I'm at my wits end and I think it's a hardware issue!

[KAMAZON]

My computer always gets stuck on:
Setup is checking the C:
or
Formatting the C:

both at 0%

My Sabaon Linux system on a Ultra ATA HD does not load, it just goes to the beginning where it is loading up the drivers and just freezes.
My Windows XP HD does not load, in safe mode it freeses on loading the SAM or one of those early registry files.


To troubleshoot this I have already:
-replaced the HD with another one
-Tried both serial ports
-Tried a Ultra ATA HD
-Ran HD diagnostics on the UATA HD (no problems found)
-Ran a low lvl format on the UATA HD
-Replaced the ram from another old system I have which I am not using
-Moved the Ram into different slots
-Tried booting with the sata/promise ports disabled on my mobo
-Tried different UATA Ribbons
-Tried diff UATA ports
-Tried loading Server 2003
-Tried multiple copies of Win XP Pro/Media Center Edition
-Tried multiple CD Roms, ones that I know are working


Background to the issue:
A few months ago I had a overheating problem and I believe I slightly damaged my cpu, it continued to work, just not as well. I ran into a hot deal to replace my AMD 64 3200 Socket 754 for $35 so bought it. I replaced my CPU and decided to clean the dust in my system. I got the air canister and througly cleaned it out as well. A couple of times I had to get into a odd angle which the canister released that super cold air/liquid it does when you turn it upside down. This has happened before and it never caused a problem, and it vaporizes immediately. The computer was not plugged in and wasn't plugged in until an hour or so after. I also installed 4 fans in the system; 2 in the rear, 1 in the front by the HD, and 1 in the door.

I was excited to try my new undamaged CPU so i carefully screwed in my HD and video card back in, and windows came up to the splash screeen after turnin it on; then I just got a black screen. I ran into this problem before and a MS Knowledge article mentioned that this might happen with restoring images, regarding somethin with the registry. I just went ahead and restored my image again (which i've restored at least 5 times before without a problem) and I had the same issue.

I decided to just wipe the HD and try again. I used Hirens boot cd and ran acronis part manager, removed the partitions, repartitioned it, and windows wouldn't install, it would just freeze on "windows is starting", which is the last screen before it goes to check your HDs. It would sometimes get past that as well.

I checked the via forums and noticed my mobo did have some issues with sata and the promise controller, but none of it really applied to me.


Any suggestions? I am at my wits end. Thanks in advance.

 

[jkresh]

have you tried the old cpu, to see if that boot,s, it seems like all your problems occured with the new cpu (which you never were able to verify working) so a good place to start would be to look at the old cpu.

 

[Trashman]

Was going to suggest trying to boot into "safemode" since you were able to get to the splash screen, but from what i gather you have already formatted hard drive and trying to re-install windows.
The only other suggestion I would try is to reset BIOS to default settings, possible something got changed.

 

[KAMAZON]

no not yet, I was wary of doing that since the thermal paste is running low and it'll be hell trying to clean it off and reapply it, as well as remove-reattach the heatsink. The BIOS notices the new CPU but at this point I can't think of anything else...

 

[dawza]

When you say that your old CPU "continued to work, just not as well," what exactly were the signs that made you come to this conclusion?

Also, how bad was the overheating, and do you have any ideas as to why it might have occurred?

 

[KAMAZON]

Hi Dawza, I had major sluggish performance at random times, my CPU would peak to 100% even on a brand new install and general wierd things like that. What caused it to overheat was me being lazy and cheap, and not buying adequate airflow for my case. I will now go further and actually duct the CPU as well.


BTW I was finally able to get into the other room (peeps were sleeping lol) and used that computers Floppy Disk to download a bios update utility and update my bios and it's FINALLY OK OMG!!!!

I hadn't bothered with a bios update earlier becausethisis the exact CPU so i dunno why it had to be updated.

 

[pradeep1]

Generally when a core is damaged by anything, it just doesn't work. I don't think I've ever heard of a CPU going bad. Yours might be a first, but I doubt it. There must be some other issues causing your old CPU to have problems.

About the supercooled vapor getting on your mobo, that won't do anything. If anything, it will just cool the point of contact for a few seconds, and it will vaporize immediately.

Edit: I just read your post, congrats on fixing the problem.