System dead, need suggestions

[Avalon]

So one of my main systems went down this past Friday. System specs include an E3 Venice 3000+, DFI NF4 Ultra-D, 2x512MB Mushkin UTT, Enermax 460w 24pin PSU, 60GB IBM HDD, 120GB Maxtor HDD, Geforce 6600, Coolermaster Cavalier 3 case, Thermalright Si-120 CPU heatsink, two 120mm fans, one 80mm fan.

the system was overclocked at the time, with the Venice running at 2.52ghz w/1.45v, the mem somewhere around 230mhz 2-3-3-7, and the GF6 @ 400/650. The screen began to go spastic and shake and distort, so I immediately powered the system down. I turned it back on, it prompted me on how I wanted to load Windows XP, I selected, and the computer rebooted.

I fiddled with things a bit, and it kept rebooting everytime it went to load windows. I came to the conclusion that I killed something, so I began hardware troubleshooting.

1) I disconnected my secondary drive (Maxtor) and my floppy drive. Still rebooted.
2) I put in my friend's GF 6800GS. Still rebooted.
3) I replaced the Venice with a brand new Opteron 144. Still rebooted.
4) I replaced my Ultra-D with a DFI Infinity NF4 Ultra, and reinstalled Windows. Still rebooted.
5) I then took one of my friend's new 200GB Maxtor drives, formatted it, and installed Windows on that. Still rebooted.
6) Took a fairly new 1GB stick of Gskill PC3200, reinstalled Windows. Same problem.
7) Took my friend's Enermax 460w 24pin PSU, reinstalled Windows. Same problem.
8) So, at this point I'm using a known good motherboard, CPU, memory, hard drive, video card, and PSU. We then even replaced my IDE cables with brand new ones, and then reinstalled Windows. Same problem.
9) Unplugged all spare fans, and my NEC 3520A. Still reboots.

So now, we're going to replace my optical drive and try reinstalling Windows. But, the drive should be fine, and I know my Windows installation disc works. However, I'm pretty sure my NEC is fine, as the installations are going smoothly, yet the same errors are presenting themselves as before I even first reinstalled Windows. Next we're going to take my system as-is over to my friend's, and plug it up there. Then, if that doesn't work, we're going to take what we have in my case and transplant it all into his. I seriously doubt my case is now magically shorting my board and providing a consistent error. Safe mode will also reboot after loading the first 10-15 files or so, and the BSOD error doesn't reveal much at all. It just tells me to run scandisk.

Any ideas?

Oh, I forgot to mention I reverted everything to default, and even pulled the CMOS battery off my Ultra-D, and left that out for over an hour before putting it back in. That didnt help at all.

 

[furballi]

Take the MB out of the case and strip it. Connect only the PSU, video card, RAM, and a HDD that has been wiped clean (low level format). Reset CMOS. Now short the power terminal and check for boot.

Probably an electrical issue related to the MB/case/wiring.

 

[Avalon]

I'm about to give that a try, since we've exhausted every other option.
Just tried to install Windows with my drive in his system, and it worked fine...but all this HDD swapping caused me to completely bend a pin on my IBM. I was able to bend it back, so hopefully it's ok.

I also removed the case jumpers that go to the power/reset/usb on my case, and have been manually shorting the board on. Still no luck though. It's time to try it outside of the case.

What surface do you recommend placing the motherboard on? Will a wooden desk be fine?

 

[furballi]

Cardboard box would be ideal. However, any non-conductive surface would work.

 

[Avalon]

Took the mobo out, and placed it on my desk. Hooked up the memory, CPU, and video card, and plugged in all necessary power cables. Hooked up my IBM and my NEC (both of which I left laying on top of my case near my desk). Left my PSU installed inside the case. Attempted to install windows, went fine. Rebooted on me upon trying to boot into it. Hooked up my Maxtor, attempted to boot, and rebooted.

I have never come across something like this in my life of building and troubleshooting systems. I'm so frustrated I'm this close to parting out my system. I'm spending so much time on this thing, it's draining the life out of me.

