Freeze @ Win XP Set-up screen

[Sabian576]

Windows goes through its whole thing, then at the Set-up screen (The press enter to continue, Press R to Repair, Press F3 to Quit Screen) it just freezes, , I can't choose any of the selections. I dunno what to do?

Specs:

Case: APEX TM366BK Black Steel MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case ATX 12V 300W Power Supply Link

Mobo: ASRock P4i65G Socket 478 Intel 865G Micro ATX Intel Motherboard Link

CPU: Intel Celeron D 310 Prescott 533MHz FSB 256KB L2 Cache Socket 478 Processor Link

RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory Link

OS: Win XP Home OEM

So This is my 5th build and my first problem with WinXP can someone help me out Please

Thanx

[Panama Red]

Have you been in the bios and made sure your hard drive is properly recongnized? Are you using SATA or standard IDE? If you have any card readers or other usb devices connected, including the case front usb's, unplug them until XP is installed.

[minsonngo]

I would also think about swapping out the PSU included with the case if you are using it.

APEX is also Allied which is not a good PSU brand to go with. 300w is also on the weak side but I think it would be fine for your setup if you have a good PSU.

Faulty PSUs can cause some random issues.

[Sabian576]

Alright, thanx guys. I am using IDE and the HDD was recognized in BIOS Properly. No other things are connected. Just a HDD and a CD-ROM. I have it set-up to boot from disc first then HDD, which it does. Hmmmm...I don't have a random spare PSU sitting around...so...I'm not sure how to test that idea.

Thanks again for any help

[Kareeser]

Are you using a PS/2 Keyboard? You may have to, since USB keyboards may not be natively recognized by the BIOS.

[Sabian576]

No, I am using USB KB, but when it says press any key to boot from disc and I hit enter it works. Then it starts loading WinXP and then gets to that set-up screen and I can't do nothin'

You think it could still be the KB, maybe when reaading the WinXP disc it does not recognize? I dunno...

[glc]

You should be using 80 wire IDE cables and Cable Select jumpering. You should do diagnostics on both the ram and the hard drive. I recommend memtest86+ to test ram, and the hard drive manufacturer's diags to test the hard drive.

That is not exactly a great quality motherboard or power supply. If you are using an AGP card instead of the onboard video, pull it out and see if the lessened load will allow you to proceed using the onboard video.

[Sabian576]

Yeah I know there are not good pieces, but I am putting it together for a co worker who needs it done cheap. as for the cables and the jumper I am as you said. there is no GPU, and I'll try memtest86+

Thanx

[minsonngo]

The PSU is something you don't want to go cheap on.

[Sabian576]

Ok, I got bored today at work and decided to change HDDs around... I put a old 20GB in and it DID NOT freeze! So that got me thinking it was the HDD. So to be sure I put another different Blank 80GB this time a Maxtor I had sitting around and put it in, But it froze.

So:

HDD 1 Western Digi 80GB = Freeze...
HDD 2 Western Digi 20GB = No Freeze...
HDD 3 Maxtor 80GB = Freeze...

I then put HDD 3 (Maxtor) in a different computer and it loaded WinXP just fine??

Any thoughts on all this? still the PSU? I have a rosewill 500w I will put in tomorrow, but untill then, I am on standby...

Thanks again everyone for caring enough to answer...

[minsonngo]

Rosewill is still not a good brand for PSUs either...

Here is a list of good and bad ones: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

[Sabian576]

Ok, I put the rosewill in (I know still not a good brand but I don't really care, if I did I would not be using the parts I am.) and still same problems. If it was the PSU, then changing it should have done something regardless of what name is on the side. I mean something should have been different. So I don't know if changing is going to help at this point...my reasoning is I tried the rosewill (I still know it sucks thats fine.) and nothing different. In review of my previous post, I was able to get a 20GB to work?? Any ideas as to why?

I could go buy another PSU, but at this point the evidence that the PSU is in fact the issue is inconclusive. So Where should I go next. Should I go ahead and get a "Good" PSU? or try something else?

Thanks

[blue60007]

You should get a *good* PSU regardless of whether it's the problem or not. Your co-worker won't be happy when the PSU dies and takes out the rest of the system.

Originally Posted by glc You should do diagnostics on both the ram and the hard drive. I recommend memtest86+ to test ram, and the hard drive manufacturer's diags to test the hard drive.

Did you do the memtest yet?