Sal_Laz
asked on
Weird boot-up problem
Hi
A couple of days ago, whilst watching a Quicktime movie, there was either an Explorer or Internet Explorer error (not sure which, sorry). When I pressed the button to report the problem the computer rebooted. There didn't seem to be any problems with the reboot, although it did check the disk for errors (which it corrected). When it reached the Logon screen, I shut it down again.
Next morning, when I pressed the power button on the front of the machine, the computer lights came on, but it didn't start booting up - the screen remained blank and the printer did not initialise. It only booted up when I turned it off and on again by the power switch at the back of the computer. When it did boot up, it displayed "Updated ESCD correctly" at the bottom of the boot screen.
The computer appeared to operate normally once it had booted. It was shutdown again overnight and this morning when I came to boot it up, I had to use the on-off switch at the back of the machine again. When it started up, it went straight into the BIOS setup. It said something about the computer struggling to maintain CPU speed on the last bootup and to check it was set correctly - which it was.
I exited the BIOS and the computer booted normally (I didn't notice if it said Updated ESCD this time).
So what the heck is going on here? Have my BIOS settings somehow been changed? What can I do to fix it?
Thanks
Sally
A couple of days ago, whilst watching a Quicktime movie, there was either an Explorer or Internet Explorer error (not sure which, sorry). When I pressed the button to report the problem the computer rebooted. There didn't seem to be any problems with the reboot, although it did check the disk for errors (which it corrected). When it reached the Logon screen, I shut it down again.
Next morning, when I pressed the power button on the front of the machine, the computer lights came on, but it didn't start booting up - the screen remained blank and the printer did not initialise. It only booted up when I turned it off and on again by the power switch at the back of the computer. When it did boot up, it displayed "Updated ESCD correctly" at the bottom of the boot screen.
The computer appeared to operate normally once it had booted. It was shutdown again overnight and this morning when I came to boot it up, I had to use the on-off switch at the back of the machine again. When it started up, it went straight into the BIOS setup. It said something about the computer struggling to maintain CPU speed on the last bootup and to check it was set correctly - which it was.
I exited the BIOS and the computer booted normally (I didn't notice if it said Updated ESCD this time).
So what the heck is going on here? Have my BIOS settings somehow been changed? What can I do to fix it?
Thanks
Sally
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night_monkey
so maybe you should try updating your bios. if you need help doing this, list your hardware specs and os and i or someone else here will point you in the right direction.
and to answer your question: "Have my BIOS settings somehow been changed?" well, anything's possible. i wouldn't bet on that, but it could have happened. maybe your bios battery is flaking out. maybe a change in your os has rubbed your bios the wrong way. lots of things could have happened. but as i mentioned, i would start by updating the bios.
ASKER
If it could be helpful, my computer has an AMD Athlon 1.4ghz CPU and is running Windows 2000.It has 60GB IDE HDD and 512MB DDR, 16x IDE DVD-ROM, 12x8x32 IDE CD-Rewriter, Geforce2 Pro 64Mb AGP and Creative Sound Blaster Live!(OEM). There's an Epson printer and Canon scanner connected.
No hardware or software has changed recently.
I have absolutely no idea how to update my BIOS - will it affect anything on computer - would it be wise to backup before attempting to update the BIOS?
I doubt if my bios battery is wearing out as the computer is only just over a year old.
No hardware or software has changed recently.
I have absolutely no idea how to update my BIOS - will it affect anything on computer - would it be wise to backup before attempting to update the BIOS?
I doubt if my bios battery is wearing out as the computer is only just over a year old.
For a BIOS update (that I recommend too) u need to know the motherboard's model. Make a post with that.
Kronos
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ASKER
If it could be helpful, my computer has an AMD Athlon 1.4ghz CPU and is running Windows 2000.It has 60GB IDE HDD and 512MB DDR, 16x IDE DVD-ROM, 12x8x32 IDE CD-Rewriter, Geforce2 Pro 64Mb AGP and Creative Sound Blaster Live!(OEM). There's an Epson printer and Canon scanner connected.
No hardware or software has changed recently.
I have absolutely no idea how to update my BIOS - will it affect anything on computer - would it be wise to backup before attempting to update the BIOS?
I doubt if my bios battery is wearing out as the computer is only just over a year old.
No hardware or software has changed recently.
I have absolutely no idea how to update my BIOS - will it affect anything on computer - would it be wise to backup before attempting to update the BIOS?
I doubt if my bios battery is wearing out as the computer is only just over a year old.
ASKER
There should not be any viruses as AVG antivirus is installed, up-to-date and runs every day.
I don't know the motherboard model - I would have to contact the manufacturer (Evesham) to find out, unless there is an easier way?
I don't know the motherboard model - I would have to contact the manufacturer (Evesham) to find out, unless there is an easier way?
I could swear I added a comment here about 15 mins ago, but where has it gone?!
Sorry ignore my last comment, this site is playing up (and not my cache!).
I just checked here
http://www.evesham.com/article.asp?e=8B007224-D9B5-4970-B162-967CD65FD2E4
it says you should install the BIOS updates under instruction from tech support, so perhaps you should call Evesham first, if you have an MSI motherboard it could be a known problem.
http://www.evesham.com/article.asp?e=8B007224-D9B5-4970-B162-967CD65FD2E4
it says you should install the BIOS updates under instruction from tech support, so perhaps you should call Evesham first, if you have an MSI motherboard it could be a known problem.
This question is still open and getting old. If any of the comment(s) above helped you please accept it as an answer or split the points who ever helped you in this question. Your attention in finalising this question is very much appreciated. Thanks in advance,
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Computer101
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Computer101
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i would like to know what the final status of this problem came to be, and why the questioner feels that his/her points should be refunded, as more than a couple of us spent quite a bit of time researching the issue, and making suggestions.
ASKER
Thanks to everyone for your input. It turned out to be a hardware problem - the computer had to have a new motherboard and memory.
subscribe to night_monkey
ASKER
Since this turned out to be a hardware problem (needed new motherboard), this question has not technically been solved by any of the respondants.
However, to thank people for taking time to answer the question, I will split the points between the 2 people who did the most work to help me
Sally