Please Help!!! Computer Won't start

[mangoose]

Hey guys,

I am fairly familiar with computers, and have built several of my own machines, but have run into something new that I am not sure how to remedy.

My problem is the system goes through regular BIOS Startup, and shows everything as working, then when it gets to the windows startup screen (where the 4 colored dots turn into the windows symbol), it does one of two things:
1. it just keeps waving there (you know how the colors kind of come out and in etc.)
2. it goes to a black screen, and none of my inputs work (ie. no keyboard mouse, ctrl+alt+del, anything)

The only way to get out of these two situations is to reset directly on the case.

Sometimes it will not go to the startup screen, and will give me the option of "launch startup repair" or "start windows normally". If I choose start windows normally, it goes to one of the top two problems, if i choose startup repair, it begins loading windows files, then the bar stops halfway (and doesnt move for over 8 hours).

The last thing i tried was starting from my windows 7 dvd, and that also begins loading files, then stops halfway.

I am extremely frustrated with the situation, and have spent the last 3 evenings working on the issue. If any of you more technical guys can help out, I would be extremely grateful!

Here are my System Specs in case that has an effect:
-CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400
-MOBO:BIOSTAR TForce TP43D2A7 LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard
-GPU: XFX PVT98FYDBU GeForce 9800 GTX Black Edition 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
-PWR Supply: Rosewill RP550V2-D-SL 550W ATX12V v2.01 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply
-Optical: LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model GH22LP20 LightScribe Support
-Memory: CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5
-HDD(s): 1TB Samsung, 500GB Western Digital, 250GB Seagate (all SATA)
-LG Blu-Ray Player

 

[zigzag3143]

mangoose

Have you tried booting into safemode (f8 while booting)? if it boots in safemode it probably is the video driver.

Let us know

Ken

 

[mangoose]

I will try that as soon as i get home today. If it turns out to be the video driver, can i download it and install in safe mode?

 

[torrentg]

After zigzag3143's suggestion, remove everything not essential to loading Windows, from the system. No printers, gamepads, second monitors, scanners, external devices, flash drives etc...

Then try a startup repair if it doesn't boot correct on first try.


Another idea to try is booting to safe mode with and without networking. If it's good without, and not with, then networking is the cause.

 

[zigzag3143]

I will try that as soon as i get home today. If it turns out to be the video driver, can i download it and install in safe mode?

Mangoose

there are a couple of other things you may want to try if the comp doesn't boot into safe mode.

In bios, check for max memory, max cpu, and legacy floppy support. if there they should be unchecked.

try pulling 1 stick of ram, if you have 2 video cards try pulling one o fhtem.

hope this helps


Ken

 

[mangoose]

Thanks guys, I have just got the rig up and running. ( im not sure whose feedback helped as i tried everything, and it eventually worked)

One question though, I have 4gb of memory right now, (2 x 2gb sticks). I have 2 extra sticks of the exact same memory, (corsair DDR2 XMS 800), and when i put them in, the computer wont start again. Is there something I am doing wrong? I simply plugged them in the same way i did with the first 2.

 

[thefabe]

You could download memtest and put in 1 stick at a time and run memtest for errors could have a bad stick or 2 or you might want to check for a bios update. Hopefully it is not a memory controller issue. hope this will get you started with diagnosing your problem. Fabe http://www.memtest86.com/download.html

 

[mangoose]

Hey, so i downloaded Memtest, and its been running for about 20 minutes, but it still says 4 seconds. When i take out the new RAM stick, it works and completes the test with no errors. do you think i just have a bad stick or ram or what?

 

[zigzag3143]

MG

you running 32bit or 64?

 

[mangoose]

Also, as a side note, i noticed the settings state:

Chipset: FSB: 332 MHz - Type DDR2
RAM: 398 MHz (DDR797) / CAS: 5-5-5-15 / Dual Channel

(which is strange because the ram timing is 5-5-5-18

 

[mangoose]

64 bit build 7100

 

[thefabe]

Hey, so i downloaded Memtest, and its been running for about 20 minutes, but it still says 4 seconds. When i take out the new RAM stick, it works and completes the test with no errors. do you think i just have a bad stick or ram or what?

It sure sounds like it to me.

 

[DocBrown]

Hey, so i downloaded Memtest, and its been running for about 20 minutes, but it still says 4 seconds. When i take out the new RAM stick, it works and completes the test with no errors. do you think i just have a bad stick or ram or what?

It sure sounds like it to me.

OR a Bad memory slot on the motherboard :huh:

 

[mangoose]

Alright What Ive done is replace the 2 sticks that have been in the computer and worked with the new ones, and everything works fine. therefore i can rule out bad memory sticks.

I then shut down, added ONE of the sticks into slot 2 (the working setup is 1 stick in slots 1 and 3), thus making it a total of 6 GB, 2Gb in each slot, 1,2, and 3. This setup also worked.

I have just tried putting in the 4th stick into slot 4, and it is once again stalling at the "starting windows" screen, with the 4 colored boxes sort of flexing and moving, but never going to the welcome screen.

Are there such things as bad memory slots on the motherboard?

 

[mangoose]

Well guys, thanks for all your help, I think i just have a bad memory slot on the motherboard. Because I dont NEED the extra memory (i just felt like it would make it a bit more snappy), and my motherboard is way past a return date or warranty (i bought it last july), Im just going to return the extra sticks.

Thanks to all for the diagnostic tips!

 

[Almumit]

Mangose I had a similiar problem, in your bios is there an option to allow for the usage of more than 3gbs of ram? (Old xp work around for 32 bit systems) Im tired and forget the name, anyway If I left both of those checked My computer would do the exact same thing. Basicaly if those options are in your bios turn em off.

 

[torrentg]

FWIW, some motherboards with particular memory brands or types do not like all 4 slots populated. It's common and does not mean anything is damaged.

 

[mangoose]

Mangose I had a similiar problem, in your bios is there an option to allow for the usage of more than 3gbs of ram? (Old xp work around for 32 bit systems) Im tired and forget the name, anyway If I left both of those checked My computer would do the exact same thing. Basicaly if those options are in your bios turn em off.

Unfortunately I dont think this is the case. I am able to detect all 4GB of memory right now, and i can put one more 2GB stick in and it detects all 6 and runs great, but its just that last slot and going from 6 to 8GB that kills me.

 

[mangoose]

FWIW, some motherboards with particular memory brands or types do not like all 4 slots populated. It's common and does not mean anything is damaged.

Motherboard is BIOSTAR T-series, and the RAM is all Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800. Where or how would I go about checking if that is the case, and how (if possible) to fix it?

 

[FZ21Z]

Which one? - BIOSTAR :: T-Series