[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tim S2K
[B]Thanks for the input, but I cannot get to the safe mode (I don't know why).

 

S4 Mike,

if I do an XP re-install, will all of my other files stay intact?

 

You mean your "My Documents" folder and such? Yes, they will, just make sure not to select "format drive" during one of the install steps The only thing I don't know is whether you will have to re-install all of your programs (like Office, Netscape, etc) so that they're seen by Windows again, but the program files will remain on the hd.

 

Hey Tim... You may want to try all your stuff in a new case. Often the power supply can cause numerous errors that get mistaken for motherboard or video card. The worst enemy of a computer is BAD power. Does your motherboard have a video card built in? This may have to be 'jumpered' if it does. But for your problem the following is likely: motherboard, video card, power supply, memory and HEAT. Windows XP error is likely just a result of an underlying problem. In which case you can install and resinstall all you want.. It may work for a few days and come back again..

 

I hear what you are saying Silvercat. Seems that the only way to check for faulty P.S. is by swapping it....unless it just goes bellyup. I think its the video card b/c system would not boot with it in. The bios would not even load and MSI troubleshooting LED bracket said that it was hanging on the VGA bios loading (this will not even give you the single beep - meaning bios loaded). Sometimes I could get it to run and when loading up a game, the computer would lock up or reboot. Everything seemed to run fine without the card.

I have reloaded 12 files so far and I am up to the V's. This is very time consuming. Will try an OS reinstall if I determine its too many corrupted files.

Safe-mode must be after the most basic file curruption check?.... which I am stuck on.

Replacing the power supply will be next after I get it running w/o the AGP video card. Will keep you posted.

 

One other thing I forgot to mention, are you sure you have your BIOS setup correctly to handle AGP? Do you have the video boot preference set to AGP instead of PCI? What is your AGP frame size set to? What AGP speed do you have set (2x, 4x, 8x, etc)? Try lowering/raising it. In the end, it could just be faulty hardware. To eliminate heat from the equation, try booting w/ the case off and see if that helps.

 

Replaced 13 specific .dll files but then it went back in the alphabet. So I replaced them all and then the system gave me blue screen of death for an .exe files. I replaced all the system32 files that were last updated by Windows, Microsoft Update.

Now I can at least choose to boot in safemode.

I am getting another blue screen that I cannot read (goes by too fast) and then the system automatically reboots.

So far, will not boot in Normal, Safe, Safe w/ Networking or Safe w/Prompt". The thing just keeps rebooting after it displays the unknow screen of death.

I am going to try and reinstall XP. Wish me luck! I will keep checking here for any other comments.

 

Thanks Mike,

I bought a new Mother Board so IMO, that eliminates that. I believe AGP was set correctly (4x) but system will recognize whether or not an AGP card is inserted and try that one. If no AGP card, system boots without delay with the PCI card. But if problem with AGP card, you will not even get the single beep. A bad video card is one of the reasons a system will not boot.

 

If your system never gets past the boot screen dont even bother with XP. Worry about that later as Microsoft will probably end up being corrupt. (Think Linux) Ok you have changed motherboards same problem... What about video card? Pick up a 20 dollar card and give it a try. Hell a TNT2 card probably cost that much by now. Heat and bad power are your two biggest enemies. If your motherboard is making 2 quick beeps though replace your video card.

 

I wish I had another AGP to swap with.... that would help eliminate that troubleshooting step.

I have a 300Watt P.S. now, a larger one couldn't hurt.

I have backed up all important files. I will paly around with re-installing and just try to re-install the OS. Worst case scenario, I blow everything away and spend 5 hours downloading and installing software, updates, and games.

I've been lucky, haven't had a complete failure for 2 years.