I need conformation

[PK|Sam]

Hey, when your computer gets stuck at the startup screen and "numlock scroll lock and caps lock" won't light up when you hit them, that means the processor is fried right?

[PK|Vagina Patrol]

lol, i sure hope not :P

[PK|Deep Blue]

Not neccesarily, when my keyboard (especially a PS/2 one) stops responding to num lock and caps lock, I tend to agree that the computer has locked.

If you continue to have startup problems then I would first suggest it's power related. If the processor is fried the machine won't even post, or if it does post, you'll get a string of beep codes instead of the single 'all okay' beep.

Try swapping out the power supply and taking it from there :)

[PK|Colonel Ames]

If Dex's power thing doesn't work try the following:

Insert your Windows CD. and boot from it. (this may require setting CD as you 1st boot device)

when you get to the first option menu (there will be 3 options on a Blue screen with white writing), press "r" to go to the recovery console.

When you get into the recovery console (it looks a lot like the DOS window) it may ask you for an administers password. if you have not set one, just hit enter. If you have entered one, type it in (obviously). if you don't get asked the password then great.

the prompt should read "C:\WINDOWS>". type the following "chkdsk /r" and hit enter. this will check the disk for any corrupt system files and restore them and will also check the Hard Disk for any corrupt sectors that would stop the operating system from loading. The whole tool usually takes anything from 20 to 60 minutes depending on the size of your Hard Drive so got make a cuppa or something.

when it has finished, it will tell you how many sectors there are on the disk and how many where bad and if it fixed any of them and should show another prompt. simply type "exit" and hit enter. the system will reboot. Don't load from the CD again. boot into windows and see if it has solved the issue.

Ask Dex said before, i doubt it is CPU related as you wouldn't even get to the windows loading screen. it is either a power of Hard Drive related issue.

EDIT: Oh and if it tells you the Hard Disk is already in use and it wants you to "Dismount the Volumn"(or something similar) DO NOT DO IT! it will get rid of the file system and you wont be able to use the Hard Drive again without formating it and reinstalling windows.

[PK|Cerro]

Hey, when your computer gets stuck at the startup screen and "numlock scroll lock and caps lock" won't light up when you hit them, that means the processor is fried right?

That be the BIOS startup screen or the windows startup screen? There's a big difference.

If its the BIOS screen (which sounds likely) then at what point does it stop? Does it get through the POST (single beep)? Does the BIOS "power complient" logo have a chance to appear? Does it test the memory?

[PK|Sam]

First thing I tried was trying to boot from the xp cd and I know I had previously had it set to boot from cd set to number 1. I also tried swapping every part I could to isolate the problem including the power supply.

The booting screen I ment was the one before the windos xp loading one. I ment the one that you see right away thats usualy just the logo or the make of your processor with the messages at the bottom saying "del for bios" and things.

Also no keys on my keyboard respond if I wasn't clear about that.

[PK|Argaf]

Is it beeping when you power it on ?
What's the sequence of the beeps - or is there a mini display on the motherboard when you turn it on which shows a code ?

[PK|Sam]

No beeps.

[PK|Cerro]

ah no beeps - at all. Thats bad.

Sounds like one of your main components has had it - motherboard, cpu or possibly the memory or graphics card.

So i take it the process is this -> you press power button -> screen is black -> screen stays black (no beeps are heard) and then... nothing? Lights are no but no one is home sorta thing right?

[PK|Sam]

Yeah except the screen isn't black, it has the startup screen thing as I've said before but never reaches beyond that.

[PK|Colonel Ames]

I'd put my money on Motherboard (and possibly processor)

[PK|Cerro]

Yeah except the screen isn't black, it has the startup screen thing as I've said before but never reaches beyond that.

Ah so what does this screen look like? Is it the splash screen from your motherboard maker or is it the screen that show the ram check and IDE devices? (also has the energy star complient/Intel/AMD logo in the top right corner)

If it was your cpu that was fried, i'd expect a blank screen and nothing more... motherboard fault sounds a tad more likely, if it was ram i would expect a series of beeps on boot but that doesn't mean it can't be any of those!

[PK|Sam]

Looks like: http://www.samface.net/filedump/boot.png

Also would just like to thank everyone so far for the shit loads of help.

[PK|Cerro]

yeah thats the boot splash screen - thats a tad unfortunate because it makes it harder to tell where its dying.

You can turn that screen off in the bios and it shows the cpu detection (along with any faults) and the mem test - if we could see where it stops then we'd have a better idea.

You can probably rule out your power supply - since you get that far. Its a hardware fault, i've little doubt about that, what part its difficult to tell. If it doesn't get the POST that suggests to me its one of your cpu or motherboard is at fault. Although if either have failed completely you wouldn't even get that far... only way to work it out is to try different parts from another machine?

[PK|Colonel Ames]

I think it could be the north bridge on the motherboard gone or the Bios chip. open up the case and take the battery off of the motherboard for 30 seconds then but it back in.

Make sure you completely unplug everything. and disconnect the power supply from the motherboard as well.

[PK|Sam]

Tried that already : (

[PK|Sam]

Did the battery thing again but waited about 2 minutes instead of 30 seconds and now the boot splash screen is the same... but the compaq logo is gone.

[PK|Deep Blue]

Did it used to give the single all okay beep? if it never did, make sure the PC case speaker is plugged in :)

[PK|Sam]

It used to yeah.
I think its bin time, the machine is around 10 year old anyway.

[PK|Colonel Ames]

And a compaq by the looks of things. I think it's time to build yourself a new PC young Mr. Sam. definitely looks as though the motherboard has gone tits up.

[PK|Cerro]

Well 10 years is longer than your average computer... 10 years are about as long as CPUs are supposed to last so you got your money's worth.

[PK|Sam]

Yeah : (
Thanks anyway for all your help. Appreciate it.
But now its shopping time.

[PK|Sam]

I swear I won't bother you anymore, this is last bit of help I need:

Just need to know for sure if these parts will fit together:

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=311292
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=335663&view=detailed#ProductTabs
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=336928
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=331452

[PK|Cerro]

That probably won't last that long or even run newer games...

If you are on a really tight budget i'd go with this at least:

E4500
Intel P35 motherboard
2Gb DDR2 800Mhz CAS5 Ram
8600GT or (maybe) HD2600XT

[PK|Sam]

What? No this is a computer thats being made for youtube and checking email. My actual computer is running better than ever : )

Aslo a little edit, the power supply is only 250 watts.

Sorry for the confusion.