Trouble booting computer

[Kozok]

When booting my computer it runs hard until I press the restart button above the power button. Sometimes it takes a few tries or it won't start unless I unplug the power cord and try again. I took the side off and watched it when it booted. There was a little red led light on the bottom of the board. Also, there is a cylinder light on the left of my power button that lights up red, I'm not sure what it is. But it will light up red when I start it until I press the restart and get it to boot correctly. After I get it to start it will sometimes freeze at different points of booting. Sometimes at the gateway screen, other times at a black screen or at the user select. This problem has been happening for about 7 months now but I never got around to fixing it.

Also, I tried to put a new graphics card it in a few minutes ago. Kind of why I got interested in fixing this. I put it in and the computer wouldn't boot any of the way it would before,  so I took it out and put the old 1 in and it started after a few tries.

[Computer_Commando]

It's having difficulty identifying some hardware component.  My 1st guess is CD-ROM.  Unplug it and see if problem goes away.

[Karnac]

If the new card draws more power than the old card this would point towards the power supply not having the juice for the new card.....how old is the computer/power supply?...freezing is usually power or overheating.....looks like power here.

[Computer_Commando]

...Also, I tried to put a new graphics card it in a few minutes ago. Kind of why I got interested in fixing this. I put it in and the computer wouldn't boot any of the way it would before,  so I took it out and put the old 1 in and it started after a few tries...

Does this mean you put the card in after you were having problems, thinking that it might be the problem?

[Kozok]

Well, I took out the new graphics card and it turned on, it probably is the power. The computer is  probably 7 years old now. I'm more concerned with getting the computer to boot properly so I don't have to go through the annoyance every time I turn on the computer.

Also, forgot to mention this before. But the computer will sometimes freeze and do what it does when it boots if no one uses it for a few hours. By that I mean, it runs hard and I have to turn it off and go through the start up again.

I unplugged the cd drive and now it won't start unless in safe mode. It freezes after the windows xp load screen.

And yes, I tried to put in the graphics card after I had the problems. So the new card is not the problem. Just thought it might help to know that it won't start with a new card in.

[Karnac]

A 7 year old PSU has seen better days.....swap another in to be sure if you can.

[Computer_Commando]

Something is overheating, could be the hard drive.

[Kozok]

Would a new PSU fix this?

[Computer_Commando]

Maybe, hopefully.  No way to know for sure.

[Kozok]

Hmm, I think I have a 400w PSU from another computer somewhere. This one is 250w. I'll try that I guess.

[Karnac]

If you can borrow a PSU and try it, you'll know whether or not the PSU is the problem....if it works overnite then great! if not then you can follow C_Cs' line of reasoning and look towards an overheating problem.....a new PSU is a good investment in any case.

[Kozok]

If the problem is over heating, how would I fix that?

And this is kind of annoying, I don't understand why it won't start normally at all now. I reattached the cd-drive and it didn't fix it.

[Computer_Commando]

1.  If the problem is over heating, how would I fix that?
2.  And this is kind of annoying, I don't understand why it won't start normally at all now. I reattached the cd-drive and it didn't fix it.

1.  We've been through all that.
2.  It's a computer, by definition it's annoying.  Maybe the offending hardware overheated and died.

[Kozok]

Could reformating possibly fix this?

Also, I just checked My Computer and it shows there is a 2nd cd-drive along with the dvd drive (which for some reason is being called a cd-drive), and the cd-drive.

<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i36.tinypic.com/1iy52o.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">[/url]

D is the dvd E is the cd and F is the drive that shouldn't be there.

I believe I forgot to mention that sometimes it crashes for no apparent reason, sometimes during loading and sometimes just while running around on a game. When it crashes it does this screeching sound through my headphones/speakers, if that means anything.

[Karnac]

Could reformating possibly fix this?

No, you can try run a diagnostic on your HD if you heard screeching noises.
It appears to act up under load.....PSU
Maybe you should cure your curiousity and take it to a repair shop.