IBM Aptiva-help please

[LadyGrey]

I have a 1998 IBM Aptiva 2153 E3N,AMD K56, 300 mhz, 128 RAM, running win98.
The computer will turn on, the Aptiva logo screen will come up and then nothing else happens. I have tried all keys when I turn on the computer, tapping the DEL, F1, F2, F8, ctrl-alt-delete, nothing will work. The computer will respond to nothing. I have tried the restore and recovery disk that came with the computer but it will not work either. I cannot get into setup or BIOS, there are no noises or beeps. The computer is clean inside and out, and all connections have been checked. Any one have any ideas on what to try next? It was working just fine when I packed it away almost a year ago so I'm really stumped as to what could happen to it from just sitting. Thanks very much, LadyGrey

[Paleo Pete]

Not much I can think of, but you might try reseating all the cards and memory chip(s), it sounds like something has a bad connection. Reseat everything 3 or 4 times to clean off the contacts.

You also might try pulling the CMOS battery for about 30 minutes then put it back in, see if that might force it to let you into BIOS...If it has more than one memory chip, remove one, that may force it to let you into BIOS too, this assuming you need to get into BIOS...

Have you tried a start up disk? (floppy)

------------------
If your nose runs and your feet smell...
You're built upside down!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.dreamwater.com/paleopete/computer.htm) has been moved, please update your bookmarks.

[Rick]

While inside reseating the cards and memory Also check the drive cable connections ..
IBM drives are very picky about IDE cable connections.
They need to be correct and tight (Fully inserted) with No pressure on the drive connection .
Allow a little slack in the cable at the connection ..

Be sure the Power is disconnected and you press the Power button at least once Before you touch any thing inside the case. (Drain the Capacitors)

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Hi Lady Grey,

Welcome to pcguide.

I have an IBM Aptiva 2137 that I toy around with and just recently got rid of the IBM logo with the jumpers that I had to get a how-to from IBM's support site. Are you sure it's a K56 and not a K6-2? What socket does it use? It's visible on the processor socket itself with the chip still in.

1 You must know there's a time limit to getting into BIOS? I don't mean to offend if I'm asking the ridiculous. You gotta start at the bottom if you want to get to the top. There's also a BIOS reset jumper on the board as well as removing the battery. I've got a picture of my Aptiva board from IBM, if you would like I'd send it in an e-mail because I have no picture hosting ability at this moment or I'd post it here.

Their support homepage is here (http://www.pc.ibm.com/support?lang=en_US&page=root&brand=IBM+Aptiva%7CAptiva%7C2137%7CE24&doctype=Parts+information&subtype=All&up=unknownuser) if you want to get the jumper info for your board. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

PS You will need to know the motherboard model number while there and mine is in the upper left corner behind the power supply. You dont need to remove the power supply, just swing it out of the way via the track and hinge they so conveniently put for you when you need to work on it(like they knew it was coming http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif ). LOL

------------------
This space for George Carlin quotes:

You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.

(He should broaden that to pc's.)

[This message has been edited by Fruss Tray Ted (edited 05-30-2002).]

[LadyGrey]

I am just mind blown at the amount of help here. I didn't expect one answer let alone people who are obviously experts!!! I have been working on this for days and days. I'm a newbie, beginner, wannabe, what ever you want to call me. I simply have a passion for computers. I'm very sorry that I sounded like an idiot, it is a K6, whether it is a -2 I have no idea but it sounds like that is a standard. I am ordering a new CR2032 battery and I have taken the old one out and left it out. I tried to find one of the coin cell batteries here in town but even the Best Buy here doesn't know what I'm talking about. Now, as to the floppy start up disk. I don't have anything like that, all I have is what came with the computer, the recovery & restore disk, the Application disk, and Lotus Smart Suit 97 disk. That's all that I ever had. I am determined to get this thing running but it sure is hard when all you have is a very simple, basic understanding. I have heard of jumpers, what exactly are they and where do I find them? On the mobo? Are they little switches or leavers or what. What am I looking for? I would be very happy to have any of you email me any pictures or info that you have. I'm kinda afraid to post my email addresses here is there another way? Do I not need to get into the BIOS? I thought I had to go there to fix whatever is going wrong? See, I really need all the help I can get! I know you all don't need to know this or probably care too but I'm trying to get this old computer running for my son, he is disabled and it would be a great tool to help him and he sure couldn't hurt it any. lol Thanks again, so much LadyGrey

