Boot error, unknown origin, ideas to make this computer boot?

[jbrown355]

Hi guys,

Basically I've acquired an old PC from a friend, I don't really know a great deal about the computer except that it is an Winfast motherboard with an AMD 64 Athlon processor.

I've been trying to fix the PC but when I try to do a clean install of Windows 7 Ultimate from a disc the computer repeatedly crashes and shuts down after copying files reaches 100% or before.

I have also tried to load a Windows 8 installer and a Ubuntu live CD, but it still seems to crash after running for a while.

I have feeling that it may be an error relating to the graphics/video card, (which is intergrated into the motherboard). Because sometimes the screen shows just lines. I tried playing with the bios once (pheonix bios) but this stopped it from booting and gave the post beeps to tell me there was a problem with the video card. However I reset the CMOS on the motherboard and it now boots but still crashes when trying to install windows 7.

Are there any other ways around this? i.e. disabling the video card manually, or any other solutions? Kinda hoping this isn't a hardware related problem.


Thanks in advance!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Is the Windows Ultimate disc a retail copy? Or a burned disc? Or?

Is it a 64-bit disc?

I have never heard of the Winfast motherboard brand. It may be too old to support this version of Windows?

 

[jbrown355]

Yes its a 64bit disc, burnt. It is quite old... I don't think that's the problem though as it crashed doing the same with an ubuntu live CD?

I'm going to try run a puppy linux live usb now and see what the results are.

 

[gregrocker]

If Puppy will run then it's not hardware problems which can also be troubleshot here: Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot - Windows 7 Forums

What is the licensed OS on the computer? Look on the COA sticker affixed to side or back. Do you want to reinstall the licensed OS or clean reinstall Win7? How do you plan to activate Win7 if so?

 

[jbrown355]

Hi, okay puppy linux will not run. It gets to the loading stage then the computer just crashes and shuts down again.

I have a valid windows 7 serial key to activate it, I just don't have the disc.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Did you download and burn that disc yourself? If not, I'd get an ISO from mydigitallife.info and reburn and try again.

 

[jbrown355]

@ignatzatsonic yeh I burnt it myself the iso file is of good quality. I'll try it with a windows XP iso see if that makes any difference, I think I need to change something in the BIOS or run some sort of recovery tool from a usb if such thing exists? I'm not sure what to do next.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Since Linux won't run, you may have hardware issues.

Winfast.com resolves to this site:

King Fung

They seem to mostly make graphics cards, but do make a few motherboards. Not sure if yours is still supported. I'm not even sure they are in fact who made your board.

 

[cyclic]

I feel you should swap out some hardware, I believe the main problem is faulty hardware, or indeed quite rightly as ignatzatsonic posted it may be too old in any event.

As to winfast, I don't think they have ever made motherboards, many motherboards however deploy a winfast chip, which neither part of the north or south bridges, it works in isolation monitoring temps and such.

 

[gregrocker]

Hi, okay puppy linux will not run. It gets to the loading stage then the computer just crashes and shuts down again.

I have a valid windows 7 serial key to activate it, I just don't have the disc.

Then first focus on the hardware tests in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot - Windows 7 Forums . Test the RAM then swap sticks and blow any dust out of their slots.

Is this a retail key or one which came with the machine?

Everything you need is here to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which are the same basic steps for retail.

 

[jbrown355]

@gregrocker, ok thanks which exactly are the hardware tests?

 

[gregrocker]

Use Memtest86+ to Test RAM for 5-6 passes, and HD Maker's HD Diagnostic Extended CD scan followed by Disk Check from System Recovery Options Command Line.

 

[jbrown355]

Hmm, okay bit of an update.

I tried to run the mem test, it ran for a good few hours so that rules of the power supply being the problem. Showed 4 errors I think it was, I changed to ram to a different slot and blew the dust out etc. This seemed to make the installation run longer, but still crashed after copying files. I don't know if this is perhaps due to the computer not being able to restart itself? As it restarts after copying files when installing on a different computer?

The chkdsk check, just crashes the computer as soon as I run it?

Any ideas?

 

[gregrocker]

Check for a newer BIOS update on the computer or mobo maker's Support Downloads webpage. If none, Reset the BIOS to defaults: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Run the HD maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan to see if it will repair enough to run Disk Check from Command Line on DVD System Recovery Options. You can also Check File System (same thing) using free Partition Wizard bootable CD which is the most important tool we use here.

You also need to run the memtest enough to know if the problem is with sticks or slots. The tutorial shows you how.

You may need to clear the boot sector of code using Diskpart Clean Command
from DVD using DISKPART At PC Startup