WXPpro post problems

[timOleary]

P5WD2-E PREMIUM D-805-2.66gHz; CORSAIR XMS2-4gb:2X2GB DDR2-2X WD SE16
WD2500KS-ZALMAN CNP9500AT WXPproSP2.
Over the last several months I've had interrmittant issues with my pc
during post.
the pc stops at the line listing RAM, then after several seconds,
resumes and there are no further problems. about a third of the time
the pc never resumes, then i need to reboot, and typically the pc
posts and launches XP. sometimes turning off the power switch to the
PSU then turning it back on seems to help.
the other day i was unable to start at all.
my setup is an external usb hdd which i switch on before turning on
the pc.
i disconnected all the usb accessories and eventaully got the pc to
start, only some changes had occurred in my bios, even though i had
not made any. what i noticed was that the boot sequence had changed
and the ASUS splash screen was being displayed.
i went into bios and reviewed settings and got rid of the logo splash
because it obscures the view of the bios process, saved changes and
the system seemed to be ok.
it was suggested i change my cmos battery, but i the system clock is
ok, so i have not changed the battery yet.
this morning i booted without anythng connected to my usb, and all
seemed ok, until i clicked on the user icon and the windows startup
sound sound played at half , or quarter speed, and then the pc was
totally sluggish. i shut it off and srestarted and it is once again
working properly.

i think this is not a windows problem. the pc is between three and
four years old. late last year i upgraded my psu to an enermax liberty
500w, and upgraded my ram to 4G.
seems it was after these changes the problems began. I reviewed my ram
timing with corsair. i ran ramtest and it passed all day long.
neither enermax or corsair will supply advance replacements, unless i
pay first so i've been persevering, but now i feel i need to address
this issue before a major crash and i have no pc.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

P5WD2-E PREMIUM D-805-2.66gHz; CORSAIR XMS2-4gb:2X2GB DDR2-2X WD
SE16 WD2500KS-ZALMAN CNP9500AT WXPproSP2.
Over the last several months I've had interrmittant issues with my
pc during post.
the pc stops at the line listing RAM, then after several seconds,
resumes and there are no further problems. about a third of the time
the pc never resumes, then i need to reboot, and typically the pc
posts and launches XP. sometimes turning off the power switch to the
PSU then turning it back on seems to help.
the other day i was unable to start at all.
my setup is an external usb hdd which i switch on before turning on
the pc.
i disconnected all the usb accessories and eventaully got the pc to
start, only some changes had occurred in my bios, even though i had
not made any. what i noticed was that the boot sequence had changed
and the ASUS splash screen was being displayed.
i went into bios and reviewed settings and got rid of the logo
splash because it obscures the view of the bios process, saved
changes and the system seemed to be ok.
it was suggested i change my cmos battery, but i the system clock is
ok, so i have not changed the battery yet.
this morning i booted without anythng connected to my usb, and all
seemed ok, until i clicked on the user icon and the windows startup
sound sound played at half , or quarter speed, and then the pc was
totally sluggish. i shut it off and srestarted and it is once again
working properly.

i think this is not a windows problem. the pc is between three and
four years old. late last year i upgraded my psu to an enermax
liberty 500w, and upgraded my ram to 4G.
seems it was after these changes the problems began. I reviewed my
ram timing with corsair. i ran ramtest and it passed all day long.
neither enermax or corsair will supply advance replacements, unless
i pay first so i've been persevering, but now i feel i need to
address this issue before a major crash and i have no pc.

As you suspected - It's not likely to be a Windows issue. After all - your
problem occurs before Windows even loads. Your results would likely be the
same if your systems' hard drive was replaced with an empty one, replaced
with one that had any other OS on it, etc.

The symptoms don't point to anything in particular. It could be the power
supply, it could be the motherboard, it could be the memory you put in. It
really sounds like a motherboard issue to me - or maybe a power supply
issue, although more rare. Given the age of the system - it probably would
cost more to try and repair it, even yourself, than it would be to replace
it.

 

[timOleary]

As you suspected - It's not likely to be a Windows issue.  After all - your
problem occurs before Windows even loads.  Your results would likely bethe
same if your systems' hard drive was replaced with an empty one, replaced
with one that had any other OS on it, etc.

The symptoms don't point to anything in particular.  It could be the power
supply, it could be the motherboard, it could be the memory you put in.  It
really sounds like a motherboard issue to me - or maybe a power supply
issue, although more rare.  Given the age of the system - it probably would
cost more to try and repair it, even yourself, than it would be to replace
it.

I'm glad at least it isn't something too obvious, thanks for replying