*Edit*
Found some cardboard boxes, so now EVERYTHING is laying out of the case. Going to install Windows onto the Maxtor and try to boot. If it doesn't work, something is seriously effed up because I had all my hardware in my friend's system and it let me install Windows and boot into it.

 

[furballi]

So it loaded all the drivers, and upon completion, will not reboot into windows? Try new IDE cables at HDD and optical drive. Set optical drive to CS. Also try Master mode.

Came across one Memorex CD writer that will not allow me to run Drive Image 5 when it is connected to the PC. When I replaced this drive with another drive, the problem goes away.

 

[Avalon]

Yes, it has no issue loading drivers and Windows setup, then successfully installing Windows. But, once you reboot and get past the boot screen, boom, reboots.

Unfortunately, I have already tried new IDE cables for the HDD and Optical drives, as well as have my friend's NEC 3550A. Still no go. Both the jumpers for my HDD and Optical are set to master ATM, since I've got them running single on separate channels.



*edit*
If I choose to disable auto reboot on system failure, I get this BSOD message:
"A problem has been detected and windows has shut down. Check for viruses. Remove any newly installed HDDs or controllers. Check your HDD to make sure it is properly configured and terminated. Run chkdsk /f to check for hard drive corruption, then restart.

STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF789E528, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)"

 

[Unkno]

This post might not help much but how do you know your windows cd works? Tried the cd on another system or tried other cds. Also, you could give another OS a try....kinda doubt this is hardware, might just be your motherboard is touching two pins or something together.


Keep us updated with the problem/solution...

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: Unkno
This post might not help much but how do you know your windows cd works? Tried the cd on another system or tried other cds. Also, you could give another OS a try....kinda doubt this is hardware, might just be your motherboard is touching two pins or something together.


Keep us updated with the problem/solution...

I've successfully installed and booted into Windows with my IBM in my friend's system along with the majority of my other hardware in his system, which is why I guarantee the CD works. I'm still in the process of trying to install windows with all my stuff spread over cardboard boxes using my newer maxtor drive, so we'll see how that goes.

You are right, though, in that I should get another copy of an OS. I will meet up with a friend tomorrow and get a copy of Knoppix on disc, maybe another build of Linux if he has others.

 

[furballi]

Move them to the Master position but use CS mode. Sounds like an onboard device is defective. When windows attempts to initialize the device, the PC resets. See if you can disable all onboard stuffs from BIOS, like sound, audio, firewall, etc.... It appears that the MB or CPU is defective. I'd also reset the CPU and heatsink. It's a long shot but there's not much you can do at this point except to swap out CPU.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: furballi
Move them to the Master position but use CS mode. Sounds like an onboard device is defective. When windows attempts to initialize the device, the PC resets. See if you can disable all onboard stuffs from BIOS, like sound, audio, firewall, etc.... It appears that the MB or CPU is defective. I'd also reset the CPU and heatsink. It's a long shot but there's not much you can do at this point except to swap out CPU.

I will definitely try and set both devices to CS mode, and see what happens next. Most of my onboard stuff is already disabled, such as both LANs, audio, SATA...

You'd think the mobo or HDD were defective, but I've gotten the HDD to work perfectly fine in my friend's system, and I replaced the motherboard with a DFI Infinity NF4 Ultra, and saw the same problems. Then proceeded to replace my 3000+ with a brand new Opty 144, and still same problems, so this leads me to believe that both my CPU(s) and motherboard is fine.

Anyway, windows install is almost done. Brb in 5 minutes!

 

[Avalon]

No go trying to do it all outside of the case. It just reboots as usual.

Just as a quick recap, of everything I have plugged into it right now...

DFI Ultra-D, Opteron 144, 2x512MB Mushkin Blue C2, eVGA 6600, NEC 3520A, Maxtor 120GB ATA133 7200RPM 8MB, Enermax 460w 24pin PSU.

Things to consider:

1) My HDD's are both good. I've used them both in my friend's system tonight and had no problems installing windows and booting with them.

