Booting issue

[Arcticfire]

Hello,

yesterday I tried to login on Windows (, after entering my pw it took a while to load, which it didnt since it just decided to reboot.
Now the issue comes, it stops rebooting during the BIOS fase, it gets stuck on the page: press DEL to enter BIO, etc etc. after that it ends in a black screen and does nothing OR
it says there is a harddrive issue. However I placed the harddrive(SATA) in a different computer and it all worked.

Now I tried switching the cables (the one going to the DVD player and the one going to the Harddrive, since it did load the windows DVD). Yet, nothing.
I tried resetting the BIOS(taking out the battery and switching the "jumper" thingie). However it wont let me in the BIOS menu itself since it kind a gets stuck.

Is there anything else I should try or what could be the issue?

Arctic

[Tutonic]

If it's not getting through the BIOS POST, it could be a hardware problem.

You'll need to start removing stuff to try and isolate the problem, but I'd start by making sure everything is seated correctly. Remove the RAM, and re-seat it - make sure you get a good firm click when it goes back in. Check all the power cables are connected to the motherboard securely.

If that doesn't work, try removing all your RAM apart from one stick - see if you can boot. Repeat the process for each stick until you find a bad one which stops the system from booting.

[sulky_uk]

had a similar issue no so long ago, cant remember where i found out what i did, but the gyst of it was, it said to unplug everything except the keyboard, mouse and monitor. Apparently some bios's get confused when certain makes of external hard drives are connected to certain usb slots on startup. If i connect my offending drive to the computer prior to startup it wont boot, remove it and it does. Where as all my other usb drives are fine. Worth a try!

[Sneakytiger]

i agree with tut try the ram, also make sure everything is seated properly,could be a motherboard issue depends how old it is.

[Arcticfire]

k, so I tried removing the ram and adding them 1 by 1, even tried the every slot on its own. No succes. I even tried a different ram to make sure it is not both of them. No succes.
Removed my soundcard, yet no succes. Only option could be the videocard, but i kinda doubt that would be it.

I also tried all the cables, yet nothing. It might be the motherboard itself, since it is kinda old(5 years).

Since it looks like I have to get a new Motherboard(unless there is more I can try).
What is the step to take to find a one that matches my current hardware:
Sweex soundcard PCI (optional component)
ATI Radeon HD 5850 PCI-E
2 DDR2 slots
the Motherboard would be this one http://www.msi.com/product/mb/G31M.html#/?div=Basic

If I need a new one, I do want it to be an upgrade, however I am afraid that I would have to buy new RAM aswell (DDR3). Or am I able to avoid that?
Also will I be sure it fits in my PC case?