[Rick]

I believe you will find that model has CD Boot capability .
If you power the system up and open the cd-rom drive .
Put the Recovery disk in it ,
close the drive and reboot if need be it should boot off the cd-rom.

BTW. With many of the IBM models it will display a message on the bottom left corner of the screen during boot press F1 to enter setup when it finds a Cmos check sum error
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

[iisbob]

i've also got an aptiva at home that i fool with occasionally, same year as yors. As Rick pointed out it uses the F1 key to enter the BIOS, as soon as you see the Aptiva logo at boot, start hitting the F1 key-you'll know you are successful when it beeps at you.

By default it should be set to boot from the floppy first, I would recommend you use a startup disk to boot it and to check that everything on the C: drive is ok.

Also, it's gonna be a K6-2 CPU, since as i recall the K5 series only went up to 166mhz and AMD began shipping the K6 series in late '97.

The system i have uses the SIS 530 chipset with intergrated sound/video-and it originally came with an 8 GB drive. I really like the swing out drive bay-and for a mini-tower system it's not to badly designed, tho it did have a crappy little 145w power supply ( which i have replaced to a 250w ).





------------------
iisbob

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.-Mark Twain

[LadyGrey]

thanks Rick but I've already been there and done that. When I was using the computer on a daily basis that was the first thing I learned to do, boot from the recovery disk, with an Aptiva you have to. When I try to do that now the CD ROM drive sounds like it wants to run, it powers up,light comes on, but then backs off and nothing happens. Just the Aptiva logo screen and nothing, no F1 in the corner, nothing. Just the Aptiva screen. I'm pretty sure it's not the CDROM drive as it was brand new when I packed the computer away. It does not even try to boot, does not do a POST at all, just the Aptiva screen comes on first thing and that's it. Do you think a sledge hammer would help? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I know, I can't figure it out at all, could I have fried something in it? Would it even come on at all if I had done that? It would be so much different if I could say that I got a DOS screen or could get into setup but I can't. After the first few seconds when the computer is turned on the keyboard lights flash but after that the keyboard is dead, I've tried three different keyboards so far thinking it was that but they all just die.
Keep those thoughts and suggestions coming, at least I feel like I'm doing something positive here. Thanks so much, LadyGrey

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Ms Grey,

First if your battery measures 3.5 volts it's OK. My original one in an older machine is fine. (mid 1997 K6) Any old electrician or radio shack can test it for you.

What pc are you using to get here and what operating system is it using? If you're using almost any version of windows, make a boot floppy with it. Then put it in the machine and turn it on. Wait a bit and if you get nothing, we'll have to figure a way to get to the BIOS.

So then shut it down, take the disk out and when you turn it back on, start hitting F1 immediately. If it will get you to the BIOS there's hope for it yet. It should take no more than 30 seconds so don't bother to sit there all day tapping a key. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

I assume that no jumpers were messed with in the past?

If you get the model and serial numbers of the board I'll look for the diagram for you unless iisbob beats me to it. Then I'll need someone to host the pic for you unless you go get an e-mail account at Yahoo or something other than your home one. There's a lot of freebie ones out there.

Yeah, bob I kinda hate to part with the case and might put another mobo in it later when I finally get the old one to blow up! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif Only a matter of time... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
This space for George Carlin quotes:

You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.

(He should broaden that to pc's.)

[Paleo Pete]

I am just mind blown at the amount of help here. I didn't expect one answer let alone people who are obviously experts!!!

Yeah, and these guys are really good at it too.. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

OK, couple of things to clear up before I hit the sack...

