randomthoughts Posted October 15, 2003 Report Share Posted October 15, 2003 HELP!!! I attempted to upgrade my system by stuffing in a new motherboard. I had a Micron Xku (266 Mhz) running Windows 2000 that I upgraded(?) by installing an ECS MB (K7S5A) with an Athlon 2400 XP processor. I also installed a 512 Mb Kingston memory stick. I don't know if this is an operating system issue or a hardware issue, so I'm posting it in both places.The hardware installation and testing appeared to go fine. The system booted up and went to a DOS prompt. I re-booted the system, this time with the Windows 2000 CD in place, and the process hung up on “System is now determining your computer’s hardware configuration”. Several re-boots netted the same results. I also have a Windows Me CD. I tried that, and the installation proceeded until the first re-boot of the installation procedure. After getting the initial “test” screen from the machine boot, the screen went blank, with only a blinking cursor in the top left corner; then the screen went gray – no cursor, no nothing, and no response from the keyboard.I returned the motherboard to the store and got an identical replacement. This time, I installed only what I thought were the minimum hardware requirements – floppy, hard drive (new), CD, and video card. Hardware boot looks great – the BIOS screens are exactly as the manual says they should look. Booting with the Windows 2000 screen yielded the same problem – hanging up on “System is now determining your computer’s hardware configuration”. I also tried booting with the 4 floppies used in Windows 200 recovery. That also hung up on the hardware configuration . So I tried the Windows Me install again (several times). Same result for the most part – although I did get the re-boot during installation to get me to the option screen for “Safe Mode” a couple of times, and one time I was even able to get Windows opening in Safe Mode. But subsequent re-boots just get me the blinking cursor followed by the gray screen.I’m open for any suggestions – thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted October 15, 2003 Report Share Posted October 15, 2003 Do you have another hard drive that you could try?I've had problems in the past with XP not liking certain hard drives. Although it was quite happy to accept the drive as a slave, it just refused to be installed on that drive.Just a thought.Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ellas Posted October 15, 2003 Report Share Posted October 15, 2003 are you saying you stuck this in your original case with the old psu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randomthoughts Posted October 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2003 I'm not familiar with the term "psu". Please explain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ellas Posted October 15, 2003 Report Share Posted October 15, 2003 power supply unit,its just with the athlon 2400xp you will need at least a 300watt,any idea whats in the case now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randomthoughts Posted October 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2003 Thanks for the reply. It's only a 235 watt power supply that came with the original unit. I can change that out. Are the problems that I'm having loading windows indicative of an underpowered psu, or do you think I may have additional concerns, as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nellie2 Posted October 15, 2003 Report Share Posted October 15, 2003 The power supply is the most obvious solution. If you are still having problems once you have changed it then we will have to look at other things. A lot of the time PC troubleshooting is a process of elimination. You need to go for the most obvious solutions first and then take it from there. Let us know how things are once the psu is sorted!! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ellas Posted October 15, 2003 Report Share Posted October 15, 2003 this might be of some help to you, Q. Installation of Windows 2000 hangs at the 'Setup is inspecting your computer', what can I do?A. This is normally caused by it attempting to detect settings such as ACPI so you can override this and tell it to use a standard PC type by pressing F5 while its hung and select "Standard PC". http://www.windows2000faq.com/Articles/Ind...ArticleID=14626 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randomthoughts Posted October 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2003 I'll give this a shot as well as the power supply issue. Thanks for all your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randomthoughts Posted October 22, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 Update - I tried pressing the F5 key during the "Setup is now examining..." step of the Win 2000 installation - no luck. Still no response from the keyboard - the system just hung up and would only respond to a reset.Bought a 300-watt power supply unit this weekend and tried the that out. Unfortunately, the results were not any different with the larger psu installed - the install procedures hung up in the same manner for both Win 2000 and Windows Me as before.Any other suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted October 22, 2003 Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 Have you considered my previous reply? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted October 22, 2003 Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 The "300w" PSU that you have may not actually be up to the job of running what you have ? Other forum members have had similar problems - myself included.What make is the PSU and how many amps is rated at on 12v. