Is there any CD or DVD inside?. Seems odd, but a blank or defective disc kept my computer from starting sometime.

No case.....I checked that too. I'm at a loss.

Any else have any comments?

This is just a long shot, but are you using a usb interface keyboard? If so, you might try plugging it into a different usb port and see if you can get into the bios by hitting Del as you boot up.

And if you have an older style PS2 connection on the motherboard, you might try an older keyboard using that connector instead of a usb keyboard.

Like I said, a long shot, but something to try anyway.

burnselk ;Some of this will be a repeat of whta you have done.First I wouldn't clear the CMOS just yet.
2.Unplug the Maxtor external HD.(To me that looks like the only one detected.)
3.Shut down with the power button & then unplug the power cord leave it that way for say 1/2 hour.
4.Plug back in the power cord a power up the computer.
5.While it is booting & this may take a couple of trys because you might get a "keyboard error" if your too fast or a boot back to the screen you now have if too slow.
It looks like you press the <DEL> key to enter your BIOS.
So start pressing that key as the computer boots.
If you can get into the BIOS set the boot order to the HD that has Windows.
On the last scren shot you posted I still only see 1 internal HD & if that's not the one with Windows something changed the boot order.
I hope this was in the BIOS.Because if you can get there it is easily changed.
If it changed you "bootmgr" file or IO.sys file in Windows it is much more difficult to fix.

Kerry, I'm using an older HP (2001) keyboard and it's the PS2 model. But I am using a lot of USB devices (hard wired network ....only 2 computers), backup external HDD (the Maxtor OneTouch 4), printer, mp3, scanner, etc. Could that be causing any problems....I keep wanting to connect this problem with the new Maxtor external drive since I just installed the software for it yesterday...Cobian 8 (or something like that). But how could I uninstall that software if I can't even get to the safe mode.

By the way Kerry, thank you so much for helping me.....I would be totally lost without help from you guys.

It seems your keyboard is working since the pic you sent last night showed 'prepare to enter setup'. How long did you let it try to enter the setup?

It could be a good idea to disconnect any external devices that you do not have to have.

This problem should not be related to any software you installed yesterday since you are not getting to Windows yet. But, the fact that you connected a new drive yesterday does seem to be part of the problem. Did you reboot at all after installing the new drive? I think somehow the boot order might have gotten altered when you connected the drive.

RM

Having usb devices plugged in shouldn't affect the boot process. But something is stopping you from entering the bios. I thought I had figured out a possibility, that the keyboard was malfunctioning, but it looks like that isn't what is going on.

From what I've seen, the computer isn't even getting to the point where it looks for the operating system. And if you can't get into the bios, this could be a problem. Clearing cmos is the first step...whenever you want to try that.

After that I would try accessing the bios again---hitting Del as you boot up. See what is recognized in the bios and make sure the boot order is set correctly. If you can even get into the bios.

But lets take this one step at a time. Whenever you have a fair amount of time to work with this.

As far as helping, eh, that's what we do around here. Keeps us out of trouble.

cholla, this all started when I was plugging in my wife's zen stone mp3 player.....and the USB port I was plugging it into was right beside the USB port that my brand new (software was installed today) Maxtor external backup HDD was plugged into....and rememeber, it happened concidentally around 10 PM when the Maxtor was set to start an automatic backup.....as I plugged in the mp3 beside of the Maxtor USB my screen went from the desktop (or I was possibly online at the time) to the screen you see in my first screenshot (not really a screenshot but a camera picture that I took and loaded into this older HP computer I'm using to talk to you guys). I cannot do screen shots because the first screen that comes up stops dead and nothing can be done to remove it except to turn the computer off....the screen "freezes" up just after the "beep" (POST). Every time I turn the computer off at the power button and turn it back on I get the beep....then a "frozen" screen which are the "pictures" I've attached here for you guys to see.

When I turned the computer off and then on again after this problem happened I started hitting the delete key and I got the Boot screen (I believe that's what Kerry said it was) that showed both internal HDD's.....but it too was "frozen" and nothing could be done.

But, remember, the very first screen I attached....did not show the 500GB HDD which is partitioned into several drives....one of which is the "C drive which contains my OS Windows XP Home". I'm told that that screen is the Boot screen.

