PC Won't Boot / Post Problems

[chucho]

I'm trying to update a friend's computer cheaply. I've purchased the following parts:

MB: Soyo 7VBA133U
CPU: Intel Celeron 1.3 GHz (Tualitin Core)
G Card: Asus X Series V9400 (nVidia MX 4000 GPU)
HD: Western Digital WD400 40 GB
RAM: Generic PC133 256 MB

The system doesn't need to be screaming; she only uses it for light home use (i.e. some pictures, mostly music).

When I try to boot it, the system starts the posts but hangs on post code D3 (Phoenix Amibios). 1 out of 50 reboots will be successful and load Windows.

How do I get the system to boot everytime?

 

[SOcRatEs]

Hello

Is this a fresh install of (windows?)?
I would strip the sys down to bare:
Ram
Cpu
Video
if not then switch out each item until succeful.
When successful I would clear cmos.
Then add HDD.
Then setup bios as desired.
Then do fresh install
Then add devices (sound, lan, cdrom etc.) one at a time.
Not everyone will agree with me but you need some form of
fact finding without too many devices all at once.
G'Luck

 

[sllewe]

I'm trying to update a friend's computer cheaply. I've purchased the following parts:

Did build a whole new system? Or did you upgrade all those parts? Sounds like you have a bad install of windows. Reformat the drive to see if that solves the problem. It could be ahrdware (i dont think so but maybe) do you have any RAM that is know to be good? if so try that. It wouldnt hurt to do what is said in the above post...but that might be overkill.

Sean

 

[chucho]

Everything is new except the HD. I reformatted it when I installed a fresh version of Windows during one of the successful boots.

I have tried removing some of the parts and that doesn't work.

Any other suggestions?

 

[sllewe]

I am sort of confused on what is wrong. The system hangs on the BIOS? Or the system hangs on the windows start up? Can you try a new piece of RAM? Make sure all connections are good and CPU and ram are both properly seated (i know its basic but it could very well be the problem.) If it hangs on BIOS dissconect the HD and boot if it still hangs..then its not the OS. I would try any spare parts, to try and find the faulty part. Post back

Sean

 

[SOcRatEs]

For lack of any other idea

I'm thinking ram may be a symptom.
seems like just the right board for that Cpu.
Manual pdf

Your board recommend a limit of 3 DIMMs or 6 banks at 133 MHz for
1.5GB max memory using unbuffered and Non-ECC DIMM modules. On
this motherboard, DRAM speed can be set independent from the CPU
front side bus speed. Depending on the DRAM clock speed setting in the
BIOS setup, appropriate memory modules must be used. For FSB 66MHz
speed, use PC66 or PC100 memory; for FSB 100MHz speed, use
PC66/PC100/PC133 memory; for FSB 133MHz speed, use PC100 or
PC133 memory.

G'Luck
let us know how it goes.