CMOS Only.

[gcsdk5210]

Hello,
I am trying to put together a cheep (preferably free) computer out of junk computers for my 8 year old daughter, I have two old computers and some spare parts I'm working with. One computer, I can get to the CMOS but thats it, it won't boot from floppy. The lights on the floppy drive are coming on, but it won't read from it, I've tried several different floppy drives and get the same problem. I've looked around in the CMOS and it says it is recognizing everything (HD, CDRom, Floppy, Etc), I'm not too sure about specific settings, or where to find out so I don't know if theres a problem, I just know it says there is a floppy drive there. Also, I think I've got everything plugged in right, but how we get from turning on power-to-the operating system, I'm kinda of fuzzy. When they say Start up disk, do they mean a boot disk for your operating system?
I am a beginner at putting computers together, everything I know about the subject is from the internet and forums, so if you could even direct me to some begginer tutorials, I would appreciate it.
P.S. On the other computer, everthing lights up, but it won't turn on the monitor, no beeps, nothing. I've tried replacing the video card with one I know works, but nothing, I also tried another PCI Slot but still nothing.

Specs:
Motherboards=Unknown (No visible markings)
Processors=Socket 7 (P1?)
Ram=SIMM
HD=Fugitsu and Unknown (both already have ME installed)
Standard no name Floppys and CDRoms 24X
250W and 230W Power supplys

Thank-you
Sorry for the long post.

[ECA]

I can add to this.
Try using a cleaning disk first.
As in the current world 99% of comp use has nothing to Do with the floppy. It tends to get neglected, badly, VERY badly. considering its one of the largest air holes into the comp, your fan sucks everything Thru it.
IF all you are doing id trying to format and get started, I would suggest, if you can from the bios, to boot to the CD with a Current Windows CD.

As for the monitor, when they go bye bye, everything can still work, even the lights on the front. If the fly-back is gone, it dont help. USE a monitor from one that you know works.

A P1 with simms... go to salvation army and get something better, $50 for a P2, and some celerons, or find a company going out of business, a rich person with an old comp. Update the rich persons to a new one and ask for the old one.

[gcsdk5210]

Thanks for the advice, but I already blew that one up. The plug in the power supply was a little loose, I'm not sure what happened, but I plugged it in, I moved the cord, and POW (Brite flash, smoke, small fire)

So, on to computer B, this one has the same power supply that I just blew up, but its nice and sturdy, (this is the one the monitor wouldn't work, we'll call it Comp. B) so I was thinking that the mother board in Comp. B was no good, because I checked the graphics card in the other and it worked, I took the the mother board out of Comp A (the now fried one) , and put it in Comp B (with all other parts I know worked in the other one) Now heres the mystery, Its still not turning on the monitor. :eek:
Every single part in this case, came out of semi working Comp A, except the case and the power supply, and its doing exactly what Comp B was doing in the first place, the floppy light comes on solid, No lights on the CDRom, No power to the monitor. So what do you think? Think its the power supply? I have another one but it has all different plugs, it will plug into the mother board but not the case.

I think your right, I should check the Salvation Army. and save these parts to play with later. Any advice on storing parts? My room is starting to look like a computer repair shop, I have hard drives, disk drives and cables everywhere. Thanks for the help. This is quite a learning experience, and actually fun when theres no fire involed. :)

P.S. The monitor is fine, its the one I'm using right now. Your also right about the dust, the one that was in there was a mess, but I tried three others and they all did the same thing.

[ECA]

The truth of floppy drives:
If you write to a floppy from comp A, and take the disk to comp B, it may not work.
Even if it looks clean, the heads may be dirty. Or there is an alignment problem from the comp it was written on.
THEN you have to remember that Windows dont VERIFY the data it wrote to the disk. A dirty dive writting to a floppy dont write very well.

I learned the hard way, NEVER use a card from a burnt system.
The electronics could be weakened, and can KILL your mobo, and you are BACK to where you were.