1st, you said above you took the battery out and left it out. Is it still out? If so, it will never boot, the battery has to be there. If nothing else, try the old battery again, it might still work until you can get a new one. A new one can't hurt though...CR2032 is pretty standard, Radio Shack should have them.

Jumpers are small plastic things on the motherboard. Usually black, rectangular, about 1/4" wide, 5/16" tall, 1/16" thick with two small holes in one end. They can be removed easily with tweezers and are installed on small metal posts, called pins or headers, on the motherboard. Unless you have to clear CMOS/BIOS you shouldn't have to tinker with them, and removing the battery should have done that already. Hard drives, CD ROM drives and some modems, sounds cards and network cards also have jumpers that must be set correctly.

Jumpers open or close certain circuits depending on what configuration the component needs. Installing a jumper closes it, removing it opens it so the circuit cannot function.

Look at the top of one of your posts, your email is posted there, click the Email icon to view it. We have it if we need it.

The keyboard not working worries me, but if the battery is not installed, that's no surprise, nothing will work. Let's get past the battery question, then go from there.

You can make a start up disk on any Windows computer, most of us like the win98 start up disk best. On any win98 machine go to Start\Settings\Control Panel and double click Add/Remove Programs. Click the Startup Disk tab and have a blank floppy handy. Click Make Disk...Make sure the computer is one you can trust as being virus free, most viruses can and will write themselves to any floppy disk accessed on the machine.

After the start up disk is made, WRITE PROTECT IT. That prevents viruses from infecting it in the future and protects it from becoming corrupted by turning the machine off while the disk is in the drive. Look at the end opposite the metal sliding cover, you should see two square holes. One has a tab on the back side. Move that tab so you can see through BOTH holes. It's now write protected. Nothing can add, delete, edit or otherwise alter files on the disk except a big magnet.

After having the battery out you may have to reset some BIOS options, mainly Hard Drive Autodetect and check the boot sequence so it's A,C, CD ROM. (In that order) Some others might be helpful later on, but those are the main ones to check to get started. All IDE drives should be set to autodetect, so you don't have to manually set them to specific drives. Later you can change any open IDE channels to None.

------------------
If your nose runs and your feet smell...
You're built upside down!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.dreamwater.com/paleopete/computer.htm) has been moved, please update your bookmarks.

[LadyGrey]

Oh Mighty Gurus, this is a progress report. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I think it would be the best thing to simply list what I have done and not done. Being a Domestic Engineer I have certain jobs that I must preform on fridays. So I'm a bit late on getting back to you. Hope you haven't deserted me.
Have Done:
Reseated the one memory module.
Put the old battery back in.
Found the swing out tray, floppy disk
Found the mobo,(I hope) number, V7OMA 98101-1 48 35802 011
Found the BIOS Acer 1998 V7OMA V3. 2RO1-XO
Found three little blue and silver boxes, very very small,on the mobo, they are rectanguler? They have little switches in them, also blue. Two of them are numbered 1-4 and one is longer and is numbered 1-8. On each they have on the upper left corner ON on the upper right they have SD. I have not touched them.
Forgot to put the keyboard and mouse plugs in and started the computer, I got the following:
BIOS V3.3
----------------------------------------------------------
0065152 KB Memory Good
8603. PS/2 Pointing Device Error
0301. PS/2 Keyboard Error or Not Connected


Press <F1> to go to Setup Utility ( did that, nothing)
-----------------------------------------------
Turned the computer off via the button, 5 second delay, hooked up the keyboard and mouse and then turned it back on, with the recovery disk in the CD ROM drive, and tapping F1, got the Aptiva screen at once, nothing else.

What I have not done:
Understand what a "boot disk" is.
Told you what computer I am on now.
Gotten the new CMOS battery, should be here tomorrow
Stop being a pain in the ass.
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
I will proceed to tell you what I know about the computer I am on.
I am flying blind on this, my younger brother built this computer, he passed away last july 29th, he was 42. I have it now, from what I can understand we have the following:
Full size case
AMD 1000 mhz Athlon
Soundblaster 5.1 gamer
Voodoo 3dfx 2000
It has a CD ROM 56X (unkown)
It has a CD Burner/DVD (unkown)
It is running Windows 2000 Pro
Can I make this boot disk, after I find out what it is, from this?

