Help Me Figure This Out, I'm Stumped

PohTayToez · 10-25-2007, 05:36 PM

Here is a little bit of backstory to the problem... if you don't want to read that, skip to the dotted line:

So one of my friends in my dorm has been having some computer problems. He had a Dell XPS with a Pentium D, and whenever he would use it for a while, it would blue screen, and then blue screen every time he tried to reboot until he let it cool down for a while. We narrowed the problem down to the CPU or mobo by switching other components out, so I figured the CPU was ovrheating. I applied some AS5 and ran it for a while, and then ran some Prime95 to test the max temps. It hit at about 57C, blue screened, and then wouldn't boot without a bluescreen or freeze no matter how long we let it set, so I figured I finally pushed his processor over the edge.

Later, he called Dell and they quoted him $500 for a new Pentium D. Him, not knowing much about computers ordered it, but when he told me, I got him to immediately cancel the order.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Instead, I told him if he was going to spend $500 then he could get a much better setup, so we ordered him an E6750, a Gigabyte DS4, and a new case, and I sold him a 585W PSU. I get everything together for him, and try to install windows. We've tried several time now, and every time it will freeze during different parts of the installation. It will go through the formating and copying files part fine, but when it gets to the actual graphical part, usually 10-30 minutes in it will freeze. I've tried switching out the video card and RAM with the same effect, which narrows it down to either the brand new CPU or the brand new motherboard. I checked the BIOS, and when it's just booted the CPU is around 37C which doesn't seem abnormal, so I have no idea what could be causing it. We've tried two different XP CDs and a Vista CD with the same effect.

Anyone have any ideas? I'd hate to send back a brand new CPU and mobo.

Trizoy · 10-25-2007, 05:52 PM

Are you using the same HD?

Joe2005 · 10-25-2007, 05:53 PM

What about the HDD, it may have some faulty sectors.

EDIT: Trizoy beat me to it

DirtyD86 · 10-25-2007, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PohTayToez

Later, he called Dell and they quoted him $500 for a new Pentium D.

my god... that is evil. i HATE major corporations that take advantage of people like that. the world would be a much better place if it was nothing but small family owned businesses

PohTayToez · 10-25-2007, 08:17 PM

Yeah, forgot to say that I've tried a new hard drive as well.

INTELCRAZY · 10-25-2007, 10:50 PM

How long have you let it try the same % (percent) of completion for or how long have you let it sit there... I had my old Dell stuck on "13 minutes remaining" for what seemed to be forever, I just let it sit overnight and got up the next morning and it was installed... Let it take its time...

mat2317 · 10-25-2007, 11:11 PM

Format the HD and also are you using legit Copys of XP and Vista, because if not maybe the disc(s) are corrupt someway... I dunno.

hermeslyre · 10-26-2007, 01:04 AM

Yeah, let it sit awhile, if you haven't. My installs will sometimes freeze up, But I've never had to let it sit overnight, usually just an hour or so.

INTELCRAZY · 10-26-2007, 01:09 AM

Surprisingly, I have heard of this problem a bit.... I know you are not using a Dell now.. But Dells have this install problem A LOT!!

PohTayToez · 10-26-2007, 10:07 AM

It freezes EVERY time, and trust me, we've tried it plenty. Also, the HDD light stops blinking, and if it freezes when the cursor is available, it wont move, so it really is freezing, not just taking a long time.

