5 replies to this topic

[Ski]

Don't really know where to put this, so I'll put it here!!!

Neighbors computer - Presario 54220NX - I rebuilt and gave to him a couple of years ago.

Intel Cel 2.6
1G (2X512) PC266
Radian 9600
20G HD - DVD - CD - etc...

Machine will boot to Win splash screen - go black, and that's it. Monitor power light blinks and monitor 'clicks' - I believe monitor is OK cause it stays on in the BIOS, and for the complete reinstall of XP ('bout an hour). In safe mode it just stops with a screen full of single command lines, and that's it. Tried with on-board video - same problem. POSTs fine, enters - exits BIOS fine.
Did a repair reinstall (press R at the second request), same problems. Twice, once before the reinstall, it came up with the thingy 'one of your drives needs to be checked......' I let it run both times - no problems found - reboots to same black screen problem.

Before I start replacing major parts - any suggestions??


TIA
Ski

[rokytnji]

If me. I would download a Puppy 4.31 iso(because it is pretty rock stable, download is in the link if you want it). Burn a CD with Image Burn or whatever you use to burn image disks. Let it load into ram (you have the room), eject the cd, let it run for a hour or so to make sure your problem is not hardware related. If screen goes black after that. You can start thinking hardware related like ram, mobo, vga cord, etc.....

Always md5sum check a downloaded linux iso file to check integrity of iso before trying to burn cds. You might have to google for md5sum hash for 4.31.

Other choices below

http://puppylinuxnews.org/

https://help.ubuntu....ity/HowToMD5SUM

I usually recommend

http://www.nullriver...ducts/winmd5sum

because it is dead simple for a Windows user to use

[Ski]

May try that. Never thought of doing that!! That would kinda take the hardware issue out of play. I have a couple live copies of Knopix something or other, and a live copy of Ubuntu, + numerous other versions of Red Hat, Mandrake, Debian, Susie, and others that slip my mind at the moment.

[Broni]

Quote

In safe mode it just stops with a screen full of single command lines,

It loads drivers. Which one is the very last listed?

[Ski]

Broni - the last driver listed is almost standard.... something ...MUP.. something. Appears to be a standard Safe Mode load - but it stops there....

The machine is actually an AMD XP2.6 as I thought, I changed it to Intel - couldn't recall too many Compuke boxes with a real AMD....

Brought it home today, plugged it up to my stuff, and VIOLA!! - no problems. Did finally discover the HD is/was on it's way out - too many errors - took near an hour to reformat - etc. Besides it was only a 20G. Dug around in my used parts box and came up with a good 80G, so after most of the afternoon/evening, we are back in business - drive wise.
The basic problem is his old 50lb KDM 15' monitor. Never seen this before - as long as you stayed out of Windows proper, and away from a real vid card, all was well. As soon as it loaded video drivers, the monitor went on the fritz..... Totally unrecoverable!
I have a 2 month old 18.5 flat screen in the box I'm gonna sell him for 80.00. I want a 22 or better anyway.

All is well in the Ski neighborhood - for now. I'm beginning to despise computers.........
I have 2 more single older gents that won't stay off the porn sites - so this weekend will be dedicated somewhat to chasing the nasties out of their stuff - - never ends.......gonna hafta start charging them like 20.00 a whack..... Maybe that will help a little..........Probably not!!!

Thanx all for the suggestions

[Broni]

Good news :)