It at least it did something today, it gives me hope. I don't have much hope but--------. Let me know what you think. Thanks so much, LadyGrey

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Lady,
Now it's time to roll our sleeves up. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif
I don't think you can make a boot (floppy) disk from your brothers pc. BTW sorry to hear about your loss.

We just needed to know the operating system and W2K isn't what we wanted to hear, but not to worry. You can make a boot floppy diskette here (http://www.bootdisk.com/). Double click on the previous 'here'. Make sure you format or use a preformatted floppy disk and as said earlier, write protect it when finished. Keep this for times down the road.

Yes I agree that if you got a screen to display especially if it stayed on, we have hope for the board yet. I'll take the info you provided and get back on anything I can find out soon. I'm confused as to why F1 does not work. Do not wait until you see the line to press F1 rather, press it immediately upon turning the pc on. If this doesn't do it, start over and try hitting the delete key many times when the pc is first turned on. If nothing, one more try with the CTRL key.

What we're tryin to get is to the BIOS page to go and set the proper boot sequence which will be floppy then CD-ROM then C: We also need to set the BIOS to auto detect the hard-drive and make sure the BIOS actually recognizes that there is a floppy and CD-ROM present. There's a few other tweaks but their minor and we'll get to them later. This would be best in real time so when is a better time for you as we can walk you through the process and over stumbling blocks if necessary. Is the two pc's in the same building? It would be best.

Don't feel that you're troubling us, You're actually helping me learn and do what I like. I was in your shoes about a month ago asking nearly identical questions in real time and if you think you're being a pain well, I'm lucky I wasn't booted off from here http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif LOL Actually I can't say enough good about this board.

Like I said I'll be back when I get some info from IBM. Besides you need to have the boot floppy on hand before we start.
Later,
FTT



------------------
This space for George Carlin quotes:

You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.

(He should broaden that to pc's.)

[LadyGrey]

Ok Boss, here we go. I went to the site you gave me the link to, awesome site, take me 6 months of reading, but I want to learn. I went to the w0rm link for 95/98 bootdisk, I went all the way to the bottom of that page where it said windows 98 bootdisk and saved that on a floppy, I found the little tab on the disk and pushed it so I think the disk is protected now. I sure hope I got the right file!
Tried one more time with all the keys, F1,DEL,ESC,CTRL, one at a time, tapping them as the computer started, one hand on keyboard, one hand on button, tapping away. Nothing but the Aptiva screen.
I can set up the computer right here beside me if that's what you need me to do. I've been trying to take some pictures of the insides of it to put on my homepage so you can go see it. Make it alot easier if you have a general idea of what I've been trying to explain, I'm not very good at explaining. I'm not real sure of what you mean by "real time" Do you mean a chat app.? I have Yahoo and MSN if that's any help, I have web cam capability on Yahoo also. My time is not nearly as important as you alls so any time for me is great, even 3 in the morning, I've been known to stay up all night fooling with computers. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I really am obessed with them and I want to learn so badly. I wish I could afford to go to school but that's just not in the cards for me. I tell ya, I have learned more on this site in the last three days than I have in the last three years. I have never seen a group of people so willing to help with their knowledge and time! Where have you all been all my life! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
The new CMOS battery should be here today, along with a wrist strap I ordered too. So far I know enough to always ground myself before I even look at the computer insides but I'd rather be safe than sorry, assuming that I haven't already fried something. I will get the computer set up today, so it and I will be ready when you all have the time. My most heartfelt thanks to all of you for helping me and thank you about my brother. LadyGrey

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Lady,

I feel like Jerry Lewis when I say that. You know the movie, Who's Minding The Store? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

UH, I'm not your boss. Think of it this way. Let's call ourselves Lab partners in pc class OK? We're at the same bench working on the same machine. What follows is mostly educated guesses. And if we can't get this going ourselves, we can always summonse the professors. It will be more of a solid learn if we try to get as far as we can without too much assistance. And pay no attention to that chuckling in the background. This place is merely like a stage. We're being watched. No stage fright just treat it like chaparones LOL.

