Help Me Figure This Out, I'm Stumped

PohTayToez

Active Member
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.

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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.
 
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...
 
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.
 
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.
 
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!!
 
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.
 
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.

First off, I would try reseating the connections between the hard drive and the motherboard (SATA cables, SATA power cables). If thats no go, just do what the others said and let the PC sit and see if it unfreezes itself. If that doesn't work, I would try a different Windows disk. Then the next step would be to try a different hard drive.
 
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