My server has died :(

I did a Windows update and then noticed it didn't come back up when I rebooted it. So I assumed a dodgy Windows update had foobared it. Luckily there's not much on the boot disc so I thought I'd reinstall Windows. No go, blue screen on the installation.

Second try, disconnect the primary HDD and try another, almost same thing, gets to 'Setup is inspecting....' then just sits there and never progresses.

I've tried removing/swapping everything except the CPU. The thing is it boots into the BIOS etc fine and nothing else goes wrong. Only when I try and install Windows does it stop.

Any thoughts or is it time to replace my server?

Cheers :)

Paul.

My server has died :(

I did a Windows update and then noticed it didn't come back up when I rebooted it. So I assumed a dodgy Windows update had foobared it. Luckily there's not much on the boot disc so I thought I'd reinstall Windows. No go, blue screen on the installation.

Second try, disconnect the primary HDD and try another, almost same thing, gets to 'Setup is inspecting....' then just sits there and never progresses.

I've tried removing/swapping everything except the CPU. The thing is it boots into the BIOS etc fine and nothing else goes wrong. Only when I try and install Windows does it stop.

Any thoughts or is it time to replace my server?

Cheers :)

Paul.

Have you tried to install of Linux (just to see if the box is in full operation)?

At least you'd know if you have a working system?

I had similar problem a few years ago it turned out to be I was using a copied XP disc and my CD-RW couldnt read it properly. I used a really old CD-ROM and it worked fine. Of course all my XP installs are genuine copies now in case anyone wanted to call FAST.

Yup mine are completely genuine.

Never thought about trying linux, I'll give it a go :)

thats windows update for you, fixes 2 million things and breaks a few more

if it's crashing on installing windows then something has more than likely gone belly up or there the bios is setup wrong.

try loading the defaults in the bios and see if that helps, also download ultimate boot cd (http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html) and run memtest+ and 1 of the cpu stress programs to check for errors

I'll give the cd a go as well, thanks :)

Tried reseting the BIOS back to defaults and it got a bit further but that was it. I reckon I might buy a new battery for it.

My server has died :(

I did a Windows update and then noticed it didn't come back up when I rebooted it. So I assumed a dodgy Windows update had foobared it. Luckily there's not much on the boot disc so I thought I'd reinstall Windows. No go, blue screen on the installation.

Second try, disconnect the primary HDD and try another, almost same thing, gets to 'Setup is inspecting....' then just sits there and never progresses.

I've tried removing/swapping everything except the CPU. The thing is it boots into the BIOS etc fine and nothing else goes wrong. Only when I try and install Windows does it stop.

Any thoughts or is it time to replace my server?

Cheers :)

Paul.

Maybe cheaper though buying a server than fault finding. I bought a DELL work station 530 with a Dual CPU not core Xeon cpu's installed and 1gb or PC800 DDR with 80 GB of HDD for £80. This was new and ex stock from a reseller of ebay. :thumbsup:

I'll give the cd a go as well, thanks :)

Tried reseting the BIOS back to defaults and it got a bit further but that was it. I reckon I might buy a new battery for it.

you can also try removing any sound / network/ modem cards installed or disabling them in the bios if they are onboard

you can also try removing any sound / network/ modem cards installed or disabling them in the bios if they are onboard

agree, you should try on removing it...... actually a little prob causes for such happens that we do not think .....

regards


haffam

i had a similar problem, turned out to be ram, www.mentest.org - burn it to a CD, then boot it, if you get red within a few seconds its ram, try each stick individually to find out which one

It's onboard everything except gfx so I'll give it a whirl...will buy a battery tomorrow as it must be a few years old now. Hoping it's not the memory it's Crucial Ballistix so should be good stuff and has been running fine.

Oh well, will give it another go tomorrow.

Bit of an update on this...

Replaced the CMOS battery with a new one and low and behold it got to Windows...then restarted...bugger.

So I run MemTest86+ and both memory sticks come up as failed for every single sector on each stick. Surely this is nigh on impossible?

If it got into Windows then surely it can't have completely duff memory? I'm not wondering if the mobo has screwed itself?

So I run MemTest86+ and both memory sticks come up as failed for every single sector on each stick. Surely this is nigh on impossible?

If it got into Windows then surely it can't have completely duff memory? I'm not wondering if the mobo has screwed itself?
2 sticks? every sector?
My money is on motherboard issue!

Default BIOS, then carefully check the processor + FSB speeds.

The idea of trying a linux distro is good too. Though linux has a habit of 'making do' even if something isnt quite right, you may not find the problem but worth a try.

make sure that the memory is set to the right speed and timings in the bios, and also try the sticks individually on their own, + if you can test the memory in a different computer

if the memory is faulty then being crucial atleast you won't have any hassle getting it replaced by them

Though linux has a habit of 'making do' even if something isnt quite right, you may not find the problem but worth a try.

Linux will log any failures/issues/potential issues though (something which windows is incredibly poor at). Maybe a live linux would be a good route?

Linux will log any failures/issues/potential issues though (something which windows is incredibly poor at). Maybe a live linux would be a good route?

True, though need to know where to look ;)

Yup I tried each stick individually and in different slot...errors on every sector.

Unfortunately I don't have a second machine that has DDR memory, it uses DDR2 so waiting for a friend to let me borrow some memory he knows is OK so I can see what the results are :)

I do hate PCs at times.

well, if it shows his memory as faulty too, test his and yours with memtest in his machine (just to be double sure) and if all is ok, then i'd bet on your motherboard...

otherwise, then obviously, its memory :)