Cannot install windows

[rsm32]

AMD 1.4 Thunderbird
Gigabyte GA-7DX+
PC2100 256 DDR-RAM
Siluro GF2 MX400
IBM Deskstar 60GB
Creative 5.1

I built this computer 4 months ago, and until now it has worked fine. Last week I decided to do a clean install of Windows. I used FDISK and formated the hard drive with no problems. But when I attempted to install W98 SE I get so far through setup and then the computer crashes/hangs. Either I get 'SUWIN' errors, or the computer just hangs. Most of the time this happens during the hardware detection stage, but sometimes it does not even get that far.

I have tried using a different hard-drive, and have even updated the bios, but to no success. Thinking it must be a software problem I have tried other windows disks (w98, w98 SE & w2k-trial) but the same thing happens.

I am running out of ideas now. A friend suggested that I should increase the power supply (currently using 240v) - could this be the cause?

Any ideas/suggestions will be greatly appreciated, as this is now driving me mad, and I am missing my computer.

Thanks

[Rick Hall]

Try looking here

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000293.htm

[Jomama]

Defective RAM or an overheating cpu will do that. I was rebuilding a K6-233 system and got your symptoms. I finally cleaned and recoated the HS on the CPU and presto. It has to do with the amount of time the CPU was running, i think as the hangup wouod occur at almost the same place everytime in the OS install.
Good luck.
PS Reseat the RAM

[rsm32]

What is a normal cpu temperature? My cpu is running at around 85. Is this ok?

Thanks

[Cricket]

Hi rsm32,

85? 85 what? Celsius or Fahrenheit? CPU or system?

If that's Celsius for your CPU temp, that's way too hot. I doubt if that's Fahrenheit as I've never heard of any T-Bird in the 20's. The 1.4GHz T-Bird's I've put together idled around 40 to 44 C (104 to 111F) and went up to 46 to 50 C (113 to 122F) under load.

If that's Celsius for your system temp, again that's too hot. If it's Fahrenheit for the system, then that's fine.

If your CPU is hitting 85C, you have to do something about it. You have to get a better heatsink and improve your case cooling.

Since it's hanging up during hardware detection, strip your system down to the bare necessities...motherboard, CPU, heatsink, 1 stick of RAM, video card, floppy, hard drive and CD-ROM and then try to install Windows.

Install the other stuff after Windows is installed and configured properly.

:) Cricket

[rsm32]

Thanks for the abve, & apologies for lack of information. I'm going to check those temps out now, so watch this space

[rsm32]

Thanks Jomama & Cricket for abve advice. My cpu was running at 85 Celsius, so I purchased a decent coolermaster copper heatsink/fan, and now cpu runs at 45 celsius. Even better, I've just installed windows without any problems. I'm now off to get reunited with my computer

Thanks