sometimes boot failure, do i need to format?

[nwgtr]

have athlon 900mhz

a7v mobo, geforce2mx, win98se, 30gig hd

it all started when i was flashing my bios, from 1009 back to 1007

i computer wont boot, so i tried everything, then brought my system back to the place where i got my system.

they said they replaced my mobo, probably did, now my bios is at default 1007

after i ran my system for a few days it started to lock up and my mouse lags.
after the lag i try hitting the reset button, but gave me no response on the monitor so i donno what caused this.
when it locks up the speaker gave me a infinit beep.

i brought it back they said they changed ram, then i found out when i open my case then put a fan blowing at it.

my computer stopped freezing. my temp was like 57C after a freeze.
now with the fan blowing it is always at 46C

the guy at the computer shop told me to get new cpu fan, and 3 more other case fan, but this is working now so i'll get fans when the price drops

sometimes when i boot up, in the post it said boot failure

asked me for a system disk, also above it it was something about no bios installed.... this don't happen all the time though

i just hit the reset button then it boots.

so how do i fix this problem? do i have to format my hd?
cause the guy at the computer shop told me i should format after replacing mobo.

but it is the exact same mobo, but the old one that had bad boot is 1009.

will format fix this problem? or is this mobo bad?

 

[Davegod]

fans fans fans. when it was cool it was ok, so get some fans. i have one CPU HSF and one exhaust fan on case hole near CPU HSF, really thats close i think my temps are high 40's. anything above 50C is too high, unless your a careful overclocker knowing exactly what your doing. it will screw up if it is too hot, crashing normal but the CPU can do any number of odd things to the system when it is too hot.

try running the computer with the case off, see if it gets more reliable. as for formatting HDD, im not sure, but i always go on teh assumption that i probably will end up having to format my HDD, and as i just found out to my cost, probably will even if just flashing the BIOS (did all this yesterday and today, flashed BIOS and then windows crashed right on startup every time so full format the works).

when you get fans, get good ones. see the AMD site they list some approved fans (i think a7v is AMD right?). also use good thermal paste, i.e. Artic Silver II. apply it to bottom of HSF just before you put it on (being careful to carefully remove the old stuff). im thinking right now you just have the HSF so start by getting an exhaust system fan first, you can always buy them one at atime until the situation is ok. Enermax make some good and fairly quiet ones. the first one i'd attatch to the area thats obviously been designed for one, beside where the cpu goes, under PSU. screw one in there as an exhaust fan, i.e. blowing the hot air OUT of the case. this should take out the hottest air coming from the CPU HSF. it will also create airflow pulling air into the case, notable temp drop. still too hot? this time get a fan sucking air into the case, and attatch it in the opposite corner of the case. if a third, make that another exhaust fan.

above all, if youre not confident with doing it, havent done this sort of stuff before, either get someone else to do it that knows what theyre doing or have a good read on the net, guides and suchlike, especially for replacing HSF on the CPU, you could crack the cpu and then youd have to buy another one.

[edit, actually did u say they attatched another fan already? one more would always be helpful, and one system fan does not cost much]

 

[madthumbs]

Too many fans could put a drain on the power supply causing a boot problem. I would first make sure the cmos clear jumper is making good contact. Then Update the BIOS, because it could be a bad flash causing it.