originally Posted by maxibhoy

This is a desktop - yes?? I would then look at trying to put a known to be working, atx same ballpark wattage psu in to replace the one i would suspect may be failing.

Yeah this is a desktop - so can a PSU fail and still allow the PC to turn on, CD drive to open and things like that?

[maxibhoy]

What do you mean holds on entering setup? Bios IS setup. Anyway if you CAN now enter bios look at intergrated peripherals and see if you can see your hard drive, also look at boot order and see if you can see it there also. If not you may have a problem with your hard drive. \Max

[maxibhoy]

Yeah this is a desktop - so can a PSU fail and still allow the PC to turn on, CD drive to open and things like that?

oh Yeah!!!

[sam9309]

Originally Posted by maxibhoy

What do you mean holds on entering setup? Bios IS setup. Anyway if you CAN now enter bios look at intergrated peripherals and see if you can see your hard drive, also look at boot order and see if you can see it there also. If not you may have a problem with your hard drive. \Max

Thank you for your instant replies!

I press F2 at the flash screen to enter BIOS - in which case a large American Megatrends logo is displayed along with PC specs. It says "Entering Setup" .

Underneath that it says
Press F8 for BBS POPUP
Press 12 to boot on network.
Checking NVRAM...
Initializing USB controllers ... DONE.
480 MB OK
Auto - Detecting PRI Master ... IDE Hard Disk.
Auto Detecting SEC mater ... ATAPI CD -ROM
PRI MASTER : ST3160021A 8.01
Ultra DMA Mode - 5 S.M.A.R.T Capable but disabled