Can a Motherboard POST and be knackered?

Turpitz · 29 Oct 2010 at 16:49

Hello,

As above, can it POST everytime but, be knackered? I keep getting BSOD during windows XP installation, right at 'installing devices'.

I get: Driver_Irql_Not_Less_Or_Equal

Stop 0x000000D1

MSSMBIOS.sys

Does it everytime, tried everything. Anyone have any ideas please?

Thanks.

JonJ678 · 29 Oct 2010 at 16:55

Assuming it's not overclocked, that's pretty likely to be the ram. Other candidates are a damaged cd, faulty cd drive, faulty hard drive, faulty motherboard or possibly processor. Fairly long list really.

Download and burn onto cd a copy of memtest (use a working computer, not the one that wont install xp) and leave that running overnight; if it thinks the ram is bad it's probably right. Check the integrity of the xp cd you're using too if possible.

But yeah, a motherboard can pass it's own tests and still be faulty. It's just less likely than the ram.

Good luck

Turpitz · 29 Oct 2010 at 17:05

JonJ678, I have tried 'six' seperate sticks of RAM and exactly the same. I haven't tried another CPU yet, or a different disc so, that might be worth trying.

Thanks.

SeraphX · 30 Oct 2010 at 04:06

it's memory, i used to get this, have you tried installing the stick in the correct order?
find out what order the mobo ram slots are in and see if that makes any difference,

also ^^ memtest, could be you just have dodgy ram

Turpitz · 30 Oct 2010 at 10:03

Right, I have now put a brand new motherboard in and it is still doing it! The only difference is the error now says:

Stop: 0x0000007B

I have checked with Microsoft and it seems to suggest the HD. Took the HD out and put it in my other computer, re-formatted it, ran Chkdsk on it -- Perfect, with no errors!

I have also tried another CPU, no difference. I have also tried two more sticks of Crucial RAM in various configurations, no difference.

I have now exhausted everything except for the PSU which is a fairly new Corsair and was working fine.

Drives you up the wall this stuff. The brand new MOBO won't even put the BIOS up before it crashes. All I get is the single POST beep then, Whack! BSOD.