I got a Problem PLEASE HELP (lil bro's computer)

I've been out of the whole hardware game for awhile now..

I really don't remember much or have the time to trouble shoot this problem.

So yea.. I took my lil bro's computer to a computer shop.

First off.. they told me $55 to see what the problem was. After a day they told me they found out what was wrong. I had a bad PSU, bad ram stick (which was BRAND NEW RAM btw, that I just got from BBuy) and a bad DVD-Rom. So I replaced all 3. Also.. this was after I went and picked up the computer from this store. The actual bill was $80.. which she never told me it was by the hr work. But anyways..

I install Windows.. I keep getting read errors from the windows CD. I finally just said screw it and dled WinXP. I got it to format and install windows. Now when I tried going into windows setup after the install... I get this damn blue screen error..which I don't know what it was. I'd go see but I'm about ot fall asleep writing this..

Anyone have any idea what this could be? The only thing I havn't replaced is the CPU and the damn mobo.. the mobo is also not even 1 year old and there is no OCing on it at all.

I just don't know.. and I'm bout to go buy a new computer.. lol

It would be helpful if you can post what the BSOD says. Or even better, a picture of the BSOD. Also please post the specs of your bro's PC.

Danny Bui said:

It would be helpful if you can post what the BSOD says. Or even better, a picture of the BSOD. Also please post the specs of your bro's PC.

Click to expand...

its actually not doing a BSOD anymore...

I start the computer.. then it goes into windows. It says "restarting windows install" it waits a second then loads windows. You know where you have to put in the settings and the WinXP CD Key. Right when it goes into that it has a little window pop up and say "insignificant memory...." I can't ever read what it all says because it restarts really fast.

I know it can't be the damn memory.. I just bought it new from BBuy..


Specs:

Barton 2500+
1gig of Kingston PC3200(new)
ATI 9600XT (which is about 1 year old and has NEVER been oced)
Mobo is also about 1 year old (i forget the brand.. and It doesn't say on it)
500w PSU(new)

Even new RAM can be bad. Run Memtest to see if the RAM is bad or not. Go to www.memtest86.com, download the .iso file, burn the .iso file with a isoburner or some other burning program, and let Memtest run for at least 7 passes or 2 hours, whatever comes first.

If it turns out that you do have bad ram, then you can always RMA it back to Kingston and they'll replace the bad ram for free.

Oh another thought came to mind, are you sure you inserted the RAM correctly?

I agree with above, even brand new sticks are sometimes bad (rare, but it happens, no memory manufacturer tests every single stick before it goes out, so occasionally a bad one slips through). With RAM, in my experience, it is either good or bad, it doesn't tend to 'go bad after time (at least without a surge/overvoltage/etc).

Best Buy has a return policy, so just take the stick back, swap it out for a new one, and see if that solves the problem. If not, then start looking at your CPU/Mobo.

BTW - I believe the error is 'insufficient' memory. While Window's telling you you have 'insignificant' memory is humorous, I don't believe that error exists .

thing is I took back the ram already and its still doing the same thing

Sometimes I will get this blue screen too, heh come to find out it was the xp cd i was using, when it happend I just cleaned the cd and worked fine. memtest, scandsk stuff like that to make sure its not hardware related.