Problem, wont boot

[slaves123]

Dear friends from anadtech, i've got one computer, that definitely doen't want to work. It was usual that it reboots under load, but as i don't use it too much i've paid no attention to it. But after cleaning the dust inside... one day... yesterday... it stopted from booting.
The BIOS will actually run, and the POST occurs... but after than windows XP tell me that last time i tryed to boot something wrong happened, so it ask a variety of question, wich ones we all do know very well... i choose either to start windows normally or to test the last configuration that worked, but none of them gives a result... the HDD actuvity led shines for some seconds... and then... nothing... no way... nothings happens.
As the computer used to reboot I think that it may be the RAM.
Windows was fully instalated only two weeks ago. If someone have some tip, i would be thanksful.

see you

Mauro

PS: this rig is:
Asus A7N266 - VM
Ahlon XP 2400+ Tbred B (no overclock at all)
256Mb DDR 266 cheap ram
and a 20gb's hard drive

 

[mechBgon]

What BIOS version does your A7N266-VM have? Also, what brand & model of power supply are you using, and what brand is the cheap RAM?

I have about 35 A7N266-VM's at work and they are wonderfully stable. We use only Antec 330W or 350W power supplies, and Crucial PC2100 RAM.

 

[slaves123]

the PSU is a 230 watt generic stuff, but the current is stable and the 12 rail shows 12.45v the 5v rail shows 5.13v. Those have been test with a tester.
I don't really believe the problem is the PSU. The memory are speckteck DDR266 memorys, their timings are set by SPD.
I will look for the BIOS version as soon as posible.
Keep answering!

 

[amdskip]

Yes it is your power supply.

 

[resStealth]

dude that powersupply is not only waaaayyy underpowered, its damn cheap. you need a good antec my friend.

 

[slaves123]

yeah... really i considered that possibilty... this machine was bought in my day's of nooB, i won't do this todaty... but i didn't know the PSU was so bad... i mean, i never had to looked at it... so... i will with other one.
By the way, the BIOS is revision 1006 I do also suspect the memory has its own problems... but PSU will be tested. But... the voltages are way good, does it matters?