Computer won't boot

  • Thread starter Thread starter Barbara
  • Start date Start date
B

Barbara

The computer will boot for a short time (varies from minutes to almost an
hour)
then it just freezes.Sometimes I have to pull the power cord to get it to
reboot.
I have replaced the power supply, the memory and am running a newly
formatted
HD with only windows xp installed. I disabled all the externals. I am using
a PC Chips m981g mb with an
Intel P4 3.0 478 processor and 1 gig ddr memory.

Any ideas on what is causing this?
Thanks
Barbara
 
Barbara

Try testing your RAM memory

Memtest86 - Memory Diagnostic Page:
http://www.memtest86.com/

You might try testing the hard drive. I have been testing HD Tune.
(freeware). Download and run it and see what it turns up.
http://www.hdtune.com/

Select the Health tab and then double click the two page icon ( copy to
Clipboard ) and copy into a further message.

Next click on the Error Scan tab and start the Scan. It will take some
time, depending on the size of the disk. The tool has a good visual
display so that you can see how the scan is progressing.

This freeware programme is excellent for getting information about your
computer:
Everest Home Edition is an interesting (freeware) source of information:
http://www.lavalys.hu/index.php

Download and install it. A sub-folder of "Computer" named Sensor
provides this sort of information:

Sensor Properties:
Sensor Type VIA 686 Internal
(ISA 6000h)

Temperatures:
Motherboard 29 °C (84 °F)
CPU 51 °C (124 °F)
Aux 23 °C (73 °F)
Seagate ST340014A 39 °C (102 °F)

Cooling Fans:
CPU 4821 RPM
Chassis 2766 RPM

Tip: To copy select Report, Quick Report, Plain Text, highlight required
text, right click and select copy.

What is your computer make and model

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
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Gerry
I have actual tried the computer with 2 different hard drives and also have
removed the memory and replaced it with memory I know is working. I have put
in a new power supply and removed all externals without any useful result. I
cannot install new programs because the computer freezes though I did get a
new version of Win XP SP2 on the newly reformatted HD. The computer has 3
fans but they all seem to work. Could it be the CPU?

I am really at a loss here and ideas are appreciated.
Barbara
 
Barbara said:
Gerry
I have actual tried the computer with 2 different hard drives and also
have removed the memory and replaced it with memory I know is working. I
have put in a new power supply and removed all externals without any
useful result. I cannot install new programs because the computer freezes
though I did get a new version of Win XP SP2 on the newly reformatted HD.
The computer has 3 fans but they all seem to work. Could it be the CPU?

I am really at a loss here and ideas are appreciated.
Barbara
Click to expand...

If your CPU cooling device is working, then try a new CPU. If not, then the
CPU is overheating and you need to replace the cooling device. In short, it
looks to be the CPU. RAM doesn't freeze the computer if it's bad. It either
causes the Blue Screen of Death or the computer to not even POST (start to
boot).
 
Thanks for the answer. My processor is still under warranty so I can ask for
a new one if that is the problem. I have pretty much eliminated all but the
CPU but I am glad to have someone who is more proficient agree. Actually I
looked in the BIOS to see the temp of the CPU and the System temp but
realized I have no idea what the correct rate should be. Can you advise?

Thanks for your help
Barbara
 
Barbara said:
Thanks for the answer. My processor is still under warranty so I can ask
for
a new one if that is the problem. I have pretty much eliminated all but
the
CPU but I am glad to have someone who is more proficient agree. Actually I
looked in the BIOS to see the temp of the CPU and the System temp but
realized I have no idea what the correct rate should be. Can you advise?

Thanks for your help
Barbara
Click to expand...

I'm glad I could help. You really don't want the CPU core temperature to
exceed 120 degrees F or about 37-38C. It begins to affect performance by a
lot. The ideal temp you want to be at is about 110 or below.
 
If your CPU cooling device is working, then try a new CPU. If not, then the
CPU is overheating and you need to replace the cooling device. In short, it
looks to be the CPU. RAM doesn't freeze the computer if it's bad. It either
causes the Blue Screen of Death or the computer to not even POST (start to
boot).
I'm glad I could help. You really don't want the CPU core temperature to
exceed 120 degrees F or about 37-38C. It begins to affect performance by a
lot. The ideal temp you want to be at is about 110 or below.
Click to expand...


Barbara:
While your problem could be a defective CPU, possibly involving a
heat-related issue, it's a bit too early to conclude that's the problem. Re
the CPU temperature - it's a virtual given that your Intel P4 3.0 processor
will run at a much higher temperature than 38 degrees C. There should be
little concern if the temp of that processor runs consistently in the 50s &
low 60s. If it runs cooler, then well & good.