We are at a stumbling block for the moment, but don't despair yet. Can I e-mail you a jpeg of what I think is your micro ATX board? It would be helpful for us to disable the IBM screen to see if the POST function is getting interrupted or failing at this point. It is what I suspect. In the meantime I will peruse the 5.9 megabyte PDF owner/service manual that I needed to download to get the jumper info for the logo and the pic I need to send you. I had the link to download it for yourself if you want but we had an electrical storm here last night and while I had it in my task bar in NotePad, it was not saved when the electric company shut the street off to service, I suspect, a transformer on one of the poles near me. At one point last night, it felt like a car hit the house. The power didn't go out but the airwaves just shook us hard. I had a whole list of links too http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif .

The floppy you downloaded should have 24 files and/or drivers in it if it is 98SE, maybe a couple less if just 98. The first few should be named these: Aspi2dos.sys Aspi4dos.sys Aspi8dos.sys. To view, click on my computer then right click on floppy then click explore, otherwise it will try to install or give some error window. You can e-mail me if you like but I think the classroom is a surer approach to your eventual fix.

Tag, Your IT! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

------------------
This space for George Carlin quotes:

You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.

(He should broaden that to pc's.)

[Fruss Tray Ted]

THIS (http://www.pc.ibm.com/qtechinfo/DETR-3WDGSG.html) is probably the biggest help I'll ever find for you and it's going to be a real good tool for me also.

iisbob! You may want that manual too seeing's though you have a similar model and year machine. It was not easy to find yesterday and the only way I found the link today is because I had downloaded it last night and after being unsuccessful at finding it again, I used an advanced search using an Acrobat Reader file name when lo and behold, it showed up again. I can find nothing of the likes for my machine. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif Even though it doesn't match my older pc, it is surely going to open many doors for me. It's a HUGE download concidering they only made it available to me at lees than 2 kbps and the darn thing is 5.9 or so megabytes. It took me an hour or so but it's worth it.

LadyGrey,

This will take you to a technical page to see the various models of your pc and in your original post I'm beginning to think you meant a K6S 2 (an S instead of a six). Anyway here's the LINK (http://www-1.ibm.com/support/manager.wss?rs=0&rt=0&org=psg&doc=DETR-3VXHPR
).

My current thoughts are leaning on defective RAM. Can you try the one card you have in the opposite slot? It could be that too.

One more thing, when you try to boot up, press F9 to close the IBM screen and hopefully you'll be able to see ir POST is completing it's test. Lo's of luck.

[LadyGrey]

Heavens FTT I sure hope you and yours are ok, that sounded like one devil of a storm you went through!! Thank you so much for finding the link to the manual, I'm downloading it now. I've only got a dialup connection so it's gonna take me awhile too. OK, the new battery is here and in, I have made three different boot disks from three different places on bootdisk.com, all WIN98. I have the computer set up right next to me. I have switched the RAM module from one slot to the other, there are only two slots. Does RAM go bad very often? What causes that? I have not tried any of the bootdisks yet, working up the courage I guess. Do floppy drives go bad? I know CD ROM drives do, when this computer was under warrenty it had two hard drives,the CD ROM drive, and the modem replaced inside of three years. That's why I call it the Bomb! You are very welcome to send me any info or pictures that you think would help me via email!! If it's ok I will send you my yahoo ID so you can get me on that if you need too. My family think I've finally gone nuts here, I look like a computer repair shop sittin in here surrounded by computers. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I'm really having the time of my life tho and even if I have to replace half the computer I know I will have learned things that can only be learned from experience, not from books or tapes. Thanks so very much for all the time and work you have put into helping me. Let me know where we go from here. LadyGrey http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[LadyGrey]

