The day the computer died.

[bottl3]

Today I went to boot my computer:

P4 3.0ghz 800FSB
Abit IS7 1.0 Bios v17
2x512 Kingston Hyperx 3500 Kit
Ati Radeon 9800 Pro
120GB MAXTOR 6Y120M0 SATA HD
SOUND HERCULES|FORTISSIMO III 7.1
Windows XP Pro (Windows Updates complete through 2/1/04)

And I was staring at the MBR load bar for about 3 minutes. It eventually pulled through and got to the WindowsXP loading screen (8 Minutes loadtime). Once in WindowsXP, applications loaded extremely slugglishly, and even simple apps like Windows Explorer took what seemed ages to load. I did a systems format about 2 Weeks ago and had all the NAV virus defs up to date before this started to happen. It seemed to hang the most when initializing the sound card and the USB devices (their lights stayed on). I pulled out the soundcard, pulled out the videocard, reset the memory, and still nothing. Changed the video card, left the soundcard out, removed 1 stick of memory, removed the other stick of memory. I have no SATA hd's or IDE's laying around so I cannot test that. The Mainboard is my main suspect. Prior to all this happening the NorthBridge fan started to make abnormal noises (grinding noises). I tinkered with it and got it to stop, but it would happen on occasion. I am not sure if my suspicions are correct, but all the parts are RMA'able, I just don't know which to RMA.
The PC posts fine it seems, but when I try to do a windows repair(which copies over new system files) it errors on cd reads (in both of my cdroms which are in fine working condition) this is why I think its a mainboard problem. Please advise me on what further action/testing I should take/do. Thanks in advance.

P.S. No overclocking has been done.

 

[Willoughbyva]

Download all the free utilities you can and check your system with them first.

Memtest86 (need floppy disk)

Your hard drive manufacturer has diagnostic utilities to check the dives out.

There are some others out there, but I can't seem to comeup with any names right now. This should get you started.

BTW I would start with CPU+heatsink/fan+memory+video try booting

if boots ok add hard drive

if boots and runs windows ok add stuff one at a time until it messes up you then might know what the real problem.

Might start with memtest86 then the hard drive utility.

 

[PCTweaker5]

I hope I never experience anything like that. If I do I know who will be the culprite (Video Card)

 

[LiLithTecH]

Did you try booting without the USB devices connected?

With all the swapping you've done, have you CLEARED the CMOS?