New Computer Blues

DZwart

DZwart

Legacy of Elijah Officer
So as I have shared with the few who have caught me online over the last several days, I still don't have my new computer functioning. When I initially assembled the thing, I got repeated BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) errors while attempting to install Vista. After several days playing around with it, I RMA'ed the mobo back to Newegg and started waiting for a replacement. The replacement arrived on Friday...

It didn't improve anything.

After spending hours tinkering attempting to find something else wrong, I installed the hard drive into my current computer (Win XP Home) just to verify if it was working properly. I had partitioned the drive in Vista setup and used the Maxtor utilities to re-partition and re-format the disk several different ways. No matter what, the final partition could not be accessed or formatted using Windows utilities. I figured something was wrong with the drive and exchanged it for a new one. I installed the new drive and...

It didn't improve anything.

I've got questions in by email to both the mobo company and the hard drive company. I'll see if they have any reply, but I'm starting to get pretty frustrated with this thing. The Maxtor utilities won't boot on the new computer because they try to load CD drivers, but fail and lock up since there is no CD drive (only DVD drive). A friend just built a similar computer using the same mobo, but a SATA HDD. I've spent too much already, but I'm starting to wonder if I should just do that. We'll see what tonight turns up.

Just thought I would let everyone know what's going on. I've left a computer on and logged in quite a few times since Friday, but haven't been sitting watching it much.

My new computer (not all bought through newegg - depended on a lot of rebates and a few gifts):
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400
ECS P965T-A Mobo
2x1GB OCZ DDR2 800
eVGA nVidia 7600GT
Maxtor 200GB IDE HDD
Coolmax 500W PSU
LG DVD Burner
Windows Vista Home Premium OEM
Antec Nine Hundred
and a floppy drive out of the computer I got in college.
 
Have you tried just installing XP to the beast?

Maybe some weird firmware or bios that vista does not yet play well with.....
 
This is DZwart if he was Hilary Clinton lawl:
hlary.jpg
 
What is the bsod you get? That would be very helpful. About the only thing i can think of that will bsod an NT based os is either bad ram or bad video card.
 
BSOD on install is almost always RAM, thats the first thing to check and RMA.

Trying using a 1 stick at a time and see if that helps.
 
Tried XP got the same issues.

BSOD gives varied notices at different points in the installation. The most common is "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL" followed closely by "MEMORY_MANAGEMENT" and a generic one with no specific error.

Based on the Memory one, I had run memtest86+ for several hours a few weeks ago and now with the new mobo as well. All passes on the memtest.

I'll try the 1 stick suggestion right now. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
well, based on the memtest, I would never have thought of it, but removing one stick (guess I had a 50/50 shot) allowed windows to install completely.

Unfortunately, since it passed memtest, i cut out the UPC and sent it in for the mail-in-rebate. So I can't RMA to Newegg anymore. I guess I will need to call OCZ directly. (I assume putting the stick back in would be bad ;) )

On another note, vista seems pretty slick. I have a lot of work to do to update drivers, install antivirus, install GW and not to mention verify everything else is working. I only hope OCZ only makes me send in the bad stick and lets me keep the working one so I don't have to give it up while waiting.
 
amazingly enough i had some bad OCZ ram myself O_O
 
OK, getting ready to call OCZ to file a warranty claim here. Silly question, but is it worth my time to move the memory stick to each slot on the mobo to confirm that it wasn't a mobo/socket issue? I realize it's not likely since I had the same issue on the original motherboard. However, the passes on memtest just make me wonder a little bit. Has anyone else had trouble with memtest? I'll probably try it out, move it and boot up, then play around a little, then repeat.

I hope OCZ lets me keep the one working chip and send only the bad one in. I'd really like to keep playing with my new toy while I wait.
 
yes it is. make sure that second slot is good by moving hte first stick to the second slot and observing the system.
 
The memory requires a mobo that supplies 1.9 - 2.1 volts, Make sure the mobo supports that memory.
 
OK, I booted the system in each of the 4 memory slots. I tried to do a little something each time to give the system time to fail. I (on different boots) opened a flash drive on front USB ports, set up and ran Media Player to check sound (USB headset didn't auto-install), played a little minesweeper and solataire and looked around in the control panel.

As for the RAM voltage, I can't find anything that specifically calls out RAM voltage in BIOS. However, a friend built a machine using the same Mobo/CPU/RAM and has had his running for 2.5 months with no issues.

I also tried to use the mobo's driver update disk, but it wouldn't run. I think I'll try the Antivirus/internet security suite (CA) next, then get online with it.
 
Well if its working fine with just 1 memory stick then its the other stick that is out of the computer is bad, try putting that one in and see if the problems occur. If they do not, and both sticks in at same time issues occure, you might be looking at a bios flash to fix the issue.

It all depends.
 
I searched the web for bugs that come with Vista.

Here's the solution...
If you are running Windows Vista and have bugs or if the computer does not work at ALL, do not be alarmed. This usually happens when Microsoft releases a product (just look at the xbox360 and windows 98-2000!), and will be sorted out with a patch in a few months. Of course, you can't download it because your computer won't work, but that's why we love Bill Gates so much. A cheaper way, if you live or work in a five story (or more) building, is to take the computer in its entirety and drop it out the highest window possible.
Click to expand...
 
Ran just fine for a couple hours with just the "Bad" stick in it. I have them both in right now. I'll see how that works for a while.
 
Simple solution, DO NOT install Vista. Most worthless operating system release since ME. As a matter of fact a good rule of thumb is to never upgrade your OS immediately after the new one is released. Wait at least 6 months or so so all the major bugs get worked out. In addition another rule of thumb is to never waste your money on Vista. Seriously it's pretty much garbage.
 
Thanks to everyone for your help. I put too much faith in memtest86+ to find an issue with the RAM. Both sticks of RAM installed at the same time ended up in repeated system crashes. I reinstalled Vista several times with the "bad" stick in different slots (4) on the mobo and had issues all but one time, but had crashes after installation. With the "good" stick, I was able to install Vista with the stick in each of the 4 slots without a single issue.

I have submitted an RMA request to OCZ and I'll be sending it back ASAP. I just hope they let me keep the "good" one so I can keep playing with my new machine.

Dauntless, had I not been building a new computer anyway to replace my 4yr old one, I wouldn't have bought Vista, but figured if I was going new, I'd tear the band-aid off quickly and have it over with. I have to say I've been fairly impressed with Vista so far. Installation takes just over 20 minutes from power button to ready to use. Everthing looks shiny and new and will take a little getting used to.

Aside from the hardware issues, the biggest irritation is the added security pop-ups driving 4 layers of pop-up windows to change the system time, of course if I had picked the right time zone instead of being in such a hurry during install, I wouldn't have had to update it. The other problem is that the internet security suite I bought in advance isn't ready for Vista and won't install until CA releases their update scheduled for 31Mar07.

Guild Wars runs beautifully with the new hardware even with everything maxed out. I tested out a few key lag spots I've noticed (Kaineng Center, Grenth's Footprint) and loaded quickly and maintained high frame rates without video lag.
 
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