System won't boot/post. What might be wrong?

[jaffa]

I have a system that when started displays a black screen with some with text saying that the system didn't shut down correctly the last time. Then I am given a few options to start Windows XP normally, in safe mode and last know good configuration etc. (you know the rest, I guess).

I reinstalled Windows XP and the system ran fine for a few days but now the problem has come back again. No matter what start up alternative I choose the won't start up normally. If I choose safe mode the display goes black and there it stays. Nothing more happens. If I select any of the other alternatives the system just freezes when I press "enter" to choose an alternative.

At one occasion the system froze when I was checking the settings in the bios setup.

The cpu is an Athlon XP 1800+ Palomino.

I have tried:
Reinstallall Windows XP.
Clear nvram/cmos by removing the cr2032 battery on the motherboard.
Run hard drive diagnostics without any errors found.
Tried starting the system with a known good video card.
Tried starting the system with known good memory modules.

I suspect a motherboard, hard drive (even though no errors were found in the short diag) or a cpu-problem.

What do you think of my situation?

 

[nchavie]

Well, my first inclination would be hard-drive and/or RAM. You say you tried it with Known good RAM. Did you try running memtest86 on the RAM? How old is the hard drive?

 

[Ike0069]

I would definitely look at your RAM first. If you have more than one stick, try and boot with each stick individually. Also do go ahead and run memtest if possible.

 

[jaffa]

Ih have not run a memtest on the ram and the hard drive is approx 5yrs old.

 

[myocardia]

After running MemTest for 5 or 6 hours, and getting no errors, you'll know that you need a new hard drive.