Slowdown

[mark2]

Suddenly experiencing a dramatic slowdown with my system, ASUS P4C800, 3.06 GHZ

Symptoms :-

Sata drive taking 25 mins (or more) to load to XP.

attempting to clean install XP to an ide drive (after removing sata) fails to proceed beyond "set up is starting windows" (20 mins plus) 1st try gave me a BSOD

Prior to the above, the mobo would lose boot from sata settings and default to ide, no other settings disturbed.

Tried loading several live distros, Ubuntu, Puppy linux etc with no luck apart from UBCD4Win, where memtest shows no memory errors, the drives show no SMART problems.

Tried different memory sticks, without any luck

Substituted an old 24 speed CDrom for the DVD rom still all the above symptoms

tried different Ide cables,

I'm now out of ideas HELP

[Boris]

Just a long shot, but have you tried clearing the CMOS and a new mobo battery ?

[mark2]

^^^^

unfortunately, yes, no difference

probably give it a complete strip down and dust off at the weekend tho entering the bios shows no heat problems nor does speedfan when running UBCD4Win

[Boris]

:(

Can't think of anything else

I had the same problem with sister-in-law's - it wouldn't complete an install. A new mobo was the only cure in the end - nothing else was changed from the original components.

[mark2]

Any suggestions for the Mobo,

P4 AGP graphics ?

[Boris]

Not much choice for you if you want a new Socket 478 taking PC3200 + AGP graphics ?

:(

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/119412

ASRock P4I65G i865G Skt 478 SATA onboard VGA 6 channel audio mATX £29.24

Socket 478 for Intel Pentium 4 / Celeron D (Prescott, Northwood, Willamate) processors;

Intel 865G Chipset;

HT Technology;

Supports Dual Channel DDR400 (DDR x 2 DIMMs);

Untied Overclocking: During Overclocking, FSB enjoys better margin due to fixed AGP/ PCI Buses;

1 x AGP 8X slot;

Supports Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics 2 and DirectX 8.0;

Hybrid Booster - Safe Overclocking Technology;

2 ports of SerialATA 1.5Gb/s, 2 ATA100 IDE ports;

5.1 Channel Audio, 10/100 Ethernet LAN;

ASRock I/O Plus: 6 ready-to-use USB2.0 ports.

[Boris]

Or

MSI PM8M-V mATX Board, VIA P4M800 Socket 478 Motherboard

http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=PM8M-V

• 9.65 in.(L) x 7.48 in.(W); Micro-ATX

• 2 DIMMs w/ DDR400 upto 2GB

• 1 AGP 8X/4X; 3 PCI; 8 USB

• 6 Ch. Audio; 10/100 LAN; SATA; ATA133

• S3 Graphics Unichrome Graphics core

• Live Update; Fuzzy Logic; PC alert

Amazon £30.24

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-PM8M-V-P4M800-...2684&sr=8-1

[mark2]

Seems to be a shortage of options out there now, maybe it's time to consider a complete system change via a barebones bundle.

I'm not sure my PSU will be up to some of the latest core duo and Sli boards.

I'll have one last attack at the weekend.

May try a new DVD too last message on booting from the install CD "Ntldr is missing" !

[mark2]

Resolved with a new mobo bundle from Novatech.

Close inspection of the old mobo showed a burnt out chip between USB headers on the board, oddly enough the new mobo/bios screamed about over current on USB on booting, seems 2 of my front ports have a bit of a short between them, now down to 6 ports only. :(

What to do with the remaining good bits now, decisions, decisions !! :D