Windows won't load

When booting up it runs through the post fine. Just as it should hit the windows bar to load all I get is a _ in the upper left corner. I tried going into bios and changing it to boot from cd. Also tried F8 to boot from last known good boot to safe mode. It won't even let me get to last known good boot or safe mode. Any ideas as to what to try next or whats the problem?

System was working fine until I rebooted this morning

showing no error codes, one beep on start but it's always done that. after the post it beeps once than the screen is black with the flashing _ in the left upper coner.

When booting up it runs through the post fine. Just as it should hit the windows bar to load all I get is a _ in the upper left corner. I tried going into bios and changing it to boot from cd. Also tried F8 to boot from last known good boot to safe mode. It won't even let me get to last known good boot or safe mode. Any ideas as to what to try next or whats the problem?

System was working fine until I rebooted this morning
So it won't boot to a CD? I've seen this problem before, but I've always been able to boot to a CD first.

Regardless of the cause, if it won't let you into Safe Mode, your Windows load is likely destroyed. That doesn't mean faulty hardware didn't CAUSE it, but if you've got data you don't want to lose, I'd suggest putting your drive in another computer and copy it now, since at this point you're probably going to end up reloading your OS.

If it won't let you boot from a CD, all you can do is start pulling stuff out and replacing it to isolate the problem...I'd suspect the motherboard or memory if it won't boot to hard drive or CD.

If you CAN boot to CD, run memtest, run hard drive diags. You can also boot from the Windows disc and hit "r" for the recovery console. From there you can run "fixboot," "chkdsk," and "fixmbr" which can fix many problems.

I hope that helps a bit.

Well thank you for the input on this issue, I have yet to try any of it but I did notice that when I turned on the computer the fan in my PS is not working. Do you think this would have anything to do with this issue. Also my son had told me last night when I was out partying he shut it down it was acting funny but couldn't tell me what it was doing.

Thanks again for the info I will work on it and continue to get the issue resolved.

Specs and how old is the PC and its components?? Thanks

Well thank you for the input on this issue, I have yet to try any of it but I did notice that when I turned on the computer the fan in my PS is not working. Do you think this would have anything to do with this issue. Also my son had told me last night when I was out partying he shut it down it was acting funny but couldn't tell me what it was doing.

Thanks again for the info I will work on it and continue to get the issue resolved.
An overheating PSU could definitely cause the problem. I'd get the PSU replaced right away.

AMD 3500+ 64 [updated]
MSI K8T Neo-V [Updated] MSI has a shitty board layout. Doun't buy this one.
2 1gig curcial pc3200 400FSB
Gefeorce 6800 GT OC
BFG PS 650 Watts [updated]
Windows XP Pro SP2
audigy2 Zs

The whole system is over a year old.

well went and put a working PS in and still the same problem. I did grab another monitor and swaped it out still no luck. Set bios to default no luck. Still unable to get to a safe mode option.

So it won't boot to a CD? I've seen this problem before, but I've always been able to boot to a CD first.

Regardless of the cause, if it won't let you into Safe Mode, your Windows load is likely destroyed. That doesn't mean faulty hardware didn't CAUSE it, but if you've got data you don't want to lose, I'd suggest putting your drive in another computer and copy it now, since at this point you're probably going to end up reloading your OS.

If it won't let you boot from a CD, all you can do is start pulling stuff out and replacing it to isolate the problem...I'd suspect the motherboard or memory if it won't boot to hard drive or CD.

If you CAN boot to CD, run memtest, run hard drive diags. You can also boot from the Windows disc and hit "r" for the recovery console. From there you can run "fixboot," "chkdsk," and "fixmbr" which can fix many problems.

I hope that helps a bit.


Well I will buy a new HD tomorrow I did get it to bring up boot from CD press any key. but all it would do is restart and repeat the same boot from CD thing again.

Back back again. After many componets swaps this POS is back in running order. Thanks to all for the input with this issue. Thanks again.