Update, I tried the F9 key on start up and it did indeed close the Aptiva logo screen. What I have now is the following:

BIOS V3.2
--------------------------------------------
0065152 KB Memory Good

Press <F1> to go to the Setup Utility
----------------------------------------

Of course that doesn't work. I thought for maybe just a second that it would but it didn't. Hey, it's more than what it's been doin! LadyGrey http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Fruss Tray Ted]

OK, It seems that the POST is making it to the end of it's cycle because on mine it stops around 47 - 48 kilobytes and I'm using a K-6 original versus your K-6 2 whether it's an S or not.

Time for you to find out if the boot floppy is OK so do as in my previous post and if OK then power the old pc down put disk in and turn it back on. See what this does. It can't hurt it.

If you think one of the drives like the floppy are bad,especially in a case like that you can either put the two towers near enough for the cables to reach and try the old one in the newer machine to see if it works or pull the floppy and hard-drive assembly right out of the case if you need to. When I was having problems earlier I chose the prior. You can do this with the CD-ROM and even the hard-drive. Be careful pulling and inserting the cables one not to ruin the cable two not to bend the pins. Always remmember most of those cables fit both ways and will only work one way. The good thing to know is even if the wrong way, it doesn't hurt the pc, it just won't function. The red lead side usually but not always (as in the case of floppies) goes towards the power plug side. And no, that's not a thing to consider yet on the old one. Getting to the set up for the BIOS isn't even getting that far yet. We're not out of the woods yet.

Well report back but I won't be able to reply for a couple hours, I promised my son he could have the line till 1 AM EDT. If I manage to be up I'll check in on the progress.
Bye for now,
FTT

------------------
This space for George Carlin quotes:

You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.

(He should broaden that to pc's.)

[LadyGrey]

Progress report, Turned off the computer, put in WIN98 bootdisk and started up again. Apiva screen came up instantly, HDD light and power light are on and steady, the HDD light used to blink alot if I remember right when I was using this thing all the time, while it was starting up. I'm starting to wonder about the floppy drive. The computer starts,the CD ROM and floppy lights come on briefly and using a flashlight I can see the little round silver thing in the floppy drive spinning but then it stops and nothing happens.
Turned off the computer again and waited a few minutes and then powered back on, bootdisk still in, tapping the F1 key this time, same as before execept this time the F1 key beeped at me when I was tapping it. Then that stopped too and nothing but the Aptiva screen same as always.
I'm gonna keep fooling around with it here. Let me know what you think.
LadyGrey

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Ladygrey,

When booting, I would always tap the F9 key to get rid of the logo then tap whatever key the trial and error attempt at hand is.

I have gone and tried to simulate what is happening to your pc with mine barring risking any damage to mine. One at a time, I have tried the following and suggest you do the same as a process of elimination.

Removing floppy IDE cable (result) = POST OK then below that I get a floppy error report. (Then I) Power down.

Remove either HDD IDE or power cable = POST OK, get to new screen, error states to insert system diskette (floppy) and press enter to reboot. Power down.

Remove all memory = I forget. (OOPS, wrong memory!) Put head back on neck!

Remove all RAM = Proc fan does not spin + POST = non-funtional / with blank screen. Power down.

Remove CD-ROM IDE = The pc just doesn't care if it's gone. (sounds kinda like someones ex doesn't it? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif ) In my case I allow full boot then shutdown via Windows.

Some questions I'm not sure if you've mentioned:

Does the POST scroll itself up from zero to the 65.152kb or is it just there by the time the moniter warms enough to see it? If it is just stuck there with that info I think we have another problem and it may be time to retire the board. (But I don't think it is per your earlier posts.)
Does the proc fan spin during POST?
Does HDD make any small clicking or whirring sounds during POST?
When you say: "then nothing." Does that mean the screen stays lit with the last bits of information but it fails to progress or does the screen go blank and/or have a blinking cursor which will not allow addition of text?

