View Full Version : Dead PC
Just in case anyone is wondering, Mic has killed his PC...I mean the PC has stopped working (again)
Ever since he bought some new bits from the "other place" he has had problems with it (don't know what bits)
We can't realistically afford to get new bits for his PC, but if he can't get it to work we might have to :(
He is using my PC at times during the day so don't get confuzzled if he posts and forgets to log me out first :)
I have an entire PC you could have if you wanted. As long as you only want to use it for the internet and office-type stuff it's yours if you can come and pick it up. The spec is nothing special - possibly 450MHz, 20GB drive, CD-ROM etc. but the last time I checked it it was working, just needs an operating system. :)
Try and find out what bits are giving him hassle. Might be able to help out :)
Try and find out what bits are giving him hassle. Might be able to help out :)
Ditto.
Matblack
12-09-2006, 10:02
I have an entire machine here
3GHz P4 Northy
1Gb Ram
Decent sound card
but I recently sold the graphics card to Haly for a bottle of whiskey, it is however AGP not that new fangled express thing, you're welcome to it to tide you over if you have an AGP card to go in it. I was planning on using it as a server one day but I just don't really need to.
MB
OK yesterday came down in the morning and the PC wouldn't do anything (had been on overnight downloading). Rebooted and got a nice clicking noise from the HD. Not good :(
Reinstalled windows to my other HD got that working ok got drivers on and programs working ok.
Decided to try and get my memory working properly so started a thread on DFI forums and got help from there and got memory passing Memtest ok. Left it running memtest overnight to make sure it was all ok.
This morning come down reboot disable memtest in the bios restart. It goes through the normal HD and memory checks. Gets to where it would normally load windows and I get an "Unable to load operating system" message :(
I check that the right HD is selected for first boot in bios and try again. Same. I clear the cmos jumper and load optimised defaults. Same. WIndows CD out again try to reinstall windows goes through the main part til it needs to restart then when restarts I get the unable to load operating system message again.
Not sure but I think it may be the mobo decided to give it up :(
I may try plugging my HD into Sams PC and see what happens.
I do have another HD in my PC that I could try installing windows onto I suppose.
I'd unplug all but the HD you're trying to install to (assuming you haven't already).
Also, the fridge/freezer may beckon for the clicking HD. I'm not sure on the details of the correct way to do that, so someone else will have to advise.
Thanks for all the offers of bits and PC's :embarassed:
Well tried my 2nd HD again I get the Windows setup blue screen the Press F8 for raid etc then the Setup is loading files (Windows Executive)... message.
This then sits there for over 15 mins before I turned the PC off. Unplugged 2nd HD tried 3rd HD. Same thing. Tried different CD Drive, same thing :( Not sure what to try next apart from plugging my HD into Sams PC and trying to install onto it to make sure it isnt my HD and/or CD drives.
Stan_Lite
12-09-2006, 11:44
I had exactly the same problem a couple of months back.
Turned out I had a borked HDD. When I tried another HDD, I had the same problem but I still had the dodgy one attached. When I disconnected the naughty one, the other one worked fine.
If you haven't disconnected the other HDD, try that - if you have already removed it then you may have 2 dodgy HDDs (or I may be talking crap).
Stan :)
I had exactly the same problem a couple of months back.
Turned out I had a borked HDD. When I tried another HDD, I had the same problem but I still had the dodgy one attached. When I disconnected the naughty one, the other one worked fine.
If you haven't disconnected the other HDD, try that - if you have already removed it then you may have 2 dodgy HDDs (or I may be talking crap).
Stan :)
Unfortunately I've tried all 3 of my HD's and none of them will take windows atm on my system. When the first one started clicking I installed windows on my 2nd HD and it was working fine and I could access the info on my first HD no problem I just couldn't boot to it.
Think I'll try plugging them into Sams PC and see if I can install windows if so then it will be pointing towards the mobo.
(If you're reading this Sam don't worry I'll unplug your HD first.)
Both my HDs I hope :p
My PC had better be working when I get home tonight :p
Yeah it's still working. :p
Tried on my 2nd HD the windows install got to the first reboot then it gave out a Disc read error :(
Not sure what to try now :(
Second machine. You need to eliminate the disks first, and that's the best way.
