Messed up BIOS?

[drmsucks]

and set the boot sequence to look at HDD first.

I really, really urge you to leave the CD as the first boot device since you're having so much trouble. It costs you nothing and may save your *censored* later.

Good luck!

[Rhinosaur]

Im not really able to do anything, if i put the CD in it just crashes faster... Anything i can do short of buying a new comp

[kpac]

There might be one way if you are willing....

Download some kind of Linux (all free) (http://www.linux.org/) and see if you can use it...

It may not be as good as Windows, even though some people call it better, but it may be your only chance.

Good luck.

[Rhinosaur]

How do i download linux when i can't use my computer? Do you mean use a CD or somthing?

[kpac]

All Linux operating systems generalyl boot from CD.
Can you not download it?

[stevejohnson1958]

What model Gateway is this?

There is the possibility this computer was screwed when you first got it.  I really don't know...I wasn't there.

Anyhow...what you may think about doing is going to the manufacturer's website and looking for a BIOS driver for your computer.

Flashing the BIOS is usually done as a LAST RESORT.  However, in this case may be warranted...since BIOS chips can become infected with malware.  It would also update your BIOS chip to the latest version and help resolve the issue you are currently facing.

From there...I would select the best hard drive you have and jumper it as a Master or Cable Select.  I would then perform a diagnostic on the drive to make sure there are no issues with it.  If the hard drive passes diagnostics...I'd perform a low-level format (some people say reinitialize) of the hard drive...writing zeros to every sector.  Basically...making the hard drive as if it came straight from the factory.  I'd then partition the drive and format it using NTFS if you plan to put XP back on it.  The CD you use for installing the operating system should be a licensed copy and "cherry"...meaning it has not been installed on any other computer in the home (or anywhere else for that matter).  It should also be clean and free of smudges and scratches.

If you follow my advice above...you should find your way on the road to happiness...barring any other unforeseen hardware catastrophe.


Keep us posted...

[Rhinosaur]

So get a new BIOS chip? how much do these cost?

And what do i do once i get a bios driver? as my problemed computer is completly usless.

I don't know how to do any of this hard drive buisness, any good guides out there?

Thanks allot.

[stevejohnson1958]

No...not a new BIOS chip...you just "flash" it...which means to write over it.  What's the model of your Gateway?

[Rhinosaur]

Model is...

Gateway MFATXTL

prety old...

Im just not convinced that this didn't have somthing to do with switching up Hard drives, could this have somhow 'infected' my bios?

[Fed]

I think you have created 2 problems, firstly swapping HHds and playing in bios has got your computer confused but that should be easily fixed by the bios settings. Secondly it seems that after you cleaned your computer in an attempt to fix it now it cuts out after only a few seconds so obviously this problem must be fixed first.
The switching off sounds like a heat problem, did you disturb the thermal compound under the heat sink? It really sounds like your cpu is getting too hot to me.
I wouldn't give up on this one yet.

[Rhinosaur]

The problems were there before i cleaned it, the heat sink and the fans have not been changed since before the problems started.

And even if the CPU was getting hot, i would think it could stay on for over a few seconds.

[Fed]

Reply #10 where as previously this wasn't listed as happening.

-Gave the computer a good cleaning, all fans are working. Now the computer stays on for about 4 seconds and then turns off.

The way I see it is that if the computer cuts out after 4 seconds then we will get nowhere until that is fixed.

Was it cutting out after 4 seconds before you cleaned it?

[Fed]

And even if the CPU was getting hot, i would think it could stay on for over a few seconds.

I sort of agree with you there, 4 seconds does sound like a very sort time but who knows for sure?
We have to start somewhere hence my questions.

Have a read of the following link and tell us your thoughts.
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000689.htm

[believer]

Sound like you have an unstable PC.

Take it back to where it went wrong which was at Bios. what are the settings you changed? There may be on thing you changed that is causing all of this issue. It worked before Bios was touched and depending on your setup resetting Bios may not fix it.

What does PC say before it reboots or crashes? actually which is it complete power off or a reboot?

[Rhinosaur]

-The computer still had tons of problems before i cleaned it, i don't think anything changed, my bad for wording it poorly. I only blew air over the computer, so i don't think anything i did caused the problem to worsen.

-The computer will either power off completly or restart, usually it will restart more often, unless the CD is in, then it powers off completly.

-one thing i forgot the mention, the bios error reporting thing says that a pre boot faliure occured -somthing to do with the simos/bios battery, i put in a new battery but the problem is still there.