computer won't install or boot any OS properly!?

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jdaniel 125

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Jul 14, 2015
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i made a previous thread about this yesterday, but that was no help at all.


im so frustrated about this right now...

i have an old 2007 compaq presario sr5250NX that I'm trying to convert into a media center PC, but it won't install any OS!

when I took the computer out of my basement, it was running windows vista and only had 598 MB of space left on its 320 GB hard drive. so I formatted it.

ive been with this problem for 2 months now, every time I try to install an OS. it freezes! for instance, I've tried to install lubuntu, and as soon as I clicked the "Install Lubuntu" button. the computer freezes up.

i burned a live sparky Linux DVD. and it worked perfectly, then I clicked the "install sparky Linux" button, and I went through it smoothly, before it started copying files, it told me to create an account and when I was doing that, the computer froze. And I felt like throwing it out the window so badly....


I've tried a Windows 7 home premium installation DVD I have, it freezes at the starting Windows screen. or gets a BSOD saying that files are corrupt even though they aren't.

I've tried a Windows 10 USB and DVD, both of them freeze at the blue Windows logo. even though I've tried them and they work perfectly on my gaming PC.

this is incredibly frustrating, I've switched ram modules with working ones and switched the entire PSU out but it didn't make a difference. and the northbridge was getting unusually hot so I applied thermos paste to that and the CPU but it didn't work. the computer ran memtest but 10 minutes later, the computer rebooted. i managed to get it to stay in the BIOS overnight without freezing, but it always freezes up when it meets an OS. can anyone help? i already ordered a new GPU and CPU and RAM off of amazon for this, and here are the specs of the PC.

PSU: bestec 300 watt
mobo: ASUS lancaster8
CPU: Intel pentium dual core e2140 (gonna be replaced with a core 2 duo e4400)
GPU: integrated Intel GMA 950 ( gonna be replaced with a GT 520)
RAM: 2 GB DDR2 (gonna be replaced with 4 GB DDR2)
HDD: 320 GB WD (already replaced with 600 GB drive)
OS: nothing yet because this stubborn computer won't let me install anything

and I've also tried a new DVD drive. and that didn't work, and for some reason. the CPU fan keeps speeding up and stays at a 100%, but when I touch the heatsink, it's very cool to the touch...

sometimes when the computer freezes, the PC speaker starts beeping rapidly and pixels and lines appear all over the screen. is that an integrated GPU problem? when I'm trying to install an OS or when i actually boot into one (I managed to boot into Ubuntu without the computer freezing.) the computer randomly restarts with no sign of overheating. i don't get it. the most common error for this PC when I'm doing something are these 3 things


1. freezing when installing or logging into an OS

2. restarting when installing or logging into an OS

3. OS boot up process freezing up and blinking cursor appearing

4. pixels and lines appearing all over the screen and rapid high pitched beeping coming from PC speaker

5. flashing numbers and letters appearing on screen and low pitched beeping coming from PC speaker

6. screen randomly going black and flashing


i tried everything. I'm about to give up on this and I need help

EDIT: here's a picture of one of the crashes the computer had when booting into Ubuntu

http://imgur.com/KK0pABM
 
Solution
eggbrook


Have you checked the RAM? I would run memtest on it briefly just to confirm that memory isn't the issue, otherwise everything points at the CPU as the culprit.
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eggbrook

eggbrook

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How long were you able to use the computer before you started trying to install a new OS? You power supply is a no name brand and its 9 years old. My best guess is that your power supply can't keep up
 
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jdaniel 125

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the computer was being used by a family member until he bought a laptop and gave it back to me, when I first booted it up. it was extremely slow since it had vista with no service packs. so I formatted the drive and installed Windows 10 without any problems. it was working fine with no freezing. but I didn't have a product key for it so I just put it in the corner of my room and left it. then I took it out 5 days ago

and the power supply is a more recent one. the original power supply was a failing bestec 250 watt. so I changed it with a more recent 300 watt that is confirmed working.
 
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jdaniel 125

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and the first thing I did when I took out the computer was gently remove the CPU from its socket to clean it. I noticed that i accidentally moved one of the CPU socket pins slightly out of place, very slightly. could that be the problem?
 
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eggbrook

eggbrook

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It is possible that touching the pin may cause the CPU to not function properly, I'd check the hard drive, throw it in another computer format it and check disk it, see if everything is good. Otherwise the CPU would be the next culprit on the list. Those pins are very fragile
 
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eggbrook

eggbrook

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Have you checked the RAM? I would run memtest on it briefly just to confirm that memory isn't the issue, otherwise everything points at the CPU as the culprit.
 
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jdaniel 125

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my problem has been solved, it's the CPU, in Ubuntu and memtest, I keep getting kernel panics and the error messages always mention the CPU. i guess the pentium dual core chip is dying. it's been overheating a lot.
 
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eggbrook

eggbrook

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That is actually because you turned the power supply on, but to turn it off it has to go through the BIOS to register the command to shut down. Without the CPU the BIOS chip cannot run, nothing can run.
 
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