Arnold quote:
"I'll be BACH!"
FTT

--------------------------------------------------
Error #xxxxx Cannot exit Windows. Try the door!

[LadyGrey]

wooohoooo got something different!!! I did exactly as you suggested with the following results.
Floppy drive error when unplugged, powered down and plugged it back in.
Restarted, HDD, this is where it gets interesting, I have the power cable unplugged and the bootdisk in.
065152 KB Memory Good
8603 Pointing device Error or not connected
Press F1 to Enter Setup OR Enter to Continue (this writing is in blue, not the DOS grey)
Pressed F1 and am now getting Main Menu Screen. Looks like a StartUp or BIOS screen to me! I ain't touching it till I hear from you. I still have the power cable to the HD unplugged. It's the hard drive isn't it? This will be the 3rd one this bomb has had. Lord, I hope an old 6 gig harddrive isn't very expensive! I've gotten so excited here I can't even type or explain myself, hope you can understand. LadyGrey

[Whyzman]

LadyGrey,

From a "fan in the stands" you're doing great! FTT, the tension is mounting...I'm microwaving some popcorn as we speak! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
May all your dealings in life be win/win!


Whyzman
----------------------
Reserved for Punishing Humor...A Pessimist's blood is always B-negative!

[Paleo Pete]

Interesting reading...and coming along well...

OK, a few of things to mention, then the "lab guys" can keep working on it. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

The bootdisk you downloaded from Bootdisk.com can't be simply copied to a floppy disk, it's an image and won't work unless properly installed on the floppy disk. Go to the site and read their instructions, I think you simply double click the file you downloaded and it automatically installs the boot disk to your floppy drive.

Or you can locate a friend with a win98 computer and make one on their machine. Start\Settings\Control Panel, double click Add/Remove Programs, then the Startup Disk tab. Have a good floppy ready.

Since you can now get into BIOS (Setup) my first attempt would be to set BIOS defaults, check boot sequence and make sure it's A;C;CD ROM, make sure hard drive is set to autodetect, floppy is 1.44MB - 3 1/2", save changes and exit. That should get it back to basic default settings, which in most cases should let the computer at least work.

If the hard drive is curently set to user settings, don't change it, but write down the parameters already listed...Before setting BIOS defaults.

Leave the hard drive unplugged for now, until you make sure it will boot to a floppy, then reconnect it and see if it will still boot to a floppy. If the boot sequence is set as above it should. I haven't seen the BIOS on that thing so I don't know where it will be, but it should be in the Advanced BIOS Options section. Different versions/brands of BIOS call it different things. Just look for it. As long as you make NO changes you can LOOK all you want to and it won't do any harm. You should have an option to exit WITHOUT saving changes, if in doubt use that one. It will stay exactly as it was.

That computer should have PS/2 mouse and keyboard. Make SURE the power is completely off before unplugging or plugging in either, if the power is on you can fry the circuitry.

OK...quick version. Set BIOS defaults; check boot sequence, autodetect, floppy type; save changes and exit; try the start up disk. Once it boots you should see options to start the computer with or without CD ROM support, or read the help files. If you can get that far - shut down, plug the hard drive in and try it again, see if it will boot to the floppy again with hard drive plugged in.

If at that point it won't boot to a floppy, check the hard drive ribbon cable, one end might be backwards. The colored stripe on one side should correspond to pin #1 on both drive and controller. Both should be marked, although the one on the hard drive may not be easy to find, get some reading glasses and look on the circuit board on back of the hard drive. 1 or 2 should be on one end, 39 or 40 might be on the other. (Some mark both ends, some don't.) The 1 or 2 end should get the colored stripe. On the motherboard you should find either a 1 on the board itself or a small triangle that indicates pin #1.

Oh...to cut down on other possibilities for trouble spots for now, pull all cards except video and memory. The less hardware we have to deal with at this point the better chance we have of finding out where the actual problem is. Leave the floppy plugged in...and CPU fan, case fan too if one is there...Any additional components can be installed later, let's find out if it will work at all with the minimum components.

