re asrock k7s41
OK, just to have it straight i don't use Windoze, i fix it. I use Slackware..
So this guy has this machine which had XP on it (i never saw it working but he swears it did for a week) suddenly it stopped and wont boot. Ok i say; ill have a look.. its got a asrock k7s41 chipset/mobo
I checked everything, IDE cables, 3 hard drives, DVD burner, RAM, by a process of elimination, i eliminated every bit of hardware in there apart from the ones i couldn't change. ie. the BIOS and the MOBO.
After a few hours of fiddling, the XP installation procedure still just loads all the drivers, gets to the point where you press enter to install and then powers off..
mmm. i think.. lets install Linux..
so first i use the HELIX boot CD observe the CPU temps etc, then suse 9.2.. all fine.. then i installed slackware (by now the machine is at my friends house and we are both looking at it). All fine..
So then i try Windows 2k prof, and 2k Server. Both fine.
XP still doesn't work.and i tried different CD's and i know the one
I use works
It seems the BIOS (or some piece of hardware) wont let XP load for some reason. I tried a 98 bootdisk and starting the XP install from there.. it copies the files then powers off.. and again im back to blue screen hit enter to install. If im really quick i can hit enter to start and then F9 or some such but it just powers off in roughly the same time..
So we're tearing our hair out by now. I read on the mobo's web site (asrock) that to get XP to load properly you have to have the CDROM and Primary Master on the same IDE channel.. sounds strange but ok.. but after trying all the combo's of these (CD as Primary HD as Secondary, vice versa etc etc on both channels) nothing. The BIOS is up to date.
I don't suppose anyone here has had this problem but if you have, or have any advice id love to hear it.. usually between all the people i know there isn't a network or computer we can't fix so this one just seems really weird. Especially as all the other O/S's ive tried work fine. Its not vital that i get it sorted, i just can't sleep tonight because its bothering me.
Thanks for putting up with this im aware it may look and sound like a bit of a rant..!
Cheers
CT