Crorse

So I'm not sure were to post this, since I have no idea what is hapening, I figure it's either the mobo or SOMETHING attached to it that is killing my computer.

I was having issues running UT3, and my computer had begun running much slower than normal, due to my experimentation with different software installs and uninstall, regular usage residual files and the like, and I decided it was about timeto wipe my computer for a clean install of the good ol' XP

So I go through the arduous precess of reinstalling windows, and installing my software of choice, avoiding download of many hardware drivers, so that I could choose the ATI driver set that would allow me to run UT3.

after I go to windows updates a couple times, and get my system pretty well up to snuff it begins rebooting itself repeatedly. not quickly, though, it restarts, plugs through the boot process, and loads up Win XP.

Now here's the problem, I can do everything I should be able to do for the first fifteen seconds or so, then my computer black screens and restarts itself.

After a few trues of correcting this, I finally give up, and let it set for a while, (in case it was some kind of overheating issue) but it boots up and does the exact same thing, taking the same amount of time as the prior day.


It got to the point where I just stuck my Win boot disk in again, and re-reformatted my PC. It goes through the same process, except for now I've reached the final step of not even loading WIn XP. It sounds like its booting, but it stops accessing the harddrive, and just runs the fans. at this point I tap the power switch, tap it, mind you, not the usuall multi-sec hold that it SHOULD take to shut it down, and it's powersdown immediately, with no cool down, or anything.


Does anyone have any clue to what is happening here?
I've never experienced an error that didn't let my do anything with it, outside of hardware failure, which is what I'm thinking this is going to end up being.

Chaos

i would remove all the components from the board and only connect the items required to install an OS. So, 1 CD-ROM, 1 HD, Ram, CPU and video card. If the board has onboard graphics I may even consider starting with it enabled and no add on card. Go through the install process once again after a fresh format (not quick format). Check inside your system and make sure all required fans are spinning up and that all cables and power connectors are snug at the individual components. Get all the required updates from Windows Update. If you use a graphics card start with the default driver Windows installs and any required chipset drivers for your motherboard uses and just try to use your system for surfing the web and such. If you have additional hardware add one item at a time testing for stability each step before adding anything else. While this is by no means a quick fix it will allow you to track down the problem eventually.