Computer Not Booting, hardware problem?

Hatake · 26 Sep 2006 at 11:10

I recently purchased the basics of a new computer. I bought a graphics card, motherboard, procesor, and ram. I replaced all the parts from my old system with the new ones and now it doesn't boot up windows.

I'm running an OEM version of Windows XP Home so I don't know if it's not booting because I've changed too many parts from the OEM spec. I've also tried running Ubuntu linux from a live CD but thats not worked either. It mentioned something about timing and kernel errors but I think thats related more to Linux than Windows itself.

When I try to turn it on, the computer boots up and I can get into the BIOS settings. The BIOS shows the correct ram and processor as well as all the old hard disks and DVD drives. I made sure it's booting from the correct hard disk and exited out of the BIOS.

After that, the Windows loading screen shows up for a split second then a blue screen flashes and the computer restarts. It does this every time, it gets to the point where you would be waiting on windows to load, and just flashes a BSOD and restarts. The BSOD flashes too quickly for me to read what the error message is before it restarts so I don't know what the problem is.

Does anyone know what the problem might be? Have I missed some sort of BIOS setting that I'm supposed to fix or is it an actual Hardware problem?

Hatake · 26 Sep 2006 at 11:27

So its more likely a driver fault than a hardware problem?

Hatake · 26 Sep 2006 at 12:08

its an OEM copy of windows from a pre-built PC.

I swapped a MSI motherboard for a ASUS one, ATI GFX card for a nVidea one, some unbranded ram for Cosair, and an AMD Athlon XP for an Athlon 64 X2

So its pretty different from my old one. Need to get a copy of Windows Home edition before I can find out.

Does the problem I described sound like it could be a possible hardware fault in the slightest?

Just because I won't be able to get a Windows CD till next week, and if it is possibly hardware, I'll try and get one sooner.

Hatake · 26 Sep 2006 at 12:21

I don't understand, what disc should I create?

Hatake · 26 Sep 2006 at 18:12

Admiral Huddy said:
Striclty speaking, you shouldn't under the licensing of an OEM OS, port the OS from one machine to another. You can only do this with a retail license.

Am I really porting the OEM version from one computer to another? I've just upgraded the dated pre-built system. It's gotten to the extent that I've upgraded just about every original part, but its still the original computer in theory.

So does an OEM OS mean that its restricted to the main computer and upgrades are generally not allowed?

Hatake · 27 Sep 2006 at 13:10

I see. I didn't realise OEM liscenses worked that way. Also found it a surprise that changing the case isn't allowed either. I changed my case long ago. Still got the old one kicking about though as the COA is stuck to the back of it.

I'll go and buy a retail version of Windows XP and try a fresh install on my computer. Hopefully everything will go smoothly and none of my new hardware is actually broken.