10-25-2007, 05:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
PohTayToez Diamond Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Age: 19 Posts: 2,601	Help Me Figure This Out, I'm Stumped Here is a little bit of backstory to the problem... if you don't want to read that, skip to the dotted line: So one of my friends in my dorm has been having some computer problems. He had a Dell XPS with a Pentium D, and whenever he would use it for a while, it would blue screen, and then blue screen every time he tried to reboot until he let it cool down for a while. We narrowed the problem down to the CPU or mobo by switching other components out, so I figured the CPU was ovrheating. I applied some AS5 and ran it for a while, and then ran some Prime95 to test the max temps. It hit at about 57C, blue screened, and then wouldn't boot without a bluescreen or freeze no matter how long we let it set, so I figured I finally pushed his processor over the edge. Later, he called Dell and they quoted him $500 for a new Pentium D. Him, not knowing much about computers ordered it, but when he told me, I got him to immediately cancel the order. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Instead, I told him if he was going to spend $500 then he could get a much better setup, so we ordered him an E6750, a Gigabyte DS4, and a new case, and I sold him a 585W PSU. I get everything together for him, and try to install windows. We've tried several time now, and every time it will freeze during different parts of the installation. It will go through the formating and copying files part fine, but when it gets to the actual graphical part, usually 10-30 minutes in it will freeze. I've tried switching out the video card and RAM with the same effect, which narrows it down to either the brand new CPU or the brand new motherboard. I checked the BIOS, and when it's just booted the CPU is around 37C which doesn't seem abnormal, so I have no idea what could be causing it. We've tried two different XP CDs and a Vista CD with the same effect. Anyone have any ideas? I'd hate to send back a brand new CPU and mobo. __________________ Desktop / Laptop ASUS A8N-E / Compaq Presario v6420us AMD Athlon 3200+ @ 2.50Ghz / AMD Athlon X2 TK-53 @ 1.70Ghz MSI GeForce 7800GT / GeForce Go 6150 2 x 512MB DDR / 2 x 1GB DDR2 250GB SATA II / 80GB 5400RPM SATA 2 x DVD Burner / 8X DVD±R/RW

10-25-2007, 05:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Trizoy VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mountain View, Ca Posts: 4,673	Are you using the same HD? __________________ 01100110 01100001 01110010 01110100

10-25-2007, 08:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
PohTayToez Diamond Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Age: 19 Posts: 2,601	Yeah, forgot to say that I've tried a new hard drive as well. __________________ Desktop / Laptop ASUS A8N-E / Compaq Presario v6420us AMD Athlon 3200+ @ 2.50Ghz / AMD Athlon X2 TK-53 @ 1.70Ghz MSI GeForce 7800GT / GeForce Go 6150 2 x 512MB DDR / 2 x 1GB DDR2 250GB SATA II / 80GB 5400RPM SATA 2 x DVD Burner / 8X DVD±R/RW

10-25-2007, 11:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
mat2317 Platinum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: UK,Essex Age: 19 Posts: 539	Format the HD and also are you using legit Copys of XP and Vista, because if not maybe the disc(s) are corrupt someway... I dunno. __________________ CPU: P4 LGA775 3.4ghz @ 3.5ghz HSF: Zalman CNPS9500 RAM: 2GB corsoir xms DDR2 666mhz -PC5400- HDD: 250GB WD HDD Sata II 16MB cache GPU: BFG 8800GT OC Mobo: MSI P4N Diamond Case: Antec 900 Sound Card: X-FI Xtreme Music

10-26-2007, 10:07 AM	#10 (permalink)
PohTayToez Diamond Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Age: 19 Posts: 2,601	It freezes EVERY time, and trust me, we've tried it plenty. Also, the HDD light stops blinking, and if it freezes when the cursor is available, it wont move, so it really is freezing, not just taking a long time. __________________ Desktop / Laptop ASUS A8N-E / Compaq Presario v6420us AMD Athlon 3200+ @ 2.50Ghz / AMD Athlon X2 TK-53 @ 1.70Ghz MSI GeForce 7800GT / GeForce Go 6150 2 x 512MB DDR / 2 x 1GB DDR2 250GB SATA II / 80GB 5400RPM SATA 2 x DVD Burner / 8X DVD±R/RW

10-25-2007, 05:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
Joe2005 Gold Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 355	What about the HDD, it may have some faulty sectors. EDIT: Trizoy beat me to it

10-25-2007, 10:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
INTELCRAZY banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 6,060	How long have you let it try the same % (percent) of completion for or how long have you let it sit there... I had my old Dell stuck on "13 minutes remaining" for what seemed to be forever, I just let it sit overnight and got up the next morning and it was installed... Let it take its time...

10-26-2007, 01:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
hermeslyre VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 18 Posts: 4,973	Yeah, let it sit awhile, if you haven't. My installs will sometimes freeze up, But I've never had to let it sit overnight, usually just an hour or so.

10-26-2007, 01:09 AM	#9 (permalink)
INTELCRAZY banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 6,060	Surprisingly, I have heard of this problem a bit.... I know you are not using a Dell now.. But Dells have this install problem A LOT!!

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