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anyone know what could be wrong??

X

X14

Senior member
I'm trying to setup a computer for my niece and it's pisses the bleep out of me. It's a Abit KT7A with a 256MB, TB1000, GF1. It always hangs when I'm loading Windows, or installing updates, or something. It's so darn irritating.

This last time I got it to load Windows 2000 completely without a hitch. I thought everything was ok then when I tried to defrag the HD, the computer freezes EVERYTIME I use Windows defrag. Other than that it seemed fine. I tried Windows checkdisk and that hangs EVERYTIME too...doesn't matter which HD I'm using.

I've tried loading Win98SE, WinME, Win2K, WinXP, and each OS runs into problems at some point and always freezes. I've swapped in 2 different CPUs, 2 different power supplys, 2 different vcards, 2 different HDs, I leave the sound card out until I know it works but that ain't happening yet.

I'm wondering if it's the KT7A but I don't have another mobo to try.

The thing is all the parts in the computer work fine and it's basically my old setup except for a few swapped parts. I never had any trouble with it before. It was sitting in the closet for a while and I decided to give it to my niece so I picked up a new CD-ROM and that's about it.

I actually have it back from my niece for the 2nd time. I gave it to her once about 8 mos. ago with Win98SE, it crashed and it wouldn't work. I gave it back to her with XP about 4 mos. ago, it crashed again. I thought XP was almost bulletproof but it coming up with this can't find a system file error and it couldn't start.

So I tried putting Win2K on today and I got the freezes during degrag and checkdisk. I loaded XP again and it froze when I was updating with the service pack and now I get some crytographic error message...and I've given up for the night.

ARGHHHHHHHHHH!W##@)#$#%%^$
 
Could be a wide range of problems

Sounds like a problem with ur mobo, but try and:

Run memtest and prime95

Check if the cpu fan is running all the time at a decent rate

 
Just took a peek at your rig, and I see you have a scsi. If you are using this, you may want to pull it and try windows again. Also noticed you have a zip drive. Again try disconnecting it and try windows. The Mo-Bo may not like these things.
 
The SCSI parts I pulled from that rig and have in my computer I'm using now, that's why I bought the other Atapi CD. I've got 2 sticks of Crucial 128MB CL 2.5 in there. I haven't checked the memory but I guess I should. I really feel bad giving my niece a computer that keeps crapping out on her. I told her she has to always backup her important school stuff cause I'd hate to have her lose anything real important. Here I am trying to be a nice uncle and I could really cause her some headache one day if the computer were to crash at the wrong time.

The computer works. But it's so unpredictable and I know it has problems. It had the problems the very first time I gave it to her but I didn't think it anything would happen.

I'm 100% sure it's not the CPU,r power supply, or vcard. I highly doubt it is the CD-ROM. I've actually tried 3 different power supplys and same thing. Can't be sound card cause I don't put that in until I know the other stuff is working. Modem and NIC I take that stuff out and it still hangs. It has to be either the memory or mobo. I think Crucial makes pretty decent memory so I inclined to think it's the mobo but I really have no way of checking since I don't have a spare AMD mobo lying around.

I'm no computer expert but I've built my last 5 computers without any problems...until this. I know that mobo is quite dated and maybe I should just upgrade my system and give her my P4.
 
I always use Crucial's RAM and I agree, they make high quality modules. However, I also think you should run memtest on it and see if the ram is bad. You never know what can happen 😉 and I think thats easier than finding a different motherboard.

If it checks out okay, then I must say it is probably your motherboard if you have verified that all the other components work fine in other systems. If it is the motherboard, then maybe you should just upgrade yours and give the P4 to her. Hey it would be a great excuse to do it😉

Hope everything works out for you.
 
Thanks for the help guys.

I ran Mem Test and the computer immediately froze. So I took out the module in bank 3 (farthest from vcard). I had 2 mem modules in the middle and outer most slots and had the slot nearest the vcard empty. Mem test ran for 4 hour without any problems. Now I've re-inserted the module I took out into the slot I originally had empty behind the vcard and am running Mem test again. So far so good, Mem test is running and I'll leave it for a few hours.
 
AGRH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Memory checks out just fine but darn computer is still freezing. I re-installed XP 2 more times tonight and still get freezes. Ready to throw in the towel at this point.
 
Yes, tried w/ and w/out VIA drivers in XP and loaded VIA drivers in the other operating systems...no luck.
 
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