Slow Boot - boot disk failure 1

[asawadude]

My son's PC fried a few days ago because of a power supply failure. The symptoms were a loud pop in the power supply, resulting a smoking power supply box. Fearing the worst, I bought all new parts and started putting a new box together, but trying to salvage whatever parts are still usable.

Thus far, I've replaced the power supply and mobo. When I boot up the reassembled system, the computer autopromptly goes to post, autorecognizes the original hard drive (not new), but then takes several minutes to bring up the AWARD bios setting page which shows the RAM, HD, and IRQ settings, which all appear correct. After a few more minutes, the ESD settings success message appears, then another few more minutes appear before I get a boot failure message. The BIOS screens appear to be fine - it autorecognizes the CPU, the HD, and the DIMM speed and capacity.

I then replaced the graphics card, memory stick, IDE cables, and hard drive with all new parts, but I receive the same error. No other peripherals are attached. The one part I didn't replace was the CPU. I have a new CPU on hand, but I don't want to open the package if I don't have to.

Does a slow boot up and resulting boot failure indicate a bad CPU? If the BIOS autorecognizes the CPU, does this indicate that the CPU is operating properly?

I'm off to work in a few minutes, but I'm hoping if I post this problem, I can get some responses as to what to do next when I resume fixing the system later on this evening.

Here's the system specs:

Old parts:
Tyan Trinity 400 board
IBM 20GB 7200 RPM ATA66 drive
Intel P3 733 MHZ Retail Box
Nvidia TNT2 64 MB
2 sticks - PC133 128 MB

New parts:
AZZA 694 El Cheapo board (works well in my other son's PC)
WD 30 GB 7200 RPM ATA100 drive
Intel P3 1 GHZ Retail Box (not yet installed)
Nvidia GForce2 64 MB
1 stick - PC133 2568 MB

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Even though I bought enough parts to replace the entire system, I want to use whatever parts are still functioning while I have the opportunity to return them without a restocking charge.

TIA for your help.

 

[edfair]

It can be a symptom of a bad CPU. Anything that slows the processor down ,however , will also give the same symptom.
Probably would go into BIOS and clear the CMOS settings for all IDE settings and check the boot sequence since CD choice in the bootsting will create some of these too. Then do an autodetect.
There are some timing problems between IDE channels and hard drives that can cause it, but the new hard drive should have resolved that as a possible cause. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[asawadude]

I did try resetting the CMOS, as well as disconnecting the floppy and setting the BIOS to boot off the hard drive.

Thinking about it now, I didn't try the opposite - disconnecting the HD and trying to boot off the floppy.

But like you, I am guessing the CPU is damaged. I guess I have to open up that new 1GHZ P3.

This makes me wonder if I should use name-brand power supplies (i.e. PC Power, Sparkle, etc.) in future builds. I've been paying as little as $35 for a 300 watt mid-tower; my guess is a $15 dollar power supply fried $250 to $300 worth of parts (866 MHZ P3, mobo, and ram).

Thanks for the help. It is greatly appreciated.

 

[edfair]

You would probably be better off with a name brand supply, but I've had name brands fry stuff too. This was just "the luck of the draw". Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[asawadude]

Update -

Swapped out the old CPU for a new one. Now I have 100% new parts - but same problem occurs.
Removed and reseated all parts - same problem.

Both CPU's, old and new, work on another computer.

Now I am thoroughly befuddled. I am suspecting bad mobo, so I am returning it for another one.