bios and format troubles

[kangtim]

working on my nephews hp pavilion 524w. It loaded with viruses. My first problem was when you turned the computer on, the monitor stayed black screen with steady amber until the windows logon screen, therefore you couln't get in the bios. Due to the viruses, I attempted a format and clean install. I put in the windows xp cd and rebooted. When I reboot, the screen stays black with steady amber light and after a approximately 30 seconds the keyboard lights go off. Also, there is no beeps when rebooting, the cdrom lights up, then the floppy, and then just sits there doing nothing, any suggestions?

[Gecko]

[kangtim]

I've tried getting into the bios with those methods with no luck. The only thing I hear running is the fan. If you put a cd into the cdrom, it acts like its trying to boot, but it doesn't. At my wits end.

[Gecko]

kangtim,

I suspect the black screen might be a video problem.
The windows logon screen uses video adapter drivers up until then it non vga drivers
Make sure the monitor's connection is tight.
You could also try a different monitor.

Can you boot into safe mode?
Reboot into Safe mode:
Restart Windows after you see the BIOS screen and before Windows starts to load.
Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears.
Use the Arrow key to ensure that the Safe Mode option is selected.
Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.

[kangtim]

tried to boot to safe mode. still can't get picture. Here's a rundown of whats happening. Monitor power light stays a steady amber during this whole process.

Turn on pc.
cd rom light flashes, then FD light flashes, then HD light flashes like its doing something and the keyboard lights come on. Then the HD light flashes a couple quick flashes and the keyboard lights go off like it lost power to the keyboard.

I've tried reseatting the ram, resetting the bios, check connections, and all suggestions above and nothing seems to work.

[Gecko]

kangtim,

Try reinstalling Windows XP by using Windows XP, follow these steps:
1. Start your computer.
2. Insert the Windows XP CD in your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.

Note If the service pack version of the operating system that you want to install is higher than the service pack version of the CD-ROM operating system that you own, integrate the service pack that you want into the Windows XP installation folder. For more information about how to integrate Windows XP Service Pack 2 files into the Windows XP installation folder, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
900871 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/900871/) How to integrate Windows XP Service Pack 2 files into the Windows XP installation folder
3. On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP page, click Install Windows XP.
4. On the Welcome to Windows Setup page, click Upgrade (Recommended) in the Installation Type box (if it is not already selected), and then click Next.
5. On the License Agreement page, click I accept this agreement, and then click Next.
6. On the Your Product Key page, type the 25-character product key in the Product key boxes, and then click Next.
7. On the Get Updated Setup Files page, select the option that you want, and then click Next.
8. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to reinstall Windows XP.

[icecube]

If its not posting to where you can get into the bios and it's not beeping like crazy then try the following.

Check the pins on the monitor cable, check to make sure the video card is completely seated in the motherboard. Disconnect the hard drive and see the computer posts.

Usually I will pull every card except the video and disconnect all drives and see if it will post. If it doesn't post with a double beep and a bios load screen, then you have a hardware issue.

The keyboard test lights going on and off suggests that it could be the monitor. That is part of a normal post. Check to make sure the cables are firmly attached at the back of the monitor.

[kangtim]

I know its not the monitor because I've tried it on other computers As for reseating the video card, it built into the motherboard. As for the keyboard lights, out of curiousosity, I put a windows 98 startup floppy disk in. When i booted the pc the keyboard lights stayed on but still no picture. I going to try putting a different video card in one of the slots. I"ll post back.