You say the "computer will boot for a short time (varies from minutes to
almost
an hour) then it just freezes." By that you mean that before the system
"freezes" it functions without any problems, right, i.e., you can utilize
the computer in a normal way up to that point?

Ordinarily, (but there are exceptions) the system will shut down when the
processor exceeds its maximum temp. It will not simply "freeze". I assume
when you say the system freezes after some period of time you mean that the
screen display freezes and you're unable to use your keyboard/mouse. Is that
right? You mentioned that you have to pull the AC power cord. Is that
because the power switch doesn't work? Do you hold in the power switch for
at least five (5) seconds? Similarly, is the reset button on your computer
inoperable so that you can't reboot the system by pressing that button?

When the system does reboot, are there any error messages or indications of
a previous problem?

You said that you've replaced the PS and RAM. Did you do that because of the
problem you're experiencing? Or were there other reasons? Did this problem
arise only after you installed those components?

For the moment, do this...
Disconnect all devices, including your HD, optical drive(s), sound card,
other peripherals, etc, so that your system is working *only* with its
motherboard, CPU (& heat sink), RAM, video card, and, of course, the PS.
Power up and let the machine run continuously for at least an hour. Does the
system freeze at any point?

Do you happen to have another HD that you could use to install a fresh copy
of XP should that be necessary?
Anna
 
Barabara: See below addendum...
If your CPU cooling device is working, then try a new CPU. If not, then
the
CPU is overheating and you need to replace the cooling device. In short,
it
looks to be the CPU. RAM doesn't freeze the computer if it's bad. It
either
causes the Blue Screen of Death or the computer to not even POST (start to
boot).
Click to expand...


Anna said:
Barbara:
While your problem could be a defective CPU, possibly involving a
heat-related issue, it's a bit too early to conclude that's the problem.
Re the CPU temperature - it's a virtual given that your Intel P4 3.0
processor will run at a much higher temperature than 38 degrees C. There
should be little concern if the temp of that processor runs consistently
in the 50s & low 60s. If it runs cooler, then well & good.

You say the "computer will boot for a short time (varies from minutes to
almost
an hour) then it just freezes." By that you mean that before the system
"freezes" it functions without any problems, right, i.e., you can utilize
the computer in a normal way up to that point?

Ordinarily, (but there are exceptions) the system will shut down when the
processor exceeds its maximum temp. It will not simply "freeze". I assume
when you say the system freezes after some period of time you mean that
the screen display freezes and you're unable to use your keyboard/mouse.
Is that right? You mentioned that you have to pull the AC power cord. Is
that because the power switch doesn't work? Do you hold in the power
switch for at least five (5) seconds? Similarly, is the reset button on
your computer inoperable so that you can't reboot the system by pressing
that button?

When the system does reboot, are there any error messages or indications
of a previous problem?

You said that you've replaced the PS and RAM. Did you do that because of
the problem you're experiencing? Or were there other reasons? Did this
problem arise only after you installed those components?

For the moment, do this...
Disconnect all devices, including your HD, optical drive(s), sound card,
other peripherals, etc, so that your system is working *only* with its
motherboard, CPU (& heat sink), RAM, video card, and, of course, the PS.
Power up and let the machine run continuously for at least an hour. Does
the system freeze at any point?

Do you happen to have another HD that you could use to install a fresh
copy of XP should that be necessary?
Anna
Click to expand...

(And, of course, your keyboard & mouse).
 
Barbara

What happens if when it "freezes" you hit Ctrl+Alt+Del and wait five
minutes does Task Manager load?

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA

Using invalid email address

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please tell the newsgroup how any
suggested solution worked for you.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Gerry

The machine doesn't actually reboot, in fact; it only boots occasionally and
then from a "cold" state. Generally it doesn't boot at all though when it
does there are no error messages.I have removed or disconnected all drives
including the HD and CD drives but the boot issue is still there, rendering
the computer virtually unusable. I have held in all buttons, etc and the
power turns on but on the rare occasions when Win loads that is about all
that happens.

When I say freeze I do mean that I cannot use either the mouse or keyboard.
Ctrl+Alt+Del doesn't do anything no matter how long I wait so no, Task
Manager does not load.Intel says I need to test the MB with another
processor and test the processor in another MB before they will replace
it.But of course that involves my paying someone to test it. SO I am at a
loss.

Thanks
Barbara
 
Barbara

Does this help:
http://snipurl.com/k70s

There are defined boot stages. It might a help to determine at which
point the failure occurs. Does it always stop at the same point?

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA

Using invalid email address

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please tell the newsgroup how any
suggested solution worked for you.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

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