Computer Broken URGENT

[okeywon]

Hello, thank you for taking the time to look at what I have to say. My computer for about 3 months will not start right, I am currently using a laptop to type this. This PC will start up correctly, but it comes to black screen that says, Start up Safe mode and other [censored] like that, when I press one of these, it freezes. So I took apart my computer, and I checked out the motherboard, video card ect... But I have NO idea what I am doing, so if you guys could give me a hand, It would be much appreciated

[okeywon]

Can anyone help me on here? Im having problems

[guestolo]

Not sure if any anyone can help you without more info?

Exact make/model of computer?
Operating system?
Do you have Install disks or Recovery disks?
Any info you can supply would be helpful

[okeywon]

[quote name=\'guestolo\' post=\'448886\' date=\'Dec 6 2008, 12:05 AM\']Not sure if any anyone can help you without more info?

Exact make/model of computer?
Operating system?
Do you have Install disks or Recovery disks?
Any info you can supply would be helpful[/quote]

The exact model I think is a Gateway E3100
The Operating system is Windows XP
No

[guestolo]

Upon startup, do you have a selection under the Advanced startup options
as the following

Disable automatic restart on system failure
If so, can you select it, does it give you a Blue screen error message?
Can you post back here the exact error message if it does

[okeywon]

[quote name=\'guestolo\' post=\'448946\' date=\'Dec 6 2008, 02:51 PM\']Upon startup, do you have a selection under the Advanced startup options
as the following

Disable automatic restart on system failure
If so, can you select it, does it give you a Blue screen error message?
Can you post back here the exact error message if it does[/quote]
 
I started my desktop and upon the start up screen it did not have Advanced startup options, so I rebooted and pressed F1, but still no luck finding it that screen ethier, I think we are running out of options =(

[guestolo]

Can you disconnect your Video cables to monitor and back of computer
Then reconnect it, ensuring it's seated firmly

Diconnect any peripheals you have connected, Only leave your mouse/keyboard connected
Try starting up again, any luck?

[okeywon]

ugh.... no luck =(

[guestolo]

Do you have A Recovery Partition installed on your drive?
When you boot up
What options do you have
Eg.. F1 F8....

[okeywon]

I have F1, Tab, and F12 but ive tried all of these, when I do F12 it says media connection failed, returning to startup

[guestolo]

Can you access setup?  Bios configuration?
If so, are you able to Set to defaults?

If not, remove the battery from the motherboard for about 15 minutes and then reinsert it
See if you can then boot

Have you added any new Hardware to this computer?

[okeywon]

Um, I did take the video card out for like a day, to let it settle because my computer had been running for like a day

[guestolo]

Not sure if I understand
You haven't been able to boot up this computer for a few months?
Or just recently?

When did you have it running for a day?
just recently, have you tried shutting down computer

Again, do the following, Remove your Video card
Reseat it and ensure it's seated properly, reconnect just monitor/mouse/keyboard

Will it boot?

[okeywon]

Ok, Im on the BIOs configuration

[guestolo]

Have you tried loading bios defaults yet?

[okeywon]

[quote name=\'guestolo\' post=\'448982\' date=\'Dec 6 2008, 05:59 PM\']Have you tried loading bios defaults yet?[/quote]

Yeah, I just tried and I put setup defualts, exited saving changes, then booted back up and it didnt work

[guestolo]

I'm curious if it's hardware or software, since you have access to another computer
You could try download a linux live distro and see if it will boot
If it does, it may be a software conflict

If you don't have any software to burn image files
download and install
[color=\"#0000FF\"]burnatonce>>bao0995.exe[/color]
Onto a working computer

I'm assuming you have high speed internet, you'll need it
Go to the following link
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html

At the link, you can read the info about knoppix if you want
Click on the DOWNLOAD button
Next page you will want to choose a mirror to download from
Just because a location may be closer to you, it may not always be the fastest connection
I find that the download location from
ftp.kernel.org   [rsync]   [ftp]   [http]   Kernel.Org (California, USA)
is very good speeds if your in North America

You can select it by Clicking  on ftp as eg..
At the new page click on ACCEPT
This will bring you to an Index of what you can download
Scroll down to KNOPPIX_V5.1.1CD-2007-01-04-EN.iso>>713064 KB and click on it
Choose SAVE TO DISK and OK
Select the location to download, such as desktop

