HP a1600n desktop will turn on but will not boot. Does not run thru BIOS, keys/mouse check. HDD spins up, CDROM goes thru check then just sits. Monitor doesn't kick in because doesn't get to video check. Turning on/off multiple times (sometimes 20-30) may catch and then will boot up completely. THEN will at some point automatically go into shutdown. All power settings are set to never shutdown anything, no hibernation, no suspend mode, no screen saver. BIOS has no power choices enabled. Checked caps on motherboard..all looked good... reseated memory mods. and checked as much as I could see. Stumped!!! Any suggestions? HP a1600n AMD X64 Dual core 2.0 GHZ 1 GB RAM Win XP Pro 160GB WD Sata drive

Do you have the first boot device in Boot Order set to CDROM?

As SOON as you press the Power On button start tapping on the F10 key. tap in 2 second intervals.
You're supposed to wait until you see the HP logo, but if you wait too long, you'll miss this small window of opportunity.
This method should ensure that you enter BIOS Setup.

(If you get a stuck key error code beep, disregard it. It's okay.
It may be the F1 key to enter BIOS Setup. Watch the screen for the key to press to enter BIOS Setup. It will be shown.

Once you see it start tapping on that key. If the small window of opportunity passes, {Sometimes it goes by q-u-i-c-k}, press the CTRL key, ALT key, and DELete key AT THE SAME TIME.
This will restart your computer so you can try again)

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph07110&tmp_track_link=ot_recdoc/bph07107/en_us/bph07110/loc:3&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&product=1122478

The above link is to show you what the main menu looks like, in BIOS Setup for BIOS version 6, or less.
When in BIOS Setup you cannot use your mouse anymore. To navigate around you have to use the Keyboard.

Use the Right Arrow key to highlight - Boot
Press the Enter key.

Use the Down Arrow key to highlight Boot Priority.
Press the Enter key.

You want CDROM at the top of the list. Use the appropriate arrow key, and highlight CDROM.
Press the Minus key ( - ) to move CDROM around in the list.

With some versions of Boot Order you have to move each boot device until the boot device you want, is at the top of the list. With other versions you just keep pressing the minus key unti the boot device you want comes to the top of the list.

Once you have CDROM at the top of the list, Save Changes.
Look at the navigation guide at the side, and bottom. See which key you press to Save Changes.
(F10?)

Until you save changes it will be like you have done nothing at all. You are just looking around.

Once you press the appropriate key to save changes, a Y/N, or Yes/No will come up.
Just press the small case y key. You do not need to use a capital Y. (The capital Y is just shown for clarity)

The computer should restart now. Put the Win7 disk in the optical drive, if it is not in there already.

For BIOS versions 7 or higher, the information is shown on how to enter Boot Order.
Left-click on the + sign next to -
BIOS Version 7 or greater


For additional questions please post in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

You have not set the boot order options for the PC to CDROM>HDD. You need to command the computer to start from the CDROM coz now its starting from the not yet installed drive. So, on the PC's boot screen, press f10 or del, whichever for your PC in order to enter the Bios setup. In it, look for the Boot order and set the options as cdrom then hdd.

Restart PC. Please let me know if it was of help.

can u view the HDD in Boot sequence in BIOS boot seq...have u reset the BIOS/COMS using any tools...try reseting the BIOS boot seq to boot from HDD insted of floppy or CDROM...also check how many HDD is displayed in the BOOT seq...the machine normaly boots from HDD 0....
else try to boot from CDROM....and insert a BOOT CD/WinXP cd in the CDROM drive...

did u change the boot sequence in BIOS....
if u made any changes there u need to set it back to boot from hardisk....
i suggest u keep this boot seq...
1st boot CDROM
2nd boot Floppy drive
3rd boot HDD

u can make to boot directly from HDD as 1st boot
but remember to make changes to BIOS everytime you want to boot from CDROM

If you plan to reformat the hdd, just boot the unit off the cd. you may have to go into the BIOS setup and change the boot order so that it accesses the cdrom first. In most HP systems you can access the BIOS setup by hitting f10 key during the boot stage.

you need to open up the case, and remove the CMOS battery ( a silver wafer-style battery about the size of a quarter) and leave it out for about 10 minutes. put the battery back in and close the case back up and DONT mess with ANYTHING ELSE. if the computer STILL wont boot, then your motherboard is bad, and will need to be replaced through the manufacturer of your PC.

It all depends on your bios type.  Here is some more information for you to reveiw. http://en.kioskea.net/contents/pc/bios.php3

It sounds like the hdd has failed. When you try to boot can you hear the hdd attempting to spin up? Best solution if everything else checked out would be to replace the hdd. Hope this helps & please remember to rate my answer. Thanks.

If you mean you need to install windows, you need to set your cdrom drive as first boot device in advanced bios settings or it will try to boot into a non-existent windows. Make sure your hdd is showing as the master drive, save settings and exit bios. Re-boot pc with windows disc in cd drive and hit enter when prompted to boot from cd.