new comp build, Xp wont load, plz help

[roaming_builder]

ok i already started talking about this in a previous thread, here, and am making it a new thread because the topic label no longer relates to my problem...

I installed all of my computer parts into my case and didnt have any major problems.

I have 2 S-ATA 250 gig HD's, 2gigs (512 X 4) RAM, P4 3.0e Ghz, Asus p4c800-e Deluxe mobo.....

My problem is that after i install Win XP, it gets to the first XP loading screen(the one with the little blue rotating bar on the bottom) and it goes for about 1 second and it will freeze up there, i havent gotten any further than that screen. I tried leaving it running for a few hours like that. I ran my Maxtor diagnostic tools and the HD's are ok, i tried running it in a RAID and on a single drive, no change.

I was told it may be my ram so i ran memtest on them and the program will always freeze up during the late 7th test or as soon as the 8th test pops up, is that what happens when the ram is bad or what??? I tried leaving that for a few hours also...

[Dark Nova]

could be the ram, could also be the PSU failling. do you have an extra stick of ram to test it???

[fatmanforlife99]

in your last thread you said that "anyway i formatted the drives with the maxtor maxblast software" Why would you do that? that sounds like the problem.

[FireByyrd]

processor problem? I heard if your tests keep crashing or freezing and windows XP fails to load up or freezes, that means there might be a bad processor. or it might also be bad ram.

[roaming_builder]

the PSU is brand new and seems to be working alright, voltages and such seem fine in the bios

unfortunately i dont have any other ram to test it with

well, i do have a dell with the same type of ram, but i am not sure it it would be compatible

i dont think that formatting them with the maxtor thingy is the problem, i redid them with the one on the XP CD and still had the same prob. I did diagnostics on them and they passed, so the HD's themselves should be fine

God, i hope it isnt the processor, i bought that about a year ago when i first started building this bad boy and no chance of them replacing it. Would the computer even run if the processor is messed up?

I think that i might try to take the RAM to a local computer shop and see if they can test it, but they will probably charge an arm and a leg

[Dark Nova]

if your going to bring your ram in a local computer shop, then bring the whole pc.
if the CPU could make the PC crash, but its on rare occasions.

[jayb1234]

Have you tried it with just 1 stick of ram at a time?

Is the RAM you have on the compatible list at the ASUS site?

[roaming_builder]

ok if i go i will take the whole pc into the shop if i go there

and ya i tried putting each stick of RAM in individually and in the different 4 slots

memtest does not show up having any errors, it just freezes and i dont have any experience with the program b4 i tried it so i am not sure if that means that the memory is bad or what...

no it isnt on the Asus list of ram from the PF file i downloaded, but that hasnt been updated for a long time. However the ram was on Corsairs web site for compatibility with my motherboard, so i figured it would be ok...

any other suggestions guys???

really appreciate your help,

Roaming_builder

[Cricket]

With just the core components (motherboard, CPU, heatsink, video card, RAM, power supply, PC case speaker, monitor and keyboard) assembled out of the case, are you getting the one good BIOS beep?

Since the system is freezing when running Memtest86+, try running DocMemory or the Microsoft Windows Memory Diagnostic and see if either can run without freezing.

How many optical drives are you using? Did you try installing Windows from different optical drives?

Cricket