XP Does Not Boot

[owensdj]

I'm working with a computer with a 500MHz P3 and VIA chipset motherboard. XP Pro no longer boots. If I try a Normal boot or even Safe Mode, XP locks during boot and the fan on the processor turns off. I used the manufacturer's utility to make sure there isn't a problem with the hard drive.

Any ideas?

 

[LiLithTecH]

Does the system lock when it reaches "Verify DMI pool data... "?

If so, try clearing the CMOS (make sure you have the power cord unplugged).

If that doesn't help, you need to start looking at the RAM.
Try it in a different slot to see if that helps.

 

[owensdj]

LiLithTecH, no it gets past all of the POST stuff. It starts booting Windows XP Pro, then locks.

 

[LiLithTecH]

Could be the bios not communicating to the OS correctly.
Definitely would try clearing the CMOS to eliminate it as the problem.

 

[rbaibich]

Only the fan goes off? Have you tried to open the CD tray or something like that? I'd test clearing the CMOS, because this surely looks like a ACPI problem.

And it's always good to check the RAM for errors. This should do the trick.

 

[owensdj]

I can't even get XP to reinstall now. I'm trying to install it on a different hard drive with all of the cards but the video card removed, but it locks with a black screen when XP tries to start the first time. I also tried installing XP with a different video card. I ran Memtest86 without any errors, so it's not a memory problem.

The same thing happened to another computer with identical hardware. I ended up having to replace the VIA Apollo Pro 133 chipset motherboard and 500MHz P3 with a new board and processor. Seems like these Shuttle AV61 motherboards are just going bad. Any thoughts?

 

[LiLithTecH]

Did you try clearing the CMOS (Bios)?

 

[owensdj]

LiLithTecH, yep I cleared the CMOS by moving the jumper on the motherboard, then I loaded the Setup defaults.