New build freezing at start-up: possible PSU or RAM issue?

cactusdust

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

"" won't pass motherboard 'branding image ""

It could be short on the turrets / cabling of peripherals / so many things, but you start from :

- memory
- PSU
- CPU

- where did you get ' won't pass motherboard 'branding image ' from / 25 years building / never seen it before. can I assume the BIOS is printing that message to the screen ?

- always change memory then PSU or you could be chasing a solution for weeks - 90%+ are down to PSU (1) memory (2)

Sorry, I mean.. when the computer boots, it shows the splash screen with the motherboard manufacturer details/logo/model. Below that image are the BIOS options etc.

So.. you would suggest changing memory first to see if thats the issue, then PSU?

Oh, it will occasionally boot as far as Windows Install.. but on various occasions its frozen on the black Windows XP loading screen and on the white BIOS splashscreen before getting that far.

I'm struggling to get it to freeze at the same time every time- quite random.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Lets get a few things straight first :

- what you call branding image is called BIOS screen, that will help anyone reading this !
- I said in post #6 take a bar of memory out, and you said if you did, it wouldn't get past the BIOS screen
- but it wasn't getting past the BIOS screen anyway even with two sticks in - is that correct ?

- changing the memory and PSU will be the next test but taking out / swapping of the memory slots can achieve the same diagnostic outcome without spending any time / money.

- pull all power cables other than HDD / DVD & CPU fan off
- you haven't pre-partitioned the HDD have you ? your not using an old HDD are you ?

- so (1) swap the sticks over, format the HDD and start again what happens ?
- (2) take one stick out, format the HDD and start again what happens ?
- (3) change the single stick over , format the HDD and start again what happens ?

- (4) borrow / steal / a PSU and change it, put in 1 stick of memory, format the HDD and start again what happens ?

cactusdust

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Lets get a few things straight first :

- what you call branding image is called BIOS screen, that will help anyone reading this !
- I said in post #6 take a bar of memory out, and you said if you did, it wouldn't get past the BIOS screen
- but it wasn't getting past the BIOS screen anyway even with two sticks in - is that correct ?

- changing the memory and PSU will be the next test but taking out / swapping of the memory slots can achieve the same diagnostic outcome without spending any time / money.

- pull all power cables other than HDD / DVD & CPU fan off
- you haven't pre-partitioned the HDD have you ? your not using an old HDD are you ?

- so (1) swap the sticks over, format the HDD and start again what happens ?
- (2) take one stick out, format the HDD and start again what happens ?
- (3) change the single stick over , format the HDD and start again what happens ?

- (4) borrow / steal / a PSU and change it, put in 1 stick of memory, format the HDD and start again what happens ?

- but it wasn't getting past the BIOS screen anyway even with two sticks in - is that correct ?

With two sticks installed, it'll generally pass the BIOS screen.. and either freeze on the black Windows XP loading screen or on XP Install.

you haven't pre-partitioned the HDD have you ? your not using an old HDD are you ?

Its reclaimed from a previous computer, so yes.. it probably is an older one.

I'll do all this later, cheers.

Pikeyp

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- what you call branding image is called BIOS screen, that will help anyone reading this !

I have an ASUS motherboard that shows a 'branding image' on start-up ritchie! I also have an old Packard Bell machine , that too shows a 'branding image' ... it appears before the BIOS screen (shows the BIOS/BOOT options along the bottom of the screen .. 'DEL' .. F2' etc) and can be turned off from the BIOS if you want.

I'd second what was said about trying out a Linux live CD and see if that works ..

Even try out a Win 7 install and see how that goes?

cactusdust

Okay. I've tried installing Ubuntu and Linux Mint on the computer. Both also freeze at install.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Pull the kettle lead out of the back / total detach from mains
short the CMOS jumper / or / if you don't know how to / take the battery out for 5 minutes
before replacing battery / CMOS jumper / kettle lead press the start button on the puter a few times
put it back together and boot into the BIOS itself, save the BIOS, and try installing again......

If it does not work your going to have to (1) swap out PSU (2) swap out mem (3) swap out HDD & DVD (4) swap out vid.

I think PSU or memory with PSU as the first usual culprit, your gonna have to eliminate the PSU before you go further.

cactusdust

Thanks for your help- I'll try the stuff with the jumpers in a second. Assuming its the PSU, I've been told to use a reputable brand- can you recommend one? Want to spend under £50.00, although obviously lower the better.


(Oh, and realised I didn't mention it.. I have an Intel E8400)

weegie.geek

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/400W-Corsair-CMPSU-400CXUK-Power-Series-PSU-ATX-PS-2-UK-Version-3-year-warranty

That'd do nicely. Quality power supply.

nembot

I'd put money on mobo or memory, although PSU's are funny things, with multiple voltages only one line needs to be slighty down in voltage to cause instability.

You can test the memory fairly easily if you have access to another computer with a CDRW/DVDRW.

Grab a program called "memtest" you can download it as an iso (it's tiny) burn the iso to CD/DVD - boot from the memtest cd and see how it goes for 10 mins or so (if you get any errors, that's bad).

http://www.memtest86.com/download.html

Additionally, if you do have access to another machine - grab the latest bios (some do have compatibility updates etc).

With regards to decent PSU's, there are a number available around your budget from Enermax, Corsair, Coolermaster, Seasonic etc

Good luck, without being able to diagnose through a process of elimination it's a tad frustrating

alanjuk

nembot wrote: »

I'd put money on mobo or memory, although PSU's are funny things, with multiple voltages only one line needs to be slighty down in voltage to cause instability.

You can test the memory fairly easily if you have access to another computer with a CDRW/DVDRW.

Grab a program called "memtest" you can download it as an iso (it's tiny) burn the iso to CD/DVD - boot from the memtest cd and see how it goes for 10 mins or so (if you get any errors, that's bad).

http://www.memtest86.com/download.html

Additionally, if you do have access to another machine - grab the latest bios (some do have compatibility updates etc).

With regards to decent PSU's, there are a number available around your budget from Enermax, Corsair, Coolermaster, Seasonic etc

Good luck, without being able to diagnose through a process of elimination it's a tad frustrating

I've used this in the past and it did find memory problems that were causing my machine to boot slowly and just crash occasionally. Worth trying this before spending any money I would have thought.