I'm in 640*480, 16 colours mode, SDR machine with a Radeon

[Scuttle]

And i'm ready to commit murder...

"What happened?"

OKay, a few hours ago I downloaded some new BIOS' for my Abit kr7a, I looked at the readme's and decided I might do it later, but not now.

Anywho, I install the via 4 in 1 drivers that came on the Abit CD and install them (I also install the hardware monitor as my PC has been getting quite hot) This goes fine, it asks for a reboot and I give it one. Then I do some normal web-browsing at here and SF, just everyday normal things...then I remember Tu has his CS server running, so I go to play...boot up half life and enter the console...and that was the last we saw of Mr. Abit and Mr. GF3. The system gives a big hard lock...and then I remember what happened the last two times I installed VIA drivers, the last two times I had then i could no longer get into the console without a hard lock (*slams head* why did I not remember this BEFORE??)

So I reboot...and reboot again...I reset the CMOS as that's solved problems before...but that's a no go. Then I start removing components. GeForce 3 is the first out...boot up and it won't load up. Soundcard gets lifted out next...reboot and still no luck. Hard drive is unplugged...still nothing.

So, seeing as I had started to assemble Happy's PC earlier this week I took the T'bird out of the Abit and put it in the old Gigabyte system (Basically so I knew there and then if it had died...press the power button and it loads up the bios and then windows...hoorah!

So, let's try things in a working system...GeForce 3 goes in...I get greeted by huge amounts of beeps and it won't boot. Now, this would make sense, but the Abit system refused to work when the GF3 was out, so I think something else may be amiss.

But, I thought to myself, it's probably better to atleast get this problem posted so I can get some feedback on what it might be and any ideas that anyone has.

I've still yet to try taking the memory out as well as switching the PSU (But i'll do that after dinner).

Things that ARE working with no doubt:

Processor
Hard drive

Things that I'm not sure about:
GeForce 3
Soundblaster (Going to test this once this is posted)
Abit motherboard
power supply unit
Memory


Any suggestions appreciated and welcomed. 🙂

 

[Scuttle]

Okay, I tested the PSU and memory and those both cleared and didn't affect anything. So i put the system back together in the SDR rig (WITH the GF3 instead of Radeon) and booted, the monitor gave a flicked or life and the BIOS came across the screen! (Note, it's worth mentioning i'm now using a P3 500 with a Voodoo 3 2000) and then as quickly and as magically as it appeared, it went...I breath in in frustration...and something catches my nose, a smokey smell. So I turn off the system and inspect each component and electrical bit carefully in an attempt to find the source of this smell....i'm pretty sure it's the PSU until *dramatic music* I smell the fan above the T'bird and there's a VERY strong smell of smoke there.

So, I put in the Radeon (This is the only AMD system in the house, so i can't really check it) in place of the GF3, boot up and...nothing. The HDD whirls (as do all the fans) but no monitor life. Won't be doing much this evening, then. Don't have easy access to put my HDD in any other machines tonight so no fun and games for me.

I'm beginning to suspect that this may work out to be somewhat costly...