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Multiple Machines Not Load

By BorgInva ·
I have been trying to get 1 of 4 machines to work. Scrappers they are. I got 2 machines up and able to see hard drives, but both will not load any WIndows OS. I tried 98, 98SE, XP Pro, and 2k Pro. Both machines will either crash during install, crash during the reg code (typing in the code and hitting ENTER), or crash at other points.
I replaced memory, hard drives, video cards, and everything I could in these machines but they want nothing more to do but crash.
I know it is not my CDs (no scratches or anything). The RAM is good, and one machine is using DIMMs and the other SIMMs. My NIC is good and my hard drvies are good. Most of this hardware is either NEW or from my machine I am currently on (because I got bigger drives).
Bad motherboards? Maybe. I have no idea.
Please give some input.

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Multiple Machines Not Load

by F-Baer In reply to Multiple Machines Not Loa ...

i think you?ll be in a bad movie,
change the cable, check the cpu-cooler, the signs most come frome overheat, bad ram or controller/cable error. beginn with 1 hd, 1 dimm, and bios safe-defaults. i hope u don?t use an asus pt533?
hth
cu obe

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Multiple Machines Not Load

by BorgInva In reply to Multiple Machines Not Loa ...

Switched cables as well. Fans all fine. As i said about the RAM, is good in other machines. No errors. BIOS does not change any settings I give it.

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Multiple Machines Not Load

by TheChas In reply to Multiple Machines Not Loa ...

Check the CMOS backup battery.
If it is weak, the BIOS settings can come up in abnormal states.

Clear / reset the CMOS settings to default.

Double check ALL jumper settings to make sure that the CPU clock and core voltage settings are correct.

Look over the motherboards.
Do any of the parts look bulged or discolered from heat?
Is their any evidence of liquid residue near the capacitors in the voltage regulator section?

I would try not having any plug-in cards other than the videocard.

Is your power supply delivering enough power?

Depending on how these boards were handled after being pulled from their original systems, they could have ESD (static) damage.

Chas

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Multiple Machines Not Load

by BorgInva In reply to Multiple Machines Not Loa ...

BIOS is good. All jumpers correct. No additional cards in system on some tests I have done, as for video, use both on board and 2 different types of cards in one of the machies.
ESD? Not a chance.

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Multiple Machines Not Load

by TheChas In reply to Multiple Machines Not Loa ...

I then go back to RAM issues.

Many of the newest DIMMs will not work in older motherboards.
Many motherboards need either single or double density DIMMs.

They can POSY fine, but can cause errors when Windows loads.

I had a pair of DIMMs that it took me 2 months to find a motherboard that they would work in so that I could get rid of them.

I keep a 128MB single density DIMM on hand to test for memory compatability issues.

On the PC with SIMMs, make sure that they are matched pairs. If more than 1 bank is installed, all must be the same type.

One more thing, Windows 9X / Me can have problems with more than 511MB of RAM installed.

Chas

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Multiple Machines Not Load

by BorgInva In reply to Multiple Machines Not Loa ...

That really does not help. The 166MGz machine is right now on the same 16M chips it has had in it for 5 years. 64M total. It has been running 95 and 98 with no problem. When I first went on to update 98 (because my aunt had htis machine for 2-3 years) with the latest stuff, and uninstalled everything she had on it (because there was no point for a clean install at the moment) is when I started to run into problems. Then, from that point on, after a format of the system, I can not get 98 back on. It fails, usually, at the reg code entry (and this is a vaild CD and code, folks, I bought myself many moons ago when it came out). So having her not have any problems for 3 years and then I get them is whacked. I tried upgrading the memory from 64to 128 to no avail.
The P2 machine has also been using the same chips for a couple of years, running 98. This machine came to me with 96M of SDRAM. The drive was already formatted, but would no take any OS.
I have again this week swapped hard drvies using 4 different drives, pulling out cards, etc, to no avail.
I am actually going to have a friend take all these machines and either get 1 to work, or... take them to a recycling place for them to, well, recycle.

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Multiple Machines Not Load

by BorgInva In reply to Multiple Machines Not Loa ...

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