Changed hardware, now won't boot off hdd or disk.

[krynn72]

I just installed a new motherboard, CPU, memory, and video card into my computer. I'm not looking to salvage my old OS install, and have all important data backed up, so I planned to just put the hardware in and boot off my windows disk to do a format and reload. However no matter what I do I can't get windows setup or an OS to load. When loading the installer it locks up at the windows splash screen. I've tried booting off the hdd and it does the same thing. I tried it in safe mode and it locks up before it finished loading all the files. I also tried booting mini XP off my Hirens 15 disk and that locks up at the splash screen too.

So at this point I ran memtest to see if it was my ram causing problems but it all tested ok. So anyone got any idea on how to boot off my disk so I can format and reload?

 

[whs]

What windows installation disk do you have - is it a retail disk or a disk burnt from your previous recovery partition.

Also, for a test try to install a Linux distro - maybe Ubuntu and see what happens. Even a live CD may give you some insight.

Provided your hardware funtions properly, I suspect there is a driver problem. But that is not certain at this level of info.

 

[krynn72]

The disk is a DVD that I burned myself using the image Microsoft provided me when I bought the download version of it. I'm positive it works because I actually just had to use it about a month ago when my primary hard drive died. I can try a Linux install, but I will need to use someone else's computer to get it. That may take a day or two so is there anything I can try in the meantime?

 

[whs]

So you actually have a retail installation disk. The fact that you burnt it yourself is neither here nor there. So my driver theory is fading.

Don't you have any live disk - e.g. Partition Wizard Bootable CD, a recovery disc from an imaging program or anything else. That would be just for a test that the haedware works. If nothing else, download and burn this one (last entry on the webpage) - takes 2 minutes. It is a very useful program which you might want to have anyhow.

Load it from the optical reader and see whether it comes alive. If yes, you know at least that your hardware is OK. If no, you have a bigger problem and might want to check the wiring. At least we know that the mobo functions, else you would not get a BIOS splash screen.

 

[krynn72]

Hi I think I see what you're getting at, but wouldn't that accomplish the same thing as testing my hirens disk? It is able to boot off that ok, and I can run diagnostic tools off it. It also has a bootable mini XP on the disk which I tried, but it hung on the starting screen too. That's the weird part. If I boot off the hard drive it freezes at the "starting windows" screen, a split second after the logo animation starts. When I boot from the windows disk and start setup, it loads the files, then locks up in the exact same spot, the "starting windows" screen and even the animated logo looks like it's stopped on the same frame as it does when booting off the hdd.

 

[whs]

So your hardware seems to function - at least somehow. Let me think.

 

[whs]

Here is my new theory. It stops on the screen where the graphic animation of the windows logo starts. This may point to a graphics problem. There may be a function of the graphics (card or driver) that is required that was not needed when "static" screens were displayed.

Does that make sense??

 

[krynn72]

I understand what you mean, but how would I clear out or reset the drivers? While waiting for your reply I tried removing my video card and using the onboard chip instead, but got no change. Right now all that's plugged in is the optical drive, one stick of ram, and the hard drive I want to install on.

 

[whs]

Hmm, looks like we are running out of options. Suggest to let it rest over night. Maybe we are smarter tomorrow.

 

[scrooge]

you may want to go into bios and make sure everything is setup right. also well in there if your bios has it check your temps . it may be heating up or you may need some more voltage on your cpu or memory.

scrooge

 

[krynn72]

Yeah, I checked the temperatures and they were fine. I will keep messing with the bios, but that should be ok. Do you guys think it could be anything to do with the hard drive, and how it's got data on it from the last install? I don't see why it would affect booting from a disk, but I could probably use dban to erase it using hirens.

 

[scrooge]

Yeah, I checked the temperatures and they were fine. I will keep messing with the bios, but that should be ok. Do you guys think it could be anything to do with the hard drive, and how it's got data on it from the last install? I don't see why it would affect booting from a disk, but I could probably use dban to erase it using hirens.

ok so it's not overheating
what's your memory voltage and timming settings. this is what i found maybe it will help you.

