won't boot the OS

I have an old Dell PC that I decided to change out the case on. The system was working fine before I did this.

Now after getting it all set up in the new case, the thing will not boot the OS. I have gone as far as re-installing the OS, and I still have the same problem ?? It freezes on the first windows screen that is displayed as it's loading the OS.

I've reset the BIOS, and replaced the battery, and still after installing the OS again, it refuses to boot to the OS.

I can start in safe mode, and it works fine in that setting.

I've removed all hardware that isn't needed for the system to run.

What am I doing wrong ?? Or what have I messed up ??

 

You reinstalled the OS (Which OS?) , when you install an OS part of the install process is a fully loaded version of Windows. Did this happen and then it not boot again? Or did it never boot in the first place?

Also make 100% sure you connected everything properly, maybe switch out the HDD power plug and IDE/SATA cable.
did you changes absolutely anything? Added an extra HDD or anything like that?

Have you connected all motherboard plugs cleanly and in the correct place?

Did you switch the RAM? You might want to pull all but 1 stick and plug it in to each slot in turn and then try the other stick.

This is all process of elimination, but worth doing.

Finally, if possible, try a different HDD or run a HDD integrity scan.

 

Hey Nedlamar,

Man I appreciate you helping me like you are !!

I'm sorry, I forgot I still had this post on here. I should have posted back that I did figure out what the problem was.

Yes you are on the right track. I had a working system, then I swapped cases and then the system wouldn't boot. Oh my god I learned a good lesson on this one. I spent 16 hours straight fighting that thing with no luck. Switching this, swapping that, with no positive results.

I thought I had checked everything, so then I re-installed the OS, and it still wouldn't boot to the OS. I figured I damaged the system board, so I was ready to scrap it, then I thought, the dvd cd players were new to me, and they had not been swapped out yet. But the whole time I'm thinking that the dvd cd players were working to read the disks during all this trouble, and during the OS install too, so I really didn't think they were the problem.

I was wrong !! My last ditch effort was to dissconnect the dvd cd players, and the thing booted right up !! Oh my god I was frustrated with myself. Like I said it was a good learning experience for me, and one I won't be repeating anytime soon.

That's the same XP system I'm going to try using to play PC games with.

I can't beleive all the stress I let that thing give me...LOL I was acting just like the guy in your avatar........