debugging new build

[lipper]

Built my first computer, Intel P4@3.4GHz., P4M800 mobo, 1024MB Ram, Windows XP Pro/SP2. My problem is that the system crashes and restarts, get system error report message. Checked the event log, several system error, catagory (102), event 1003, messages. Can someone please tell me what these messages are?

[rjfvillarosa]

Can you give us a full list of the parts you used, manufacturer and model numbers? and is there any pattern to the crashes? ie: any particular task or program involved?

[lipper]

I appreciate the help! Intel Pent. D 945 Dual core 3.4GHz @ 800Mhz, ECS P4M800 ProV2 C2D mobo, Kingston DDr2 1GB PC4200 KVR533D2K2, Thermaltake W0070RUC 430w PSU, Maxtor 200GB Sata 150 HDD, case, CD-rom, 3.5 floppy drive are salvaged from an old Pent.II computer. The crashing seems to happen randomly. It has crashed twice after reaching the windows screen, other times it has happened after the computer has been on for 15-45 minutes. Computer has had very basic usage so far i.e., freecell and solitaire, viewing picture files and text documents. It currently is not connected to the internet. All of the event loggings were the same catagory (102) event 1003, so I figure that if I find what these numbers mean, I will find the problem.

[rjfvillarosa]

Have a read of this thread and consider doing an out of case minimum hardware build just to try and rule out any faulty hardware.
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409

[glc]

Hate to say it, but there's a reason that motherboard is only $46.99. Not only that, I won't build an Intel system with a Via chipset board for my worst enemy. I also haven't had very good luck with Kingston ram recently. I'd bet your issues are either motherboard or ram related. There's a possibility you didn't properly mount the heatsink properly, a 775 can be tricky - what are your CPU temperatures running?

[The_YongGrand]

Check the temperatures first - make sure you mount the heatsink properly.

The VIA chipset board is still okay - but not so good quality. Have you tested the RAM? If yes, we must begin to suspect the motherboard.

[lipper]

Thanks for your help. I will try to test the ram in my other computer. I found this website after buying the mobo and discovered that it wasn't very good. The whole reason for building the computer was to learn enough that I wouldn't have to pay the repairman anymore, I guess I'm going reach my goal on this build.

[glc]

You can test the ram with diagnostic software. You should learn how to use diagnostic tools.

Go to www.ultimatebootcd.com and download the basic package and burn the CD - and use it. It has about 3 or 4 different ram diags on it.

You are downloading an .iso file. You need CD burning software to use it to make the CD. It's considered an IMAGE, you will open the image WITH the software then burn it.