LONG startups and Lockups on new comp

[AmishSlayer]

I just got my new comp started up when my Leadtek 6800GT pci-e arrived today and after hooking it up, formatting my HD and installing windows I notice I have a HUGE startup time. After the BIOS info passes and all the little tests are done it goes to a black screen and sits there for about 3-4 minutes before the windows logo and the little loading bar pops up and windows continues to load...not only is this a pain but it's not my only problem.

After dealing with the long startup I started installing things I need - mobo drivers, sound drivers, new nvidia drivers, etc. I started to run windows update stuff when my next problem came up. I was installing some windows updates when my comp locked up all of a sudden and there was some weird graphical distortion at the top of my monitor (vertical lines of different colors in the top 1 1/2" of the screen). I had to hard reset.

First thing I checked when my comp finally restarted was cpu temps, mobo temps etc. Nothing seems too high. My case temp is about 83 degrees and mobo and cpu temps aren't too high, like 100F and lower or something. I forget (I'm at work).

So I hope it's a fluke and I start to install windows updates again. This time the lockup happens without any graphical distortion but it's the same type of lockup. No control or anything. Hard reset.

I started looking in my BIOS settings and I decided to change everything to "Optimize Defaults" or something. Now when I start my computer a little image of silver comes up and it says "Platinum" in the middle. I have to hit TAB to continue the startup and get off the screen (I don't like that). I didn't get a chance to try anything else out because I had to come to work.

Any help please?

[Nitemare]

mind telling us your system specs?

[AmishSlayer]

mind telling us your system specs?

Oh yeah...derp

AMD 64 3200+
1gb pc4300 ram
Leadtek 6800GT pci-e
MSI K8n4 mobo
120gb ata-133 7200rpm HD

[Sir. S.A.S]

you said yourcase temps are 83 degrees is that c. or f.

I had a simular problem in my machine but i found out a bios update and drivers updated sorted it...

[AmishSlayer]

you said yourcase temps are 83 degrees is that c. or f.

I had a simular problem in my machine but i found out a bios update and drivers updated sorted it...

My case temp isn't as relevant as cpu and mobo temp (right?) but it's 83F

I'll try the driver updates because the ones I have now are just from the CD i got with it...there's probably new drivers out.

[lcplsickoll]

Can you hit "Tab" when the screen is black? My Asus board searches for Raid and SCSI drivers after the POST screen and IDE search. This takes only about 15 sec but yours may be doing something along those lines also. The "TAB" key on an Asus board allows you to view all the testing. I'm not sure what it is for MSI

[AmishSlayer]

Can you hit "Tab" when the screen is black? My Asus board searches for Raid and SCSI drivers after the POST screen and IDE search. This takes only about 15 sec but yours may be doing something along those lines also. The "TAB" key on an Asus board allows you to view all the testing. I'm not sure what it is for MSI

I havne't tried that. I will though.

I formatted and the long startups are still there. I hope I don't get the hangups when I run BF2 and update windows.

EDIT: OMG I pressed Tab when it went black and it continued starting up right away. Thanks a ton. I was getting SO sick of waiting 5 minutes every time I restarted and when you're installing drivers and all kinds of software it gets to be a LOT.

[lcplsickoll]

I don't thinks it's windows. I believe it's your BIOS or the motherboard searching for devices. Is this a new motherboard? What I'd do is manually clear the CMOS by removing the battery from the motherboard, moving the CMOS jumper over and then reinstalling the battery. You'll be prompted to set the Time/Date in the BIOS but leave everything else default. See if that helps. If it does then you can adjust your BIOS accordingly from there. Optimized Defaults aren't actually the Default settings. My gut is telling me it's not the OS.

[AmishSlayer]

I don't thinks it's windows. I believe it's your BIOS or the motherboard searching for devices. Is this a new motherboard? What I'd do is manually clear the CMOS by removing the battery from the motherboard, moving the CMOS jumper over and then reinstalling the battery. You'll be prompted to set the Time/Date in the BIOS but leave everything else default. See if that helps. If it does then you can adjust your BIOS accordingly from there. Optimized Defaults aren't actually the Default settings. My gut is telling me it's not the OS.

I don't know where the CMOS battery is or these jumpers are... I'm next to illiterate when it comes to hardware.

I got another lockup when I was updating windows software again. It was during .NET framework when some visual distortion appeared across the screen in a small bar and my comp was frozen. Had to hard reset.

Is there any way I hooked up my graphics card incorrectly? I used the power cable the hook up to the only two random plugs I could find after connecting it to my card. I'd guess it's the gfx card.

My specs are as follows:

AMD 64 3200+
1gb pc3200
MSI K8N Neo4
Leadtek 6800 GT pci-e

[lcplsickoll]

If you don't have the manual for your motherboard you'd have to search around till you found a jumper labeled CMOS_CLR, but forget that. It's possible you either have unstable or insufficient power for that card, although I don't have one so I'm not positive. I'd have to look into it. I hate to go down this road but do you know what kind of power supply you have? PS I'm actually leaving work now so I might check this tonight, but it is Friday and I don't sit home on Friday nights. I'll check back to see how you made out tomorrow morning. Good Luck.

[AmishSlayer]

If you don't have the manual for your motherboard you'd have to search around till you found a jumper labeled CMOS_CLR, but forget that. It's possible you either have unstable or insufficient power for that card, although I don't have one so I'm not positive. I'd have to look into it. I hate to go down this road but do you know what kind of power supply you have? PS I'm actually leaving work now so I might check this tonight, but it is Friday and I don't sit home on Friday nights. I'll check back to see how you made out tomorrow morning. Good Luck.

hmm..I dunno what kind of power supply I have but I know it's 420W which should be enough for the hardware I have...right?

Maybe I'll try to find other plugs to use for hooking up power to my card. When I first hooked it up an nvidia window popped up saying I didn't have enough power going to it because I only had one plug hooked up properly. I hooked up the 2nd plug and the message didn't come up again.

Also...how can I tell temps on my gfx card and stuff?

EDIT: Oh boy....for some reason my comp locks up every time I try to shut it down...

[AmishSlayer]

Well the shut down lockups are gone for some reason...no other improvements though. Everything I've tried has gone nowhere.

[AmishSlayer]

Well along the PSU investigation. I hear that's most likely the problem because psu's that come with the cases are usually not that great...and between a cd-rom drive, hd, leadtek 6800gt (with that massive heatsink), 3 extra fans, and some lights it's just too much for my 420W psu.

I ordered one from newegg which will hopefully come sometime in the middle of next week.

In the meantime I started messing with various things in my case. I unplugged all the lights and tried other plugs (to see if the two gfx plugs were on the same line) and was testing things out.

I can open up 3dmark05 and run the first demo through and part of the 2nd demo before it locks up on me now which leads me to believe that it really is the psu that is at fault.

[lcplsickoll]

Yup, it's not BF2. It may very well be your powersupply. Newegg.com has a great selection and you can get a good PSU for under $70

[AmishSlayer]

Yup, it's not BF2. It may very well be your powersupply. Newegg.com has a great selection and you can get a good PSU for under $70

I knew it wasn't bf2 but I hear it could be that I don't have 64bit drivers because my cpu is an AMD64...although that seems like BS to me.