I'm not even sure if this is a hardware/software/bios/etc problem. I recently built my first computer and gave my old one to my brother (he better smooch my behind for years for that one 
). Anyway, the old computer is having troubles booting from time to time. I'll start (or restart) the computer, watch it cycle through the memory and system stuff (is that the POST thing I read about?), then wait for one of three things to happen. In a nice world, the computer goes to that black screen with the windows logo, and loads up just fine. In a less nice world, the screen goes to that black windows logo screen, loads for 5 seconds and simply freezes up. In a really not nice world, the computer stalls out before it even gets to the black windows logo screen. When I hit the reset button, I wind up at the screen that windows had trouble loading and how do I want to startup (normal, last good config, safe mode, etc...).
I've reset all bios settings to default. I've updated Windows until there's nothing left to update (except for the .net passport update. I can't imagine I need that though). I've made sure all drivers are updated. I've uninstalled all extra hardware except for the video card to reduce the chance of conflicts. I've done spyware and virus scans... I've hit that wall where I no longer know enough about the guts of a computer to even guess where to look for a solution anymore. I've thought about reinstalling the OS, but I don't even know if that will help at all.
I'm going over there to see what more I can do later today or tomorrow. Any and all input would be greatly appreciated. This is way beyond my scope of understanding.
System in Question:
Asus A7N8X mobo
Athlon 2700+ cpu
2x512 Corsair CMS pc3200 ram
Sapphire Radeon 9800pro video card
Maxtor 60 gig IDE HD
Maxtor 120 gig IDE HD
Benq 1620 dual layer DVD drive
LiteOn cd burner (sorry, don't have model number handy)
XPpro with service pack 2
). Anyway, the old computer is having troubles booting from time to time. I'll start (or restart) the computer, watch it cycle through the memory and system stuff (is that the POST thing I read about?), then wait for one of three things to happen. In a nice world, the computer goes to that black screen with the windows logo, and loads up just fine. In a less nice world, the screen goes to that black windows logo screen, loads for 5 seconds and simply freezes up. In a really not nice world, the computer stalls out before it even gets to the black windows logo screen. When I hit the reset button, I wind up at the screen that windows had trouble loading and how do I want to startup (normal, last good config, safe mode, etc...).I've reset all bios settings to default. I've updated Windows until there's nothing left to update (except for the .net passport update. I can't imagine I need that though). I've made sure all drivers are updated. I've uninstalled all extra hardware except for the video card to reduce the chance of conflicts. I've done spyware and virus scans... I've hit that wall where I no longer know enough about the guts of a computer to even guess where to look for a solution anymore. I've thought about reinstalling the OS, but I don't even know if that will help at all.
I'm going over there to see what more I can do later today or tomorrow. Any and all input would be greatly appreciated. This is way beyond my scope of understanding.
System in Question:
Asus A7N8X mobo
Athlon 2700+ cpu
2x512 Corsair CMS pc3200 ram
Sapphire Radeon 9800pro video card
Maxtor 60 gig IDE HD
Maxtor 120 gig IDE HD
Benq 1620 dual layer DVD drive
LiteOn cd burner (sorry, don't have model number handy)
XPpro with service pack 2
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