Stan_Lite
12-09-2006, 13:36
Have you tried striking it sharply with a large heavy object?*
*This may not make it work but will make the user feel much better.
Stan :)
Can access all the discs if I connect them to Sams PC as secondary drives.
I'll try to install to my 3rd HD tomorrow sometime as I'm off to work soon :(
Just copied over 100Gb of files I wanted onto Sams HD :D
Are these SATA drives? Did you use the SATA drivers during the windows install?
If they are SATA, are there any IDE disks you could test on?
My first and 3rd drives are SATA the other ones is IDE.
Worth checking the BIOS options to see how the SATA drives are configured (i.e. whether you've got them in compatibility mode or anything like that).
If the problem exists on both IDE and SATA drives it probably points to something more serious, indeed, possibly the Mobo. Attempted install on Sams PC would be my next move.
Didn't you say that your motherboard was having issues with dual channel memory? It could be that the motherboard is having more serious problems now :/
Mic's just got in from work but as hes been up for 24 hours and has gone straight to bed I don't think you'll see him online till later today
Stan_Lite
13-09-2006, 07:55
Mic's just got in from work but as hes been up for 24 hours and has gone straight to bed I don't think you'll see him online till later today
Slacker :p
Stan :)
OK tried to install to my IDE and SATA drives on my PC and the install stalls at the Loading windows executive bit both times. I get the same result using both CD Drives.
Installing on Sams PC to the SATA drive no problems with install.
Installing to the IDE drive it gets to the first reboot then throws up a Read Disk Error. :(
Tomorrow I'll try installing on the SATA drive on my PC but using Sams CD drive and cables to eliminate that avenue. Got to go to work now though :(
Dymetrie
14-09-2006, 00:33
Mic, another idea for you...
Try Running Knoppix* (http://www.knoppix.org/) on your rig to see if that installs and runs OK... Could help to figure out where the problem is..
Dym
*I have no idea about this have just seen it as an option to see if the problem is hardware or windows based..
It's a good idea, not so much as an installation test, just because it's more likely to give you information that'll help you find out what's wrong.
dmesg|more
And read carefully.
Which bit do I need to download? I've never played with Linux before at all.
Thanks
Oi - log me off first!!! :p
http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/knoppix/KNOPPIX_V5.0.1CD-2006-06-01-EN.iso
Any live CD should do though. Run the command I posted and see if you can spot it bitching about anything.
Well I tried to load Knoppix and it boots form CD loads 2 files then screen goes blank and stays that way for over 10 minutes. :(
Tried Sams CD drive in my PC and get the same results trying to load Knoppix and Windows as I do when using my drives. :(
It's looking more like a mobo problem all the time. Oh well just have to start saving for some new parts.
What would you be looking for dude? You're welcome to anything I have if it fits.
Thanks :embarassed:
Well if the mobo's dead which is looking likely then I'll be short of a Socket 939 PCIe mobo. Or an AGP Graphics card that will handle CS:S ok as I still have my old S939 mobo just no Graphics card for it.
I'll have a look later :) Not sure I can help on either front though :S I have an AMD board kicking about but I think it's 754.
Thanks mate :) Much appreciated help.
OK got Knoppix working atm, by changing out some memory for other ones I had here.
So how do I go about entering this command? I'm a complete Linux noob :D
Mics monitor looks scary :/ I've never seen linux before
If memory serves, Knoppix runs KDE. So you need to find its 'Konsole' program (System or Utilities), and then run:
dmesg|more
(dmesg, \bar\, more) Which will list boot messages page by page. Have a look through that and see if anything looks obviously wrong.
Have you tried installing Windows on this other memory by the way?
OK this is Mic :)
Just run memtest on all 4 DIMMS seperately and they all failed :(
One of them did last through the first 2 passes of the tests but threw an error up on the third pass. :(
Oh well now I'll have to contact Crucial to see if I can get my memory replaced as I think it's supposed to have a lifetime guarantee.
Did you try testing the DIMMs in different sockets to make sure it's not the mobo, and also that the BIOS memory timings are either at default or set sufficiently 'slack'?
I find it a little unlikely that you've ended up with four broken sticks (though it's not impossible of course).
He's gone to work now but I'll let him know you've replied :)
Thank you everyone for trying to help him sort this out :)
Yeah was gonna try the sticks in Sams PC and run memtest through them to see what happens.
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