Help with comp that won't boot

[crowfan]

Hi all,

I have a Dell that is a couple years old (P3 600 mhz, 256 RAM, 40G HD). It's running Win98SE. I was trying to set it up for a home network. While following the troubleshooting guide for the router, I went into ipconfig. I accidentally hit the "Release" or "Renew" button on that screen and the comp died. I tried to reboot, and this is what happens:

-- shows info/specs for video card quickly.
-- shows "splash screen" add for Dell, and freezes here.

If I press the Delete key at the Dell splash screen, it will scan the computer, count the RAM (from 0 to 256), show the BIOS info, see the IDE drives, mouse and keyboard, then it says "Entering SETUP..." and it freezes there.

I have checked all internal connections, and they're all solid. I have reset the CMOS (took the jumper off 1&2, put it on 2&3, waited, returned to 1&2), and tried to boot from the Win98 Startup floppy. Also tried booting the comp with the Win98 CD in the drive, and nothing happened. Tried pushing F1, F2, F8, F12 while booting -- nothing worked. Any ideas? I didn't touch anything inside the case, no static shock or anything, as the case was closed and under the desk while this happened. I can't do ANYTHING -- reinstall Windows, run in Safe Mode, format HD -- NOTHING.

Can anyone help? Thanks in advance.

[DoctorReno]

You have done everything I would do. This is a stumper. Will think on it. Sorry, I've got nothing right now.

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

Perhaps a bad stick of memory? if you have another (or 2 in the system) try each one and see if the problem remains. I've had a stick die while in use and similar would happen, just lock.

[crowfan]

Thanks for the replys.

I tried the memory thing, but to no avail. There were 2 sticks of 128 in there, tried them together and each by itself and it did not help.

Two more things I should mention: I have disconnected the network cable while trying to fix it, but I also tried all of my techniques with it connected and nothing was any different.

Also, the machine won't turn off. I can press the Reset button on the PC and it will reset, but the power button does not work, I can only unplug it to get the power to go off!

Could my accidental pressing of the "Release" or "Renew" button on the ipconfig screen REALLY have caused all this? Or is it just something else happening at a really bad time?

Thanks again....

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

This is coincidence, There is nothing you could have done in the router config to make your pc unusable (router unusable sure)

Have you tried holding the power button for 8 seconds or so and see if it will go off?

as for the other problem. Do you have a different power supply to try?

if not, try disconnecting all drives but the HD you want to boot from, also remove any unneeded cards (cpu/1 stick of mem/vid only).

[crowfan]

Thanks again,

Just to clarify, I was in the Windows ipconfig screen, not the config screen for the router. I clicked Start, Run, then typed "winipcfg" and clicked either the "Release" or "Renew" button on that screen (not sure which b/c I can't boot the comp, and the one I'm on now is on XP!), which caused the problem...

I will try those other suggestions tomorrow and post any updates.

Thanks

crow

[ova_clocka]

I've seen a similar problem here with a DELL XPS R400 (PII 400) w/win98 set up.

It started off with the power button not working. Then, using the SHUTDOWN from the start menu put the machine to RESTART. Then, the floppy drive connection on the mobo went out. Finally it hung up while mounting windows.

After a long battle with this sys and several phone calls to DELL (no help), we decided to changed out the POWER SUPPLY with one we had from another DELL sys. The system booted, and mounted win98.

The floppy drive connection on the mobo is still dead, and the power button is still inop. But everything else is working.