pretty old desktop please help

[Kringeify]

hey, i have a year 2003 compaq desktop. it has had viruses before and we havent been using it for a while. i just decided to hook it up today to see if i could get it working, which i did. it powered on, but on the screen it says going to sleep. then the screen goes black but the computer still stays on with the fans and everything. i have been told to make recovery antivirus disks and what not; but there is no point because i cannot even boot from the cd rom and cannot even get on the login screen. please, if you have any advice, help me. the reason why i am trying to get this computer running is because, its a computer and it can possibly be used. thanks

[Ironman]

I'm not sure how to go about fixing this. But be patient and I'm sure one of the members will have a solution for you. Personally, if the computer is that old. I would install Ubuntu on it. Once it's running that is.

[Kringeify]

thanks, it has done this going to sleep thing before but you can normally force shutdown and power it back on and it would work. only if there was a way to boot the cd rom without configuring it on windows...

[Apetrick]

Can you get to the bios screen?

[Kringeify]

no i cannot, the screen just says going to sleep then just black.

[UberN00b]

Make sure to change the boot order in netbios so that cd/DVD's boot before the hard drive. Check out your cd/drive drive also. I had a problem running live CDs and installing them. I swapped the stock drive for a newer one, problem fixed. You could also try Plop Boot. It's a live cd that allows old pc's to boot from USB.

[Kringeify]

thanks uber, but only if i could get to bios or netbios. but thats the problem because i cant even get to the login screen

[Apetrick]

thanks uber, but only if i could get to bios or netbios. but thats the problem because i cant even get to the login screen

It's not past the login screen, when it's booting keep pressing f12 and you'll see it popup

[Kringeify]

but i cant because right when the computer turns on you cant do anything it just says going to sleep, then black screen.

[Apetrick]

So right after you hit the power button it says going to sleep? Like how long does it take from the time you hit power to the time it says "going to sleep"?

[Godman777]

Sound like a PSU issue perhaps.

[grinch]

but i cant because right when the computer turns on you cant do anything it just says going to sleep, then black screen.

You are not starting it from off. If sleep or hibernation is enabled, hitting the power button will just bring it out of or put it back to sleep
Hold the power button down, for 8 seconds. It should shut off within that time. Then count to 10. An honest 10 seconds, one mississippi, etc, to let all the fans stop spinning. Then power it back on with a normal press and release of the power button

The reason we count to 10 after shutdown is so the fans stop spinning. If they are winding down, and you crank them up to full by powering on, you can damage them. most computer fans are weak

[Kringeify]

So right after you hit the power button it says going to sleep? Like how long does it take from the time you hit power to the time it says "going to sleep"?

yes, it is right after i press the power button. i also tried connecting the hdmi to my computer and it didnt work but then i connected my hdmi to the monitor and it worked for my computer. and grich im pretty sure im powering it off lol . i have tried fully powering it down like you said and ive unplugged and everything, the fans stop spinning too. and god what is a psu issue?

[Alex47]

An issue with PSU

Na I'm joking idk

[Godman777]

It's funny because that's just what I said. Right? And I'm not even joking. Lol