Need help with parents computer *updated with new error*

[hdeck]

my parents have been having lots of computer problems. i have bought them a new cpu fan, new power supply, more ram, given them an old 40gb hdd i had, given them my old mobo/vid card/proc. basically they have the parts from my old system in their case.

specs:
AMDxp 1600+
2x256 pc2100 ddr ram
10gb seagate gdd
40gb maxtor hdd
AGP nvidia geforce2 mx400 video card
soyo dragon lite mobo

comp1.jpg
comp2.jpg
comp3.jpg
comp4.jpg***NEW***

i tried reinstalling windows but those messages are what i get every time. searching google gives me this from the microsoft page. i couldn't format the drives on that machine so i took them out and hooked them to my machine and did a full format on both. now when i try to install win xp home i get the SAME message. how can a driver be causing an error if the hdd is formated?

my friend that works at best buy (he's a geek squad guy) says it's probably the motherboard. before i go and drop more money on their machine, i was just wondering if you guys had any suggestions or if you want to reaffirm the plan to get a new mobo.

any help you can give is greatly appreciated.

*edit* just checked a few other sites that say it could be the memory. used 1 stick at a time and got the same errors. perhaps i will take ram out of my machine and try it.

**edit** i have 1 stick of the ram in my machine currently and it seems to be running fine.

***edit*** ran memtest for 20 minutes 1 stick at a time then again for 20 minutes with both sticks together. no errors at all.

****edit**** perhaps it is a ram compatibility issue. when both sticks are in it now gives the error in the 4th image, with just 1 it goes to "preparing to start windows" and just stays there forever.

 

[gwai lo]

Yeah..I was going to say check your RAM with memtest. Most likely cause of these =/

 

[hdeck]

ok i took out all my ram, gonna test theirs in my machine 1 stick at a time w/ memtest.

 

[mechBgon]

Is the WinXP Home possibly part of a HP-specific installation CD? Maybe it only likes HP hardware. Just a speculation, though.

If you do want/need a new mobo, and the PSU has an ATX12V four-prong plug, the Shuttle AN35N Ultra is an ok board for a good price.

 

[hdeck]

i'm not using their cd because frankly i can't find it. the only one they had was an upgrade cd which does me no good. being the prepared guy i am, i brought down my full install winxp cd and an extra key.

 

[w00t]

i would say reformat. but you say you already did so i am guessing hardware problem. run memory test like they said update us on what is up.

 

[hdeck]

ran memtest for 20 minutes 1 stick at a time then again for 20 minutes with both sticks together. no errors at all.

 

[DaveSimmons]

could be
* memory (you just tested)
* motherboard -- no good way to test?
* hard drive -- put in your machine, format and run disk tests
* BIOS settings (running RAM and/or CPU out of spec)

maybe also
* bad Windows CD
* bad drive cable
* power supply
* CPU or HSF (loose HSF or bad HSF fan = cooking CPU)

One check would be to run memtest on their motherboard (since you only did it on your motherboard?) -- if the RAM fails and the BIOS settings for ZRAM and CPU are correct then that does point to the motherboard.

 

[hdeck]

how do i run memtest on their computer if both HDDs are formatted?

 

[FearoftheNight]

BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH

 

[hdeck]

Originally posted by: FearoftheNight
BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH

thanks for your input!

 

[JeffN825]

First of all, you should be running memtest for more than 20 minutes.

Second, memtest has nothing to do with the HDs. Make a boot disk with memtest86 or memtest86+ on it, boot from it, and let it run for AT LEAST five consecutive passes. This should take about 2-3 hours, maybe a little less.

To test the HD, download seagate's and maxtor's respective diagnostic tools and make boot disks using them. Fairly straightforward. Run the diagnostic tools and see what you get. Also, have you tried installing Windows without the 40GB maxtor plugged in?

Also, consider testing the processor (though I doubt this is it). Run a primetest and make sure it doesn't freeze.

My recommendation is to download and burn the Ultimate Boot CD. This bootable CD contains memtest86, memtest86+, various hard drive manufacturers' diagnostic utilities, a prime test, and various other utilities. This can be downloaded from http://www.ultimatebootcd.com. Then just take the CD image you download, burn it to a CD, and restart with the CD in.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
could be
* memory (you just tested)
* motherboard -- no good way to test?
* hard drive -- put in your machine, format and run disk tests
* BIOS settings (running RAM and/or CPU out of spec)

maybe also
* bad Windows CD
* bad drive cable
* power supply
* CPU or HSF (loose HSF or bad HSF fan = cooking CPU)

One check would be to run memtest on their motherboard (since you only did it on your motherboard?) -- if the RAM fails and the BIOS settings for ZRAM and CPU are correct then that does point to the motherboard.

I saw the 008 error on a machine 2 weeks ago..was a bad ide cable(came with machine..replaced with a new tested in my machine one) w/incorrect jumpers..if the optical drives came out of an hp they could be jumpered as CS and your new mobo combo might prefer Master/Slave jumpering..

 

[hdeck]

perhaps i was unclear when describing the system, i appologize.

amd1600+
256ddr
10gb segate
40gb maxtor
geforce 2
soyo mobo

this was all working fine until the summer when their cpu fan stopped working. i replaced it then the power supply died (or so i think) so i replaced it. i was buying myself more ram so i gave them an old stick of 256 ddr bringing theirs to 512. the comp hasn't worked properly since the cpu fan was replaced. the cables have been the same this whole time, the optical drives have been the same.

 

[Tea Bag]

Is that video card PCI or AGP? I had a similar problem (DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL) when I installed a PCI card in a computer. It's definately a driver issue and I think your vid card would be a good start.

linky for message..

edit to point out the fact you already seen the above link..

 

[hdeck]

it's an agp video card.

i put one of my ide cables in their machine for their cd drive, went through the set up. instead of crashing it just stays at this without crashing. i went and took a shower. when i came back it was the same screen "preparing to start windows"

teabag, how can it be a driver issue if their are no drivers loaded onto the harddrive?

 

[hdeck]

new error!!!! wtf?!?!?!

atapi.sys - addressf83d29d0 base at f83cb000, datestamp 3b7d83e5

 

[hdeck]

the plot thickens...

ok so with the generic stick of ram by itself, it goes to "preparting to start windows" and just stays there forever.
with the kingston stick in by itself, i get NEW error #3<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://">http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/hdeck/comp5.jpg[/l</a> **notice it doesnt have the driver_ in the error now**
with both sticks, i get this added to the bottom

im gonna start swapping out with my sticks of ram to test for changes...sigh...

 

[Tea Bag]

I assumed you were past the install phase, and also that maybe you were getting the error inside of windows past the boot, with 'reboot after critical error' turned off. Some drivers microsoft can install, that's why sometimes when you check your Device Manager some of the components have been detected. The Windows Resource Kit says this error occurs mainly when installing a driver. I guess assuming makes an as-- you get the idea.

I would do this (in this order)
Yank all the the other components except for the video card and the boot drive (if you haven't tried it already); even better, get a new vid card and try to install windows. If that fails -

Memtest it for at least 8 hours with all the ram that you have in it.
-AND-
Get some sort of drive 'test' for the boot drive (either the Maxtor or Seagate's website) and run that to see if you drive(s) is(are) corrupt.


EDIT: both llinkys no worky.

 

[hdeck]

i'm not passed the install phase. it goes through the point where it is loading things so it can install, then it says "preparing to start windows" so it can begin the actual install phase.

i tried doing it with my 256 and the generic and got comp6.jpg

i think im gonna put my video card in there and see if that does anything. from there im gonna start looking for a new motherboard.