Need some quick help...PLEASE!!!

[ChaplainDave]

IWILL XP333-R Help!!!!!
I built a computer for my son using an IWill XP333-R mobo and a AMD 1.4 proc. A couple of days ago he started getting messages that some files had become corrupted. Tonight I used CHKDSK to see if I could find out what was wrong. It has been a whole night of a continuous loop of checking the disk and WinXP (Pro) looking like it was going to reboot...and then a blank screen and a stand still. His power switch doesn't work...neither does his reset switch. I have tried turning the wires around for both power switch and reset, but to no avail. I have tried taking one of his memory sticks out...and then swapping them out (both Mushkin PC3200...good stuff)...not sure where to go from here.

He has the IWill XP333R motherboard
Athlon Thunderbird 1.4 proc
2 sticks of Mushkin PC3200 memory
1 IBM 75GXP 40GB hard drive
1 Western Digital 60GB, 5400 RPM, 2MB cache drive
PNY GeForce4 Ti200 with 128MB RAM, 8X AGP
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card
Lite On 16X DVD
TDK 24x10x24 CD-RW
NIC card

Can anyone out there give me a couple of quick suggestions? We are on the road early Saturday morning to go to Michigan for about nine days. We may have to take the computer with us and work on it there...but I need some suggestions.

I have thought about starting with a fresh install on the Western Digital drive (everything is on the IBM right now), but wanted to avoid that if possible. I need some quick help please.

 

[mechBgon]

What kind of power supply is it running? Also, you have one of the infamous IBM "Deathstar" hard drives, the 75GXP's. It could seriously be on its way out.

 

[pspada]

The hard drive could be going bad. The first thing I'd do is run the WD diagnostic program, and have it recertify the drive. Of course, this is a good as formatting the drive, so back up any data first. It will prove or disprove the hard drive as the culprit.

 

[ChaplainDave]

Thanks...I have posted on some other forums as well and have suggestions like running the WD diagnostic...but I think this might destroy data...others have said the hard drive might be going, or it might be a bad power supply...or a bad motherboard...or a bad processor............

Oh well, looks like hunt and peck...trial and error. I will try the simplest things first, like clearing the CMOS...perhaps changing cables...I have already tried swapping out memory. Not sure which power supply we are running. I have tried the repair thing with Windows XP, but I got lost in the DOS-like process...not sure which command to use. You would think that Windows would do some in...oh say...Windows for a repair...but no, they have to revert to DOS. Don't mind me...I'm just a bit frustrated right now.

We go on vacation early tomorrow morning and we were going to take his computer and leave it in Michigan in preparation for his flying there later in August for his sophomore year in college. Guess we will spend a good deal of time working on his computer on our vacation...oh well.... As long as we can get it running that is all that matters.

Any other suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks.

 

[pspada]

If you've got a spare hard drive, just ghost the WD over to it. Or if you have a drive your are using, with extra space on it, you can ghost an image file to that drive.