Computer never boots right away

[Terminal23]

I always have to hit ctrl-alt-del to get it to boot right.I changed ever setting in the bios to ever possible combination and it does it every time.Any suggestions?It's an Epox 8K5A MB.

[twiztidtruckie]

how many pre-system-boot tests you running?...should just be running boots on drives and memory. You can skip mem test if you like..that may speed her up a bit...can you also be a little more specific in the actual problem?

Truckie

[Terminal23]

As specific as I can get.Well,when you turn on the computer it beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeps long and does nothing.After I hit reset or ctrl-alt-del it beeps normal and boots up.It does this every time.

[unknown9]

like truckie said, be more specific

also if you get past post, try booting on to knoppix (bootable linux)

[twiztidtruckie]

ok..heres what i meant by specific:

what drives(HDs/Cd's/etc)?
what operating system?
what cpu/speed?
what memory?
whats the MOBO model #?
have you upgrade your bios recently?
are you using factory or offbrand cooling on CPU?
does comp run normal after CTRL+ALT+DEL?

awnser these for me and i may have a conclusion to your delema...thanks

truckie

[LeftCoast]

Originally posted by Terminal23
I always have to hit ctrl-alt-del to get it to boot right.I changed ever setting in the bios to ever possible combination and it does it every time.Any suggestions?It's an Epox 8K5A MB.

Yo term,

Have you tried shorting your CMOS jumper, to revert to default (bios) settings? (Sometimes you need to remove the battery first; consult your specific mobo's instructions...)

This would be the first thing I do next, if I hadn't done it already.

-LC

[Bones1]

I had the same trouble. When the comp was started it beeped then nothing everything (drives, fans etc) was running but nothing on the screen 'till I reset the system then it booted fine.

This was after I changed my Matrox G400 to an ATI 9000. I figured that it was drawing too much power at startup and couldn't initialize everything at once.

My problem was my cheap 250W power supply. I switched to a bigger model a 300W and everything was fine after that... Well now I run a 480W just to be on the safe side.

HTH

Jim

[CoLdFeAr]

Take out EVERY single PCI card thats in your computer (leave graphics) and just have one hard drive connected (with the OS)

Reset the BIOS with the jumper on the motherboard.

How does that go?

[amdkt7]

I agree with Bones, it could be a weak PSU. Also could be that the mobo does not support the cpu installed properly. I don't know your mobo, and you did not say what cpu you have, but there was a problem when some people tried an XP cpu in a board that did not support it. CTRL ALT DEL would make it run anyway.

Have you always had this problem, or did it just develop?