Epox 8kta MB Trouble, Help?

[Kazi]

AMD EP-8KTA 700Mhz CPU - 100Mhz FSB - 128 MB PC133 Crucial RAM - 16 MB TNT RIVA Gfx - 6Gb WD HD - 250W PSU.


Ok, lets tell you how I got ahold of this system...

Friend of mine was moving, had no room for his computer so he gave me the tower and a 19'' CRT monitor (woohoo ).

Well he said he had some trouble with it anyway so it wasn't a big loss.

Now onto the problem!

First off, this thing won't read CDRoms... even the one in this machine which I KNOW works.
The HD is a WD 6 GB, little yes but for a 700mhz AMD that was used for very light gaming and mostly word and email it worked.

The OS was Win98se, he tried to format to WinXP and he said thats when it wouldn't boot.

Ive reset bios to factory default, cleared CMOS via the jumper on the MB, put a stick of my 133 MHz Ram in there from an old 533 I had. Made sure I switched the Jumper on the MB from PC100 to PC133. Checked cables, they are fine.

I moved the HD to this machine and formatted it with WinXP Pro, once I was done, powered down and then put the HD in the other machine (Since I cant get that damn CDRom to work) and booted.

"Loading Windows XP Professional Edition"
BLACK SCREEN

Thats it.

I restart it asked me for the "Last known good config" and Safe mode hangs on APG440.SYS or the file right after Im not sure.

Im temped just to format that damn HD with RedHat linux for the hell of it.

The Video Card is a 16 MB AGP video card that I had in my other 533, I have a PCI that was damaged when the fan died, so it will lock a computer up if I dont keep a box fan on it (lmfao).


I've tried everything I can think of, I like the setup of this AMD and was thinking of buying a NIC and a new CDROM drive for it but don't want to waste money on a dead cpu.

ANY suggestions are welcomed.

Edit: Spelling...

 

[hawkeye81x]

From what you describe it doesn't seem like the CPU is dead at all.
I think the issue is mainly with the OS and bootup sequence.

First I suggest you remove the CD-ROM drive and test it in your other system to make sure it is working or faulty.

If it is actually working, then I suggest retry formatting the HD and a fresh install of the OS.
You didn't mention it but check the jumpers on the HDD and CD-ROM drive.

Hope some of this helps.

 

[Kazi]

CD Rom is working, checked it. Jumpers were the first thing I checked.

Gonna try linux with RedHat and see what happens.

Keep ya posted.

 

[Praxis]

Made sure I switched the Jumper on the MB from PC100 to PC133.

At least on the Epox EP-8KTA+ the 100/133 jumper is for the CPU Host Clock Select (FSB), not memory settings. Memory settings are done in the BIOS. I suppose the older board may be a little different. I'd back down that setting to 100 MHz and try a different CD-ROM drive in the machine. You can buy a burner for about $20 these days. Look over at the Hot Deals forum.