As a Tech, I must say ... Your right in your assumptions The Flash bios is the Video card (yes video cards have their own bootstrap) starting then the Motherboard and Bios should take over and are not Pulling cards is the next step, just in case, but right now a motherboard is looking pretty questionable, The supply is unlikely in this case, and your diagnostics look sound. Its looking like money will need to be spent Chris O'Halloran wrote:
Thanks for the suggestions.
On rereading my email, perhaps I wasn't clear. My computer is not actually getting to the BIOS screen, it's only doing the quick text display that the nVidia graphics chip flashs just before the motherboard bios takes over.
Power supply is a good suggestion but no, nothing untoward sounding and the CD and DVD roms operate so the 12V rail is probably good.
I'll test the supply to the harddrives but I am still suspcious that the BIOS screens aren't coming up.
Thanks for the suggestions.