OK, so I just built a new system for the first time, and I know this has been discussed before, and I have read those posts, but I'm still at a frustrated state. Any help would be the ballz on this one.
When I turn my computer on it goes through all the BIOS processes (extremely quickly, however) and then for a brief second flashes the Windows XP loading screen with some sort of text up top on a blue background. The whole screen shot is only up there for a c-hair of a second, so it's near impossible to make out more than a couple words. The best I've been able to make out are "If this problem..." in a second paragraph. (I know I've seen this blue background of text before but can't remember what for). Then a basic DOS type page comes up as if the computer wasn't shut down correctly. "The power switch has been tripped or the power was cut off somehow blah, blah, blah......" This page gives me the options to boot in Safe Mode, Last Known Good Settings, or just Start Normally. None of these yield any results other than the XP startup page flashes again with some gibberish and the computer reboots itself. It would go on for hours if I let it.
It's a new case and power supply - though a cheap power supply of 430W - it came with the cheap case.
A new Jetway ATX socket 478 motherboard.
A refurbished Pentium 4 2.4GHz processor (though through false advertisement I have learned that the board is only made for 1.5-2.2 GHz) and I know that the heat levels remain low with all the fans I have. I've checked the PC Health in the BIOS setup and it remains at 100-102 F
I've got 512MB DDR and have tried switching to 128MB SD and 256 SD seperately and have had the same results. So the dead RAM theory is probably out the window.
The HD is almost empty except for the XP operating system, and I have switched that out as well for a like size model with the same operating system. The same result still comes about. So, the corrupt operating system theory is probably out the window.
64MB graphics card and a small soundcard are the only other things in the computer.
The only brand new thing is the motherboard, so maybe some BIOS setting is off or something? I thought I reviewed then fairly carefully the first time through......
It's almost as if as soon as the system is required to initiate the operating system it draws on too much of something (power?) and the computer shuts off to preserve itself from damage.
I have booted it up with the same results after disconnecting all the smaller energy draining items like fans, etc.
Just a crap PSU? That would be too simple, though I wouldn't complain...........
Any help is much appreciated.
J
