Serious Computer Problem - Help!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

My daughter's computer, a 2.5-year-old Dell Dimension 4600 running Windows XP, just got very hinky. Here's the deal:

I can turn it on; the power light comes on, I get the initial black start-up screen, showing the Dell name and the horizontal loading bar, a tiny bit filled -- and then nothing. It just sits there.

I've tried starting it in safe mode; no go.

I've tried booting from the start-up cd; doesn't work.

On-line searching has mostly led me to discussions of total power failure in the 4600, which this isn't; it's turning on, but that's all.

This is surely some kind of retribution for speaking well of Dell in that recent Dell thread; who knew Asher had such spooky powers?

Anyway, any hints at all would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

[Nubclear]

Are you able to go into the BIOS?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Comrade Tassadar
Are you able to go into the BIOS?

Okay, you need to treat me like a complete moron here: what does that mean and how would I do it?

[Nubclear]

Hmm. When its starting up, there is usually a button you can press to get to the "computer configuration screen" (where you can set the date, etc). On my computer, its the Delete key.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

It's F8 on mine; no go.

[Nubclear]

I imagine thats not a good sign Maybe try resetting the jumper on the BIOS? Don't ask me how to accomplish this.

[alva]

The easiest way to reset your BIOS, is to remove the battery (big round thing on your motherboard) and start it up a couple of times (may take a few attempts).

[Proteus_MST]

Have you pressed the F8-Button at the right time?
(Which is the time when it´s displaying the vailable HDDs on your Computer [if you press it later it doesn´t do anything])

And have you pressed it more than once during this time? (advisable to ensure that at least one of your button presses occured at the right moment)

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Proteus_MST
Have you pressed the F8-Button at the right time?
(Which is the time when it´s displaying the vailable HDDs on your Computer [if you press it later it doesn´t do anything])

And have you pressed it more than once during this time? (advisable to ensure that at least one of your button presses occured at the right moment)

1) We're not getting as far as viable HDDS; 2) yes.

Meanwhile, here's a new development:

In the latest attept to boot, the start-up screen has been replaced with a message: "Previous attempts at booting thi system have failed at checkpoint [Tmr2]." Does that clarify anything?

[alva]

Reset your bios, set it up so it can boot from CD and reinstall windows, sounds like the easiest way to go Rufus.

[Proteus_MST]

In this case, I agree with alva.

[alva]

What do you mean: "in this case"?

[Nubclear]

Try removing various components (RAM, harddrive, etc) and see if it starts up.Maybe.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Okay, well, I'm off to a dinner party, so I won't get a chance to try anything until tomorrow (approx 16 hours from now). But then I'll try the battery and RAM removals, etc. Meanwhile, if anyone else has any ideas, post 'em!

and thanks

[Provost Harrison]

If you remove your RAM, your computer will not initialise...