First Built System Issues

[warthog03]

I just built a new system, and for some reason it will not finish booting.

First here is my build:

CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ Windsor 3.2GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103228

MoBo - GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128090

Video Card - XFX PVT88GYDF4 GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150261

PSU - OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply 100 - 240 V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341002

RAM - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034

HD - Maxtor 160GB 7200 RPM IDE

CD-ROM - Don't know brand but it is IDE

Case (Don't think it's important but to cover all basis) - It is something like this http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2765147&CatId=1520
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The Hard Drive should already have windows installed on it, as it was from an older system. But, the system won't finish its start up.

When I turn it on all of the fans turn on and it sounds like the hard drive is turning as well. It starts to POST and I can reach the BIOS yet before it finishes the POST one of three things happen:
1: The screen goes black, the monitor loses the input, and the system beeps once and then starts the process again.
2. The POST ends with the message that the System Failed to Boot. Insert System Disk. Or something like that. And sometimes it tells me to hit Ctrl+Alt+Del, then it will do the same as in Number 1, it will beep and start again.
3. The POST ends and then goes to the screen that says that pops up when Windows crashed, the one with the option of booting in the various safe modes or normally. No matter what option I pick the end result is what happens in 1 and 2.

My first guess is the Hard Drive is bad, but I am hesitant to buy another Drive if I don't have too.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Khalil]

You can download a live disk like ubuntu https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD and try booting from it with the hard drive unplugged, this will tell you if it is indeed your hard drive which I personaly doubt.
It is more than likely the Gigabyte motherboard or your system is shorting somewhere, to figure out if your system is shorting, pull the motherbaord out of the case and place on the cardboard box it came in, keeping everything connected (OCZ PSU wires will be more than long enough. If the case power wires are too short unplug them and use a flat head screw drivers to touch the 2 power switch prongs on the motherboard to boot. If it all boots well then something in the case is causing the mobo to short.

[shadowpr]

Try this out: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409

If it still wont post and still restarts, then let us know.

[warthog03]

I tried taking the whole system apart and trying it outside of the case on a box and still got the same message.

[shadowpr]

So it won't post at all?

Wait, is this a hard drive that was in a different computer and you're trying to boot from the wiindows on it? If so, then try this: http://forum.pcmech.com/showpost.php?p=1063573&postcount=3

[warthog03]

I will try and wipe the hdd and reinstall windows tonight. I will let you know the outcome. thanks for the suggestions!

[warthog03]

It worked! Thank you guys so much, but this is how you learn.

I have a few more questions though:

1. Do any of you have a recommended list of programs and/or updates to XP that one should install on a new computer?
2. My old computer stopped booting after the first screen and I had to press a button to continue booting. How do I get my new computer to do the same?
3. Also, does any one know the optimum CPU temp for my CPU? (see CPU type above)

And one last unrelated problem:
I have a file on my laptop that I want to move onto my external hdd. But, whenever I try to move it I get a message that says there is not enough room on the hdd. The file is approx. 7 gigs and i have 30 gigs free on the hdd. Any ideas about why I get this message?

[shadowpr]

With your external hard drive, what format is it in? Is it fat32? If so, then that's the problem.

A list of programs I would istall is: spywareblaster, spybot, avg ani-virus, ccleaner, and either avast or avg or avira antivirus.

do the microsoft updates, except for their driver updates. Get drivers from the manufacurers website.

[warthog03]

it is FAT32

[Freakitchen]

FAT to NTFS is a relatively painless conversion...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307881

As always with these things, if you have any precious data on that external drive, take backups first.

As for your other questions, an optimum CPU temp for me is anything that isn't causing noticable heat related problems! I'm not sure how hot the latest AMD chips run, my dual core AMD runs at under 40 degrees idle with the stock heatsink. Check the idle temperature in BIOS and post them here if you're concerned. Why would you want this machine to pause during bootup?

[warthog03]

Why would you want this machine to pause during bootup?

One my old my computer after POST the computer would require me to press F1 to continue. I liked it because it meant I didn't have to catch the BIOS entrance I could do it after it stopped. So I was curious if I could get it to do that again.

[Freakitchen]

The 'press F1 to continue' option is usually an indication of a problem that occurred during POST. I don't know of a way to manually turn this on without creating a problem. If you tap Delete from power on you can't really miss BIOS.