ashur
asked on
Unable to boot PC
I recentely installed a Saphire Radeon 9500 128MB video card, and it worked fine for a few days, but then the PC crashed while i was playing a game. I restarted but the PC would crash at the as soon as the Windows 98 logo appeared on the screen during bootup. I also got the message 'Ultra100 not installed'.
I have tried booting from my Windows 98 recovery CD but the PC wouldn't even recognise that it was in the CD drive. I even changed the boot priority in the Bios so that the CD was first, but no luck. Also, the PC fails to recognise any Primary or Secondary Master on the first memory check screen at bootup.
After swapping the Radeon out and reverting to the old graphics card, I did SYS C: then managed to boot the PC in safe mode, then restart into normal mode, but with limited video card functionality. I started to backup vital files, but the system would crash frequentely, and I would have to SYS C: again before being able to boot up, and even then the system would fail to boot up on several occasions. Now however the system won't boot up at all and is back at crashing at the Windows 98 logo screen. I have no idea what is going on at all.
I have tried booting from my Windows 98 recovery CD but the PC wouldn't even recognise that it was in the CD drive. I even changed the boot priority in the Bios so that the CD was first, but no luck. Also, the PC fails to recognise any Primary or Secondary Master on the first memory check screen at bootup.
After swapping the Radeon out and reverting to the old graphics card, I did SYS C: then managed to boot the PC in safe mode, then restart into normal mode, but with limited video card functionality. I started to backup vital files, but the system would crash frequentely, and I would have to SYS C: again before being able to boot up, and even then the system would fail to boot up on several occasions. Now however the system won't boot up at all and is back at crashing at the Windows 98 logo screen. I have no idea what is going on at all.
SHONNER
Once you get booted to DOS. See if SCANDISK shows you any bad sectors on your hard drive. Do you have current anti-virus software installed?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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install the radeon card and run the recovery for win98.
if problem continues try swap the motherboard if u have
that facility.
if problem continues try swap the motherboard if u have
that facility.
ASKER
Where on the motherboard is the CMOS reset jumper? There doesn't seem to be anything in my motherboard manual about it. There is mention in the manual of an option to 'Reset Configuration Data' through the Bios.
ASKER
Having looked at the manual again I found an option to erase the CMOS Real Time Clock RAM, by shorting two solder points in order to clear the CMOS. Would this be what I'm looking for?
I doubt setting the BIOS back to default will fix a faulty drive, IDE cable, or IDE port on a motherboard. Hopefully, it's just a loose IDE cable.
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ASKER
I suppose it could be something to do with the power supply. By now, when I switch it on the monitor doesn't switch on at all, just remains black, but sometimes it does switch on if I leave the PC switched off for a while then try again. I'm going to try formatting the HD the hope that it's a software issue.
Ashur
"By now, when I switch it on the monitor doesn't switch on at all, just remains black"
Sounds like the Power Supply - I would pick up another, at least 350W and give it a go.
Steve
"By now, when I switch it on the monitor doesn't switch on at all, just remains black"
Sounds like the Power Supply - I would pick up another, at least 350W and give it a go.
Steve
ASKER
So is there any point in trying to format the HD?
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