Nypr0n

First off, after i explain my problem. I would like to say this is my first time on techforums.com. Hopefully, i'll find my answers here.

I have a fully custom built computer, built by me. I bought all the parts piece and piece. And lord knows how many problems i ran into when i turned it on. But i do resolve by learning from them and researching on the net on forums, just like this one. And was able to run it for months. And eventually, it would break down again. Of course i'd always fix it. But right now, this problem is really out of the ordinary and i can't figure out what's going on with my computer. Here are some of the specs that i have...



Specs:
EliteGroup Motherboard 945GCT-M/1333 Socket 775
Intel Pentium D CPU 2.8Ghz
2GB RAM
300gb HD Windows XP Sp3
Maxtor 40gb Windows Vista SP1
Antec Neopower 550 Watt
Nvidia 8600 GS
Sony DVD-RW drive
Creative Sound Blaster PCI
Airlink 101 Wireless PCI



I'll take note from the LAST time it was working on my windows XP. And it was something i probably shouldn't have done. I was installing the drivers for my Airlink 101 wireless card from the CD. The installion progress stopped and a pop up was telling me to insert the driver and setup will continue. I was confused because my card is already inserted. So i waited for awhile so that computer can read it and it stayed on that pop up for awhile. I opened my computer case and removed the driver reinsert it (I know i shouldn't have done this) . But nothing happened. I restarted my computer.


Now this is the REAL problem. I turned on my computer, it loads the BIOs just fine. It reads my CPU, RAM, my 2 HDs, and my DVD-RW fine. But it wont load just past that. I tried going into bios setup but my keyboard locks up. I played with the reset button just in case but it still persists. I also went through a process of elimination...

I...
Reseated my RAMs and swapped them
Reseated my CPU
Checked every power plug and made sure they're plugged in.
Booted by one HD at a time, still locks up no matter what HD
Booted with no HD, BUT it takes me to the setup screen
Reset the CMOS
Take out all of my PCI driver and video card
Removed all USB devices

I can't seem to figure out what it is. I get the feeling that i have to buy a new PSU or MOBO. Did i power spike? Much help is appreciated. If i have to buy something i'll do it. I just don't want to buy the wrong parts and still get the same problem. Thanks.

Call-Collin

It said insert driver right? Meaning it had nothing to do with the card itself, but had to do with the wrong CD being in the drive?

Nypr0n

Maybe... But right now i cant solve the problem because it won't load my HDs. Any help please?

wrench97

I'll assume it has not restarted since this incident with the card?
That being the case lets clear up what a driver is and move on -A driver is a software program that windows needs in order to run a piece of hardware- Hardware being the card itself either video, network, audio to name a few.
Double check your CMOS clearing with the manual and do it one more time rechecking the 2 power cables to the motherboard remove all cards including the video and use the onboard for this test also remove the cables and power from the hard drives,CD/DVD drives, all we're looking to do is successfully enter and navigate the Bios.
Once this is done you can start adding components back to the system.

Nypr0n

Okay i'll do that right now, I have tried using the onboard video and removing the hardrives and all cards. It does let me navigate through the Bios. But what your saying is once i can navigate through the bios i can start adding the components while its on?

wrench97

No never while it's on You can not plug or un plug devices while the computer is on.
IF you can get it the Bios and move around without issues then stay with the onboard video turn the PC off reconnect the harddrive you have windows on lets see if will load windows at this point safe mode is ok to use.

Nypr0n

Okay, I used the onboard video and disconnected cards and harddrive. I am able to go through bios setup fine. And when I hit save and exit it asks to load an os.

So, I shut it down and load one my harddrives. Boot up my machine but it still hangs. It won't even load the cd from DVD drive. It just hangs...

Tumbleweed36

If you can get in to the main area of windows with safe mode, have you tried a system restore to the date before it went zonk on you?

wrench97

If your positive you have the drive with windows on it the next step would be to try booting from a CD with the hard drive disconnected.

Nypr0n

That is the problem I can't get anything to work past the bios. I mean nothing... Any other suggestions?

Zombeast

is anything grounded? i had the same problem with a screw grounding the mobo, just try and take it out of the case and carefully put it back in making sure the gold rod things are all in the right place, and make sure your grounded(grab onto the case while working)

lazareth1

Try booting from the windows xp cd.

wrench97

Make sure you have the Bios set to boot from the cd first, try the windows cd without the harddrives and only 1 cd/dvd drive connected, If it won't boot the Cd do you have floppy drive laying around try using a floppy boot disc.

Nypr0n

Hey, im back. Well, i disassembled my computer and took out my MOBO and replaced the golden rods. But when i plugged everything back in, there's no video or beeps coming out. I made sure i was running through onboard video. Didn't work. Even through video card, didn't work. Is my MOBO fried?

Zombeast

does the cpu turn on, like does the PC turn on but no video or anything come out of it

Nypr0n

Yeah thats exactly it. I turn on my CPU but no video or anything comes out of it. I might have to go buy a new mobo. But i'm not sure if thats the problem. Any help is appreciated.

lazareth1

Try 1 stick of RAM in at a time. ALSO try it with NO RAM and see if it beeps.

Zombeast

exactly, it could be some RAM is not in all the way, so just reseed it

Nypr0n

I did exactley what he says with the RAM and my CPU is up and running Thanks!

But im still running into the hanging after POST problem. But i did run into some weird solutions. I noticed that when i turn on my computer there is no orange LED indicator in front of my computer blinking or flashing, usually saying it's busy or it's working at least. Like, i get no lights whatsoever. Well, anyways i had two of my harddrives plugged in. One was IDE the other SATA. And i also had my DVD-RW plugged in through SATA. Turned on the computer and the bios reads all of them fine, but after that it freezes and locks my bios and keyboard, therefore it hangs after POSTs. I tried getting into the bios beforehand by pushing DELETE, it says its loading setup, reads the harddrives, then it locks up.

This one solution i found out was, i disconnected my two SATA cables, the 300gb HD and the DVD-RW, except for the IDE harddrive, 30g maxtor. So i'm running with just that harddrive. I turned on my computer, bios reads the IDE harddrive and i get 2 beeps, then CMOS tells me i need to go through setup because its has a wrong time, push f1. I was thinking, this was pretty unusual. So i did and fixed the whole bios setup and saved changes. Now, it got past the post. But like i said earlier, i get no orange LED indicators in front of my computer saying its busy. I have installed Ubuntu on this harddrive, but removed it and install vista on it (the lazy way). So i get these messages after i get just one beep,

GRUB 1.5 loading...

GRUB error 17

Im guessing it's because im not running a dual boot. So now i got that IDE to get past the POST. I disconnected the IDE harddrive and connect my other harddrive, the SATA. Turned my computer on, no luck. Just locks after the reading process. I tried plugging in my DVD RW only. Still the same, it locks up. I don't know what to do from here, any help?

Nypr0n

anyone...?