Test a motherboard

[frisco]

Hi
Hope this is the right place..
Is there a way to test a motherboard and memory and a hardrive to see if it is or is not working right.?

When I try to reformat I get a blue error screen saying windows was shutting down to prevent damage..
I have the KEY and CD and have reformatted many times before..
I called Microsoft help line and after much discussion they said it sounded like memory or hardrive..
Another tech said it sounds like motherboard, I am sooo confused..

I was trying to overclock my CPU from 2g to 2.1g in the bios pages when something messed up so I tried to go to default..
Now the PC starts but takes 2 min. to start up where it used to take 40 sec. I must press f1 to get it going and then press winxp.. If I don't press winxp within 5 sec. it goes into set-up which just simply ends up at that blue screen..
After it finally starts it runs pretty much as normal except much slower and stuttery in my on-line game..
This is only a game comp and I play only one on-line game.. It has 95% Free space on the hardrive..
I have only 14 items open in task manager..
I scan with avast, spybotS&D, spyblaster and lavasoft adaware.. It seems to be clean as a whistle..
It is a 2g athlon 64 3000+
1 gig of generic memory
120g maxtor HD
These names are in the system info, I think one of them is the motherboard maker..----
system manufacterer---VIAK8M
system model----AWRDCPI
system type ----x86-based PC
bios version/date------Phoenix technologies LTD, 6.00 PG 9/26/05
system version-----2.3
I hope I provided enough of the correct info and hope some of you can assist..

Thanks in advance

 

[o1die]

Generic memory. Instant flash in my brain. I would try some crucial or corsair. Memtest will sometimes tell you if you have a memory issue, but loading windows is the ultimate test.

 

[razor2025]

As with o1die, run some easy diagnostic first. Least amount of effort. If you can't find problem there. Then, I'd do to test hardware is to unplug EVERYTHING. Then re-install / remount critical parts first, usually the CPU, Motherboard, RAM, and (if motheboard has no IGP) video card. When installing CPU, make sure you apply a new coat of thermal paste. These will be the minimal parts you need to get it to POST. Once it posts, you can attach a optical drive or stick a bootable USB with some utility software (look for Ultimate Boot CD). Run diagnostics test like Memtest86 on your RAM and Prime to test whether these parts are failing.

Slowly add back pieces of your computer one at a time while testing each component. That way you can easily identify which component is failing. Also, by stripping your computer first and rebuilding it, you might fix the issue by seating things back correctly or etc (such as dried up thermal paste).

 

[frisco]

Thank you razor and 01

I'll see if I can do what you suggest..

Little confused though with your answer razor..
It does post, that means it starts up and runs--- correct..??
I mentioned in my question, that after all the extra steps I must do now, it runs OK, not good but OK..

It's just that I cannot re-format with my Key and CD where it used to be soo simple to do..

I don't understand these machines very well so maybe I'm not asking the question very well..

Thanks again