Computer (Duh) Problems - Custom Built

[alius]

Alright, my computer randomly shut down the other day.

On trying to restart I get the recovering from a severe error shtick and choose start as normal, nothing. Try to choose safe mode with networking, nothing (It trys but never completes) all the way down the line. It won't even boot as safe with command prompt.

I tried use last working settings, no luck.

Gave up for a while and came back to it later, making sure nothing was loose etc. I was bending down to look inside as I booted up and my forehead came in contect with the shiny metal parts of my case, which is an antec p160. I felt a mild, constant, shock. This only occurs after I select my boot option.

The most recent time it occured I got an error which looks similar to the following:

Stop C******
registry cannot load C:/*/*/*/*/system (I think)

beginning dump of physical memory

I wasn't able to copy down the whole thing before it rebooted. This was on a blue background. Asterisks represent unknowns.

I tried booting three times after this and did not receive a shock. It would go up to the boot selection menu but then fail to continue.

Any help would be apperciated.

Edit: Forgot specs.

My setup:
Abit IS7 (northbridge fan is dead)
pentium 4 2.4c oc'd to 3ghz
1gig of 3200 ddr (256 x4)
9800 pro 128 meg version

 

[BadThad]

Rubber gloves and ski mask? lol j/k

You have a short somewhere. You should NEVER be able to feel a "shock" thru the case. Better check your mobo mounting and all the wires from the power supply! Make sure there's no loose screws or other metal objects somewhere inside the case.

 

[alius]

I took everything out, checked every wire for exposures and could find nothing.

I took out my mobo, unmounted it and proceeded to try to run it on a peice of bubble wrap.

Same deal is happening, I had to touch the part where the keyboard plugs into so I could well, plug it in. It was also delivering a mild shock. I touched each of the metal parts on my cards and they were delivering a shock.

None of that should be happening, right?

Edit: By metal parts I mean where all the plugs etc are, the only part thats exposed when they are in a case.

This part -> |_d___o__c__ccc___

The part that screws into the case

 

[Fern]

Ummm, you mean the backplate?

Anyway, sounds like the electrical (wall) outlet is not properely grounded.

Fern

 

[alius]

Its been connected to a surge protecter and has been working fine in that location for over a month.

Guess I'll move everything to another outlet and try it there though.

Edit: The situation you described most likely have fried everything?

 

[alius]

Ok, I moved the whole setup to a different outlet. Same deal is happening now, when I try to select a boot option it just freezes and doesn't even try to boot now.

If things were fried though wouldn't it not even post?

Edit: Surge protecter indicates a ground, pretty sure it did the same downstairs.

Although now I'm not getting shocked.

Think the system is fried?

 

[alius]

Anyone have any thoughts? Does it sound like I'm SOL? Anything would be good as I need to know if I should start building a new system or this is still usable.

 

[mechBgon]

As a fact-finding step, could you slap some other drive in there and just take a test run into Windows Setup off the Windows CD, to see whether it is able to work with the HDD at all?

 

[alius]

I'm actually running a chkdsk repair cycle right now, so we'll see what that brings.

 

[mechBgon]

Getting an electrical shock from your case does sound like a real "wild card" in the whole affair, maybe get one of those plug-in testers that indicates bad wiring if that happens again

 

[alius]

Yeah, I'm suprised that it lasted so long in that location. High usage there too.

Not getting the shocking problem with this outlet though.

If this doesn't work I'll try to find another usable drive.

 

[alius]

Just thought about this, if the machine is able to run a chkdsk repair and is posting. Whats stopping it from booting into at least the command line safe mode? Could it be the harddrive corrupted?

Edit: Also, everyting is being recognised through bios just fine.

Edit2: After the /chkdsk repair its at least attempting to boot into safe mode instead of stalling on selection like it did previously.

Edit3: AHHH! I see a desktop.

Edit4: Too tired to stick everything together, appears that the machine is working fine now! Because of the whole "I'm getting shocked" issue I guess I blew it out of proportion.

Extremely happy it seems to be resolved as I did not wish to purchase a new computer at this time. Thanks for all your replies!

Edit5: I also think I was a bit thrown by not being able to enter any of the safe mode selections. I can also attribute it to the fact that I had to do a bunch of searching to find my windows CD because it was kind of packed away.