Just Assembled Computer Reboots The Second It Hits Windows

[JohnVM]

Hey Guys,

I've just "finished" (almost, it seems, as this issue remains) my new PC. P4 2.8Ghz Dual Core, 2GB DDR2, X850XTPE, Asus Mobo.

I am using my old case from a year ago with a 450W power supply. I got the computer to boot, I can use BIOS just fine, etc. I am using the same HDD's from my last computer. All the fans spin up, everything appears to be working fine, and then all of the sudden the second it hits Windows, the Windows XP Pro logo flashes (as if it's about to load), and then the computer reboots.

I'm guessing this is a heat issue? The CPU seems to be staying at 64 degrees celsius in BIOS.

Any other ideas about what it could be? Also, if it is a heat issue, what's the solution? The P4 chip's heatsink had that heat conducting pad on it, so instead of busting out messy thermal paste I just left it like that.

 

[zerocool84]

maybe its a memory problem

 

[JDCentral]

Maaaybe the PSU?

I'm not really sure about P4 systems, but 450W is usually what's 'recommended' for an AGP Athlon XP system with 1 GB of ram, 2 hds, etc...

Make sure you have strong enough 'rails', too.. My friend bought a generic 450W PSU that had a really small +5V rail, and he couldn't get his computer to boot (don't remember the exact problems... just that he replaced the PSU).

EDIT: although... I'm extremely careful about which PSU's I use, so I'm not even sure what a computer DOES when it's PSU is too weak.. hehe.

 

[JohnVM]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
maybe its a memory problem

just switched around all the sticks, no dice.

 

[JohnVM]

Originally posted by: JDCentral
Maaaybe the PSU?

I'm not really sure about P4 systems, but 450W is usually what's 'recommended' for an AGP Athlon XP system with 1 GB of ram, 2 hds, etc...

Make sure you have strong enough 'rails', too.. My friend bought a generic 450W PSU that had a really small +5V rail, and he couldn't get his computer to boot (don't remember the exact problems... just that he replaced the PSU).

EDIT: although... I'm extremely careful about which PSU's I use, so I'm not even sure what a computer DOES when it's PSU is too weak.. hehe.

my friend has the same PSU I do and is able to boot his P4D 3.8Ghz, X850XTPE, 2GB RAM and like 5 HDD's.

Don't think it's that

 

[Mrvile]

I doubt it's a heat problem, the CPU is usually pretty hot in BIOS (mine hits close to load temps in BIOS) but cools down once you get into Windows.

Probably a PSU issue, an "old case with a generic PSU" is usually a bad idea for a powerful system like that, no matter how many watts it has.

 

[JohnVM]

Could it be that I didn't reinstall Windows after installing the new mobo? Both were Asus...

 

[shud]

Originally posted by: JohnVM
Could it be that I didn't reinstall Windows after installing the new mobo? Both were Asus...

This could definitely be it. Anytime I change significant hardware settings I reinstall.

 

[SuperFreaky]

ahh... did you change motherboards and not reload XP???

Sounds like a software problem, try running Knoppix...
http://www.knoppix.com/

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: shud

Originally posted by: JohnVM
Could it be that I didn't reinstall Windows after installing the new mobo? Both were Asus...

This could definitely be it. Anytime I change significant hardware settings I reinstall.

yup that's prolly it, i just switched from athlon xp to a 64 yesterday and i did a clean install, ahh makes me feel better

 

[JohnVM]

OK, well, tried to reinstall.

this is the mobo I have (again link) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131538

when it hits windows it locks up at the same place and gives me a STOP 0000007B error. I googled this error and it said that it meant the OS lost communication w/ the boot drive during load.

When I was installing windows, I had to put the HDD on the same channel as the CDROM I was installing from (odd). Also, when I go into BIOS setup, none of the drives show up in primary/master places, but they do show up in the boot order, and do show up during the IDE scan the mobo does.

Something seems odd here. Any ideas?

 

[JohnVM]

may have got it - will keep you posted (doing 2nd reinstl now)

 

[uOpt]

Just Assembled Computer Reboots The Second It Hits Windows

if you were a computer, what would you do?

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: JohnVM

When I was installing windows, I had to put the HDD on the same channel as the CDROM I was installing from (odd). Also, when I go into BIOS setup, none of the drives show up in primary/master places, but they do show up in the boot order, and do show up during the IDE scan the mobo does.

Something seems odd here. Any ideas?

Very odd. Have you tried flashing your mb with the latest bios? Maybe its dual core support is buggy with the current bios.

 

[mobobuff]

Sounds like it may be a hard drive error. Either your configuration is bad, or the primary drive is buggy. If you can, swap out the primary hard drive and attempt an install on that.

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee

Originally posted by: JohnVM

When I was installing windows, I had to put the HDD on the same channel as the CDROM I was installing from (odd). Also, when I go into BIOS setup, none of the drives show up in primary/master places, but they do show up in the boot order, and do show up during the IDE scan the mobo does.

Something seems odd here. Any ideas?

Very odd. Have you tried flashing your mb with the latest bios? Maybe its dual core support is buggy with the current bios.

Hmm that sounds like it might be the culprit...

 

[JohnVM]

OK got it to boot. It's not a HDD error. I'm using the WinXP on the machine right now.

I had been using "the wrong" IDE channel it seems - only one is showing up in BIOS, so I used that one and it worked.

Problem is now, the other IDE channels dont seem to be functioning. Like, the IDE scanner detects them when its booting, but neither windows nor the bios can use them. It's quite confusing.

The other drives connected to those IDE channels dont show up right now. :-\

 

[Mrvile]

Hmm that's weird...

Maybe trying swapping out IDE cables...and make sure your slave/master pins are correct on your other IDE drives (CD drives, etc).

 

[JohnVM]

yeah

I have all my pins on cable select and I've tried multiple IDE cables. very very odd.

 

[JohnAn2112]

Originally posted by: JohnVM
Could it be that I didn't reinstall Windows after installing the new mobo? Both were Asus...

Bingo. The same thing happened to me after my last upgrade. You should definitley reinstall the OS.

 

[JohnVM]

Originally posted by: OCZ John

Originally posted by: JohnVM
Could it be that I didn't reinstall Windows after installing the new mobo? Both were Asus...

Bingo. The same thing happened to me after my last upgrade. You should definitley reinstall the OS.

did now yep

 

[13Gigatons]

Originally posted by: JohnVM
yeah

I have all my pins on cable select and I've tried multiple IDE cables. very very odd.

Never a good idea, set the device to master or slave and attach it to the right connector.