Problem confirmaion required

Scottland · 2 Apr 2006 at 17:23

Hi,

A friend dropped off a computer that wasn't working.

When XP booted it soft resets itself, no options on the boot menu do any different. Fixmbr and fixboot both were unsuccessful.

I've attempted to format and reinstall windows - but the windows format tool stops about 80% though with an error about the disk.

I'm guessing its the hard drive thats kaput, but before I replace it - any other things it could be that I could test?

ta

Scottland · 2 Apr 2006 at 18:53

The only one I've got "spare" would involve backing it up first, restoring a backup windows install onto it, and then once tested restoring a further backup.

So, a bit of a PITA

Scottland · 3 Apr 2006 at 08:48

Good suggestion with a Live CD, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks

Scottland · 5 Apr 2006 at 19:46

Tried another hard drive, and I still get the same problem.

Can't format the new drive to install windows on, I get an error at the end of formatting.

I've swapped out the RAM for known working stuff, and tried a different IDE channel.

Ideas?

Scottland · 5 Apr 2006 at 20:01

I haven't got all the bits needed to swap everything, I'm personally thinking motherboard rather than PSU. Which is the only thing I haven't got to swap...

Scottland · 5 Apr 2006 at 20:11

PSU swapped, again with a known working one. And it's still the same, looks like the motherboard then

Scottland · 5 Apr 2006 at 20:25

Well the only other common component is the CPU, I could swap either really its just a PITA.

Scottland · 6 Apr 2006 at 07:28

Nope, it's been stock all the time. In fact the system is really only used for th'internet/email etc.