Machine hangs on bootup..... sometimes.

[loic2003]

I have a soltek SL-75frn2 mainboard (bios NOT flashed to accept 400 fsb)with an ati 9800 pro, 512 pc3200 memory, 2 hdd's, 2 cd-rom's and a wireless network card with win xp pro sp1.

My machine occasionally randomly restarts itself when in Windows (it's not the bloody stupid design flaw of window the boot loop, I have remedied the problem). When it does boot into windows it's fine, I can even play battlefield 1942, but when I go to restart my machine it doesn't even boot the bios, it just sits there with the fans blowing, that?s it. These problems started when I updated my graphics card from a GF3 to 9800Pro, but since it can play games OK, I figured it can't be drivers. I have tried resetting the BIOS to standard, but this hasn't helped. I would appreciate anyones help with my piece of poop machine!

many thanks,

Joe

 

[acemcmac]

format

 

[loic2003]

Already tried that, but to no avail....

 

[Zelmo3]

Weak power supply? (Wattage doesn't seem to mean much-- I had a 350W PSU that wouldn't boot my computer, but my friend's spare 250W worked.)

 

[loic2003]

Already tried that too, it had a 350W PSU, but I've slapped in a new 400W PSU.

Got a feeling the RAM is knackard, anyone know a nice utility that checks RAM well?

cheers!

 

[PCHPlayer]

I have the same problem with an old Epox 8KHA+. It just sits there with the fans spinning and nothing on the monitor. I don't get a beep either. I just press and hold the reset switch and it fires right up. It's an annoyance, but once it is up it is rock solid.

For testing memory, go get memtest86 (Sorry no link). Throw it onto a bootable CD (if you have a burner) and test away.