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randomthoughts Posted October 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Here's the info for my new psu -Linkworld Model LPK8 - 300W DC Out - +12V - 13A -12V - 0.8A +3.3V - 14A +5V - 20A -5V - 0.5AThere is a note that states "+3.3V & +5V Max output 140W; all output is extended to 300W max"Here's the info for my old psu (that came with the original case)-Tiger Model TG-2306-D DC Out - +12V - 8A -12V - 0.5A +3.3V - 14A +5V - 22A -5V - 0.5A-pops-I'll try out your test this weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurdy Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Quote "This time, I installed only what I thought were the minimum hardware requirements – floppy, hard drive (new), CD, and video card. "Memory not mentioned.Also,have you formatted the new drive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randomthoughts Posted October 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Memory, all 512Mb, was installed. I just didn't add any PCI cards.The hard drive has been partitioned and formatted (actually more than once).Boris - Any thoughts on the specs for the psu? Is it underpowered for my application? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ellas Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 no I run a 300watt with athlon 2ghz 768ddr,2 h/drives,128mb video card,tv card,dvd rom,cdrw rom etc with no probs,what make of psu was it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Boris - Any thoughts on the specs for the psu? Is it underpowered for my application?Theoretical PSU ratings are one thing - actual practice is another !What else are you going to be adding to it ?Video cardHow many H/dsCD-RW ?DVD ?anything else ?I had a Tsunami supposed "350W" PSU to run a new Athlon XP2000 - no way would it boot ! In the end I bought a 550W Q-Tech Gold dual-fan for £25 - no problems at all with anything since.Shirley_Crabtree had the same sort of problem - he eventually bought the same Q-Tech PSU I think.However, the Tsunami now happily powers this Celeron 2.0 ! Strange ?The best PSU is an Antech - but they're very pricey ! The Q-tech seems a reasonable compromise ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted October 25, 2003 Report Share Posted October 25, 2003 A rough and ready PSU wattage calculator. http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/This is not a scientifically accurate calculator but it will give an indication of the minimum needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted October 25, 2003 Report Share Posted October 25, 2003 Good link -pops- - I couldn't remember where it was.That says that I needed 346 watts - the Tsunami isn't a "Quality" PSU - so couldn't take the initial load ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted October 25, 2003 Report Share Posted October 25, 2003 Its what the PSU supplies on the separate rails that counts - 3.3v, 5v + 12v - each rail deals with different voltages depending on whats in your system.If any one of the three isn't up to the task it has, then you'll have problems :( Have a look at this which I found interesting, and sets out in understandable form all that "mystery" about PSUs. There's 5 pages, but at the end you should have a better idea of what matters with PSUs and why :-http://www.firingsquad.com/guides/power_supply/default.aspQuote from Page 5"So what does this mean? When you shop for power supplies, you should always watch for the +12V lead. The majority of low-cost power supplies you see at computer shows tend to have +12V rails with 10 or 12A. No matter how many total watts the power supply may have, you’re setting yourself up for instability if you buy that power supply. Your plan should be to first calculate what your power needs are. Use our data to help you, keeping in mind that in all cases, we’ve erred on excess and that there are places to add “extra” headroom 3 different times.1) The quoted power consumption for components is on the high-end2) It’s rare to have every component drawing full power3) We prefer not to run our power supplies at the limit. It reduces the stress on the component and leaves room to upgrade." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randomthoughts Posted December 1, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2003 1zhelp Finally got back to trying to fix my machine! To address the latest suggestions, I replaced the psu with a Linkworld LPG8-430W unit. Output on the three rails:3.3v - 24A5v - 40A12v - 19ATried to install Windows Me (because I was able to get further before with this OS than any other). The install went fine until the third re-boot (which was further than any other attempt), but then it locked up again with a gray-screen. Install results with XP and 2000 were no different than with the previous psu.Also addressed the question about the ability of my hard drive to act as a master. I put it in another computer of mine as a master and installed Windows 2000 without any problem.It doesn't appear that the hard drive is the problem. The psu seems to have enough juice to run the components. I've switched out the motherboard with no change. The only components that I see are left are the memory stick, the video card, and the cpu itself. Any suggestions? Is there a way to test any of these components instead of purchasing replacements.As always, thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurdy Posted December 1, 2003 Report Share Posted December 1, 2003 When I built my first PC (from old bits lying around :P ) I too couldn't get windows to load.In my case I had forgotten to put any thermal paste on the CPU and when I did it solved the problem. Also make sure the memory and graphics card are seated properly.Sorry that's all I can offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nellie2 Posted December 2, 2003 Report Share Posted December 2, 2003 You could try this to test your memory!http://www.memtest86.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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