Keep in mind, I get the "beep" every time I turn the computer off and back on.....but, and this is very important......the screen freezes up and tight as a drum head......you can't do anything in this screen except look at it.....and when I hit the delete key as it's booting up.....it will "freeze" at that screen too.....so I can't do anything except turn it off and back on....from the computer power button. So, I cannot set anything in the screen......no boot order....nothing.

I'm open to all suggestions guys...and I do so appreciate your help. Please stay with me.

If we can't finish up today, I'll be back on herer tomorrow (Sunday) around 12 noon (eastern time) or shortly thereafter.

Thank RichMan.....stay with me on this please.....I'll have to leave shortly but I'll be back tomorrow at noon (eastern).

.....and thank you so much for helping me.....I'll keep you out of trouble for hours.

This is interesting and i'll be around tomorrow i believe.

Did you unplug the power cord from this computer & let set?
Not just the power button?
Are the external Maxtor & the mp3 player now unplugged?
If you have tried unplugging the power cord already then I'm on the same page as Kerry56 time to clear the CMOS.

I sure did cholla, and now it's working.....I'm sending this reply from the computer that was having the problem.......

what did you do to fix it?

Good deal. Way to go cholla.

I did exactly what cholla told me to do.....

Now in order for me to learn what happened, he needs to tell me what fixed it.

Why does unplugging the PSU help?

Thanks cholla.

When you start plugging things back in do it one at a time to see what it might be. Re-start after each of the hardware you hook back up.

I'm not exactly sure but apparently on some computers there is memory that uses the PSU power even when the computer is shut down.I think this makes the computer battery last longer.In theory the battery takes over when the power to the PSU is unplugged.There must be some memory that the battery doesn't power that isn't actually necessary for the computer to boot .This is possible information for a faster boot like driver information.
That is what I think anyway & I have seen it work so I use it.
The reason for the external Maxtor & the mp3 player being unplugged was if they are what caused the problem it would not be duplicated.At least not on this boot form the power to the PSU being disconected.
Now burnselk can do as Bob suggested:

Wanted to let you all know I'm back....and I wanted to give all of you who contributed to my issue a huge "Thank You" for your very capable and quick assistance. I felt SO good to watch my computer keep moving thru the boot process, into Windows, and to the desktop this morning.

This site is where I go for answers to computer problems....and the great thing about this site is that the people respond quickly to your requests. Whenever I have a computer problem...I can ALWAYS count on members of "cdfreaks" to come to my aid.

Thanks again guys.....I am beholden to you all. Last night I was in a real "funk" if you know what I mean.....my home brew was having what seemed to be major problems.....and today I'm using it because of the very excellent support from you guys.

P.S. Bob, you bet I will check each USB device to see if the issue comes up again. Don't want the problem back but if that's the only way to find out what happened I will....and I will reboot after connecting each device.....one at a time.

burnselk i'm glad you able to once again use your new build. You will be helping soon also.

I try but sometimes i'm way off on my suggestions. Like this time.....

Who needs tech support when we have each other here.

To be corny i guess.......Knowledge Is Power.

Why do you say this Bob? Do SATA's not show up sometimes or what? I'd like to hear from you on this....it may help me someday in the future. I have two SATA HDD's in my first homebuild.

We can't be expected to know it all Bob. The great thing about you is that you're always there (steady as she goes) to try to help as much as possible. This says a lot about you Bob. I'd want you on my side every time I had a problem.....and thanks for remembering my home build......what a memory.

Because it showed up as a slave drive and no master with it. Kerry was asking about that. Wild guess from me.

Well thank you for the compliments

I'm here because i have nothing better to do most days. I'm going to grill some steaks outside tomorrow. Mow the grass on Monday so i do have a few things to do other than this

I wanted to let you all know that I have been unable to duplicate my problem.

I'm thinking it had something to do with my backup Maxtor HDD being set to "auto backup" and my plugging in another USB device at the time when the auto backup was to begin. That's about the time it occurred and that's why I think it was what caused it.

Thanks to all once again for coming to my assistance when I was in need of help......you guys are absolutely great.