Pentium 4 1.7 GHz, 1024 mb [2*256, 1* 512], Compaq.
Found this machine without HD or memory.
its misbehaving-
Added an old HD and booted one time to XP but I couldn't pass the admion login screen without the password. With other HDs it had various problems. It said a few times an error with the IDE cable. I tried 4 different ones and kept getting the same error, so I doubt its that.
I removed the battery and reset the CMOS then replaced the battery. On startup the memory counts up and stops at 832 mb and a message says there is a problem with the memory and to try removing memory sticks to isolate it. That is 192 mb short of the total: Is that relevant?
Now it gives 2 beeps at startup, which if what I have read on these sites in correct means a memory error.
So I tried the different sticks separately but with all it gives a 2 beep code at startup.
I swapped the HD again, and maybe that is another separate problem, as an IDE DPS self test says it failed completion code 7. Now when I try to boot I get "NTLDR is missing, press any key to restart".
Also, when I go to BIOS, often the boot order has changed by itself. Also, one of the first times I went to BIOS it didn't even recognize a hard drive but then booted from it anyway!
I am not offered in the bios any Voltage analysis of the system to check the PSU.
I am no expert, but suspect possibly dusty contacts in the memory as it was empty and dusty when I found it. I vacuumed the inside. Since I have such an array of problems, I thought possibly a dodgy PSU? Or are we talking MOBO is a MOFO?
Your collective super geek intelligent input is much appreciated,
Wumpsdad
Found this machine without HD or memory.
its misbehaving-
Added an old HD and booted one time to XP but I couldn't pass the admion login screen without the password. With other HDs it had various problems. It said a few times an error with the IDE cable. I tried 4 different ones and kept getting the same error, so I doubt its that.
I removed the battery and reset the CMOS then replaced the battery. On startup the memory counts up and stops at 832 mb and a message says there is a problem with the memory and to try removing memory sticks to isolate it. That is 192 mb short of the total: Is that relevant?
Now it gives 2 beeps at startup, which if what I have read on these sites in correct means a memory error.
So I tried the different sticks separately but with all it gives a 2 beep code at startup.
I swapped the HD again, and maybe that is another separate problem, as an IDE DPS self test says it failed completion code 7. Now when I try to boot I get "NTLDR is missing, press any key to restart".
Also, when I go to BIOS, often the boot order has changed by itself. Also, one of the first times I went to BIOS it didn't even recognize a hard drive but then booted from it anyway!
I am not offered in the bios any Voltage analysis of the system to check the PSU.
I am no expert, but suspect possibly dusty contacts in the memory as it was empty and dusty when I found it. I vacuumed the inside. Since I have such an array of problems, I thought possibly a dodgy PSU? Or are we talking MOBO is a MOFO?
Your collective super geek intelligent input is much appreciated,
Wumpsdad