Win2K random reboots - help please

[Babbles]

Okay, got a Win2K SP4 system that has been randomally rebooting and it has gotten much worse.

After it started the random reboots, which eventually pervented me from getting access to the desktop in most instances, I ran Western Digital's diagnostic program and my WD SE 120GB was giving a clean bill of health.

Ran MemTest86 and apparantly one of my 256 Crucial sticks was totally screwed up. I pulled that one and ran MemTest86 again with just the other 256 stick and that one did not give any errors.

Still have issues.

I put in the Win2K install disk and reformatted and attempted to re-install and now I get a BSOD that says something along the lines of

Stop: 0x0000007B (0x8186A750, 0xC00000185, 0x0000000, 0x000000)
INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE

Then a bunch of stuff about checking computer for viruses, run CHKDSK, see troubleshooting guide, etc.

I have an AMD Athalon, WD SE 120GB HDD, Antec 300W PS, 2x256 Crucial sticks (one of which is apparantly dead).

I suppose my PS could be dying, however it is a bit over two years old I think that is quite odd - anything can happen though.

Any ideas and suggestions would be welcome.

 

[DoubleUhat]

Try the PSU or get an AVR?

 

[Babbles]

Any other ideas out there?

 

[Fallengod]

This is a long shot but, in system properties, starup & recovery, by default it is set to automatric reboot under system failure which could be a memory dump or something. I always have to disable that myself, cause its always enabled by default when I reinstall. That always made my comptuer reboot, untill I disable it. Then its all good.

 

[Babbles]

I installed a new Antec PSU and tried to reinstall Win2K but I still get this 0x000007B INACCESIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE error.

Any other ideas what the deal could be?

 

[mechBgon]

You might try a new IDE cable. (ooops, I see you did try reformatting/reinstalling already)