I finally got my rig to boot up after discovering my mobo was DOA and getting a new one (forum about that).
Now, I encounter a whole new world (cue Aladdin music) of problems. In trying to install Windows XP (through the bootdisks), after the final bootdisk, I get a blue screen with the message "windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer". If I try to install Windows 98, the computer takes forever to load (or just shows the splash screen forever and the little progress bar moves slower than a glacial shift) and if it does load, freezes during the final hardware initialization stages. But, I can boot into safe mode.
My system is as follows:
* - I've switched the memory thrice, with at least one stick being on Asus's QVL list
Let me try to eliminate some culprits:
So, the suspicious parts are:
So, to recap: I've never brought this system to a complete windows install, though I successfully formatted the hard drive with a bootdisk. I'm leaning towards the power supply being at fault, but other suspects include my processor and video card.
Anyone know what's going on (or venture a guess)?
thank you (I'm in SoCal, so "yous" and "y'all" are not in my vocabulary, but that's what I'm trying to express) for reading at least!
ryan
Now, I encounter a whole new world (cue Aladdin music) of problems. In trying to install Windows XP (through the bootdisks), after the final bootdisk, I get a blue screen with the message "windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer". If I try to install Windows 98, the computer takes forever to load (or just shows the splash screen forever and the little progress bar moves slower than a glacial shift) and if it does load, freezes during the final hardware initialization stages. But, I can boot into safe mode.
My system is as follows:
Processor: 3500+ Athlon 64 Socket 939
Motherboard: Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe
Video Card: GeForce 6600 GT PCIe
Memory: 1 GB (2x512 MB) Mushkin PC3200 DDR *
Hard Drive: Hitachi Deskstar 250GB SATA
Power Supply: Antec SL350 (came with case)
& an old DVD-ROM drive
* - I've switched the memory thrice, with at least one stick being on Asus's QVL list
Let me try to eliminate some culprits:
- The last time I got these errors, it was a memory/motherboard compatibility problem. This time, I've gone through the Mushkin sticks, a pair of HyperX sticks, and a Corsair ValueSelect stick straight off the motherboard's QVL list.
- I've already dealt with my DOA motherboard - I'm just going to guess that the problem isn't with the motherboard.
- I've disconnected the hard drive as well as put the hard drive of the computer on which I'm writing now into that machine, and hard drive failure would make no sense with the temporal location of the BSOD anyway.
- The DVD-ROM drive installed Windows 98 fine, but when the computer tried to do the final steps, then it failed.
- Also, I've flashed the BIOS with two different updates, both of which result in the same error message. (When I first tried, without flashing the BIOS, I received an "Unknown Hard Error", which was the blue screen I associated with memory incompatibility.)
So, the suspicious parts are:
- My Processor - I don't want to have to test this, but if it comes down to it...
- My Video Card - A pin which secured the fan popped out when I opened the package, so I used a paper clip (which I twisted and bent to my needs) to resecure the fan. Perhaps this paper clip is causing trouble? Also, the particular manufacturer of my 6600GT is not listed on the motherboard's QVL list. (I was under the impression that a 6600GT is a 6600GT, but anyway, I digress.)
- My Power Supply - it has 21A on the 12V rail, but it is only a 20-pin power supply, when the motherboard has a 24-pin slot for it. I've heard of successes running a 20-pinner on the board, so I thought I'd try it. The power supply has become my primary suspect, but I don't know if PSUs can cause blue screens, and I'm not sure why 98 would be able to boot into safe mode.
So, to recap: I've never brought this system to a complete windows install, though I successfully formatted the hard drive with a bootdisk. I'm leaning towards the power supply being at fault, but other suspects include my processor and video card.
Anyone know what's going on (or venture a guess)?
thank you (I'm in SoCal, so "yous" and "y'all" are not in my vocabulary, but that's what I'm trying to express) for reading at least!
ryan
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