Computer Won't Boot Up

Question

When I went on my PC this morning, my keyboard and mouse lights weren't on, but the light on my computer was, which was wierd.  So I hit the button to turn off my PC, and then whenever I try to turn it on, I get a series of beeps from inside the PC, then the fans go really fast.  Windows doesn't start up, monitors don't register anything, mice/keyboard dont light up.  If I leave it the fans keep going at a pretty high speed.    I'm assuming the problem might be associated with hardware I installed yesterday.  I installed a DVD+RW drive yesterday in the secondary bay.  And when I booted up yesterday right after I installed it, everything was fine.  But now this morning, I get the problem above.   Any help/suggestions/advice would be appreciated.  :-)

Storck · Answer

Ok, it seems the problem was with the drive wires getting pinched and being in wierd places.

fixati0n · Answer

I would try removing the new drive to see if you can boot correctly. If so, then try installing it again.

Storck · Answer

Hmm, I moved around the wires and got a successfull boot up this morning, then about half an hour ago I get the blue screen saying that some hardware was not working and Windows closed to protect your computer.  Right now I'm probably going to take out the drive.    In case it matters, the 2 files that the Blue Screens said were 'bad' were: 'dtfs.sys' & something like 'iustor.sys'

fixati0n · Answer

I would replace the ribbons. Most drives come with a new set anyway.

Storck · Answer

Okay, some more things have happened and I have come to some of my own conclusions, but I would like some outside perspective.  I'll try and make a detailed as possible outline of what has happened so far....   -Yesterday, installed seconary DVD+RW drive in my Dell 8400.  We got the drive inside the bay and plugged in sucessfully.  However, ribbons may have been damaged -After installing drive, the PC recognized it, I installed the software that came with it, and it worked perfect, I burned a DVD with it. -This morning, I woke up to my monitors blank, and my keyboard/mouse off and the PC light ON, which was wierd.  So I turned off the PC via the front button, then turned it on again.  Got beeps from inside then heavy fan noise.  Cont'd to get this after repeated attempts. -I looked inside and moved around ribbons.  Then booted up and worked perfectly for several hours. -Then this afternoon I come to the PC and its on the Blue Screen error page, saying hardware/software was 'bad' and Windows was shut down to protect your PC.  The 2 files it said were missing or corrupt were: ntfs.sys and iastor.sys .   I restart several times, sometimes getting the blue screen other times getting the Screen where you choose how do start up your PC (Safe Mode, Most Recent Working Mode...etc) and the PC wouldn't start up on any of those options. -Then I unplugg the secondary drive which I had installed, attempt to boot up and get  the Beeping/Fan Noise Problem again -Then I go back inside, reaarange ribbons and computer boots up fine   So currently I'm on my regular drive with my new secondary disabled.  I am going to wait until late Thursday to do anything more, to make sure that this current status stays working.   My theory on the situation is the ribbons.  After moving the ribbons around to install the new drive, and with the addition of the flimsy 8400 case-opening-mechanism, they have become crinkled and bent in some places and almost looked damaged in some.  Everytime the PC was not working, the only time it did start working was after I played with the ribbons.   Could damaged ribbons be causing these problems?  Is that possible?  Any advice that anybody would have to offer would be greatly appreciated :-)

Storck · Answer

Yeah, that really seems like the best solution. Do ribbons come model specific or could one just go out and buy them at Best Buy?

fixati0n · Answer

The only thing You really need to worry about is the length and number of plugs.

Windows General

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