Asus A8N SLI won't boot Windows - Blue Screen

[imported_Rivulent]

Hey all. I just received all my upgrade components, short of a SATA hard drive. As such, I'm still using my old 40gb Maxtor DiamondMax ata 100 hard drive. I installed everything into a new case with a 420W power supply. System posts fine, but...

My components are as follows:

Asus a8n SLI
ATI x800 XL (Yep, I was lucky enough to find one at CompUSA today for $300)
1gb Corsair TwinX memory (512x2)
Athlon 3000+
Soundblaster Live! 5.1 Sound Card


When I go to boot it up, right as it is loading windows, a blue screen flashes so quickly I can't even time it right to take a picture to read it. I mean, it's like 1/10th of a second as it flashes. Next, it reboots, and will go to the "restart Windows XP in safe mode, last settings that worked, normally, with network, etc. etc." Well, I've tried everything, nothing seems to work, it continues to do the same blue screen error. If i let it go it will just be an endless cycle it seems. I thought possibly the ram in dual channel mode was a problem, so I pulled one out and it did the same thing in single channel mode. The ram I tested in another system and it worked fine. SO I don't believe that is the issue. I DID NOT reformat the hard drive, so I am thinking its possible that all the driver changes (everything is different hardware wise, minus the sound card) is the problem. My last resort is to reformat because I Don't want to have to go through all the trouble of backing up my stuff. Thanks a lot guys.

 

[lotus503]

Originally posted by: Rivulent
Hey all. I just received all my upgrade components, short of a SATA hard drive. As such, I'm still using my old 40gb Maxtor DiamondMax ata 100 hard drive. I installed everything into a new case with a 420W power supply. System posts fine, but...

My components are as follows:

Asus a8n SLI
ATI x800 XL (Yep, I was lucky enough to find one at CompUSA today for $300)
1gb Corsair TwinX memory (512x2)
Athlon 3000+
Soundblaster Live! 5.1 Sound Card


When I go to boot it up, right as it is loading windows, a blue screen flashes so quickly I can't even time it right to take a picture to read it. I mean, it's like 1/10th of a second as it flashes. Next, it reboots, and will go to the "restart Windows XP in safe mode, last settings that worked, normally, with network, etc. etc." Well, I've tried everything, nothing seems to work, it continues to do the same blue screen error. If i let it go it will just be an endless cycle it seems. I thought possibly the ram in dual channel mode was a problem, so I pulled one out and it did the same thing in single channel mode. The ram I tested in another system and it worked fine. SO I don't believe that is the issue. I DID NOT reformat the hard drive, so I am thinking its possible that all the driver changes (everything is different hardware wise, minus the sound card) is the problem. My last resort is to reformat because I Don't want to have to go through all the trouble of backing up my stuff. Thanks a lot guys.

" I DID NOT reformat the hard drive,"

Yeah I can say with a fair amount of certainty this is your problem.

I have never installed all new componets without a format and reinstall of the OS

 

[imported_Rivulent]

That's what I Figured, and it makes perfect sense. However, is there any other possibility I can attempt beforehand? In the meantime, time to start transferring my collection over to this computer.. heh

 

[MisterChief]

I haaven't seen the BSOD since the days of Win95...

 

[lotus503]

Originally posted by: Rivulent
That's what I Figured, and it makes perfect sense. However, is there any other possibility I can attempt beforehand? In the meantime, time to start transferring my collection over to this computer.. heh

Well short of having some other equipment and another ig handy not really.

I use Acronis true image and keep backups of all my crap on secondary Hard drives.

So I never lose data on a new build, just have to reinstall everything.

If you are west coast, run to the store and buy a new drive

 

[FastEddie]

Originally posted by: Rivulent
That's what I Figured, and it makes perfect sense. However, is there any other possibility I can attempt beforehand? In the meantime, time to start transferring my collection over to this computer.. heh

I DID NOT reformat the hard drive,

That sums it all up right there.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

There is a setting in bios that you can disable that will prevent the system from instantly rebooting on the blue screen error. It's something like "Auto Reboot on Fatal Error" I,m not where my computer is now or I would check it for you. Disable this setting and you will be able to see what the error is.

But I agree with the other poster its most likely driver incompatabilities from not doing a fresh install. The only other options is to put your old rig back together, and uninstall all the device drivers that you can, Video, Audio, DVD, USB, etc.. etc.. etc..., then swap the motherboard. Although the odds of this working are not very good unless you have an intimate knowledge of all the device drivers installed on your old system.

Best bet: Put your old rig back together and save everything that you want to keep to disc, blank the drive, swap the mobo, format and install windows