Topic: Re-booting and strange blue screen??

[mistybear]

This is the sequence that happens at first turning it on,

MB screen with this across the bottom,

Post screen <DEL>: Bios and some another stuff

then, the screen with white writing for devices, but this is all messed up with verifying DMI Pool at the bottom.

then the screen is full of !!!!!!!!!!!!

Then Windows XP normal load screen.

then black screen and the fans speed up as if it's going to load everything.

then a strange black and white step pattern

then it powers off the monitor and keyboard, and the whole thing starts again.

This is what the blue boot screen has on it?

[Rik]

It looks like your CMOS memory might have scrambled, Kate. Do you have the motherboard manual?

[mistybear]

Hi Rik, yes we do.

We did come across this in our Whirlpool forum.

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1288693

It wouldn't surprise me if it was his video card as he has taken the cover off it to help with cooling, but it gets full of dust.   

[Rik]

Have you got a spare card you can try?

[mistybear]

No, it's in my computer. Well I guess I can turn this one off and use the laptop.

[mistybear]

He did take the battery out on the weekend when it was doing this, didn't make any difference.

But we found the MB manual and he has taken the card out of mine and is installing it in his.

[Rik]

There's usually a jumper to clear the CMOS once you've taken the battery out, Kate. At that point in the boot process it can only really be CMOS or graphics card, so if you change the latter, you will have a pretty good diagnosis.

[mistybear]

He is re-installing Windows, and it appears that the card from my computer has done the trick. Which was his old card from his medion computer which I needed after the fan fell of mine.

The card that has caused the problem is a XFX 9800 GTX Black Edition 512mb, which was quite expensive. I'm hoping it can be fixed. 

[mistybear]

Well someone has found a way of fixing them when all else fails.

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1348684

[Rik]

Don't forget to baste it regularly.

[mistybear]

I think I'll fore go the basting, as I'll like mine crispy. 

[Rik]