Computer won't boot past initial post screen?

[Dr Evil]

My desktop computer froze up a few minutes ago in Windows, so I turned it off and let it sit a few minutes. When I went to start it back up, it doesn't go past the initial post screen... Any ideas Suggestions?

Gigabyte Mobo
2GB ram
500GB drive
1GB GT200

Windows 7

[ShinobiWan]

Most likely a dll error. If you have a recovery cd, use it to restore windows settings without formatting. If not, download a copy of knopix and get all your data backed up.

[Dives]

Is there any unusual beeping?
Does it just hang at the POST screen or does it continuously keep restarting?
Are there any error messages?

Make sure your hard-drive is completely plugged in and your RAM is seated properly.

[TheDanishMaster]

Try out what they say above me. Another thing u can do is to unplug ur HDD (while its off and unplug both data and power cabel) and then try to boot up the pc. If it still doesnt go through the post then theres nothing wrong with ur windows installation but some of ur other components like RAM, CPU or something else. Ive had this problem myself and It was my graphics card. And it was dead. When I removed it and booted again it worked fine.

[Dr Evil]

There is no unusual beeping, it just sits at the initial post screen right where it says "Energy Star Complaint / CPU Processor: AMD II X2 Z40 Processor...." and it goes no farther.

The only different between last nite and this morning is I can actually get into the CMOS setup.... I thought my CPU or something might be over heating, but according to CMOS, my cpu Temp hasnt gotten over 41 C... so I dunno.... I have all my hard drives and other things unplugged.... someone mentioned the little battery thats on the board... could that be it?

Dr Evil

[ShinobiWan]

Yeah the cmos battery.

Try that as a last resort, unplug it and let your computer sit for 5 minutes or so. Plug it back in and boot up. Youll run into loads of settings having been reset that way though. You may even have to flash your bios.

I would try reseating every component one by one. In a procedural type way so you can figure out where the computer hangs up at.

Cpu>gpu>ram>cd/dvd>harddrive>etc..

Make sure you dont have an old modem card, or an old 3.5 bay, or any other component that never gets used. Those can fail from not even being used and can short out an entire system.

[LordDz]

I have the same problem on my stationary computer, I get ALMOST all the way to the log in screen, but then it just restarts itself.
and to make things even better.
It doesn't know if I put in a cd or an USB in it, so I can't reinstall it that way

[WhiteDevil]

With problem like that it's most likely memory or motherboard issue. Just month ago my parents computer stopped working sudden. It never booted, just powered up with black screen and did nothing else. Replacing motherboard solved that problem.

With memory issues it's usually just sudden reboots when booting and blue screens.
HDD problems also can also prevent windows from booting.

In DR. Evil's case I'm pretty damn sure it's the motherboard... or the memory.

[LordDz]

With problem like that it's most likely memory or motherboard issue. Just month ago my parents computer stopped working sudden. It never booted, just powered up with black screen and did nothing else. Replacing motherboard solved that problem.

With memory issues it's usually just sudden reboots when booting and blue screens.
HDD problems also can also prevent windows from booting.

In DR. Evil's case I'm pretty damn sure it's the motherboard... or the memory.

Heh thanks. It's quite a few years old, but it works pretty good.. So could be fun to get it working, and I can have lans withmyself

[Terr]

It may be hanging while trying to access your hard drive. Unplug your HD's data/power connections (hard power off, static strap if you have it, etc. I'm assuming you know the safety drill) and then see if it comes up with a "No bootable device" type of error.

If you have more than one stick of memory, try seeing if the problem is one of them, by trying to boot to just one or the other instead of both/multiple.

(If for any reason you want to test your memory and can boot to a CD, try Memtest86+)

Most likely a dll error.

Uhhhh, no, not at the POST screen.