Computer won't boot up.

[quarryman]

Got a bit of a problem. I spent the afternoon deleting and formatting two hard drives and preparing a dual boot. One drive with Linux and one with WinXp. Both drives had Linux before I started this. I used a boot disk and got the DOS prompt and went to Fdisk. This allowed me to remove the partitions that had been created. Then when I tried to go back and format the drive it informed me that it wasn't suitable for format!
That seemed kind of weird so I tried the other drive and got the same response.

Anyway I thought the best thing to do was head off to Seagate's website and I downloaded a utility that ran off a floppy when booted and check the disk etc. Booted up and the Seagate splash screen came up. Then nothing. The top of the screen said "C:\xbios.exe" which the file it must ahve been running. The hard drive light was on as if it had hung or something. I waited and waited but nothing. Reset but the screen was just blank. Done a hard power down and booted up again but nothing.
My first suspicion was "b****x, the disk is screwed." So itried the other drive - same deal.

To be specific: The computer powers on. There is no POST and no familiar motherboard beeps. The monitor stays in standby. The hard drive momentarily spins and then stops. She's in a coma. Maybe dead.

Anyone with advice? I gotta say my gut feeling is the mobo. Is there any way to check this. I'm off to write a stern letter to Seagate. Doubt it'll get anywhere......

[Lexeus]

You haven't said you have, so im gonna ask it. Have you tried it without any drives attached ? i.e. will it post when the drives have no influence ?

[quarryman]

actually i hadn't tried that but i now i have and still does nothing. It won't even check the disk drives....