PC Boots straight to blinking underscore

[Mrzeede]

A while ago I installed a new PSU and GPU. It worked for a while then started displaying the dreaded flashing underscore screen that would not go away. I called a PC repair shop and they told me it probably a failed hard drive. A new hard drive, however did not solve the issue. I tried resetting the BIOS and this did not help either. I have also tried booting from a Windows Disc which actually worked at first but then went back to the flashing underscore after the computer restarted during the windows setup process. I do not have access to BIOS on startup it just goes straight to the flashing underscore and will not budge. Any ideas on what it might be?

 

[oczdude8]

I believe its not set up to boot through the hard drive. The flashing underscore just means it is not booting from anything. You should have access to BIOS. As soon as you turn on the computer, repeatedly mash the usual BIOS keys ( esc, del, f10,f12 etc) until you enter the BIOS (may need to try a few different ones to find one for your computer).

In the Bios, have your boot options configured to boot from hard drive.

Also, in the Bios, make sure your hard drive is actually being detected (im assuming you have windows installed).

 

[Mrzeede]

I believe its not set up to boot through the hard drive. The flashing underscore just means it is not booting from anything. You should have access to BIOS. As soon as you turn on the computer, repeatedly mash the usual BIOS keys ( esc, del, f10,f12 etc) until you enter the BIOS (may need to try a few different ones to find one for your computer).

In the Bios, have your boot options configured to boot from hard drive.

Also, in the Bios, make sure your hard drive is actually being detected (im assuming you have windows installed).

I tried this using every entry on this list but no luck. Are there any missing from there? I tried a few other keys and combos like Ctrl alt del etc. just in case.

 

[smorizio]

do this if your pc has onboard video pull the new gpu. if the error stops it might be a bios bug. check your mb to see if it has the newest bios file. if the pc is still locking up unplug all of the drives. if there a bad drive holding up the sata controller unplugging all of them should stop the under score error. if it still there unplug all usb devices other then mouse and keyboard see if one of them has failed.

 

[Mrzeede]

do this if your pc has onboard video pull the new gpu. if the error stops it might be a bios bug. check your mb to see if it has the newest bios file. if the pc is still locking up unplug all of the drives. if there a bad drive holding up the sata controller unplugging all of them should stop the under score error. if it still there unplug all usb devices other then mouse and keyboard see if one of them has failed.

When I pull the GPU and plug into onboard graphics I get this error,

Intel(r) Ironlake Desktop PCI Accelerated SVGA BIOS
Build Number : 1926 PC 14.34 10/30/2009 7:39:48
DECOMPILATION OR DISASSEMBLY PROHIBITED
Copyright(c) 2000-2003 IntelCorp. All RightsReserved

But hey at least its not a blinking underscore!

 

[smorizio]

is there any other card installed in the pc. the message is from the onboard video bios error. some people have fixed it by clearing out the cmos by using the jumper.

 

[oczdude8]

What are your machine specs?

 

[Mrzeede]

is there any other card installed in the pc. the message is from the onboard video bios error. some people have fixed it by clearing out the cmos by using the jumper.

There was no other card installed. I cleared BIOS with CMOS jumper and by removing the BIOS battery for 15 mins but the error persists. I found an old computer and tried using its GPU. I still got the underscore error but the specs of the new GPU showed up above it. Would switching out the BIOS chips possibly work?

 

[smorizio]

if you can get into the bios now with an older gpu set the primany display to the gpu and turn off muilt monitor support see if the error stops. if not it looks like your mb may have failed.