calling all hardware gurus!!

[melee28]

Ok, here's my situation: I am trying to fix a friends pc. Here are the specs:

ECS K7VMM (1.2a) motherboard
Windows XP freshly installed
128 MB RAM
AMD CPU ( I believe its a 3000 but I don't remember)

Here's the issue: When I power on the PC the POST screen comes up, checks the RAM, detects the IDE drives, and then refuses to boot any further. I get mixed results though. Sometimes it will tell me that my CMOS settings are wrong and to press F1 to enter setup. I do, and sure enough my settings are gone. Sometimes it goes to the boot select menu (the menu where it gives you the option to boot regularly, in safe mode, etc...), whichever mode I select, it freezes at the next screen. Also, occasionally when I am in the BIOS setup everything will freeze and I have to do a hard reboot.

What I've tried so far:
I have taken the hard drive out and placed it in another PC and...it boots fine
I replaced the drive in the original PC...boot problems again
I replaced all of the IDE cables with known good cables...same result.
I have replaced the CMOS battery even though it showed a good charge.
I have cussed a lot!
I have pulled out my hair!

Any suggestions as to what this could be or some steps I might have missed?

melee28

 

[d2arcturus]

Originally posted by: melee28
I have cussed a lot!

Ah my favorite!

Anyways, I don't know if this is the problem or not, but tell your friend to get more RAM. Please.
Maybe that will fix it, heck I don't know... may I suggest cussing some more.

 

[theMan]

ok, i assume you used the clear cmos jumper. is there any way you can flash the bios using a floppy?

 

[theMan]

Originally posted by: d2arcturus

Originally posted by: melee28
I have cussed a lot!

Ah my favorite!

Anyways, I don't know if this is the problem or not, but tell your friend to get more RAM. Please.
Maybe that will fix it, heck I don't know... may I suggest cussing some more.

oh, yeah, last week i the only compy i had was a p3 800mhz with 128mb ram. it would be at 140mb with just one app open. sooo annoying.

 

[Insidious]

Originally posted by: theman
ok, i assume you used the clear cmos jumper. is there any way you can flash the bios using a floppy?

I second the re-flash motion!

Clear CMOS using the jumper before and after the flash. (edit: NOT during.. )

If this doesn't solve your issue, it may be time to consider a new MoBo But, before replacing it, swap as many of your components as you can find an alternative for in case it is something else. Particularly, try removing/swaping any PCI devices and RAM you can.

-Sid

edit: Doesn't M$ recommend a minimum of 256MB of RAM? (I suggest a minimum of 512MB)

 

[d2arcturus]

Originally posted by: Insidious
edit: Doesn't M$ recommend a minimum of 256MB of RAM? (I suggest a minimum of 512MB)

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/evaluation/sysreqs.mspx

 

[BOLt]

Originally posted by: Insidious

Originally posted by: theman
ok, i assume you used the clear cmos jumper. is there any way you can flash the bios using a floppy?

I second the re-flash motion!

Clear CMOS using the jumper before and after the flash. (edit: NOT during.. )

If this doesn't solve your issue, it may be time to consider a new MoBo But, before replacing it, swap as many of your components as you can find an alternative for in case it is something else. Particularly, try removing/swaping any PCI devices and RAM you can.

-Sid

edit: Doesn't M$ recommend a minimum of 256MB of RAM? (I suggest a minimum of 512MB)

I third that and also agree with the RAM spec suggestion.

Bare minimums are never fun.

 

[melee28]

Ok, this thing is trying my last nerve.

Since I first posted, I have:
reset the cmos jumper again (even though it seems to reset itself whenever it wants to)
pulled the memory out and tried it in the other slot
tried to boot from floppy to flash the bios

none of this has worked.

can anyone suggest a good comparable motherboard that will allow me to reuse the cpu and RAM?

 

[allanon1965]

check the motherboard for swollen caps and also it could be a power supply issue.....

 

[TWills]

a comparable mobo would run you about 3 simoleans...it's that cheap. Cheapy cheap cheap. ECS and Biostar both. The very highest end for the socket A will run you around $100, which is relatively cheap(i.e. inexpensive) for top of the line stuff. May I suggest an ASUS deluxe rev. 2

 

[melee28]

Originally posted by: TWills
a comparable mobo would run you about 3 simoleans...it's that cheap.

3 Simoleans??? What am I made of Simoleans or something????

I checked out the Asus website and there are a few there that I'll price out for my friend. This doesn't need to be anything special, just something that will last longer than a year or so. Thanks for the advice.

Oh, BTW, the power supply was one of the first things I checked..forgot to post that.

 

[allanon1965]

did you look for swollen caps on the motherboard?