Dead Motherboard

[0=]

My motherboard appears to have gone bad. Nothing is displayed on the screen, no beeps, and it reboots. Does that infinitely. Cleared the CMOS, no change. I unplugged all my devices and hardware, managed to get it to POST so I got a beep code and it rebooted again. It was three long beeps. Considering there is never a PS/2 keyboard plugged in that can only mean the keyboard chip has gone bad, which is obviously soldered directly to the motherboard. I'm in the process of procuring another board from a friend so I can be completely sure, but I may be getting an early computer upgrade. Just posting here in case anyone has had a similar experience.

[Zazu]

Sounds like your motherboard is broken, as you mentioned. A new one might be in order.

[Blahages]

What type of computer/Bios is it? It may have just beeped the 3 beeps because there wasn't a keyboard plugged into it. May have nothing to do with it not posting. Did you reseat the RAM? If not, do that. If you have any, try swapping out the RAM and see if it'll post. Also try that with the video card. The three main things I've seen cause computers to act somewhat similar are bad/loose video cards, RAM, or Power Supplies. Typically, though, to get it to post at all, You'll need the RAM in, obviously, and PSU, but some require a video card to post, some don't. Same for Keyboards. Some require them, some don't.

[0=]

I've never used a PS/2 keyboard with it, so that's not the issue. I did reseat everything, even the processor, to no avail. I'm ordering nice new parts now.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3747283&CatId=2406

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186009&Tpk=alpine%2b7

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127333

A local store has two gigs of Corsair RAM for $20 after rebate.

[Techno Monster]

great idea new parts are good.

[0=]

What sucks is I can't get my program files and such. I did think to back up my pictures onto a separate disk beforehand. I'll try a repair install to see if it will boot to my new hardware first, maybe I won't lose everything, including e-mails, old schoolwork, etc.

[Blahages]

What sucks is I can't get my program files and such. I did think to back up my pictures onto a separate disk beforehand. I'll try a repair install to see if it will boot to my new hardware first, maybe I won't lose everything, including e-mails, old schoolwork, etc.

You can always throw the HDD into another computer, and copy the files off, or if you get another HDD, you can put the old one in as a slave, and copy the files off.

You could also use UBCD4Win (http://www.ubcd4win.com/) to create a bootable XP Live CD, and you might be able to back the things up, either by burning them, over a network, online, or something else.

[0=]

I do plan on plugging it into the new one, I just hope it boots. Sometimes Windows won't boot on new hardware.

[Aηdy]

I do plan on plugging it into the new one, I just hope it boots. Sometimes Windows won't boot on new hardware.

Chances are it wont, that's why it's best to boot off a usb drive.

[0=]

Everything is ordered, now to wait.

[Blahages]

I do plan on plugging it into the new one, I just hope it boots. Sometimes Windows won't boot on new hardware.

No, I meant as a secondary Drive. Not the one you boot off of. It's VERY UNLIKELY that it'll boot off the drive as it is, into Windows with different hardware. It happens, but usually doesn't.

Like, you install Windows onto another drive, and boot off that drive, and have the drive you're talking about plugged in along side as a second HDD.

[0=]

Yeah, but I can't get into My Documents, only Program Files. At least I'll be able to salvage my e-mails.

[Blahages]

Yeah, but I can't get into My Documents, only Program Files. At least I'll be able to salvage my e-mails.

Why can't you? How are you trying to access them (What process, like where are you looking for them?)? Also, what OS is this?

[0=]

My Documents can only be accessed by the user if it's a passworded account in Windows. Maybe you know a workaround? If it doesn't boot I'll do a repair installation, but if that fails I'll have to try to access it after installing Windows on the other hard drive.

[Aηdy]

You can still get into it, in safe mode you can change/add owners and permissions.

[0=]

Well I know the password, it's my computer after all. The issue would be if I have to try to access it as a storage drive. As long as I can get it onto the SATA drive I won't be in big trouble. I'll make a slipstreamed disc with drivers on my dad's computer. It would jsut suck to lose a few files I didn't back up.

[Aηdy]

Should be fine, as said before, install it as a slave and you'll be able to access it.

[Blahages]

If you throw that drive into another computer with a Windows Install, Especially if it's XP, it won't have any issues, if you're an Administrator. It won't care about the permissions you've set.

Even IF it did, you can easily take ownership of the files/folders.

I do it all the time.

Windows Security isn't that great. You can crack a password in less than a minute or two, for most passwords, and if you had problems cracking them, you can reset a password, without knowing the password in like 10 seconds. You can access those files you're talking about easily too.

