Need Help

[MasterAdnin]

I recently put together a computer. Everything is working fine, everything is compatible, with just one problem. IT WON'T START. I talked to a family friend who fixes computers, and he told me that it is most likely the mother board which is messed up, I agree with him but want to make sure before I send it back.

Basically, everything starts up EXCEPT the Processor's fan, and I'm guessing it is the processor which is probably the problem. Everything starts correctly, except the processor fan. Help is appreciated guys, and if you need any more info, please ask, and please hurry.

Salaam bros,
Adnan

[Publius Clodius Pulcher]

Are you sure the processor is locked into place, and you did put thermalpaste on it right? Also make sure that all the power supply cords are plugged in, as there should be a 12 pronger(?) and a 4 pronger plugged in straight to your mobo.

Other than that, try it out on other computers if possible. If your friend has a CPU rocking the same socket, ask him to flip his for yours and see if it works.

[mrmouth]

I'm a bit confused, first you said it wont start, then you say everything starts up except the cpu fan.

So does the PC POST or boot at all? Or do you power it up, the case fans spin, but the PC doesn't boot?

What make/model of board is it?

Does the cpu fan power from the board or the power supply?

[MasterAdnin]

I apologize for the confusion. I mean the parts start, correct, but nothing shows up on the monitor is what I meant. But yes, I put everything in correctly anddid exactly as the instructions said.

Salaam bros,
Adnan

[spartan_phalanx]

Try this Troubleshooting-Guide and let us know what happens.

[MasterAdnin]

Thanks for the hlep guys, but now i have a new problem. The computer starts up, and it gets to a screen where it says the mother board, and the processor, and at the bottom it says press DEL to enter SETUP, F11 to enter Boot Menu, and it just freezes up there. Help please guys.

Salaam bros,
Adnan

[EDIT]Here is a picture of what the screen looks like:

[mrmouth]

Looks like the Bios isn't loading. Reset the Bios if possible, look in the motherboard manual on how to do that.

Can you press delete to enter setup?

[MasterAdnin]

Looks like the Bios isn't loading. Reset the Bios if possible, look in the motherboard manual on how to do that.

Can you press delete to enter setup?

I'll look in the manual on how to reset the bios, but no, I can't enter settings, but eventually it does say "Boot from disk". Does this mean it needs Windows XP or an OS? If it does, I do not know why because one hard drive in there has Windows XP on it already.

Salaam bros and thanks,
Adnan

[mrmouth]

I'll look in the manual on how to reset the bios, but no, I can't enter settings, but eventually it does say "Boot from disk". Does this mean it needs Windows XP or an OS? If it does, I do not know why because one hard drive in there has Windows XP on it already.

Salaam bros and thanks,
Adnan

So it sounds like you took a hard drive from a old PC with XP already installed, as well as having at least one new hard drive.

Is the PC set to boot from the old drive with XP already installed on it? Is the XP drive set to master and the other set to slave?

Give us a idea of the hard drives and their size.

[MasterAdnin]

So it sounds like you took a hard drive from a old PC with XP already installed, as well as having at least one new hard drive.

Is the PC set to boot from old drive with XP already installed on it? Is the XP drive set to master and the other set to slave?

Give us a idea of the hard drives and their size.

Yes, the hard drive with XP is from an older computer. I do not know if one is slave, and one is master because both are SATA. I do not know if it is set to boot from hard drive, probably not though.

The hard drive with XP on it is an 80GB hard drive, while the one without XP is 320GB.

Also, I found something in the Motherboard manual, it says this:

BIOS_WP | 2-pin | FLASH PROTECT | OPEN : WRITE UNPROTECT

|- SHORT:WRITE PROTECT

Next to where it says "Short:Write" there is an illistration of how it looks.

Salaam bros and thanks a lot Barnaby Jones,
Adnan

[mrmouth]

Well it simply sounds as if the PC is booting to the drive without a operating system installed. Is the XP drive plugged into 1st SATA on the motherboard?

I would simply boot from the XP install disc and see which hard drive it recognizes when trying to format and install XP.

