Win 95 won't Boot

[markstevenkerr1]

I am trying to get an old Windows 95 system working. The problem is
it won't boot. The boot process hangs. It finds the 256 megs of memory, hard drive, CD rom, but can't detect the floppy drive. The system hangs after detecting the above devices.

Help your much appreciated!

[GaryRouth]

Hi markstevenkerr1

How long has it been since the machine successfully booted?

Does it give a Bios error message, such as "Floppy Drive fail"? Or does it sound any beep-error-code? [a single, short beep indicates that the system has successful passed it's Power-On-Self-Test (POST) ... any other combination indicates a hardware or Bios configuration error]

Does the floppy drive's light light up at any point? Does it seem to stay lit?

If the machine was working recently, try powering it off & unplugging its power cord. Then open the case & check the cables for the floppy drive. If you have a spare floppy drive, you can try substituting that known-good drive & see if the system gets past any floppy errors.

Leave the case cover open, and try booting again. As soon as you start powering the system on, look to see if the cpu fan is spinning or not (if there is a cpu fan - some Win95 system with Celerons might have just a large heatsink, with the system fan blowing over that). If the cpu fan isn't spinning, check if it's plugged in OK, or look for a replacement (a free replacement would be best - no sense in spending much money on suspect hardware).

Also, while the computer is first starting, press the key mentioned in the Bios banner message "Press F1 (or F2, F10, or DEL, etc.) to Enter Setup" - and look to see if the settings are OK. If the date & time are way off (set to 1980, for example) the 2032 coin battery for the CMOS settings probably needs to be replaced (costs about $1.50). If date & time look OK, go through the settings = you can often find a manual for the motherboard still available on the Internet (Google is good at helping find these things).

Original hardware from the Windows 95 era is reaching the end of it's expected span - so you may want to run diagnostics to see if the main components are OK. MemTest86 can test the memory ( http://www.memtest.org ). And diagnostics for the hard drive should be available for download from the hard drive's manufacturer's website (the downloads usually create a bootable floppy diskette, & the diagnostics start automatically when the system is booted from that diskette).

This should get you started on your troubleshooting -
. . . Gary

P.S. ... Welcome to the PC Mechanic forums.

[markstevenkerr1]

I replaced the floppy drive cable. The computer did find the hard drive, CD,
floppy drive, and the 256 MB of memory. I only got one regular beep during the POST. The computer hangs while trying to detect the CPU. I think this may be the problem and I am going to have the CPU tested.

Thanks,

markstevenkerr1

[glc]

If it can't find the CPU, it wouldn't even get that far. One beep is a successful POST.

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

Like glc mentions, a single beep usually means that your system made it through the POST tests OK.

Try downloading the hard disk & memory diagnostics & seeing if the system will boot from them. You can first make sure that the floppy drive is set to be the first drive in the "Boot Order" in your Bios Setup screens. [For example - A, CDROM, C - in a "boot order" would first look for a bootable floppy, then a bootable CD-ROM, then for a bootable hard drive].

You mention it seems to hang "trying to detect the cpu" - are you referring to some auto-configuration utility in the Bios that offers to detect it?

Did you check the date & time in the Bios? If the CMOS battery is still the original, it likely needs to be replaced.

. . . Gary

[markstevenkerr1]

I checked the CMOS setting including the time all was ok. I replaced the battery anyway because it was 8 years old. I downloaded the MemTest86 and installed it onto a bootable floppy. I fired up the computer it passed
the POST gaunlet and I saw the "loading Windows 95" splash screen. That's
it... the computer hangs. I checked my CMOS setting for boot order. Floppy is first device then CD. I inserted my MemTest86 disk and rebooted the computer. I never got the loading Windows screen and the computer never booted to the floppy. I then tried booting a bootable windows CD... NO.
tried several times reboot the computer always hangs in the same place.
The BIOS detects the 256 MB memory then detects both master(HD) and seconday drives(CD) with no problem

Is it possible my hard drive is fried since Windows hangs while trying to load?

[glc]

To test that, disconnect it and try to boot with a floppy. In fact, you are a candidate for this procedure:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409

[markstevenkerr1]

I will try to disconnect the HD and reboot. I am confused... if my CMOS
boot order is: floppy, CD, HD, why is my computer not booting to the floppy
when I have a floppy inserted at boot up. My hard drive is third on the list.

Thanks,

Markstevenkerr1

[edfair]

Usual cause is a bad floppy drive, or a bad floppy disk. Does the drive select light show up? Do you hear the floppy seek during POST? Or do you even have the "seek on POST" enabled?

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

. . . following edfair's line of thought: why not start with trying another bootable Win95 floppy diskette. Then, if that doesn't work, see if a friend has a spare floppy drive to lend for troubleshooting (a new one usually costs $5 to $12 [USD] - - it would probably be best not to spend any money on the system until you get a good read on how many of it's main parts are still in working order (that is: whether there are enough to make it salvagable or not).

And, regarding the floppy cable - if the floppy light stays lit continuously, it's likely the cable is reversed (if the cable has a "twist" in it [not all have this feature, but many do] - connect the floppy drive to the connector on the end just past the twist).

---A little "Zen and the Art of Win95 era Computer Maintenance" note:
Keep in mind that it's entirely normal for a few parts to have developed problems after ten years or so of service. It's expected: hard drives often wear out after about six years (some go longer, some don't make it six years, and some arrive dead-on-arrival) - there's a lot of variation, but if the drive has been in use for even half of the time since 1995, it's about time for it to retire. Much of the fun of working on older machines is just doing a little magic to coax the old parts to be serviceable for another year or two. It's not necessarily practical (new machines are cheaper, faster, and a lot quieter) - but there's something to be said for the "fun" part.

Have fun with your project!
. . . Gary

[markstevenkerr1]

Thanks for everyones help. The problem was one of my two 128 MB
sticks of memory was bad. Pulled one stick and she booted right up:D

Thanks again!

Markstevenkerr1