[Boodah]

older HP pavilion 6305w . 2.4, 2gb
friend gave to kids a couple of years ago and there's been no major problems. this morning I was patching.

.net framework 3.5 downloaded and installed
a security patch downloaded and installed
IE8 downloaded and hangs. tried to cancel and it just stayed on the screen running the IE8 downloading screen.
I used the start menu to shutdown the pc.
on restart it lets me go to the bios. nothing I see there helps. I know just enough here to be dangerous
restart
if I pump the esc button the option to "start from" appears, but, if I choose anything it just hangs. I cannot access safe mode by pressing f8. it does nothing . goes to a black DOS like screen with a blinking cursor won't let me type anything and beeps at me except it will let me turn num lock on and off and use crtl+alt+delete to restart.
when I choose cd drive but it won't read the cd drive, though it act's like it might(the lights blink a few times.
I thought it had a windows pre-install but I can't find a way to access the partition.

any idea's on how to even let me format it.
there is no floppy drive.

thanks
-B

[Boodah]

reset bios defaults. it went right to windows on restart no probs. no lets see if windows is messed up?