Help Troubleshoot 2 new systems

[beethree]

Hi,

I'm building 2 identical computer systems -
ECS K7S5A PRO Motherboard (SiS 735 chipset)
AMD XP 2400+
Cruicial 512 MB RAM
Mustang 400 W Power Supply
Western Digital 120 GB Hard Drive
ATI 7200 64MB AGP Video Card
Mad Dog DVD Rom Drive (I used other CD ROM drives, but it didn't make a difference)

Here are my issues:
On system #1:
When I boot up the BIOS displays that I have an AMD 1800+ (the BIOS is up to date).

When I attempt to install Windows OS (XP, 2000, and 2000 Advanced Server), it freezes (Basically stalls out) or gives me an error within the first 10 mins
The error (using XP Pro) is: An unexpected error (805240382) occured at line 1768 in d:\xpclient\base\boot\setup\arcdisp.c

I am able to install Red Hat Linux 8 with no problem, but the computer is for my wife, and she wants XP on it.

On system #2:
I built it with just the MB, RAM and Video Card to see if it would power up. It did nicely with no problems. I saw video and the BIOS starting up.
Then I installed the Hard Drive, and tried to power up... and now I get nothing.
The fan on the CPU is still working, and the HD spins up, but no display.
I have removed the HD, but it still is not giving me any video (or the Beep from the motherboard when it boots)
I have switched all components from system#1 (CPU, RAM, Video Card) but still nothing
I am baffled with this one.

Your help is most appreciated, I'm going crazy trying to figure these problems out. I've built several systems in the past with no real problems, and now I'm getting it double!

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
beethree

 

[VicodiN]

Well, you can change the fsb from 100 to 133 should take care of problem 1 of system 1...

With problem 2 of system 1, have you tried to completely reformat the HD before installing OS... Also, instead of using CD, have you tried to dry install it from boot discs?

 

[amdskip]

Sounds like an ide cable is flipped or a jumper is not right which can sometimes prevent a system from booting.

 

[beethree]

Hi,
Thanks for your responses.

About System #1:
I changed the FSB to 133. It boots up as AMD 2400 + now. - Thanks!

I attempted to install XP with boot discs as well as a full version of XP from CD rom and received the same error or stall at the same place.
I haven't tried pre-formatting, though, and I'll try that now - I usually just use the utilities on the CD Rom to format.

About the jumpers and IDE cables on system 2, I have removed all IDE devices and their respective cables, and have the system exactly the same as the time that it booted correctly (CPU, RAM and Video Card only), but still it won't work. I haven't changed any jumpers since the successful boot, but I'll re-check all of their settings again.

Thanks again for your help - this has been driving me nuts for the past few days.

-Beethree

 

[Rav3n]

System 2 - try plugging it into a different power source - this suggestion never helps me, but its got to be good for someone

 

[YoungAnimaniac]

I had two of these motherboards from Fry's when they were on sale. One of them had the same power problem as your #2. I took it back into the store, and they tested it - it was completely dead. I tried a second one and it did the same thing. The second original one I had would turn on once in a while and it was stable while on, but if I turned it off, sometimes it wouldn't turn back on. Seemed completely random. When I took the motherboards back in the final time, there were three other people in line with the same motherboards all experiencing problems of one kind or another.

I hate to admit defeat, but these motherboards beat me. I'd trade them in on a different model or brand if I were you.

 

[beethree]

Thanks for the words about the motherboard situation #2...
I had read some great reviews about it, but I was a little suspicious.
Could you recommen a substitute Motherboard?

Thanks,
beethree

 

[YoungAnimaniac]

I've built a half dozen systems for people using the Gigabyte GA-7VAX, and my current rig is using the Epox 8RDA+. Have had zero problems with any of the them.