The switches you mentioned on the motherboard are used instead of the jumpers many motherboards use to set CPU speed, bus speed, multiplier and voltage and other various options. Best to leave those alone for now. You get video and can get into BIOS, so it looks like those should require no changes. The manual will tell you what all of them do.



------------------
If your nose runs and your feet smell...
You're built upside down!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.dreamwater.com/paleopete/computer.htm) has been moved, please update your bookmarks.

[tlem1]

Dear Lady Grey

I may be trying to answer a problem that you've already resolved but I've seen no feedback to results since June, 02 to your problem of getting past the Aptiva logo screen for your 2153 E3N machine. I hope my input helps.
I just recently have had to troubleshoot an Aptiva 2159-S90 with almost identical symptoms. Originally when I started working on the machine at the end of last year, the owner had asked me to change out the lithium 2032 battery at his home because the PC had given a message that the battery was low. He didn't use the PC for a while but when he did, he found that it took unsually long for the logo to come up and when the prompt screen came up allowing the user to press F1 to access the setup utility or Esc to skip memory test, even though depressing either of the keys would cause the screen to go blank and after about 20-30 seconds, the monitor would altogether stop receiving a video signal (indicated by the monitor light changing from green to amber). Because it was dusty, I cleaned the inside of the case with an airduster and proceeded to pull each card out, clean the dust and reseat the card (as several replies to your problem suggested) then retry. There was no effect on it. I noted that during bootup only the CDROM light on the access station which is part of this model would light but the floppy disk light would not light at all during the bootup process. This led me to believe there might be a problem with the floppy drive. I started disassembling the access station to examine the connections to the drive. One look into the assembly and it discouraged me from trying to disassemble it unless absolutely necessary.

I think ¡§Fruss Tray Ted¡¨ came closest to what I did in his reply of 5-30-02 when he suggested the BIOS reset jumper on the motherboard. Then I remembered that earlier that I had replaced the battery and did not make any other changes to the PC. I decided to reset the CMOS/Power on/Password reset connector which in my Aptiva consists of momentarily moving the JP12 connector jumper from pins 1-2 to 2-3 and putting it back to 1-2.

I anxiously powered up the Aptiva and this time the logo came up much faster which seem ed more normal and up to the prompt, I depressed the F1 key and was able to access the setup utility. I of course had to reset the system time since I had not set it since removing the battery. Now the Aptiva seems to work normally. From looking at the service manual for the particular motherboard you have the service manual lists SW1 ¡§On¡¨ to bypass the password and reset it. Just observe the initial position that the jumper (or it could be a sliding switch) was in and momentarily set it to the other position before returning the switch to the original position. The manual also shows a SW2 which depending on whether it is an IBM OEM logo is switched (or jumpered) ¡§on¡¨ or an Acer logo which is switched (or jumpered) ¡§off¡¨. Most likely you won't have to touch this switch. The manual for your motherboard is available at ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/aptiva/2139-53.pdf
In my case the solution, though I went the long route, was simple. I never originally suspected changing the battery and then having to reset the CMOS/power on/password by clearing it with the jumper settings would affect the boot-up of the Aptiva. I hope this helps to resolve your problem.

Thank you.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

:) :D Thanks for your input.

I believe this one's been solved for awhile now and LadyGrey's son is happily surfing and playing on his own computer now. There was multiple threads so that may have confused you as to whether it was resolved or not.

But anyway, Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif !!!

Feel free to pick from a thread "fresh off the vine" if you like ;) Sounds like you will be a valued member.

[unknownwr]

my computer only turns on and shows the main screen. but
also i hear this tapping noise from the floppy A drive in the tower. but i made sure the wires are in place and everything. i also have the right software to reboot it. but it wont let me reboot it. its my friends computer. and they packed it away for like 2 years. and they brought it up here. but i dont understand how it would just turn on and load all the way. somebody pls explain to me. what is it i dont understand that i need to know how to reboot it.

somebody reply to this please.

thanks