Most Windows Security is worthless, if you have physical access to the computer.

That UBCD4Win (Universal Boot CD for Windows) that I linked you to lets you make a bootable, Live install of XP, basically, that you run entirely off the CD. You don't even need a hard drive to run it.

I use that all the time when I'm working on computers, if something is messed up, and I need to recover files. Works wondrous. You can make one if you have the original XP install CD.

[0=]

I plan on installing on a 100GB partition of my SATA hard drive, anyway. I'll try to boot from the existing installation and copy to another partition on the newer drive first, and if that fails I'll just access it from the new installation on the SATA drive. I just need to slipstream SATA drivers, etc. so I can install to SATA. If I have difficulty with accessing the files I'll ask you from my then-working, much faster computer. Now to wait for what seems like a terribly long time for all the parts to arrive.

[Aηdy]

I didn't need any SATA driver at all for XP on my new computer, lucky because it doesn't even have a floppy disk conector lol

[0=]

Mine is an original 2002 disc. It needs to be slipstreamed. I'll probably throw in Service Pack 3, too. No more updating Windows for two hours after installing.

[Aηdy]

Mine was original too, it was the recovery disk I got with my computer in 2002.

[0=]

There you go. It's a recovery disc, so it has something added. Mine is an original Microsoft disc. It does not have SATA drivers; I've already tried it.

[Aηdy]

Probaby, but the computer didn't have SATA, and SATA was pretty much unheard of then really.

[Blahages]

I'm assuming you'll be using nLite to integrate SP2 and the SATA drivers? :P

[0=]

SP3, actually. I'll also be putting nVidia drivers in to save a little more time.

[Blahages]

SP3, actually. I'll also be putting nVidia drivers in to save a little more time.

I didn't say SP3 because the final isn't out yet, so I didn't think you'd be trying to slipstream that just yet.

[0=]

The program supports it and I've been using SP3 for a couple months without issues, so I might as well. It should save a lot of updating as it's cumulative.

Edit: Finally found the right SATA drivers.

[Blahages]

The program supports it and I've been using SP3 for a couple months without issues, so I might as well. It should save a lot of updating as it's cumulative.

Edit: Finally found the right SATA drivers.

I'd be careful with integrating SP3, though. I'm 99% sure that you will have to uninstall the Pre-Release of SP3 in order to be able to install SP3 Final. And, if you integrate SP3 Pre-Release into your Installation CD, there's no way to uninstall the Pre-Release, and thus, not much chance you'll be able to install the Final of SP3.

Just a fair warning.

[0=]

The new system won't boot...

[iJack]

Ouch, that cant be good, lol

[0=]

Had a bad DIMM. Stupid RAM. Oh well, now for software.

[0=]

I'm having difficulty installing Windows. I have the SATA driver and SP2, but the SATA driver isn't working. Trying a different disc now. Any ideas?

[Blahages]

Which set of drivers did you use for the SATA?

This is the one you should use:

http://downloadmirror.intel.com/15251/eng/STOR_All32_f6flpy32_7.8.0.1012_PV_Intel.exe

Download that, Extract it, and put integrate them to the XP install CD with nLite.

If you have issues extracting them, or whatever (Since it's packaged oddly, and requires the right utilities to extract them correctly, if you aren't just putting them on a floppy) then you can download this:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/rsfoj9

Or, if you're lazy, just download that by itself. It's just a ZIP file containing the SATA drivers only for the XP install.

Is that what you did before? Same Driver, and everything? You integrated the INF files, and the drivers?

[0=]

The disc I was making before worked. Damn this thing is fast, if only I had that second gig of RAM. I'm getting it replaced tomorrow. I already booted into safe mode to recover my files. Took forever, but I've got everything.

[Blahages]

The disc I was making before worked. Damn this thing is fast, if only I had that second gig of RAM. I'm getting it replaced tomorrow. I already booted into safe mode to recover my files. Took forever, but I've got everything.

Yay.

Good thing you bought the motherboard/processor when you did, I guess. It says "No longer Available" now.

I'm thinking about upgrading to a Q6600 sometime soon. Hopefully. But, we'll see.

The X2 3800+ in here is getting a little old, and I'm quite good at bogging my computer down.

You sound like you're having at least a little bit of luck like mine when I've tried to build computers...

I tried to build the one I have right now back in Oct. of 2005. Bought all the parts from Newegg. Installed everything, and the Chipset fan wouldn't work on the motherboard. I messed with it, and it just broke off. RMA'd it, got a new board, and it was fine.

