View Single Post
Old 02-27-09, 03:46 PM   #7
Seacuckoo
Nub
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 4
Downloads: 0
Uploads: 0
Default

As others have suggested, I'd start with trying to make sure that you have fully functioning hardware, after your box took its fall. We know it fell hard enough to damage the data that was originally on your HDD. You may have already taken these steps, but I mention them for completeness.

Open the case and examine all the connections between your power supply and the motherboard and other components. Make sure all the data cables are snug, as well. Check that all the cards are fully seated into the motherboard (e.g., video card and memory modules). As has been mentioned, make sure that the heatsink is still firmly seated on your CPU. However it is fastened to the MB, make sure that it is still secured.

Since we know that the hard drive took a hit already, download and run the diagnostics utility from your HDD manufacturer's website. You'll want to run the full scan that reads and writes to the whole disk (make sure you have a back up of any data that you don't want to risk losing, in case this test puts your HDD over the edge).

If the HDD seems fine, download and run MemTest86+ overnight, to make sure your RAM hasn't gone bad.

If the RAM seems fine, download and run the torture test of Prime95. Again, I'd let it run overnight. I'd suggest that you also have some utility to monitor the temperature of your CPU before letting this program run for very long. Or, at least boot up and go directly into the BIOS to check the BIOS hardware monitoring to see what temperature your CPU is at under moderate load. I either use the utility that came with the MB or SpeedFan for monitoring CPU temps during stress testing.

Given that your problems started with your system taking a good jarring, this is where I'd start the process of elimination, before focusing in on software issues. Good luck.
Seacuckoo is offline   Reply With Quote