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When I turn on my computer, all I can get to is the BIOS and the screen is blank. Help?

Take your Hard Drive to a Technician

It’s possible that your hard drive is fried. If your computer is still covered under warranty, you might want to consider taking it in to the dealer for repairs. To make sure that it is the hard drive that is failing, you can consult your computer user’s manual to find the manufacturer, then visit their website and look for a diagnostic tool check the health of the hard disk. Most of the major hard drive manufacturers offer diagnostic utilities that could help you narrow down the possibilities though since the computer won’t boot, this may not be an option.

Boot to Safe Mode

To get your computer up and running you can attempt to boot into Safe Mode. This way, hopefully, you can get access to your system with only minimal programs running, reducing the chances that you will run into problems. Turn your computer off, then turn it on again and start pressing F8. When you see the Advanced Menu screen, use the arrows on your keyboard to choose Safe Mode and confirm your operating system. The next time you boot your computer it will revert to Normal Mode, so there is no need to undo these steps.

Troubleshoot the Power Source and Cord

Another common cause of this kind of problem is a faulty power cord or battery. You can start by troubleshooting the power cord and outlet by plugging something else into the plug and swapping the power cord. You can also remove the battery and try the cord directly to remove the chances of a faulty battery interfering.

Reseat or Replace the CMOS Battery

Inside your computer there is another power source called the CMOS battery that is plugged directly into the motherboard. This battery allows the computer to keep time and other internal processes even when there is no other power source. CMOS batteries have an average life span of about 5 years, so it is also possible that you need to replace it. You can consult your computer’s user’s manual and check how to find and remove the CMOS battery. In some cases, removing the battery and then re-inserting it is enough to give it a new life, so you might want to try this before replacing it.

I hope these ideas are helpful, if you are still stuck, write again and let us know your computer model, operating system, and the results of what you have tried so far and we’ll go from there.

The keyboard is a PS/2 so does not come with a driver. If I go into BIOS on startup and select keyboard and then Exit and Save, the keyboard works. But when I boot again it does not. Also since I re-installed Windows, it does not see my MP3 player connected using USB. If I connect to USB1 I get a message saying it can go faster, but under Explorer it can’t be seen - it could before I reinstalled Windows. I have removed and added the driver (Zen Micro) but it still does not work. Any ideas?

Let’s take each issue separately, starting with your BIOS issues. When the BIOS doesn’t save changes, it is usually a symptom of a problem with the CMOS battery. Have you noticed any issues with the time or date on your system? That is another primary symptom of CMOS battery failure.

CMOS Battery

CMOS stands for Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor, and the CMOS battery allows the BIOS to save the setup. If the battery isn’t working properly, the BIOS setup will keep resetting every time power is lost, primarily those settings for date, time and setup parameters. Most CMOS batteries are flat, round lithium batteries. You can try either removing the battery and clearing the CMOS for a minute or two and then replacing it, or just changing out the battery altogether. CMOS batteries can last anywhere from two to ten years depending on use and the particular battery. They don’t cost much to replace - under $20 - and all it requires is getting into the computer case and popping the battery out. There is a comprehensive tutorial on changing a CMOS battery including a photograph so you can see what one looks like at the website ComputerHope.

USB Port

For the problem you’re having with the USB port and the Zen, I’m basically going to throw some ideas out at you and see if something sticks.

• I’m assuming you’ve tried all of your available USB ports - does anything else work in that port?
• Go to Device Manager. Find Universal Serial Bus controllers. Uninstall any devices that are listed. Restart the computer and allow it to load any drivers that are associated with it. Keep the Device Manager open and see if it is detected when you plug in the Zen.
• It could be a power issue - sometimes devices that won’t work on older USB 1.1 ports may only work on 2.0 ports. You can get a splitter so that you can plug it into two ports at one time for more power.
• I’ve heard of Zen devices having issues with Windows Media Player 11 - what version do you have installed? If you are using 11, try deleting it and rolling back to version 10 or even 9. That has worked for some users.
• Have you tried a Reboot for the Zen? This may cause you to lose the data that is on the device, but if all else fails, it might be worth a try. Plug the Zen into the computer and hold down the Power button. Press Reset twice - this may take a long time to load. You will see a list of options - choose Reboot. Once it has stopped running, the computer should recognize the Zen.

Hopefully, changing the CMOS battery and tweaking the Zen will help you get everything up and running. If you’re still having problems, let us know.

 Sometimes, one of the most difficult events to avoid is the long-desired upgrade that turns into a disaster. How many times have I tried to improve upon my existing computer set up and run into minor dilemmas? More than I would like to say. However, the good news happens to be that almost every problem has a solution. I just need to persevere and follow each of the troubleshooting steps until I locate the correct one for the situation.

Installing new memory really isn’t that difficult. Unfortunately, even easy processes can turn into nightmares if they aren’t performed correctly. Although the installation of new memory should be a simple task, small children, pets, phone calls, and other situations can enter the picture and create a small catastrophe such as a computer that simply won’t start up after the memory has been installed.

Diagnosing and resolving a computer start up problem after adding memory is not too difficult. Whenever I have added RAM (Random Access Memory) and it doesn’t go well, the potential problem could be in the way in which I added the memory. Perhaps, even though I thought that I might have followed the instructions, I did not. Therefore, removing the memory and booting up the computer afterward is the first step. If the computer boots up, then the issue most likely lies with an improper installation of memory. This can equate to the wrong type of memory or an incorrect placement of the memory.

I need to check and make sure not only that I have the right type of memory, but also that I have not gotten more memory than my computer can handle. Before installing my memory for a second time, I am going to clean the modules with a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol. As I clean, I am going to be careful not to disturb the pins. Once I am finished with this step, I am going to install the memory again, following the instructions carefully.

The next step is to boot up the computer. Hopefully, everything works and the problem is solved. If not, a bit more troubleshooting is involved. At this point, I need to visit the manufacturer of the motherboard to check if any current updates exist for the BIOS or device drivers for the motherboard. Since the BIOS configures my computer system to run, the updates are essential. Checking the manual for my motherboard is also another option that could help solve the problem if it persists.