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startup/bios problems

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11 replies

by ameliapumo

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I was having a problem here I could only boot XP Home into safe mode.

Tried all the usual things, and followed some advice from a previous question

The original problem was that the power supply broke so after replacing that I expected pc to work

The hard drive is ok in other machines

However, other hard drives that are ok in their own machines will also not boot

Tried a different power supply - still no use

Checked for bad hardware etc etc

Then I found out that similar problems have occured with motherboard (Jetway 830CH)

Followed instructions to upgrade the bios from Jetway site

Now I can't get into the bios setup a rectangle says invalid password

There is not password that I have put in to the bios setup utility

If I don't press DEL to go into Bios setup the pc just freezes.
Putting a boot disk in doesn't solve the problem as it won't go past this stage.

11 replies

by compserv

Well to answer part of your question. XP will only work on the machine it was installed to origanally. So if you installed XP on one machine it whouldn't boot in a second machine.
To get around that password in Bios there is a jumper on your motherboard that you can move that will clear Cmos, allowing you to get back in agian. But you will have to set up all of your settings again.
Also for the hard drive not working have you tried it in both IDE ports. You very well chould have a bad IDE port on the board. Also check to see if the jumbers are right.

by sgt_shultz

hmmm. did they post any older versions of the bios on your mbd website? maybe you could flash it back to previous version...

by dragonbill

Have you tried to use a DOS disk and boot to that? An old Win98 disk or something. If you cannot boot to DOS I would say you have no choice but to change out that motherboard. Maybe the power supply death caused a problem with the CMOS chip or some other issue.

Good Luck,
Bill

by thechas

Usually, after flashing the BIOS, you have to perform the reset for the CMOS memory.

Set the clear CMOS jumper to clear.
Boot up the PC. (It may not start and that is okay.)
Shut down.
Change the jumper back to normal.

Often when a new version of the BIOS comes out, the storage locations for individual BIOS settings changes.

Chas

by pctech

As usual, The Chas is sharp as a tack. Should his suggestion not work, I would be inclined to think that the failing power supply may have put an over voltage onto the motherboard. I would look for blown capacitors and voltage regulators on the motherboard. The capacitors will appear swollen or even have popped caps. Blown regulators usually will have part of it blown off or even a noticeable electrical arc. Should either be the case, replace the motherboard.
Should you have to replace the motherboard, your hard drive probably will not boot to the desktop but, if the IDE chipset is the same as the old board, it just might boot. I have had some limited success booting an XP drive on a replaced motherboard. Usually I will have to do repair load of the OS, taking the second install option for a repair installation and not the first option that will apppear offering a repair load. Yes, it can be a little confusing. Just skip the first opportunity you are given for a repair and take the second repair option that will appear shortly afterward when it asks you which partition you wish to install to. This is the repair option you want to take.

I hope this helps you.

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