all kinds of computer problems

[Peter]

Hi! Recently I started having all kinds of problems with my homebuilt system
that worked fine for about 8 months. Here's my setup:

MB: Asus P5B Deluxe
CPU: Pentium Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz
RAM: 4 x CM2X1024-6400 (4GB)
2x74GB WD Raptor hard drives in RAID0 - OS is there
1x250GB WD hard drive
1x500GB WD hard drive
1x250GB WD external hard drive
Video Card: nVidia GeForce 7900GS 256MB
Sound Card: Creative Audigy 4

So, about a month ago the system stopped booting (I had the CPU overclocked
to 3GHz or so). Clearing CMOS every time was basically the only way to boot
it. I decided to upgrade BIOS, upgrade failed and totally killed the
motherboard. Later I read on ASUS forums that this had happened to everyone
who tried to upgrade BIOS in P5B Deluxe in Vista (the only way to do it was
through BIOS setup). I ordered exactly the same model, but even with the new
board these problems did not go away. At least I know that the motherboard
is not the problem.
The system now never starts up when I turn it on the first time. I am
getting blue screens, no POST at all, or Vista just hangs during startup.
It's always something different. Yesterday, for example, I had to clear CMOS
in order to finally load the OS. Once the system loads the first time, I can
reboot it however many times I want - no problems. Then, on the next day
problems start again. When I turned it on earlier today, the system began
turning off and on by itself. Then, it froze a couple of times in BIOS
setup, froze a few times on POST, and a few times on Vista password prompt.
In order to finally start up, I had to disconnect everything but the MB and
video card. Then, once I got into BIOS setup and it did not freeze, I
connected the hard drives and finally was able to boot up.

Can anyone help?

Thank you

 

[JAD]

Hi! Recently I started having all kinds of problems with my homebuilt system
that worked fine for about 8 months. Here's my setup:

MB: Asus P5B Deluxe
CPU: Pentium Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz
RAM: 4 x CM2X1024-6400 (4GB)
2x74GB WD Raptor hard drives in RAID0 - OS is there
1x250GB WD hard drive
1x500GB WD hard drive
1x250GB WD external hard drive
Video Card: nVidia GeForce 7900GS 256MB
Sound Card: Creative Audigy 4

So, about a month ago the system stopped booting (I had the CPU overclocked
to 3GHz or so). Clearing CMOS every time was basically the only way to boot
it. I decided to upgrade BIOS, upgrade failed and totally killed the
motherboard. Later I read on ASUS forums that this had happened to everyone
who tried to upgrade BIOS in P5B Deluxe in Vista (the only way to do it was
through BIOS setup). I ordered exactly the same model, but even with the new
board these problems did not go away. At least I know that the motherboard
is not the problem.
The system now never starts up when I turn it on the first time. I am
getting blue screens, no POST at all, or Vista just hangs during startup.
It's always something different. Yesterday, for example, I had to clear CMOS
in order to finally load the OS. Once the system loads the first time, I can
reboot it however many times I want - no problems. Then, on the next day
problems start again. When I turned it on earlier today, the system began
turning off and on by itself. Then, it froze a couple of times in BIOS
setup, froze a few times on POST, and a few times on Vista password prompt.
In order to finally start up, I had to disconnect everything but the MB and
video card. Then, once I got into BIOS setup and it did not freeze, I
connected the hard drives and finally was able to boot up.

Can anyone help?

Thank you

Start with memory. hardware testing of it is best, but if you don't know a where to take
it, run memtest86, look for errors.
next the PSU, you don't mention it in your specs. That tells me that it was possibly a non
concern when you got the rig. Bad Idea these days.

 

[Peter]

Sorry forgot to mention the PSU. It's a Thermaltake W0104RU Toughpower 650W
Power Supply w/Active PFC.
Thanks