Restart During windows Setup

[[email protected]]

HI, I've searched through the forums for a solution to this issue, I can find others about restarting, but nothing about my exact problem, so I apologise in advance if this has already been answered.

Ok..So i get my new computer parts through, put it together, switch it on, detects everything, chuck in windows disk, press any key to continue, lovely jubley...So it loads all the windows files, i tell it to format, at 3% *Restart*...Ok, so I try it again...at 4% *restart* err ok... again... restart during loading of windows files, pre-format...Ok it starts to get annoying now. I do this over and over for almost 2 days now, with it restarting at various intervals during the windows setup process and formatting process. I've tried using alternate Hard Drives, Windows Cd's, CD Drives, Graphics Cards, PSU's (450w & 600w)... Still nothing. The only thing i havnt tried using an alternative of is a CPU as i do not have a spare socket 775 lyin' around.(I'm not hot on how the CPU reacts to faults). All the fans are running nicely, also the cpu has a really nice cooling system, so i cant see any problems with it overheating.


Here are the original specs before messing around with alternatives:


975X Platinum MSI Motherboard
P4 3.2Ghz socket 775
ATI Radeon X850XTP PCI-E VPU 256MB DDR3
Maxtor 400GB SATA II
4GB DDR2 RAM

...As you can see, I'd love to get this beast running ...

Hope that helps...

I appreciate any assistance - Cheers!

[casecutter]

Re: Restart During windows Setup

Loosen up your memory timings. Also, make sure the board is giving them the proper volts for the memory timings. Most problems with these 975/965 boards are memory related. Try installing with only 1 stick installed if all else fails.

[[email protected]]

Re: Restart During windows Setup

Thanks for the help! I tried using 1 stick of RAM but still the same problem, although not too sure about what to set these timings to when i switch from auto to manual, any help? cheers!

[casecutter]

Re: Restart During windows Setup

The higher numbers make them loose. Just change the first 4, the rest can stay on auto.

ALso, if you haven't, try some of the other sata ports just to see if another one is happier than the one you're trying.

[PrairieDawg]

Re: Restart During windows Setup

Just in case the one stick of RAM you are trying with is faulty maybe try one of the others. Try a different slot for the one stick of ram .... just throwing out options that you've prolly already tried.

[[email protected]]

Re: Restart During windows Setup

Right, Still the same problem

I set all the timings to the highest numbers possible

CAS Latency Time 6
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay 6
DRAM RAS# Precharge 6
Precharge Delay (tRAS) 15


Also tried plugging the HD into different sata ports but that didnt effect anything

Also tried the memory voltages at 1.8, 1.9, 2.0

Any suggestions? cheers!

[casecutter]

Re: Restart During windows Setup

In my best guess, either you have a bad harddrive or bad motherboard. But that is mostly speculation. If you have access to another hard drive, that is what I would blame first.

[[email protected]]

Re: Restart During windows Setup

Well I've tried using an IDE HD but that didn't make a difference... u reckon its a faulty motherboard? Although its currently been sitting on the CMOS screen now for bout half hour, and no restarts - it only restarts when i try actually doing something other than edit cmos, surely if it was a motherboard fault, it would also restart at this point?