A few days later, my DVD Burner I bought at the same time crapped out. It only worked somewhat at first, then just quit all together.

Returned it.

Everything was fine for a year.

Then, the chipset fan died, again. This time, the Video card got too close to the fan, and prevented it from moving. Burnt the fan up.

Bought a new fan for it. This one was for a GeForce 4MX card, but it was said to work perfectly on the board. It did.

Then, the Video card fan died. It just started making noises, and slowing down. Eventually, it just fell off. I didn't notice that it fell off until I started smelling burning.

I replaced the fan on the card, and it was fine, except for one thing. Now, when I do anything that involves any type of semi-intensive OPENGL Graphics, the Card sends out this high pitched squeeling sound that pierces your ears so intensively, that you can't stand it.

Otherwise, the card is fine. It's coming from the actual card, not a fan, or anything.

The motherboard, since I got it, hasn't allowed any type of RAM except for what is currently in it to work. You try adding any other, and it just won't boot. Period.

If you bump it, it won't boot, until you reseat the RAM.

Overall, it's worked pretty well, most of the time. Just some annoyances here and there, but blah.

It's time for a new one. :P

[0=]

A Q6600 would only benefit you if you do some serious video editing or photoshopping. I've yet to bog this thing down. If you want to overclock an E8500 will send your single-threaded performance through the roof. They do quite well on air.

[Blahages]

A Q6600 would only benefit you if you do some serious video editing or photoshopping. I've yet to bog this thing down. If you want to overclock an E8500 will send your single-threaded performance through the roof. They do quite well on air.

Trust me, if it's possible to bog it down, I'd be one of the people that'd do it.

I've decided against the Q6600. I'm probably going to go for the Q6700, as Intel dropped the prices on it by 50% yesterday. It was like 550, now it's 259$. Only like 50 bucks more than the one you have, and it's quad core, technically only about 333MHz slower (Frequency-wise), but can overclock to 4GHz or so.

I've seen many people running it at 3.4-3.6GHz on the stock cooling, and running fairly cool.

[0=]

Considering this thing is silent, you can probably run an E8500 over 4GHz without much noise. Quad core if you want, but I don't see how it's worthwhile right now. If you were upgrading a year from now you could get an octo-core Nehalem-based chip.

[Blahages]

Considering this thing is silent, you can probably run an E8500 over 4GHz without much noise. Quad core if you want, but I don't see how it's worthwhile right now. If you were upgrading a year from now you could get an octo-core Nehalem-based chip.

I could also get a Q9450 for like 40$ more than the E8500 with a 12MB L2 Cache. :)

[0=]

That price must be amazingly inflated. I payed more than MSRP for my E8400, but it was the best deal at the time, cheaper than an E6850.

[Blahages]

The E8500 on Newegg right now is 289$

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036

The Q9450 is 349. (I took a guess, it's actually 60$ difference):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115039&Tpk=Q9450

I've asked around, and most people I find that know anything about the CPUs are telling me that currently, the Q6700 (The 65nm Architecture) is better currently overall than that newer Architecture. So, I'm probably going with the Q6700, which is 279 on Newegg, or 259 on Tigerdirect.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115027

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3591372&CatId=3406

I'm so indecisive, it'll probably be a month or two before I decide for sure. :P

So, really when it comes down to it, the Q6700 and the E8500 are basically the same price.

[yomomo]

UBUNTU is great for taking files off of a harddrive because it can comprehend windows files. You can run a live cd, or a thumb drive version, and just take it off onto another drive if it doesnt boot.. sorry didnt read the whole topic just kidna read the first couple of posts..

[0=]

Read the whole topic next time. I've already resolved my problem.

[Jeepmudr16]

I would say it is your processor, i had the same problem and prcessors are only about $68 what type of mother board do you have?

[0=]

Already resolved. Someone lock this since idiots can't see it was resolved and keep trying to help.

[Blahages]

I would say it is your processor, i had the same problem and prcessors are only about $68 what type of mother board do you have?

You can't really generalize how much a processor is going to cost, without knowing what the processor is.

And, like he said, read the whole post next time. Many times there is valuable information posted that wasn't included in the orignal post. ;)

Already resolved. Someone lock this since idiots can't see it was resolved and keep trying to help.

:) Annoying isn't it? I've had people bring up threads of mine from a year or two ago on various forums. I eventually ended up editing my first post in that thread, removing the content, then putting in big bold letters that the thread was over a year old, and had been resolved.

[Bobby]

0=, no need to be rude. A simple lock request would have sufficed.

LOCKING