Blinking cursor after POST

I

Iron Ace

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Nov 5, 2006
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I just changed out the MB on the wife's computer and after the BIOS POSTs and where HD access is supposed to start for the OS, I get a blinking cursor. The computer is an HP that I switched out the MB for an Intel 845GE, specifically D845GEG2-BO-R. Using built in video has same result as using a GeForce4 Ti4200 I threw in.

It has a fairly recent BIOS but I will update it to the latest here tomorrow. Assuming that doesn't work and it's not the RAM, HD, PSU since they are the same ones that worked an hour before, what else could it be?
 
Try booting from a CD, you should always reinstall your OS after a mobo change anyway.
 
Yep, you need to put that drive in a different machine, pull all your files you want to keep off of it, then format and reinstall Windows. It just can't start because the old board is too different from the new.
 
Unless you used Sysprep or one of the other methods to prepare your system for a mobo switch... you have no choice but to re-install your os. Windows will not boot because it doesn't recognize the chipset on the mobo and therefore considers it a new machine.

You could try putting the machine back together with the old mobo (assuming it still works) and then running Sysprep, then swapping the new mobo back in, but honestly, by the time that's done you could have just as easily re-installed Windows, and your wife will be happier with that anyhow, as a fresh install is always best with major hardware changes...

Good luck....
 
It boots from a CD, so this is Windows XP being a bitch about the changes. Assuming I don't want to re-install the OS, do I just nuke the MBR?
 
I remember this now, heh. No, my wife has too many apps installed so swapping the boards back out will save her time but not me. :p Thanks for that link digital_exhaust, I'll give that a spin.
 
Err. "Assuming you don't want to reinstall to OS" -- are you going with something else?

So long as you don't have data that needs saving, just format the disk and start over from scratch.
 
I can see this thread continuing when it doesn't work :(

Oh well.
 
That won't help.. it's a "driver issue" so to speak. Your current install "sees" a different motherboard, and therefore will not boot. It's kind of Windows way of making sure that it's not being "stolen" if you will.

The two methods that I have had success with are Sysprep, as I mentioned, and the other is an easy registry hack involving the ENUM key.

Your going to need to re-install Windows, I don't really know what else to tell you, I wish there was another way, but there isn't... not as far as I know anyhow...
 
Why did you change the mothebord in the first place if you are just changing it back?

tarduy0.gif
 
I am changing mobos to add an AGP card instead of using the built in for a little better gaming options. I foresee just going back to the old mobo for now with the possibility of a re-install later
 
If sysprep doesn't work.. which it should, let me know.. there is another way....
 
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