After download is complete you will want to burn the ISO as is

Fire up Burnatonce, put a blank CD into the drive
In burnatonce, select Setting>>Device Settings, this will show you the options
Ensure the speed of write is correct, you can lower it a bit to ensure a good burn
Afterwards, click on the WRITE button or FILE>>New Image
Navigate to KNOPPIX_V5.1.1CD-2007-01-04-EN.iso
and double click on it to Select it
Then click on the WRITE button again
Let it complete the burn process, after it is successful you are ready to try it in the nonbootable computer
Set the computer to boot from CD first in BIOS

[okeywon]

[quote name=\'guestolo\' post=\'449077\' date=\'Dec 7 2008, 10:35 AM\']I'm curious if it's hardware or software, since you have access to another computer
You could try download a linux live distro and see if it will boot
If it does, it may be a software conflict

If you don't have any software to burn image files
download and install
[color=\"#0000ff\"]burnatonce>>bao0995.exe[/color]
Onto a working computer

I'm assuming you have high speed internet, you'll need it
Go to the following link
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html

At the link, you can read the info about knoppix if you want
Click on the DOWNLOAD button
Next page you will want to choose a mirror to download from
Just because a location may be closer to you, it may not always be the fastest connection
I find that the download location from
ftp.kernel.org   [rsync]   [ftp]   [http]   Kernel.Org (California, USA)
is very good speeds if your in North America

You can select it by Clicking  on ftp as eg..
At the new page click on ACCEPT
This will bring you to an Index of what you can download
Scroll down to KNOPPIX_V5.1.1CD-2007-01-04-EN.iso>>713064 KB and click on it
Choose SAVE TO DISK and OK
Select the location to download, such as desktop

After download is complete you will want to burn the ISO as is

Fire up Burnatonce, put a blank CD into the drive
In burnatonce, select Setting>>Device Settings, this will show you the options
Ensure the speed of write is correct, you can lower it a bit to ensure a good burn
Afterwards, click on the WRITE button or FILE>>New Image
Navigate to KNOPPIX_V5.1.1CD-2007-01-04-EN.iso
and double click on it to Select it
Then click on the WRITE button again
Let it complete the burn process, after it is successful you are ready to try it in the nonbootable computer
Set the computer to boot from CD first in BIOS[/quote]
 Alright, its downloading right now got another 2hrs

[okeywon]

Ok, I downloaded the Linux thingy and burned it, I put it in my desktop and it started nicely, it came up to this gray screen and the cursor is an X. But I left it for like 10mins and it didn't do anything, I am once more stuck

[guestolo]

The video card in this computer
Did it come stock with the computer, or was it added at a later time?

NOTE: I found some info on this computer
                             

Gateway E3100 233
 
CPU & MOTHERBOARD
Processor make/model         Intel Pentium II 233
Motherboard make/model       Intel
Chipset]                     Intel 440LX
BIOS                         PheonixBIOS 4.0
ISA bus slots                2
PCI bus slots                4
AGP                          yes
SCSI                         no
Software CPU configuration   no
MEMORY  
RAM (as tested)              32MB SDRAM
Maximum RAM                  384MB
Level 2 cache                512K
Pipeline burst SRAM          yes
SIMM slots (72-pin)          0
DIMM slots (168-pin)         3
STORAGE  
Hard disk make/model         Western Digital
Hard disk capacity (GB)      4
Type                         Ultra DMA/33
CD-ROM drive make/model      32x Mitsumi
Others                       none
CASE DESIGN
Type                         Full-tower
5.25in bays                  4
3.5in bays                   4
Power rating (watts)         200
Soft power on button         yes
GRAPHICS & DISPLAY
Video card make/model        STB nVidia 128
Video card memory            4MB SGRAM
Bus type                     AGP
Monitor make/model           15in Gateway 2000 EV 500
CONNECTIVITY  
Ports(1)                     2s, 1p
PS/2                         2
USB                          2
Audio                        none
Modem                        none
Network adapter              none
AUDIO  
Sound card                   none
Speakers                     none
SOFTWARE & BUNDLING
Operating system             Windows 95
Other titles                 Intel LanDesk Client Manager
Extras                       n/a
SERVICE & SUPPORT
Warranty                     3 years, 1 year on-site
Phone support                yes
Internet                     www.gw2k.com.au
BBS                          no

Is this the same specs. as the computer your running?
What about RAM, Video, etc...
Is this what your running for XP?