[rshaffer61]

OK so now it is booting fine again or is it still stuck at the post screen?

[Advertisements]

Hello rshaffer61,
Boots OK most of the time, have had a few freezing mouse incidents but seems to be running fine now (this message sent via PC and not laptop!)
Problem is we are still getting occasional freezes or failure to boot. Media cable fault message has now disappeared on boot up.
Not sure what 'post screen' means.
With best regards
Dave.

[puzzledb]

Hello rshaffer61,
Boots OK most of the time, have had a few freezing mouse incidents but seems to be running fine now (this message sent via PC and not laptop!)
Problem is we are still getting occasional freezes or failure to boot. Media cable fault message has now disappeared on boot up.
Not sure what 'post screen' means.
With best regards
Dave.

[rshaffer61]

oK I want to check some things because it looks like we have looked at the motherboard so much we skipped checking some other things.

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive. (Western Digital)
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, unfortunately, you're out of luck, because Toshiba doesn't provide any diagnostic tool.

Thanks to Broni for the instructions

Once this is completed with the results posted please do the next steps....

1. Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)
2. Unzip downloaded memtest86+-2.11.iso.zip file.
3. Inside, you'll find memtest86+-2.11.iso file.
4. Download, and install ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/
5. Insert blank CD into your CD drive.
6. Open ImgBurn, and click on Write image file to disc
7. Click on Browse for a file... icon:



8. Locate memtest86+-2.11.iso file, and click Open button.
9. Click on ImgBurn green arrow to start burning bootable memtest86 CD:



10. Once the CD is created, boot from it, and memtest will automatically start to run.

The running program will look something like this depending on the size and number of ram modules installed:




It's recommended to run 5-6 passes. Each pass contains very same 8 tests.

This will show the progress of the test. It can take a while. Be patient, or leave it running overnight.



The following image is the test results area:



The most important item here is the “errors” line. If you see ANY errors, even one, most likely, you have bad RAM.

[puzzledb]

Hello rshaffer61,
Thank you for further instructions.
How do I fnd out the manufacturer of my hard drive?
I can see only part of the side of it and the back where the IDE cable goes in.No information came with the computer except for a large sheet of paper with diagrams on how to plug everything in.I'm sure it is easy if you know how to find out but I know hardly any thing except Photoshop.

With best regards,

Dave.

[rshaffer61]

Your drive is a Western Digital. We found that out awhile back. I had to go and find it when I sent the instructions.

[puzzledb]

Hello rshaffer61'
I went to the tacktech site and chose Western Digital but up came a list of 7 items and I do not know which one to pick to download.

With best regards,

Dave.

[rshaffer61]

Get this one Data Lifeguard Tools 11.0 for DOS and Windows (CD) (01.02.2007)
You specifically want to use the DOS based one as this will allow you to reboot and run the test outside of the windows environment. Follow the instructions from here in the instructions I posted above

Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.

[puzzledb]

Hello rshaffer61,
I selected the one you told me to but just get "page not found" message followed by a list of suggestions.

With best regards,

Dave.

[rshaffer61]

If that doesn't work then get the first one on this page HERE
Seatools will normally do most of the others with no problem.

[puzzledb]

Hello rshaffer61
Ok I clicked on the link and selected the DOS one and this took me to a page on a website for Seagate.Here I see Seatools for DOS version ISO CD ROM Image
V 2.17 English.
Am I correct in thinking that is the one to click on?

With best regards,

Dave.

[rshaffer61]

Yes, and then follow the directions i posted about how to burn the file to a cd. It is important it is burned correctly or it will not work.

[puzzledb]

Hello rshafer61
Tried clicking on first one after you confirmed that I had got the correct selection but now all I get is "Page Error" 404.This is very strange as I got it OK before.

With best regards,

Dave.

[rshaffer61]

This is very strange as I got it OK before.

You already have the file and is it burned to a cd?

[puzzledb]

Hello rshaffer61
No can't get to download the file.
Clicked on your link "HERE" and this took me to "taktech" page which was headed Seagate LLC.
I picked the first option marked Seatools for DOS (ISO CD-ROM Image).
This takes me to a page on Seagate website that says "Page error 404".

With best regards,

Dave.

[rshaffer61]

Skip it and go on to the memtest. I will get a different diagnostic later.