Ungh.

Okay, I have an OLD Emachines 333cs that I use primarily for getting
Email and a little word processing.  It is about 4-5 years old, but it
handles everything I need to do, if a bit slowly.  Last week I decided
to re-install Windows 98 and just clean it up of all the programs and
old files I no longer use.  I figured, just flat-top the sucker and
move on.

I re-loaded the software, but then my modem did not work.  So I called
AOL and the lady in support told me I fried my modem, but no problem
AOL would send me a free modem in a few days.  No problem, I'll just
get my Email from work for a few days.

So yesterday the new external modem arrives.  Yeah!  I follow the
directions and shut down the machine and plug in the new modem.  While
I'm at it, I plug in a new keyboard and mouse I received from a friend
who just bought a new machine, and which was better than the ones I
was using.

Okay.  Great.  New modem, new keyboard and new mouse.  Lookin' good.

I turn on the machine to load the software for the new modem and
nothing works.  Blank screen, and it does not sound like the hard
drive is engaging.

"Well s***!" I think.  Actually, I think I said it out loud.  Anyway,
I turn off the machine and unplug the modem, replace the old keyboard
and mouse and turn it on.  Still nothing.  Fine.  I unhook everything,
take it all into the kitchen where I have better light and plug
everything back in.  Turn it on...and, yeah! the screen lights up,
showing the Emachines logo.  I sit there and wait for it to start
loading Windows...and I wait...and I wait.  Nothing.  Zip.  Nada.  And
it still does not sound like the hard drive in engaging.

Soooo...I whip out the recovery CD, place it in the drive, turn off
the computer and re-start.  Same thing.  I get the Emachies logo and
it just stays there.

By this time, my lovely wife who needs to use the computer to retrieve
Email and write up a couple of documents is giving me "the look." 
Defensively, I blame the computer, but she points out that it was
running fine before I decided to "fix" it.  Frustrated and somewhat
angry words ensued.

Needless to say, I slept on the couch last night, and it looks like
I'll be there until the thing is fixed, or I admit that I screwed up. 
I would really prefer to get the thing fixed.

So...help!

Is there anyone out there who can tell me how to fix this problem, or
do I admit defeat and part with several hundred $$$ to get a new
computer?

I think you fried your motherboard and or processor.It sounds to me
like the PC was not unplugged when you installed the modem.If a
computer like the one you have meets your needs you could buy a
similar refurbished model for less than $100.

Since it was an external modem (hooked up through the serial port or
USB port) hot-swapping it would not damage your computer.  When in
doubt, re-install windows.  This kind of troubleshooting would take
hours and hours and hours over email.  Good luck!

My previous comment is wrong.If the machine can still POST (beep when
starting)it will probably be best to reinstall Windows so get out your
bootdisk,format and start again(make sure you have the drivers for
your new modem).If that's not possible remove the modem then install
Windows.You can try to reinstall the modem later.

I attempted to re-instal, but the computer will not even boot up from
disk.  It just kinda stays there on the logo, and nothing will engage.

The symptoms you describe may be caused by loose memory chips or
processor. You could try reseating the RAM, CPU, and any cards inside
the machine and see if that helps.

Which logo is it stuck at?  In the bios you might try setting default
settings, make sure CDROM is the first boot device.

I can't get into the bios or anything else.  The computer turns on, I
get the Emachines logo - and nothing else happens.  Nothing will boot,
it doesn't even sound like the hard drive is active and the light for
the hard drive does not light up.

Do you think a well-applied brick might do something helpful?

I'll try what you suggest hibiscus-ga and tell you if that works.  If
it does, just post that as your answer.  However, I did not move the
machine prior to its failure, so I'm not sure how things could have
become unseated.  Arrrgh!

Hi, I would try and probably help you out of your problem. 

Try entering the BIOS and detecting the hard disk using the auto
detect option. If not then probably hard disk is the culprit. Try
swapping it with a new one, though a less than 20 GB in capacity ( i
donot know what BIOS is it, thats why). This shoold mst probably fix
the problem.

Best Of Luck!!!

Thanks for all of the tips and comments...this is a really great community!

My problem:  Everyone says to enter the bios...but I can't.  The
machine starts up...I get the Emachines logo...and then nothing.  How
do I get to the bios if I can't get into the machine?

Dump the computer and your wife.  Get some fresh new ones.  A new
computer might come with a new wife.  Just kidding of course.

Honestly, I hope you were kidding about the couch thing.  It's quite
mean to be angry with someone who was trying to do something good.

To get into the bios, it might be worth trying the common keys while
the emachine logo is displayed (f2, f10, delete).

Other things to consider: 

What was the original OS on the computer?  Was it Me or 2000?  If so,
you might need to install those.

I don't know if it's possible for a driver installation to corrupt
something on the bios or motherboard.  As a last resort, you may try
to reset the motherboard by moving jumpers around (see the manual).

Unfortunatley, I was not kidding about the couch.  Getting a new wife
is not really an option, as this one has too many miles to get a
decent trade-in value ;-).  Of course, a new wife may have her own
computer....no, I think I'll stay with what I have.

I'll try the steps you suggest.

Thanks!

Just an extra comment. Try this: open up ur case and you see the
motherboard and stuff.  Take out the little "watch-sized" battery that
powers the CMOS for at least 15~30 seconds.  And put it back in.  That
will reset the CMOS to Factory defaults,which may help you to solve ur
problem.  Of course, after ur computer starts up again(if it will),
you need to go into the CMOS and set the date and time and stuff.

Good Luck