Antares 531 wrote:
I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard
that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer
and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
checked out and settled in.

Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.

I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light
flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the
BEEP.

Any ideas as to what I might try next?

Your problem is *not* software. It is hardware.

Unhook everything from power, open the case and clean it out of dust with
compressed (canned) air. Remove/unhook all parts (one at a time) that can
be disconnected/removed and put them back ion place (just unhook them,
immediately hook them back up, move on to the next part.) Do this for the
hard disk drive cables (power included), CD cables (power included),
motherboard power, memory, even the processor if you feel comfortable doing
so. Then put the case cover back on, secure all the external connections
and turn it back on.

If that fails - chances are some hardware you just touched has died - it
happens.

How's your backups? ;-)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
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