Problems... help please!!

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Joined
20 Jan 2004
Posts
1,136
Location
Petersfield, Hampshire
HI guys,

I have a few problems that have emerged and could do with your help.

My PC was working fine, just as it has always been. But then I turned it on the other night and just after the windows loading screen the lights on the keyboard came on and then a black screen appeared.

When I reset the PC, I got the old "Windows couldnt start properly" message, I had the option to start windows normally or in safe mode etc.

This is what happened when I try each of the methods..

Safe Mode... I get a string of messages in white on a black background, saying all about windows/system32/drivers... and then listed all of the driver names. The system then hangs.

Starting windows normally just makes the PC hang again.

I have tried my memory with both sticks or just one stick and I get the same problems. I have also tried Memtest for 12 hours and it runs without errors.

Strangely I have tried to boot from windows CD on either of my HD's but I cannot boot from CD. The PC either hangs after the "loading windows" message or it says, "Diskette Error, please insert system disk".

I cannot enter any formatting menus to format with windows disk.

I am running out of ideas but I am guessing that my Motherboard is knackered??

Im assuming my CPU, GFX, MEM and HD's are all ok coz of what I have tested?

My System is:

4800+ X2
8800 GTS 768mb
DFI nf4 SLi-DR
OCZ Powerstream 600w
40gb Raptor
120gb Spinpoint
Creative XFI

PLEASE HELP ME! DO you guys have any suggestions?
 
Are you sure that the first boot device in the BIOS is CD? If it is then make sure you press a key when prompted to do so.
When you get to the first screen select R to enter the recovery console and at the command prompt type "fixboot" then enter. Follow the instructions and then type "fixmbr" That may help fix your windows installation.
 
Hi there,

For some reason I do not get the option to press a key to boot.

I have definately set the first device to boot from as CD. and it just does nothing.??
 
Cashman said:
Hi there,

For some reason I do not get the option to press a key to boot.

I have definately set the first device to boot from as CD. and it just does nothing.??

My first thought was a memory problem(and still might be). But going back a bit, i'm presuming that getting into the bios is'nt a problem? If that's the case, then take 1 stick of ram out, leaving 1 in nearest the cpu. Run memtest from a cd, not the bios, if it's ok then re-flash the bios on optimized defaults. My thinking here is that you may have a corrupted bios. Once you have re-flashed put the other stick of ram in and run memtest from the bios. If i'm right, it will fail, which means that your ram corrupted the bios in the fist place. Post up your result.
 
does this mean that a reflash of the bios will fix the issue if you are correct? or does it mean it will confirm that the mobo/bios is a gonna?
 
Cashman said:
does this mean that a reflash of the bios will fix the issue if you are correct? or does it mean it will confirm that the mobo/bios is a gonna?

No, my thought is that you have a corrupted bios. Bios's don't corrupt themselves, the cause is normally the ram. But until you have a clean uncorrupted bios any test that you run from the bios will be unreliable(ie, the Memtest installed in the bios). Once you've got a clean bios, then the results from Memtest can be trusted. The mobo itself is probably fine.
 
maybe dodgy ram then? hmm it is 2x1gb Ballistic, I'd hope this isnt the case as ram is costly!
 
Cashman said:
maybe dodgy ram then? hmm it is 2x1gb Ballistic, I'd hope this isnt the case as ram is costly!

As i said, you won't know for shure until you can get a clean bios flashed onto it. But i do remember the 1gig sticks of ballistix dieing by the bucketload, there's a huge thread about it on here in the memory section.
 
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