Ok, I have a strange one here. I recently replaced a MB for a client in a HP Compaq dx2300 workstation. Before the machine would not display any video, and after diagnosis the MB was the only thing left. Anyway, I ordered a new MB on eBay, it arrived and I installed it.
I tried to boot to the HDD, and since the hardware is the same I expected it to work except for maybe an activation issue or something. I mean, the mass storage drivers and all should be the same, right? I have done this many times before, and as long as the board is identical it always works. Anyway, needless to say it did not work. It tried to boot to the HDD, it even gets to the menu where I can choose safe mode etc... When I choose a selection it goes off, the screen turns off and on (like it usually does, nothing strange yet), then when you would expect the windows logo and the loading bar to appear it never does. just a black screen with backlight on and the screen power button green, so i know it is getting signal.
Normally at this point I would assume something is wrong with the install and I would need to repair the OS, or reinstall. But here is where it get weird. I cannot boot to a windows based boot CD either. I have tried UBCD4win, and it freezes at the same point. I have tried Hiren's with mini XP, and it freezes at the same point. I have even tried a windows setup disk, and it freezes at the 'starting windows' item before I am able to actually do anything such as repair the installation. Weird huh? Well, at this point I would think that something is wrong with the hardware. Maybe video RAM, or something that isn't invoked until later in the boot process....
BUT...the computer boots a linux live distro fine. I have tried with a gentoo variant, and it has no issues displaying high res graphics, or mounting the HDDs.
So, it can boot linux fine, but anything Microsoft based it chokes on?? I did reset the BIOS to defaults BTW. I have also tried contacting the seller, and he is saying that if you can see the HP BIOS screen then the board is fine. I told him that is like saying that if a car's engine starts that it is fine...bullsh1t...
So, I am kind of stuck with a defective board (maybe?) for a business client that needs this computer now now now....Any ideas??
I tried to boot to the HDD, and since the hardware is the same I expected it to work except for maybe an activation issue or something. I mean, the mass storage drivers and all should be the same, right? I have done this many times before, and as long as the board is identical it always works. Anyway, needless to say it did not work. It tried to boot to the HDD, it even gets to the menu where I can choose safe mode etc... When I choose a selection it goes off, the screen turns off and on (like it usually does, nothing strange yet), then when you would expect the windows logo and the loading bar to appear it never does. just a black screen with backlight on and the screen power button green, so i know it is getting signal.
Normally at this point I would assume something is wrong with the install and I would need to repair the OS, or reinstall. But here is where it get weird. I cannot boot to a windows based boot CD either. I have tried UBCD4win, and it freezes at the same point. I have tried Hiren's with mini XP, and it freezes at the same point. I have even tried a windows setup disk, and it freezes at the 'starting windows' item before I am able to actually do anything such as repair the installation. Weird huh? Well, at this point I would think that something is wrong with the hardware. Maybe video RAM, or something that isn't invoked until later in the boot process....
BUT...the computer boots a linux live distro fine. I have tried with a gentoo variant, and it has no issues displaying high res graphics, or mounting the HDDs.
So, it can boot linux fine, but anything Microsoft based it chokes on?? I did reset the BIOS to defaults BTW. I have also tried contacting the seller, and he is saying that if you can see the HP BIOS screen then the board is fine. I told him that is like saying that if a car's engine starts that it is fine...bullsh1t...
So, I am kind of stuck with a defective board (maybe?) for a business client that needs this computer now now now....Any ideas??
