Disaster after power failure

[washe1]

Two days ago, we had a power failure at night, I believe the computer was off at the time.

Since then, I have had the following series of problems:

1) BIOS failing to load, saying that the settings were corrupt
This was rectified by re-configuring the bios and replacing the back-up battery

2) Windows failing to load
-Getting stop messages of "page fault in nonpaged area"
-A variety of files, including nfts.sys, acpi.sys
-Occasionally just "stalling" without a stop message
-Safe mode won't load, nor to command prompt

3) Windows Setup Disk unable to load
-Same messages as above, different files again

As the setup disk can't load, I don't have any diagnostic stuff to load and look at memory / hard drive, etc.

Can anyone give me some directions as to where to go? I am worried that the mainboard, RAM or hard drive are stuffed.

Cheers,
Liam

 

[rasczak]

welcome to the forums. unfortunately it sounds like you fried your motherboard. do you have a back up in which you can test your other parts? with the machine turned off, unplug your cd rom drive, your hard drive, floppy drive, leave one stick of memory, and unistall any peripheral card that you have, such as your NIC card and soundcard if you have one.

then bootup the pc. if you still have these problems then you need to test out your other hard ware with a nerw motherboard.

but from what you are posting i'm pretty sure your MB is fried.

by a good surge protector or if you can afford it buy a UPC.

anyways good luck.

 

[washe1]

thanks for the reply.

Update: Have just tried removing a memory stick (1 of 2 Kingston KVR400X64C3AK2/512) and the computer now loads - although windows is dodgy - slow, in 4-bit colour)

I am also thinking it's the MB which is fried, as it doesn't matter which of the two sticks is in, as long as there is only one, the computer will start up.

Are there any diagnostic tools i can run on the ram from within windows?

 

[rasczak]

not within windows, download a program called memtest86 and run that with one stick at a time. this will help you better discern wish stick if any is at fault. but you have already stated that one stick works but putting in both craps out.

best bet. get a new MOBO and go from there, if you are really set on keeping all of the other parts. but i'd be careful as you may damage any new parts you buy with these old parts.

good luck

 

[washe1]

Thanks for your help.

Managed to get it all working by putting both sticks in channel 2 which are fault-free according to window's mem check bootdisk utility, but i still get random 0x8E errors.

Each stick was fine alone, but a host of errors came up some of the tests when two sticks were inserted, on of which was in the channel one slots.

Have re-installed windows and am working on all the drivers now.
Hoping this'll help.

Cheers,
Liam