In the end though you should reformat and reinstall windows on the 80gb drive. There will be drivers on there from the old PC that will conflict with the new PC. So before you install the motherboard drivers on the cd it came with you should really reformat and reinstall.

If you still have content on the 80gb you don't want to lose simply move it to the 320gb and then move it back when your done.

[MasterAdnin]

lol Never thought of that. I will try both ideas.

Salaam bros,
Adnan

[EDIT] New problem has arisen. The computer starts up, goes into Windows XP, but then freezes at the "Welcome" screen. Now what should I do? This is getting really annoying.

[Aristocrat]

Start in safe mode.
I believe you hold down F6 or F8 while the computer is loading up (I can never remember what button it is...google it).
If it starts in safe mode, it is a driver issue that made it freeze while start windows, if it doesn't, then it is a hardware problem.

[MasterAdnin]

Wow, thank you so much Aristocrat, it really did help, but is there a specific reason why it is very slow? It started up in safe mode, but shut down after logging into the administrator account and opening up the control panel and clicking the "found new hardware" bubble. Is this a hardware problem? Or is it a driver problem? If I put in the other hard drive and install Windows XP in there would it function properly?

Help please.

Salaam bro,
Adnan

[mrmouth]

Well you are essentially running a hard drive with drivers installed on it from your old PC.

It would be best to back up your photos, music, games/saves and whatever else you hold valuable and reformat/reinstall windows. Immediately after that installing the motherboard drivers from the CD that came with the new motherboard.

[MasterAdnin]

Well you are essentially running a hard drive with drivers installed on it from your old PC.

It would be best to back up your photos, music, games/saves and whatever else you hold valuable and reformat/reinstall windows. Immediately after that installing the motherboard drivers from the CD that came with the new motherboard.

But the problem is the computer shuts down after a few minutes of running. I do not know why, but it did get to the main desktop so I am guessing it is a driver problem and not a hardware problem, correct? So the best action to take would be to re-install Windows XP, correct?

Thanks for your help guys, it is really appreciated.

Salaam bros,
Adnan

[mrmouth]

The fact that it shuts down after a few minutes doesn't automatically mean it a driver/software issue, it still could be a hardware issue. Problem solving PC's is a process of elimination.

You are running chipset and other drivers native to your old motherboard. I have no idea what the result of that would be or if its causing the shutdown, but its safe to start at the beginning and reinstall windows and go from there, installing the proper chipset drivers for your new motherboard after that. I don't know if you could simply install the new drivers over the old, personally I would just reformat and reinstall.

Here is a guide on how to properly reformat.

http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic53502.html

[Freddie]

I wouldn’t bother trying to reformat your old hard drive just yet. Take it out and see if you can install a fresh copy of XP onto your new hard drive, if your computer restarts in the mean time (whilst installing XP) then it sounds like you have a heat problem. More then likely you have fallen into the socket 775 owner trap, where by the push pins haven’t been connected correctly.

[MasterAdnin]

I wouldn’t bother trying to reformat your old hard drive just yet. Take it out and see if you can install a fresh copy of XP onto your new hard drive, if your computer restarts in the mean time (whilst installing XP) then it sounds like you have a heat problem. More then likely you have fallen into the socket 775 owner trap, where by the push pins haven’t been connected correctly.

The push pins are in all the way. I checked before I closed the case, I jiggled it, but I do want to know why the damn processors fan isn't turning. It is getting me really pissed, but I'll take out the old hard drive and install XP onto the new one.

Also, what would happen if I were to start up from the recovery console? I tried this before, but didn't know which option to choose. If I remember correctly, there were two from the D drive and one from the C drive.

Salaam bros,
Adnan

[mrmouth]

This is why I am a fan of paying the $30 to have a reputable shop build your PC for you. I have built 4 PC's in the past and I at this point would rather pay the small amount to skirt any problems that might arise. I did with my 5th and it worked out beautifully, they also guarantee the build. If they screw up somehow, or a component doesn't work, its on them to go through the replacement procedure.

I would just reformat the 80gb, thats pretty much the procedure followed when using a existing HDD that will be your OS drive in a new PC.