Korean Job Discussion Forums

friendofIgnatius J. · Joined: 20 Aug 2006

So I have installed all the components and booted up my new computer. The motherboard loads and then it goes the next page shows up,
but there are black blocks missing from the screen. And these black blocks flicker across my screen. The computer continues to boot until the Microsoft Windows window and then restarts.

Any ideas?

First, all the components are used some from Yongsan and some from my old computer.

Second, the blocks only show up after the motherboard and BIOS boot. If i go to the BIOS menu the blocks don't show up.

Thanks,

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

Which components? Can you be specific?

Is the video jack mounted on the board or is there a video card added?

friendofIgnatius J. · Joined: 20 Aug 2006

Yeah, I have a Raedon 8000 video card mounted on the motherboard. And the power supply is 300W. And i have a CD-RW, two hard drives and the aforementioned video card.

Would it be the wiring or what?

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

You used the same hard drive from your old computer without formating and installing a new windows....right. You pulled the hard drive out of the old one and plugged it into the new one expecting windows to be fine. Format the drive using your windows xp disk. Then install a clean windows.

****Windows sometimes freaks out when you just throw it into a completely different system.

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

You didn't mention the motherboard, but here's what I'd try:

1. Remove all memory sticks but one. Even better: remove all of them, then do a good job of reinserting one and just one. Make sure you're not trying to insert it while the tower is vertical (you're probably not, just saying.)

then try. If it works, it means the ram wasn't sitting in the sockets properly, which can give results like you're facing.

If not, go to #2.

2. Remove the video card, and every other PCI or AGP card on the board. Reinsert properly the AGP card only. Power up and see if it boots. If the cards aren't sitting properly on the board - and this can happen if the board isn't installed well in the case - then you could get what you're getting.

No? Step 3.

3. Check the heat sink and fan on the top of the CPU is properly attached to the processor and is spinning well (same with the fan on the video card, if it has one). It's unlikely that it's causing this problem, but you never know.

4. Get an Ubuntu live CD (can be easily downloaded and burned in 10 minutes in Korea at any PC bang). Let it load from the CD-rom. If it boots and Windows didn't, try reinstalling Windows.

Bonus #5 - you didn't mention how new the computer is. If it's of recent generation, a 300w power supply is insufficient. They're cheap. You can avoid all sorts of problems with a higher rated supply.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Did you put a power connector from the PSU into the graphics card?

I didn't know I had to do that when I got my 6600GT a few years ago. The computer did what you describe until I saw the power connector at the back of the card and realized my mistake.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

friendofIgnatius J. · Joined: 20 Aug 2006

Ok I did what lemon said And it worked (thanks a lot Lemon). The problem of missing black spaces was solved. Now it only happens every couple of boots. I can live with that.

A new problem has arisen though. The onboard audio jack is not making any sounds. I have loaded the drivers, tried different speakers, reloaded the drivers, checked all the outlets, and checked the BIOS. Nothing. Can you think of anything else I can try?

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

That's a stranger one. Assuming it's enabled in the BIOS and all the drivers are showing to be correct, AND it's turned up in the sound mixer ap (don't forget that, I've made that mistake), and it's not working, it could be fried. If you have some free PCI slots, head to Yongsan where you can get a decent used card for under 5000w that will sound as good as your onboard sound ever did.

If your system is still giving you problems re the first problem, you might want to reload windows. Bellum99's right - Windows installations don't like to be transplanted into new systems. I've done it successfully before, but I've also had patients die on the operating table. When I do it I expect it to fail and let myself be pleasantly surprised when it works. Consider the reinstall.

friendofIgnatius J. · Joined: 20 Aug 2006

I have resigned myself to the fact that i will have to go to yongsan again. Thanks for your help Lemon.