Win ME not booting

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Cheshire cat - 30 Dec 2004 13:55 GMT

When first booting screen begins boot process then displays following messages:
"Keyboard error or no keyboard present" (All cables connected correctly)
"CMOS checksum error-Defaults loaded"
A "chirping sound" occurs continuously. Not an ideal description, but the
best way I can describe the sound. No blue screen appears. Have tried using
F1, Del and Ctrl+Del+Alt without success. Boot process stops (crashes?!?) at
this point and will not continue.

I'm trying to fix this for one of the sisters in a religious group. Any
suggestions are appreciated. This is a generic brand PC with 128MB ram and
600Hz. Win ME was the original and still operating system. I tried using the
A: drive with an emergency boot floppy for Win ME. Although the drive light
is on, it's not reading the floppy, the floppy works on other PC's.

Thank you

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Mart - 30 Dec 2004 15:01 GMT

As it's not even seeing the WinMe Startup Disk in the A drive in conjunction
with your "CMOS checksum error-Defaults loaded" report would indicate a
possible motherboard issue.

You need to try and boot at startup into the BIOS - normally Del or F1 - BUT
not always!! Confirm with the User Manual.

First thoughts are a possible 'exhausted' CMOS battery, but could be more
serious like misplaced/faulty RAM chip(s)

How recently was the machine working? What was the last thing they did
before it stopped working?

See how you get on in the BIOS settings and come back with anything
untowards - you *may* have on-board video set too high, set it back to 1MB
and see if that makes any difference.

Mart

> When first booting screen begins boot process then displays following
> messages:
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Thank you

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Jack E Martinelli - 30 Dec 2004 15:03 GMT

Test with a known-good keyboard. It appears yours is defective. A new one
costs $10, or less today.
The machine needs a good keybord and video to complete the POST.

Signature

Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx
Your cooperation is very appreciated.
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> When first booting screen begins boot process then displays following messages:
> "Keyboard error or no keyboard present" (All cables connected correctly)
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thank you

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