I have two computers. One I use as my main computer, and the second I use for backup purposes. My main computer's hard drive got corrupted (6.4 gigs of bad sectors, I have no idea how it went unnoticed for so long), so I went to check my backup.

To make a long story short, I ended up having to salvage the data from the corrupted filesystem of the main computer. The backup simply wouldn't boot.

I had a feeling that the problem is the memory, because UBCD boots in the memory and it wouldn't boot either. But it may not be. The problem is, it's not BSoDing, it's simply rebooting. This is strange to me, because in the past it had always BSoD'd whenever it had a problem (which was rare.)

Even stranger than that, is that I checked the BIOS log, and it was throwing a Keyboard Error on each boot. Now, this computer has quite alot of problems with Keyboard Errors, I have switched out the keyboard several times. I have no idea why, but it just does. But I disconnected the keyboard from the computer, and it continued to throw Keyboard Errors with no keyboard connected. That was really strange. So, since the keyboard was USB, I thought it might be another USB device interfering, since I had to put an extra USB card in because of all the USB devices.

SO I unhooked all the USB devices, still another Keyboard Error. Then, I tried plugging a PS/2 keyboard in to see if that would make a difference, no change. I took the USB card out, no change. It has two memory sticks, I tried swapping them out, no change. I took the hard drive out, it didn't show a hard drive error, just a reboot still. But it still showed yet another Keyboard Error. I have no idea what it could be.

If it helps any, the computer has had a second strange defect since the day I got it. It will play every single type of movie EXCEPT for .MIX files. It will get partway through .MIX files then the player will crash, any player, not just one. I switched out the Video Card, trying to fix it, but the same problem happened. I even reinstalled XP Pro to a fresh copy to see if that would fix it, it didn't. This struck me as odd, because you would think switching out the video card would solve the problem, but it didn't. In another computer with the same video card, .MIX files wouldn't crash.

The OS is XP Pro, it has two P4 processors (I think, because it shows 2 Processors even though it isn't dual core.) It is a Dell Dimension 8400, with a few hardware modifications. I also got a new Radeon Card for it about a year ago, although I'm happy with the card, it's noisy as . It also has a LCD flat screen instead of the CRT that came with it.

Trust me, I won't be buying anymore dell computers. The dell company is probably going bankrupt because they forgot to make their hardware fail AFTER the warranty expired. The reason I'm asking here though, is because the technician who was sent out couldn't figure out the problem. He couldn't open the computer case either, so I figure he wasn't all that competent though.Dell? WELL known for BAD customer support, BAD power supplies and BAD motherboards.
Witness all the problems, well documented on the internet, with the Dell XPS 400.
My personal favorite, is the number of systems that they put out with XP and only 256megs of ram.
In my book that should be a hanging offense.

Sorry, I can't offer you any Quick fixes.

Shadow

PS: Oh, by the way, most of those tech's that are sent out to service a Dell, are from a local shop and work for peanuts.
Once upon a time, I was the one called by the extended warranty companies to go out and fix their customer's computers. They would only pay me $40 for a service call and then getting parts was another really big hassle.
I finally had to tell them where to shove it. the keyboard error will occur on every boot since there is no PS/2 keyboard.


Which programs did you use to play MIX files... or more precisely, what players did you install to try it?


it only has one processor- likely a P4 with hyper-threading, thus the display of two

LOL @ not opening the case.


Basically, dell is no worse then any of the other manufacturers... Aside that they have been in the PC clone business since... since they called them IBM clones, I suppose. Of course- that is no assurance of anything.


I have never had a computer spontaneously fail in multiple portions- the fact that you didn't even notice 6.4GB of bad sectors leads me to believe you simply weren't observant until it was too late (No offense, of course) that is- you didn't start looking for problems until you had one (the HD) and how you've found several that were pre-existing from before the HD corruption.


basically- try this:

remove All unnecessary expansion cards. If your motherboard has integrated video, see if that works- if not just have the video card inside.

Swap out the ram with known good RAM

use as little memory as possible- a single stick, for example. (ideally >128MB, so that XP will at least boot if it gets that far)

If the PS/2 keyboard still doesn't work- try to borrow another PS/2 keyboard... just to make SURE it's not a bad keyboard.)

Does the keyboards lights flash after booting?

If I read correctly- every attempt to boot an OS results in a reboot? including the UBCD?

As you say yourself- sounds like it could be a RAM issue...


Well, if the PS/2 Keyboard Error shows because there's no keyboard, why did it show another Keyboard Error when there was a PS/2 keyboard plugged in? That's the thing I wonder about. (I had a second from my mother's computer, and I did try that one.)

Secondly, I'm talking about the .MIX files in Red Alert 2, they also played in a second player, but I can't bring the name to memory. Was it... Media Player Classic? I don't know, all I know is I don't have that player right now.

Thanks for clearing that up about the processor. I'm a software person, not hardware.

No, it didn't spontaneously fail. The bad sectors were probably there for a long time. I, in fact, knew they were because windows wouldn't format past 20% - the first section of damaged hard drive. I guess I just ignored it, which was a bad idea. I take no offense, that was simply stupidity on my part, because I even had HDTune installed on the computer.

To clarify what I mean by "boot up," I mean that it gets to the loading screen on XP for about 10 seconds then reboots.

And, I just posted this to answer what you said, but I haven't gotten a chance to test the tests you suggested. I just wanted to make sure you knew I wasn't dead.

P.S. The Dell Laptop with the failed Hard Drive also has had 3 motherboard replacements, 2 RAM replacements, 5 Power Adapter Replacements, 2 BATTERY Replacements, 1 Keyboard replacement, and now... 1 Hard Drive Replacement. All under warranty.

I should probably just get a new computer, but I'd rather keep getting new stuff under warranty just to spite them. Their hardware is so bad that they don't deserve the money I paid for it. However, the backup computer was labeled such because it has never failed before. But that's because it's several years old, so, they probably didn't make them as junky back then. I wonder if Dell flipped a "get a new computer" switch on my backup computer?