Insanity: Is this P4 PC dead? (worked great this AM)

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hobkirk

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Jan 7, 2012
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I am trying to install Win XP on a PC that was running XP flawlessly until noon today! Is there any hope?

Problems w/ PC now:
  • F2 usually does not trigger BIOS display (it shows the Gateway logo, the <F2> message for about 45 seconds until it shows the HD or DVD choices)
    Boot messages do not display (DOS text scrolling stuff)
    Boot priority is DVD and then HD
    It usually does NOT boot from the DVD (maybe once every 10-20 tries)
    I've tried old PS keyboard and USB keyboard
Computer:

  • Gateway 570GR P4 Win XP (this was my personal PC for a couple of years, it's never had a problem)
    I want to use it as a server for a legacy system (4GL DB)
    I found it had XP Home on it (I don't understand how - all my CD's are XP Pro, the Gateway OEM CD is XP Pro - but I wanted to upgrade to Pro
    Could not do it as an "upgrade" (the installed Windows was newer than my CD)
    One time when the DVD worked, I installed XP from a CD - after 30 minutes, file HAL..DLL was missing or corrupt. "Please re-install a copy of the above file"
    I removed the HD, stuck it in another box, copied the file, and put back in the Gateway box. No effect, so I was back to installing from scratch when the CD happened to read after a bunch of boots
 
Solution
kittle
if you havent already -- open the case, clean out all the dust, and reseat any cards and make sure all your cables are plugged in. Since its an older PC make sure none of the cables are frayed or kinked.

Its possible the motherboard is having issues.
Its possible the keyboard itself or the keyboard plug is having problems.

I had similar issues with an old Lenovo laptop. it ran flawlessly for 5years. then when i uninstalled all my games so i could give it to my dad - it stopped working and died. all in the space of 1 afternoon.

It sounds like you have another PC available - test each part in another system to see if it still works: HDD, DVD, Floppy(??), even keyboard and mouse.

for the dvd drive, make sure you can boot using...
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kittle

kittle

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Dec 8, 2005
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if you havent already -- open the case, clean out all the dust, and reseat any cards and make sure all your cables are plugged in. Since its an older PC make sure none of the cables are frayed or kinked.

Its possible the motherboard is having issues.
Its possible the keyboard itself or the keyboard plug is having problems.

I had similar issues with an old Lenovo laptop. it ran flawlessly for 5years. then when i uninstalled all my games so i could give it to my dad - it stopped working and died. all in the space of 1 afternoon.

It sounds like you have another PC available - test each part in another system to see if it still works: HDD, DVD, Floppy(??), even keyboard and mouse.

for the dvd drive, make sure you can boot using your windows install CD
For the HDD, running a "chkdsk/f" would be a really good idea even though it will take a long time.

Also, check your XP dvd for scratches... I know my old dvds have a lot of scratches. Maybe you can burn a new dvd using a different PC?
 
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Solution
H

hobkirk

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Jan 7, 2012
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18,535
I gave up. I'm in the process of installing it on another PC that I cadged from a friend. Damn, it's freaking great to have everything work like it should. I guess I must have "worn out" the MB's chips by intense usage? Obviously that's stupid, but nothing makes sense.
 
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