Need Help With PC - Failed Reinstall

Hioncc

Hioncc

Hioncc

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Joined
6 Apr 2009
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46
Hello,

Today while browsing the net my PC decided to blue screen, at first I thought this was the graphics card, so removed this and started with the on-board GPU which was fine.

Shortly after I got another blue screen, regarding memory failure, after this the computer would fail to boat just before the windows loading screen.

I then managed to backup the hard-drive connecting it to another computer, so decided to reinstall windows from the disk.

I, as usual, inserted the disk, changed BIOS to boot from disk and follow it through. I did so, formatted the hard-drive and proceeded to install. This was running awfully slow and after 3 hours was still on 0% as it had frozen. I had to turn off via the power off button, and since then I have been unable to load the CD.

I have changed BIOS to only boot the CD, yet still before the installation screen get BSOD's. I have taken the graphics card out and changed, removed the 2GB's of RAM.

I am unsure what step to take next.

Any help is appreciated.

Regards
 
Have you got any spare parts to troubleshoot with?

Run memtest and see if you get any errors.

Boot the PC with the bare minimun: CPU, 1 HDD, 1 stick of RAM. If it works, then add the parts one by one to see which piece is causing the issue.
 
Hello,

I am already trying running the PC with the CPU, 1 HDD, and 1 stick of RAM (changed both as have 2GB Sticks).

I am now getting the message "Disk Boot Failure, Insert System Disk And Press Enter". The disk I am using is the Vista Home Premium 64-Bit I got with the system (as it was a custom build) and the one I've always used.

Regards
 
Last edited:
Sorry, I meant I am now getting that error. Googling suggests hard drive failure, however I managed to access that earlier by plugging it into another PC.

This is a nightmare, surely can't be the motherboard or CPU causing an issue and RAM, GPU are out of the question too. Also how can I previously BSOD driver errors with a formatted hard drive and booting from a CD?

Regards
 
Oh right. It could be the HDD as you say; have you got another that you could test it with? Or another PC that you could plug it into and scan it for errors?
 
Try different SATA or IDE cables?

Can you download and run Memtest by burning it as a bootable disk on a another computer?

Are all the BIOS settings at default? try a clear CMOS.
 
I have tried taking the CMOS battery out and reinserting it which doesn't make a change. I do have another computer so can try the hard drive on that tomorrow morning, although strange to throw errors when it's completely blank? And surely as I managed to access and copy files earlier by taking the hard drive and installing to another pc that it isn't damaged?

I'll also run memtest tomorrow. Thanks for the help. If there are any more suggestions it would be appreciated.

Regards
 
Back in the old Win 9X days, a BSoD could have meant anything! Nowadays, in the days of NT, it's usually (1) RAM being the most common, (2), HD 2nd most common then (3) drivers. Since the Windows install stalled at 0%, I agree with the Don above that it is the HD at fault. If you don't know the make of the HD, then Seagate Seatools is a one-size-fits-all diagnostic tool.
 
Hello,

Just to post an update:

I removed the HDD from the faulty computer, put this in my own PC, formatted the hard-drive and installed Windows on it perfectly. Load windows etc, no problems there at all.

I put this back into the faulty one (as I thought it may have just been a CD Drive error on the faulty machine), with everything in (GPU, All RAM etc) and just before the cursor should appear it goes black.

I took out the GPU, leaving just the RAM in with on-board GPU. This then will now throw a BSOD just when the cursor should appear.

So if it's not the HDD or the GPU, that only leaves the RAM, which I shall now try removing one at a time to see if that's the issue and post back.

Regards
 
Ok,

Well to update on the RAM. With one of the sticks in it won't boot at all, and simply continue in the same pattern as above.

With the other stick, it will boot into windows, but almost as soon as it has loaded the taskbars, it will BSOD with a different error each time.

Is it possible both the RAM sticks have failed? Not sure what else this can be.

Regards
 
Run memtest with each stick individually. That will find any errors on the RAM modules and you will know if they are faulty or not.
 
Some hardware specs would assist. Are you overclocked? What are the ram timings, voltage in bios.
 
Hello,

Well, memtest threw errors for one of the RAM sticks, I was however advised to flash the BIOS.
Unfortunately during the process, a bulb in the house blew, tripping the power and has caused the motherboard to be bricked.
Anyhow, I guess this is the perfect time to upgrade.

So, if possible, could anyone post a recommendation for a motherboard, which can fit the Q6600 CPU and run DDR3.

Regards
 
It was advise from another forum, unfortunately I had not had a problem doing this before.

Anyhow, not much I can do about it now, could you recommend a motherboard for the Q6600 with ability for DDR3?

Regards
 
Ive got that MSI board in my spare pc, its fine, allows me to OC. What mobo do you have? If its not a cheapo board its highly likely you can un brick it. You have RAM issues, RMA them and get a new pair. My old system I had 5 faulty sticks, spread over 3 sets, took ages for me to diagnose as I had 4 sticks on initialbuild and didnt expect all 4 to be faulty.
 
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