my pc died. please help.

[jealouse]

the spec - win xp, a64 3700+, 7900gtx, 74gb raptor X 2 on raid 0, 2gb ram, etc...

my pc had a massive crash and would keep rebooting itself on endless cycle. i initially thought raid 0 finally gone kaput. couldn't try any diag/cure software because i couldn't get the window stable enough to run those software. so i did the following.

1. i went into BIOS setup and disabled RAID configuration. i'm not planning to use RAID no more.

2. using software provided by western digital on floppy disk, i reformatted both HDD, checked the integrity of HDD(both passed with no error), and reformatted both HDD(not quick format but full format)

After that, I tried to install windows XP w/ service pack 2. i have the original OEM cd(not a pirate copy). during the installation process, it would read the cd about 1/3(judging from the progression bar) and gave me an error message, saying "some file cannot be read, cd might be contaminated)

so i thought it must be my cd/dvd rom that is not working. so i purchased a new dvd driv e from newegg and swapped it with the old one.

i still get the exact same error message. i suspected it's the windows cd itself that's defective but it checked out okay. i even tried installing windows 2000 also. but, just like with xp, about 1/3 way into installation, it, too, gives me an error message, saying the cd might be possibly contaminated and cannot proceed.

In summary,
- HDD checked out okay by western digital software
- cpu, MO, ram seems to be okay, as evidenced by running WD software just fine. also, it runs windows installation software just fine, until it stops.
- CD media is fine as both are tested.
- cd/dvd drive is brand-new and runs fine...

i build my own pc and i can usually do my own troubleshooting just fine. but this case, i ran out of ideas.

any clue would be appreciated. thankx!

 

[deathwalker]

I c u have 2gb memory so i assume u either have a 1gbx2 or 512mbx4 configuration. Remove all your memory and just put in one stick and try the install ...if it fails...remove that stick and use the other stick. This would be an ez way to eliminate the possibility that you may have a bad stick of memory. Outside possibility it could be the Power supply but I would first do a little memory shotgun troubleshooting..and of course there is always the chance of a Motherboard problem..but I like the memory choice first though.

 

[Marinski]

did you check the PSU? It seems like they cause all sorts of problems. I know on one of my older computers sometimes when i installed 98 it would give me an error in the middle and shortly after that my PSU died but it also had bad RAM so maybe it was that. I'd use qtparted on a knoppix boot disk instead of the western digital software too but thats me.

 

[jealouse]

problem solved! thanks, guys. you guys are the best.

i have 2 X 1GB dual on dimm1 and dimm2. i removed a stick from dimm2 and it worked flawlessly. now, i replaced the memory in dimm1 with the one removed from dimm2 and it wouldn't even boot - it would give me only beeping, indicating that memory that was originally installed in dimm2 is faulty.

now, i can safely conclude that memory at dimm2 was faulty, correct?

now, here comes another question. i purchased 2GB set(2X1GB) because that's how it should be - to guarantee for maximum compatibility, etc. is it reasonable to request Corsair that they replace both stick for the exact same type of memory? cuz i know that they use different types of memory from different manufacturer subject to availability at the time of production. i do not want to mix memory from different manufacturers - kinda beats the purpose of purchasing the 2GB set in the first place...

anybody familiar with that process?

thanks again

 

[deathwalker]

Originally posted by: jealouse
problem solved! thanks, guys. you guys are the best.

i have 2 X 1GB dual on dimm1 and dimm2. i removed a stick from dimm2 and it worked flawlessly. now, i replaced the memory in dimm1 with the one removed from dimm2 and it wouldn't even boot - it would give me only beeping, indicating that memory that was originally installed in dimm2 is faulty.

now, i can safely conclude that memory at dimm2 was faulty, correct?

now, here comes another question. i purchased 2GB set(2X1GB) because that's how it should be - to guarantee for maximum compatibility, etc. is it reasonable to request Corsair that they replace both stick for the exact same type of memory? cuz i know that they use different types of memory from different manufacturer subject to availability at the time of production. i do not want to mix memory from different manufacturers - kinda beats the purpose of purchasing the 2GB set in the first place...

anybody familiar with that process?

thanks again

Make sure you test the RAM module you think is good in both slots..also test the module you think is bad in both slots...it does appear you have sniffed out the problem though. If the memory is under warrenty..deffinately contact Corsair ..im sure they will be cooporative.