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Help me with a borg

M

magnusvir

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Sep 7, 2004
Messages
1,165
hello folding buddies,

My uncle's rig here has a problem. Big problem. Frequently when he turns on the computer, the BIOS screen comes up completely garbled. No way you can get into windows. Also a lot of times, XP gives a blues screen saying something like fatal memory dump.

I have checked the HD which is a Seagate. I used the Seagate tools to determine whether the HD is dying or not. It showed up clean. I booted into a Linux LiveCD. Depending on whether the screen comes garbled up or not, I can do that too. So I am completely screwed as to what the problem is? I am thinking heat because the proc is an XP 2000+ and it is idling at 53 and the mobo temp is at 43. The modo is an old Asus A7N266.

Help me? I dont know what is going one? :(
 
Sounds like you have a bios chip that is at the very best on its way out. Best bet would be to just pick up a new cheap board (a Abit VA-10 would be perfect and only about $45)
 
Try running the memtest program. it has a bootable cd that will test the memory for errors.

(input $.02 here)

 
ICE_9 said:
Try running the memtest program. it has a bootable cd that will test the memory for errors.

(input $.02 here)

Click to expand...

will do. I totally forgot about Memtest :eek:
If this does not work, I will get a new board.
 
My money would be on the processor overheating. If it's idling at 53C then that is just too hot. Clean the heatsink and maybe reapply thermal paste. Those would be the first two things I would probably look at. You may want to look into getting a fan or two for the case. It sounds like there is no ventilation.

The next thing would be the vid card. I don't know if that board has the onboard video and if you're using that. If you're using a card, make sure the fan on it is working. If it doesn't have a fan, then make sure the heatsink is clean. If you are using onboard vid, then make sure the chipset fan is working and clean.

This definitely sounds like an overheating problem I've had before.

 
My bets on a scrambled BIOS or a bad MB. Try flashing the bios, and check the proc in a diff. board as well, if you can. Same for vid card, memory, and such. If it only happens in that board, recycle time. Although 53C idle is a bit warm, my Athlon idled that high for a week or so before the thermal paste broke in, and then it dropped to a smooth 44 load. All depends on the proc, some just run a bit warmer than others.
 
Power supplies can do strange things on their way out. I always forget the PSU could be a problem
 
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