bare PC freeze's

Had drama's with WinXP Pro setup, started playing up a while ago,HDD started clicking, etc so got a new HDD and attempting to rebuild it software wise now.

the motherboard is an Asrock K7 series.

So installing Win XP Pro onto the bare PC. The PC keeps freezing during installation. The keyboard stops responding. I evenutally got it all installed, and XP started up. I thought it might be a motherboard issue so I d/l and flashed it with the latest bios.

But it still keeps freezing. Have tried a USB mouse as the current is a PS2 type.

just wondering if this rings any alarm bells with anyone? any clues?

thanks loads.

 

HI brendangray,

I tried unsuccessgully to download a manual (download part of site apparently closed today). But in general, suggest you enter BIOS setup - usually tap delete key during POST - and chose default settings or failsafe if available, and turn off all BIOS caching, and see if that helps.

I'd try playing in DOS for a time to see if there's a problem with the hardware or with windows, i.e. does DOS freeze also? Or if you have another version of windows, you might try that instead, for the same reason.

I assume you have loaded all the drivers that came with the K7. It's possible that one of those drivers has a problem in XP, and may need an upgrade.

Not very specific help, but best I can do without more information and testing. Wish I were there.

 

Hi,

(Like sparrow said, set DEFAULT in the BIOS)
If there is added hardware, remove it (add-in cards, etc). Just try installing Windows with the basics ie, video card, RAM, HDD, floppy drive, keyboard and mouse (more than 1 stick of RAM, just use 1). Still problems, try swapping those basics (even the keyboard and mouse).

If you have success installing with the basics, add back one piece of hardware at a time until you find the cause of the problem.

Only things left after that are CPU (doubtful) and motherboard (which may possibly be shorting to earth).

Hard drive failure and problems installing now, I might guess, could possibly be related to a power supply problem.

errr...I think that covers the whole machine...you may have to rely a little on "gut feel ". Hey...now I wish I was there too!

Matt

 

hi there, thanks for the reply.

I ripped my machine apart last night, pulled out the sound card, firewire card, addt. RAM, 2nd HDD. tried another keyboard and mouse, all one after the other testing the machine with each change - no joy. I even used different combinations of each of the RAM's, a different video card from my linux box - still no joy.

came into work today and discussed with a colleague - he too has an ASRock K7SX (? or sumthin like that) motherboard and he said he had issues with the jumper settings that his machine came set with. He d/l the manual from the ASROck site and changed the jumper settings as his 3200 Athlon was showing 2200. mine is doing the same on reflection. so will give that a go tonight and see how that goes - i'll report back how i get on.

thanks again.

 

That 2200 is probably GHZ as in 11x200, your default settings for a 3200 Barton. Based upon your description of problems, my first questions would be what kind of PSU are you using on that puppy and what kind of memory do you have installed?