Possible bad MB or proc - Your Thoughts???

B

Beliskner

Weaksauce
Joined
May 1, 2003
Messages
72
Hi everyone!

I am in search of some thoughts and opinions here. Recently I acquired a PC from a friend whom just bought a new computer (and I think they got screwed, but that’s another thread!) from a local PC shop. Their old (my new) PC Has a Gigabyte 7ZMMH motherboard, 128MB Ram, CDRom, and 20GB Maxtor Drive. Currently I am experiencing the system seeming to “lock up” while installing a new OS. (But never at the same spot, it varies.) I originally thought it was the hard drive and I had a boot sector virus that would cause this. I have run the drive under Autoclave (the 25 pass option) and tried installing, then I tried a different drive (a known good one I keep for testing purposes) and it did the same. My next step was to test the RAM using DocMemory and it passed. I still wasn’t convinced so I replaced the current stick with a known good one (again, one I keep for testing) and I still had the same issue. Then I got to wondering about the CDRom. So I swapped that one out and still it would freeze. I have not tried replacing any cables because I figured that if it was a cable I probably wouldn’t even be able to get as far as I do. So now my next thoughts are deeper and that it may be the motherboard or the processor. (The processor is an AMD Athlon 1.2GHz.)

I can boot and go into the CMOS just fine and boot and run the Ultimate Boot CD without issue but when I’m trying to just set up a drive and install an OS (not doing anything fancy) it will lock up at some point.

So, now I would like to hear your thoughts and opinions as to what may be causing this. I don’t have a problem buying a new MB or proc if needed (since I got the box for free to begin with) but if it’s a simple fix then WHOO-HOO!

Thanks!
 
I had a friend that had this problem when trying to install Windows on his machine. He swapped out his RAM with a new stick and the problem then went away. Are you 100% sure the memory you tested is compatible with the MB and is good ?
 
Try a different hard drive. Try a different hard drive cable, and make sure that all the cables are well-seated. Lock-ups in my experience are tied to RAM and hard disks. And sometimes energy management utilities. Reset the BIOS, it couldn't hurt. Update it if you wish.

Here's something: try non-USB peripherals during the install. Get a PS/2 keyboard and mouse. . .older boards running Windows can really hate on some USB devices; if you've hit that point in the install, it'll throw the build like a piston through the block. (Seen it happen with my Dad's Volvo turbo diesel, it was scary as hell. Though not at all a computer problem.) Often, USB/ Windows issues are fixed with BIOS updates, that's what got me thinking that. So do flash the board.
 
metallicafan said:
I had a friend that had this problem when trying to install Windows on his machine. He swapped out his RAM with a new stick and the problem then went away. Are you 100% sure the memory you tested is compatible with the MB and is good ?
Click to expand...
Yes
 
Axman said:
Try a different hard drive. Try a different hard drive cable, and make sure that all the cables are well-seated. Lock-ups in my experience are tied to RAM and hard disks. And sometimes energy management utilities. Reset the BIOS, it couldn't hurt. Update it if you wish.

Here's something: try non-USB peripherals during the install. Get a PS/2 keyboard and mouse. . .older boards running Windows can really hate on some USB devices; if you've hit that point in the install, it'll throw the build like a piston through the block. (Seen it happen with my Dad's Volvo turbo diesel, it was scary as hell. Though not at all a computer problem.) Often, USB/ Windows issues are fixed with BIOS updates, that's what got me thinking that. So do flash the board.
Click to expand...

Tried two different HDs but not the cables. I will give that a try as well.

I had thought about the bios as there is an update to it. If I can get it running long enough to flash it I will.

I don't have any USB devices plugged in. However I am running through a KVM switch, not sure if thats the case but I may directly connect the keyboard, mouse and monitor. When it stalls the monitor will act as if it went into a sleep mode but I can't wake it up by hitting the keyboard or moving the mouse. Another thing I think I may double check is if the antivirus in the CMOS is on, I forgot all about that till just now. I downloaded the manual for the board and read that if it is activated and anything that tries to write to the boot sector it will throw an error and possible stop any activitiy.
 
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