xp startup problems, need help!

[greenalarm10]

Hi, here's my problems for quite some time now. I really don't know what to do, so i ran up to the nearest cafe and registered in this forum. please help!

1long,3short beeps happens. Iv'e tried readjusting my vcard, my memory, and it still hapens...what should i do?

ANd for the other computer that was recently bought, i saw the ok messages during boot up. then i see another screen where i can choose to start windows normally, and if i choose any of those options, the pc reboots. I can't get in windows desktop. somebody help! :confused: I really need to use my computer for school. ANd going to a repair shop means more money. :(

EDIT: Oh, and i got a new vcard (gforce fx 5200), When i tried it the same thing happens, the monitor turns off right before i can see the windows desktop, right after the windows loading screen. (It's like, right before i can hear the oppening sound clip of windows, the monitor turns off.) Help?

[Sylvander]

PC1
One long & three short is the IBM BIOS POST beep code (http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm#06) indicating a "Video (EGA) Display Circuitry" problem.
Can you try your video card in another PC, or another known good card in your PC?
You could try reseating and/or cleaning the card and socket connections with Ethyl Alcohol.
No changes were made right?
And did this system work ok before?

PC2
Which Windows? XP?
This link (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308041#E0DC0ACAAA) suggests fixes, but becase it restarts no matter which startup option you choose it seems to come down to "Perform an in-place upgrade to repair your installation of Windows XP".
Make sure you do the repair WITH the video card in place that you intend to use.
Is the card compatible with WinXP?
The repair will set up Windows to use the connected set of hardware, and you'll then need to reactivate if the OS is WinXP.

For the future, to easily recover from software problems...
Set up some system of backup that allows you to make and restore backups even when Windows won't boot.
This would allow you to restore a working software setup that matches a set of hardware.
If you want ideas on how, search the forums for the names Sylvander and/or Paul Komski and the term "backup" or "EBCD" or "BING" or "Boot-it NG".
Either that or ask for suggestions here.

[greenalarm10]

Wow! thanks, Sylvander. For Pc1, i got it up running after checking the Video card in place.

For pc2, i used Pc1's hard drive but the same thing happens, it still reboots before the desktop or loading screen displays.

Thanks for your time, Sylvander! :D

[Sylvander]

"For pc2, i used Pc1's hard drive but the same thing happens, it still reboots before the desktop or loading screen displays."
PC2
When an Operating System is installed on a PC that has a certian combination of hardware...
During the installation...
The hardware is detected and Windowss is set up to specifically work with that hardware [and ONLY that hardware], because particular drivers are installed that are capable of controlling those hardware items.
Once done, that Windows installation should only be used in that system.
If it's moved to another set of hardware, it's possible [Windows was designed to do this] to re-run the Windows ["repair"] installation.
The new set of hardware will be set up for use and settings added to the hardware tree in the registry and new drivers installed [if included in the Windows installation CAB file set, or asked for if not].
Windows would now be capable of working with either set of hardware items [at startup Windows detects the connected hardware and uses the appropriate registry settings and driver files (if it has these, which yours does not)].
Hence, no surprise that it wouldn't boot Windows on PC2 with PC1's HDD in place.

"if i choose any of those options, the pc reboots"
I think Windows is discovering at a very early stage in the bootup that it is not safe to proceed.
Windows is configured by default to reboot when it encounters any serious problem, and if you cannot get it to boot into Safe Mode, then you cannot reconfigure that behaviour.
So you need to complete a Windows "repair" reinstallation.
Which Windows is installed?
Do you have the installation CD?
Would I be correct in assuming you don't have a backup?
I know a way to browse the files on your HDD [including the Windows files] and you might look for a suitable registry file to re-enable [and disable (rename) the existing copy], but I don't know enough about XP to identify the file [In Win98 it's "C:\Windows\System.dat" & "C:\Windows\User.dat"].

[greenalarm10]

thanks sylvander! I'll try and borrow an installation cd for a boot up.

about my videocard, i had it running. But, a few seconds into any game would cause my system to crash into this blue colored error screen. So i have to restart it again!

[Sylvander]

"a few seconds into any game would cause my system to crash into this blue colored error screen"
Was there any error message beginning...
Stop: 0x0000???