New computer freezes and crashes when installing OS

[smythie]

I just built my first computer, and it powers up fine, it has:

775 Intel G965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 Processor
Patriot eXtreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Radeon X1650PRO 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card

as I said, it powers up fine, and I can go into BIOS fine, but when I put in the OS install disc it freezes, and sometimes restarts.
When trying to install windows, it usually freezes when it says
Setup is loading files (Hardware Abstraction Layer)
or sometimes on
Setup is loading files (Windows Executive)
I have also tried installing Ubuntu 6.10 Linux, and it also freezes, it will stop around the point when the Loading Linux Kernel status bar reaches 100%

any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,
Smythie

[pam123]

In other words your new build freezes when stressed in the slightest degree.
Start by checking the heatsink/fan install, the first suspect is a soaring cpu temp.
The second suspect is your power supply so tell us what you're using there as well.

[Cricket]

Follow the troubleshooting instructions found here. (http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=12753) You must remove the motherboard from the case when doing this.

The LGA775 heatsink is difficult to install correctly if the motherboard is already installed in the case. It's easier to install with the motherboard out of the case. Here's a illustrated guide to installing the LGA775 heatsink. (http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/view.php?id=1215&cid=19&pg=6)

Try installing the OS with only 1 stick of RAM installed and all other unnecessary devices unplugged or disconnected from the motherboard.

You might also want to try another optical drive.

:) Cricket

[smythie]

well, thanks to that guide, I figured out that I didn't remove the cover on the heatsink, so it was in the way of connecting directly to the CPU. I wiped it off, but it still shuts off automatically after trying to install an OS. I wiped it completely clean, but I saw that there is supposed to be a thermal transfer compound between the heatsink and the CPU, is this right and would the CPU keep overheating?

If so, could I just order some thermal transfer compound online?

Thanks
smythie

[minsonngo]

Was the CPU you bought the retail version?

If so the heatsink included will have the thermal compound preapplied on it.

Did you do what Cricket suggested and double check and make sure the heatsink is installed correctly?

Go into your BIOS and monitor the temperatures and post them on here.



Also make sure the SATA cable is securely connected on both ends.

[pam123]

If you removed the thermal compound on the bottom of the heatsink you're going to have to replace it ( It's necessary for heat transfer. ).
You can get Arctic Silver 5 at any of the big box computer stores in your area.
Here are instructions on how to use it : http://www.arcticsilver.com/instructions.htm
Also, double check the heatsink/fan install you may still not be seating it right.

[smythie]

I have checked the heatsink several times now, it is anchored in, and wont move, I looks installed correctly.
I got Arctic Silver 5 and applied it to th PCU just like that link showed to do. It still restarts and freezes. I went into Bios and watched the temp for a while, the CPU got up to about 44 C after 5 minutes before the computer shut off. Could the fact that I did not remove the cover on the heatsink mean that it melted into the CPU and is now stopping heatflow?
Thanks

[pam123]

44C is too low for a heat shut down, unless it's set that low in the bios for some reason.
Have you checked ?

[Cricket]

I got Arctic Silver 5 and applied it to th PCU just like that link showed to do. It still restarts and freezes. I went into Bios and watched the temp for a while, the CPU got up to about 44 C after 5 minutes before the computer shut off. Could the fact that I did not remove the cover on the heatsink mean that it melted into the CPU and is now stopping heatflow?No, your restart and freeze problem isn't heat related. Problem lies somewhere else.

What brand power supply are you using?

Is that RAM on the ASUS QVL list for that motherboard? What is the CAS number? CAS 4 RAM tends to cause problems with the 965 chipset.

:) Cricket

[minsonngo]

What PSU do you have?

Try leaving only one stick of memory in at a time.

Do you have another HDD you can try?

[smythie]

my PSU is
Sunbeam PSU-BKS580-US ATX 580W Power Supply 100V

the ram is CAS 4, and it is also 2.2v, some of the information I got with the MB says it needs 1.8v or less, could that cause this problem?
Thanks

[pam123]

Yes the ram voltage could be a problem.
What's it set at ?

Sunbeam is not on our list of power supplies and is unknown so if the rails are within 5% of where they should be ( check power in bios ) we'll leave that for later.

[smythie]

the power from the PSU seemed to be pretty close to what it says it should be.
I went into the BIOS and made the memory control manual to try to see what the different options were for the settings, but the computer restarted, and now when I restart it I dont get a picture, the computer starts up, but there is nothing on the monitor. I removed one of the ram and tried again but there is still nothing on the screen.

[Cricket]

Are you troubleshooting with the motherboard in or out of the case?

:) Cricket

[smythie]

right now it is in the case

[minsonngo]

Clear the CMOS either by the jumpers on the motherboard or pulling out the CMOS battery.

[smythie]

I switched the jumper to configure mode, and the screen came up, I reset all the settings in BIOS to their defaults. I saved it, and moved the juimper back to normal mode, and the screen doesnt show anything. if ithe jumper is on config, the screen works, if it is on normal, it does not.

[smythie]

ok, the screen works ok now

[smythie]

where does it show what the Ram voltage is set at? I found some other information about the Ram in the BIOS, but I don't see anything about voltage

[Cricket]

With the motherboard out of the case and with just the core components (motherboard, CPU, CPU heatsink, video card, RAM, PC case speaker, monitor, power supply and keyboard) does the computer stay on and give you the missing boot device message?

Do you have another optical drive you can use?

And what kind of optical drive are you using? IDE or SATA?

:) Cricket

[pam123]

Pull out your manual.
Go to Advanced chipset Features and read through it.
Now go that section of your bios, don't change anything, does it match?