Super bad -- boot stops -- cannot get into bios

Serious bad at the worst time (naturally) --

Sequence:
-- months ago got rid of the Microsoft Splash screen in boot up (the noGUIboot option in the Boot.ini)
-- needed to get into bios yesterday and couldn't time the use of the del key withour the M$ splash.
-- went into boot.ini and removed the check mark from the noGUIboot
-- still could not get into bios
-- looked into replacing the NTOKRNL.exe file, copied it but then removed it
-- tried to restore bios
^ reset using the jumpers -- no joy
^ removed the power cable and cmos battery overnight -- no joy

-- the machine now starts up, then after the normal startup beeps, it gives me two fast beeps and then nothing.

-- I've pulled the memory and tried individual sticks -- no joy
-- cannot use the MSI M-flash because I can never get to bios.

Please Help

 

More messing around and now new symptoms --

*Cleaned the RAM chip contacts (eraser)
*Unplugged all USB plugs -- left them unplugged
*Un plugged all internal drives -- started machine -- turned off -- replugged all drives

Now, machines starts up and no longer gives the 2-beeps (that would signify memory error).

Nonetheless, the machine still stops booting and there is no video signal
*pulled and reseated the video card -- no joy.

Question -- could the bios have reset but now the onboard video of the mobo is working and the fact that the plugin video card is stopping things?

 

Pulling the CMOS battery would revert the BIOS to default, so yes, your computer is trying to boot off of the onboard video. Connect to the onboard video and if that does not work, remove your video card and try again.

 

OK T-Gell, thanks for the reply:

We got a little farther. Video card is out and monitor is plugged into the mobo port.

Now we have a video signal and we have an error message:

NTLDR is missing

Ctrl/Alt/Del reboots the machine but the same error appears.

 

This can be do to a number of errors including a bad boot.ini file. I would do the steps in order. Hopefully you have an install CD.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/findbyerrormessage/a/ntldrmissingxp.htm

 

Progress! and a mystery

*Put WIN install CD into drive
*was able to enter bios for the first time since this episode began
*switched the boot order to the 2 cd/dvd drives first, then the SATA boot HD
*Rebooted
*the machine never went to "press any key to boot from ,.." but went through the M$ splash screen then right into XP. The machine is working normally in XP.

At this point, I'm not going to go on experimenting -- I'm going to get critical work done before continuing (read, no reboot at this time).

-- I'm going to reconnect all USB devices (need them for the critical work that has to be done today).

-- Later, I will reboot after removing the WIN install CD
-- We'll see what happens and I'll post the results.

In the meantime, can anybody explain what is going on??????

Machines don't fix themselves ...

maestrogn