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First off, these are the components I am working with:

Gigabyte 570 SLI motherboard
Visiontek ATI 4870 vid card
2x1 GB G.Skill RAM
2x512 MB G. Skill RAM
Western Digital 320 GB Sata HDD
LITE-ON DVD/RW drive
AMG Athlon X2 6400+

Here is the situation, I was reformating my drive with my Windows XP SP2 disk that I had used to previously install. Everything was routine until it got the "installing devices" mark at 39 minutes. I got a blue screen stop error. A google search of the codes returned 0 results. I figured it must be one of those typical windows flukes and I tried the reinstall again. Delete partion, reformat, install, blue screen. Three more times. Now I figure something is seriously wrong at this point. Since these were stop errors, I ran MemTest+ on the memory to find no errors. The funny thing is, it was a new stop error every time. Since Memtest came back clean, I decided to swap video cards, as maybe that was the memory culprit. Switching from the 4870 to a Zotac 8800gt an trying to install yeilded the same blue screen result at 39 minutes with a new error code. I then tried a fresh set of RAM modules just to be safe. same as before, failed install. Tried a different DVD drive, failed. Tried a new hard drive, failed.

Well that narrows down the choices quite a bit. The only culprits are my proc, mobo, and the install media itself. Since I didn't have a spare proc around, I tried a different OS disk. Mandriva One 2009 fails to load on the system as well. Everything goes fine until it just hits a black screen. No error codes, no blue screen, just a blinking cursor on a black screen. Next I tried a "vLite"-ed Vista disk I had handy. Vista installed on the system, barely, but is riddled with errors (other than the Vista ones). Errors such as blue screen stop errors when trying to move a file. Complete system lock when handling any large file. Error codes on Wndows Update. Blue screens on boot, random reboots, and complete system lock when trying to delete a file. In other words, unusable.

What bothers me, is that until last week, I had all three of these operating systems on here, installed from these same disks. No BIOS settings have been touched, no hardware was changed, no drivers were altered, nothing. I only chose to reformat because windows XP was feeling...off...somehow.

So basically, do you all think my motherboard is fried? If so, what part of it fried if I am somewhat able to get an OS going (albeit crippled with errors)? I have eliminated the HDD, DVD drive, memory, and video card. I don't have a network card or sound card, so all that is left is the proc/mobo.

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Alot of boards don't like mixed RAM in size. Try pulling out the two 512mb DIMMS and then installing Windows


Message edited by stoner133 on 01-06-2009 at 05:20:42 AM
Reply to stoner133

Bad power, or bad hard drive, or high temp.

Reply to roadrunner197069

try to use one stick of memory and see. also maybe you dont have enough power from the psu

Reply to Winly

This same hardware configuration had been working for 3 months without fail.


Message edited by sovtek37 on 01-06-2009 at 06:45:28 AM
Reply to sovtek37

My usual first step in this sort of situation is to fully clear the CMOS memory on the MB. Do the whole nine yards - unplug PS, remove battery, short jumper for 5 minutes or so.
Also, your RAM may require higher-than-standard DRAM voltage -- make sure you have set the correct voltage in the BIOS if this is so. Remember that memtest86+ isn't a severe test of the memory.
Finally, you didn't mention any power supply -- what brand and model number are you using? It wouldn't be unexpected for a lesser-quality supply to start failing after a few months, especially with a high-power video card like your 4870.

------------------------------ e2160@3GHz: OCing my way to Ubuntuland!
Reply to Mondoman

I agree with clear cmos. Also suspect power supply.

I wouldn't thinnk the processor is suspect unless you couldn't boot. And I have had motherboards that refused to install an os, but their problems were more obvious. Its possible, but I would suspect other components first.

The stop errors do sound like a memory problem. Try winly's suggestion first, just boot with one stick.

Reply to buzznut
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > General Motherboard > Is this mobo dead-ish?
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