Cas Latency:9Voltage:1.65VMulti-channel Kitual Channel KitTiming:9-11-10-28ECC:NoBuffered/Registered:UnbufferedHeat Spreader:YesFeaturesesigned for 2nd Generation Intel Core Processors and Z68/P67 platforms Intel XMP Readyscrooge

 

[rraod]

Looks like you have a problem in Bios or hardware. The problem is not with the hard disk as you are not able to successfully boot using the hiren's disk or with the windows setup disk.

Try to set some custom values in Bios, save the values, shutdown the system, remove the power and after sometime reconnect and check the Bios. The custom values you set remain same or changed. This is to test the Bios battery. You can also check the Bios clock whether it is keeping the time correctly. If the Bios battery is gone then it will not keep the Bios values and time.

Does the Bios reporting correct amount of memory?

Did you try to set the Bios default values and then try booting in to the DVD?

 

[gregrocker]

Try resetting the BIOS to optimal defaults. While in BIOS setup set SATA controller to AHCI to try install.

Boot your Hiren's CD which should autostart to diagnose/repair and then wipe the HD to clear the boot sector.

If DVD still won't boot to install, next try removing all but 2gb of RAM to try install.

Next I'd rule out the DVD and OD by writing DVD ISO to flash stick using Universal USB Installer with Win7 in dropdown menu. Then set HD first to boot in BIOS, boot stick using one-time BIOS boot menu key - under USB, Removable or HD's.

If you want to try to start your current install on the new hardware first, boot Paragon Adaptive Restore CD to adapt it to the new hardware. You have a classic stall due to conflict of old drivers, HID and SID that are removed by Sysprepping on old hardware or running PAR CD on new.
SysPrep to move HD to another computer
Evaluate Paragon Adaptive Restore

 

[krynn72]

I'll have to try some of these suggestions in the morning, but I did get my sisters laptop from her and made a bootable fedora Linux distro on my USB. I tested it on her computer and it worked. Plugged it in mine and nope, it hangs just before the fedora logo comes up.

The bios reports the correct amount of ram, but I will try your test to see if the bios battery is ok in the morning. The timings were all as they should be, however the voltage for them is set to auto, with the only other options being 1.35, 1.65, or like 1.8 (can't remember the exact number of the last one). The specs on the ram say it should be 1.5 though, not sure it that matters if it's on auto, but tout I would point it out.

I only have 4GB sticks of ram, so I can't drop it down any lower than my one stick I'm using at the moment, unless my old ddr2 ran is compatible. I also tried resetting the bios to it defaults, but I'm not sure if I did it right. It's some new style bios I haven't used before with mouse interaction and fancy graphics, but I didn't see an apparent "reset to defaults" option like I'm used to in older style. It does have the presets though, an "eco" "standard" and"oc genie" or something. I set it to each one to no avail, and it's back on standard now. I'll try switching the sata controller to ahci though.

 

[gregrocker]

You may need to reset BIOS using another method: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

The testing and wiping HD steps are crucial, too, once you're sure you don't want to try to start your existing installation using PAR.

 

[krynn72]

Ok, so I found the option to restore defaults in the bios, and did that, no effect though. So I removed and replaced the cmos battery, and when I booted I didn't get any display. I reseated the battery again and my dvi cable to be sure I didn't knock it, and when I booted again I had some serious video issues. The text was all fine and legible, but the black background was now some static noise with a red hue. I got into the bios, and this is how it looked. http://imgur.com/LDGZV.jpg

Upon rebooting again I'm not getting any display again. My monitor well wake up and go back to sleep over and over. I believe the computer is restarting itself causing the monitor to do that over and over.
So I'm pretty sure now that it's a motherboard issue. Just looking for confirmation, before I send it out. Also, if I should send it out, should I send it back to newegg or MSI do you think?

 

[gregrocker]

Try disabling video card in BIOS, running on the onboard video chip to see if the problem replicates. If not then it's more likely the mobo than GPU.

 

[krynn72]

It's running the onboard video right now. I removed my graphics card well before this happened.