Computer constantly rebooting during Windows installation

Q

Quentin Hudson

I have been rebuilding a PC which I planned to give to my sister, and
it is constantly rebooting during the Windows installation. I have
tried it with the following Operating System CDs: XP with service pack
2; XP with service pack 1; Windows 2000; Windows 2000 with service
pack 4; and 98 Second Edition. The only one I have got to work is
W98SE, and even then it is not perfect (poor screen resolution). I
want the computer to preferably run Windows XP but every time I try to
run a fresh installation it collapses (usually round about installing
network devices, or just before or after), and the computer reboots.
When I try and upgrade the W98SE installation to XP, it does not even
get that far; collapsing during the setup preparation stage and
rebooting. More or less the same happens when I use either of the 2000
CDs.

I have tried the following to resolve the issue:

There were 3 memory sticks. I have removed all except one (256 MB) and
have tried it in all 3 slots. I have also swapped this with another
256MB stick.

I have tried copying the setup files from the XP CD onto my hard disk,
and running the upgrade from there.

I have removed all PNP hardware that is superfluous to the install.
All that is attached to the motherboard is the graphics card, the
floppy drive, and a CD ROM.

The hard disk has been swapped out with another one.

The graphics card was swapped with a lower spec one (note: both are a
few years old).

I have changed both the fan the and the psu (the new unit is 500watt,
so lack of power is not an issue).

Before the rebuild the computer was working. It had multiple operating
systems on it (including XP, 2000 Server, and 2003 Server). The only
fault I did notice on it then was after many hours usage (it was on
24-7) there would be a beeping from the case, and I would need to turn
it off for a little while (after which it would be fine). I thought it
might be an overheating issue, possibly due to a faulty fan or power
supply (which I have since replaced). I have kind of run out of ideas
of what to try next, so if anyone has any thoughts I would be very
grateful.

Thanks for listening. QH
 
R

Richard Urban

Just one thought!

4 years ago I was building a new PC for my oldest son (at 32 years old it
was his first). After putting it all together - using a 900 meg processor
(new from retail box) - I found myself in the same situation. I could not
get "any" operating system to load.

I got frustrated after checking everything twice. I, in desperation, took a
1.4 gig processor from my working computer and installed it in his computer.
The M/B IDed it and was happy. I loaded the operating system without any
difficulty. A call to AMD and a replacement was on the way.

Interesting side note! As I needed my computer up and running I had to take
back my processor. I put the original 900 meg CPU back in my son's computer.
His computer booted up and ran fine - multiple times. While I was waiting
for the replacement I again tried to load the operating system on his new
computer. It was still a no-go!

When the new processor arrived I loaded the O/S, for the last time, and
everything worked fine!


--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
W

wayfarrer

It sure sounds like a hardware problem...the beeping was your warning. You
should have done some troubleshooting when you heard the beep. If you remember
the sequence and know the BIOS mfg, search Google for help. Here's one site:

http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml

From the troubleshooting you've done already, it sounds like the mobo itself
needs replacement.
 
B

Bob I

IIRC there was an issue with some AMD proccessors that required some
"fooling around" to get the beggers to load/install the operating
system, may have been the L2 cache setting.
 
R

Richard Urban

Exactly! If I turned off the L2 cache in the bios the O/S would load - in
about 3 1/2 hours!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 

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