2) My windows disc is good, due to above.

3) The Opteron 144 is brand new.

4) It seems I can call my case safe.

That's all for tonight. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. I'll get back on this tomorrow when I get off work at 5.

 

[furballi]

Do a low level format tonight on the HDD and reload Windows.

 

[furballi]

Also remove the CMOS battery and leave it out overnight.

 

[Unkno]

just to eliminate the factor, keep the system in the box for now and put it back into the case when you figure what's wrong.....

 

[oynaz]

As far as I can see, the only thing you have not tried is a change of RAM. Perhaps you should try that?

 

[Avalon]

I've already tried my system with my friend's RAM, and I've done a low level format. I've also pulled the CMOS battery out, but not overnight. If I really have nothing else left this afternoon, I'll have to do that. This makes no sense.

 

[furballi]

If you're seeing the same thing with two different MBs and two different CPUs, then the last common variable is the installation CD. Is this an official MSFT windows CD?

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: furballi
If you're seeing the same thing with two different MBs and two different CPUs, then the last common variable is the installation CD. Is this an official MSFT windows CD?

Yep, XP Pro SP2 I got for free from my University through the Microsoft Academic program. We used the disc in my friend's system on my IBM, and it installed and booted just fine, but you're right in that I need to try another CD anyway. My friend has a *cough*copy*cough* of XP, but I'm going to try Linux first. I'm getting off work in 45 minutes, so I'll be home shortly and will try out all your advice that I haven't done already.

Anyway, I really appreciate your dedication to helping me with my computer problem. These forums are great.

 

[Avalon]

Ran a bootable version of Knoppix off my NEC with my IBM connected, on my DFI Ultra-D and an Opty 144 with my Mushkin (2x512MB). Using my own PSU also. It worked just fine, and let me play around in Knoppix.

This means that my NEC should be fine. I'm leaning towards the OS disc now, but I'm still confused since we used it no problem in my friend's system, and I've used it with no issue before.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Avalon
Ran a bootable version of Knoppix off my NEC with my IBM connected, on my DFI Ultra-D and an Opty 144 with my Mushkin (2x512MB). Using my own PSU also. It worked just fine, and let me play around in Knoppix.

This means that my NEC should be fine. I'm leaning towards the OS disc now, but I'm still confused since we used it no problem in my friend's system, and I've used it with no issue before.

Is your friends system using a different chipset? It's possible there's one corrupt file and it affects your chipset, but not his. Can you get into safe mode, and possibly install drivers for your chipset and maybe graphics card from another source?

Your stop error suggests some sort of data corruption, but you've eliminated physical sources of corruption, so maybe IDE drivers or some such thing are to blame.

 

[akugami]

Use your friend's "copy" of XP and see how it goes. From your previous posts that I've read, you seem like a pretty knowledgeable guy and from reading your trouble shooting it seems like you've exhausted pretty much everything that I would personally try. Heck, you've tried testing just about every single part of your system. If a different XP disc doesn't work, I'm going to lean towards paranormal activities and that your computer parts are haunted.

 

[furballi]

Also try WXP SP1 CD.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: furballi
Also try WXP SP1 CD.

That did the trick. No idea why, but my system won't let me get into Windows with my disc, but my friend's copy of SP1 worked just fine for me...even though we just formatted one of his data drives and installed Windows with my disc on his system without issue last night. He's running on a Biostar Tforce 939 mATX board, X2 3800+, 2x1GB Gskill, 6800GS, same 460w Enermax model, three 300GB Maxtors, and an NEC 3550A. Maybe it's true that a file on the disc went bad and it would affect my chipset and not his 6100 chipset.

Weird. This doesn't really quite explain why my system started randomly rebooting in the first place, but at this point I'm so exhausted that I don't care, and I'll just settle with the theory that my Windows installation corrupted an important file, and then didn't like my installation disc after that. I'll have to see if I can get a new copy of XP SP2 from school.
Thanks for the help guys

 

[furballi]

I still use WXP Pro SP1. Too many PHANTOM issues with WXP Pro SP2.