computer problem
 

i switched off my computer as normal last night,put it on today gets as far as the desktop coming on for a couple seconds than goes to a blue screen for a few seconds than goes back to the start from when i switched it on, i,ve no idea what to do next, anybody ideas please.marg.

Re: computer problem
 

as its starting up keep pressing F8. when prompted choose 'Safe Mode'

let me know if that gets you in

(It will be a crappy looking display as it defaults to teh most basic setup that all PCs can handle)

Re: computer problem
 

got as far as the screen with the safe mode on but it said to move the up and keys to go on to the safe mode option but the keys arn,nt doing anything and the the seconds go down to open windows as normal then it goes off and does what i previously said in the first post.marg.

Re: computer problem
 

my guess would be the memory , i once had the same problem after putting in a faulty stick of memory

if your not technicaly minded i recomend park computers in blackburn on darwen street , give them a ring and ask how much to test your pc , it wont be much

DO NOT i repeat DO NOT take it to any pc world so called service center you will just get ripped off/over charged to hell

if your pc is under warrenty then take it back to where you bought it :)

Re: computer problem
 

have you access to another keyboard to test? We need to rule outa short or something in your keyboard

Re: computer problem
 

hi,changed keyboard,the one i use is wireless, changed to usb one.pressed f8 this came on screen, please select boot device:options are maxtor6k040L0, OR ARTECWRR-52Z-1,OR DVSKOREADVS-ROM OR DSR1600H , OR 1ST FLOPPY DISC, OR NETWORK CARD. THOSE WERE THE OPTIONS, .did,nt choose any because i had no idea what they meant.marg.

Re: computer problem
 

Press F5 instead of F8 to get safe mode

Re: computer problem
 

you got there a little early. Your motherboard appears to have a boot menu on the same key. Wait the BIOS screen with writing on has 'just' disappeared before pressing it.

Dave, you sure f5 will work? I must admit I've nevere heard of that one (although as you know I do spend as little time as posssible in Windows)

Re: computer problem
 

Not sure what dictates it but F5/F8 seem to be different on various machines. Mine is F5 for startup options and F8 for boot options.

Re: computer problem
 

tried pressing f5 usb keyboard ,screen came up with 1 option to press enter was my os windows xp home edition,but nothing happening when pressing enter.swapped key board to wireless but that screen did,nt come up when pressing f5.

Re: computer problem
 

If you don't press any keys while the machine is booting up with the USB keyboard in do you still have a problem ?

Re: computer problem
 

Dave, I think you are misunderstanding what I'm trying to achieve, F8 is Windows hotkey to offer the choice of start Windows Normally or use a variety of safe boot modes (including command line). I'm not interested in BIOS levela t this point.

Your looking at a 'boot menu' used when you have multiple OS's installed.

Marg, please retry using F8 just after the first screen has gone. You neeed to try teh 'Safe mode' option when prompted

Re: computer problem
 

still have problem when i don,t press any keys on usb keyboard, when the boot menu comes up with different options then the up and down keys work, but i dont, want to press any of the options in case i,m pressing the wrong one.

Re: computer problem
 

wil try with what you just said,entwisi.

Re: computer problem
 

You had me doubting my sanity for a moment but if you click on the link you will see it's not all black and white :D

http://forums.techguy.org/t403486.html

Re: computer problem
 

got the screen with safe mode etc on but the up and down keys to choose an option won,t work on either keyboards i,ve got for some reason.

Re: computer problem
 

Dave, never seen F5 work in over 12 years of using PCs so whilst it looks like some PCs do it they are a bit weird.

Marg, I'm afraid it looks like your going to need to take it to someone to have a proper look at. its difficult to much more over a medium such as this.

How old is teh PC? TBH they are selling for peanuts now so it may be a nudge to upgrade? We can rescue any data you have on the old PC AS LONG AS YOU DON'T LET ANYONE FORMAT THE DISK!!!! If they do you lose everything. If you do decide to take it to someone explain in clear and simple language that they must not under any circumstances format the disk. Tell them we can rescue data if they are unable to get it back without full reformat/re-install. If you need to go down this avenue drop me a PM.

Re: computer problem
 

thanks anyway for giving it a go,cheers.marg.