So, a while back, I bought a P4 2.8 processor, an Abit A17 motherboard, and some Kingston ram (not sure exactly, think it's a 256 DDR SDRAM stick). Anyhow, plugging all this in, and putting my current video card and hard drive into the box, I can't get the dumb thing to boot. Gave up on it for a while, finally decided to come here and ask for help.

What happens, is that when I try to boot it up, it works normally... for a bit. I get a little bit of time before it locks up. Usually it'll get about as far as to start loading windows, but not actually get in, before it just freezes. And does nothing. I can reboot... but all it'll do is go blackscreeen on me, and not boot. If I give it a few hours to think about what it's done, (Bad motherboard! Go sit in a corner!) it'll boot again... about as far.

Yeah, pretty bizarre problem. Anyone know if this sounds more RAM, processor, or MB related? I'd like to know what to try replacing first. The hd and vidcard both work fine when put back in my usual box, so I don't think they're the problem.

I read a review here (http://www.ciao.co.uk/ABIT_AI7__5738835) that suggested problems with the bios on the motherboard, and possibly even needing to format a hd to get the thing to boot. Problem is, the computer is about 5 years old, and I've lost my cd's for things like Corel 7 that are on there... so I'd prefer not to format, if at all possible. That, and I got XP for it when I was a student and (briefly) in comp sci, which I no longer have access to. Mebbe if I'd stayed in CS... but that's off-topic.


So yeah, if anyone can offer some advice, I'd much appreciate it.

1/5/2007 9:11:54 AM

Try a simple windows repair.

You might just get lucky.

1/5/2007 9:17:04 AM

I had a bad stick of ram that did this. I took out all the ram and put in one at a time and it worked no problem.

Ram is usually the cause but don't put it past the proc. If the ram trick doesn't work take it to Mitsuba (829-0294). He'll figure it out quick and not charge you an arm and a leg.

1/5/2007 10:21:21 AM

Windows repair won't help it if I can't even get into windows... I'm pretty sure it's a hardware issue, anyway.

And it's only one stick of RAM, so I think all I could do would be to buy another stick. Now, to figger out what I want to buy... heh.

1/5/2007 9:24:51 PM

So you are trying to boot to a 5 year old hard drive with new/different chipset/processor technology?

Problem: You are trying to boot to an old hard drive with different/new technology. Sorry to say, but it's just not that easy.
Solution: Your solution is to format the hard drive and start over from scratch.

It's more likely a software issue and not a bad mobo. Windows gets REALLY upset when it finds out it's motherboard/processor/chipset has changed. If you're afraid of losing your files, either back them up first then format OR purchase a new hard drive and start from scratch and use your old one as a slave drive.

[Edited on January 5, 2007 at 10:00 PM. Reason : ess ole' el]

1/5/2007 9:54:15 PM

Just having an older HD in there would cause it to freeze up, though? It seems to be a time thing... it's frozen up when I'm looking through BIOS settings before, to the same result... no booting afterwards. Not till I give it a few hours to save up for another 2 minute run.

(edit) I take what you mean about older hardware... I just want to start with replacing the cheapest things first. If it's going to take a whole new hd... I'm just as well off buying a net card and transferring what I need over the network. Was going to try to avoid going out and buying new OS discs if I could.

It sounds so far like RAM might be the problem... something to look into replacing first.

[Edited on January 7, 2007 at 3:34 AM. Reason : .]

1/7/2007 3:30:04 AM

If its getting that far, I would venture a guess of Windows failing to properly recognize your video card.

1/7/2007 7:54:35 AM

power supply?

1/9/2007 2:58:20 PM