«

Working on a system. The customer asked me to format the system using the
restore disks that came with the system. Its a Gateway Select 1100. I used
the disks and everything went smoothly. I had to replace the NIC, because
he wasn't sure where it came from (his ex-wife had the computer for a
while), so I couldn't find a suitable driver. Started it up, set it up,
gained Internet access through my network. Still no problems. Shut it down
and waited until the next afternoon for delivery. I started it up to check
it out one more time before I delvered it and it would hang while booting to
the GUI (either during or right after the splash screen or while loading the
icons on the desktop).
I tried to reinstall from the disks again. It went slick as snot again until
I shut down the system and tried to restart it hours later. Same problem as
before. The system hangs while loading the GUI or just after and there is
no more hard disk activity.
I removed the HDD, replaced it with a known good one and loaded Windows 98
on it (the system came with Windows ME). Same thing.
I removed all PCI cards including the new NIC. Still hangs.
I tested the PCU. It seems fine.
I swapped out RAM. Same deal.
I checked the mobo for blown capacitors and the like (I'd expect spontaneous
shutdowns or reboots, rather than lockups, but ya never know). Everything
seems fine.
it locks up whether drivers are loaded or not. It locks up going into Safe
Mode.
But I can reload the OS and it will run fine for as long as I'm working on
it. I can restart the machine, shut it down to remove hardware, etc. It
boots right back up, no problem. But once I walk away for a while, the
machine will not load the GUI.

Please, please, please, any ideas?

Chris

PCU should have been PSU... my apologies for large fingers.

Chris

"Chris Evans" <> wrote in message
news:%FAae.15094$r53.1990@attbi_s21...
> Working on a system. The customer asked me to format the system using the
> restore disks that came with the system. Its a Gateway Select 1100. I
> used the disks and everything went smoothly. I had to replace the NIC,
> because he wasn't sure where it came from (his ex-wife had the computer
> for a while), so I couldn't find a suitable driver. Started it up, set it
> up, gained Internet access through my network. Still no problems. Shut
> it down and waited until the next afternoon for delivery. I started it up
> to check it out one more time before I delvered it and it would hang while
> booting to the GUI (either during or right after the splash screen or
> while loading the icons on the desktop).
> I tried to reinstall from the disks again. It went slick as snot again
> until I shut down the system and tried to restart it hours later. Same
> problem as before. The system hangs while loading the GUI or just after
> and there is no more hard disk activity.
> I removed the HDD, replaced it with a known good one and loaded Windows 98
> on it (the system came with Windows ME). Same thing.
> I removed all PCI cards including the new NIC. Still hangs.
> I tested the PCU. It seems fine.
> I swapped out RAM. Same deal.
> I checked the mobo for blown capacitors and the like (I'd expect
> spontaneous shutdowns or reboots, rather than lockups, but ya never know).
> Everything seems fine.
> it locks up whether drivers are loaded or not. It locks up going into
> Safe Mode.
> But I can reload the OS and it will run fine for as long as I'm working on
> it. I can restart the machine, shut it down to remove hardware, etc. It
> boots right back up, no problem. But once I walk away for a while, the
> machine will not load the GUI.
>
> Please, please, please, any ideas?
>
> Chris
>

Hi Chris,

Did you check the CPU fan or switch out the IDE cable?

Hi Chris,

Symptoms sound thermal related.

Shut it off, give it a good jolt and start it up.

I've had a few do the same thing. If it (the jolt) makes any difference
at all, the mobo may have a cracked circuit trace somewhere (assuming
you have reseated everything already).



Bill

Chris Evans wrote:
> Working on a system. The customer asked me to format the system using the
> restore disks that came with the system. Its a Gateway Select 1100. I used
> the disks and everything went smoothly. I had to replace the NIC, because
> he wasn't sure where it came from (his ex-wife had the computer for a
> while), so I couldn't find a suitable driver. Started it up, set it up,
> gained Internet access through my network. Still no problems. Shut it down
> and waited until the next afternoon for delivery. I started it up to check
> it out one more time before I delvered it and it would hang while booting to
> the GUI (either during or right after the splash screen or while loading the
> icons on the desktop).
> I tried to reinstall from the disks again. It went slick as snot again until
> I shut down the system and tried to restart it hours later. Same problem as
> before. The system hangs while loading the GUI or just after and there is
> no more hard disk activity.
> I removed the HDD, replaced it with a known good one and loaded Windows 98
> on it (the system came with Windows ME). Same thing.
> I removed all PCI cards including the new NIC. Still hangs.
> I tested the PCU. It seems fine.
> I swapped out RAM. Same deal.
> I checked the mobo for blown capacitors and the like (I'd expect spontaneous
> shutdowns or reboots, rather than lockups, but ya never know). Everything
> seems fine.
> it locks up whether drivers are loaded or not. It locks up going into Safe
> Mode.
> But I can reload the OS and it will run fine for as long as I'm working on
> it. I can restart the machine, shut it down to remove hardware, etc. It
> boots right back up, no problem. But once I walk away for a while, the
> machine will not load the GUI.
>
> Please, please, please, any ideas?
>
> Chris
>
>

On Sat, 23 Apr 2005 16:15:07 -0700, "Chris Evans"
<> wrote:

>Working on a system. The customer asked me to format the system using the
>restore disks that came with the system. Its a Gateway Select 1100. I used
>the disks and everything went smoothly. I had to replace the NIC, because
>he wasn't sure where it came from (his ex-wife had the computer for a
>while), so I couldn't find a suitable driver. Started it up, set it up,
>gained Internet access through my network. Still no problems. Shut it down
>and waited until the next afternoon for delivery. I started it up to check
>it out one more time before I delvered it and it would hang while booting to
>the GUI (either during or right after the splash screen or while loading the
>icons on the desktop).
>I tried to reinstall from the disks again. It went slick as snot again until
>I shut down the system and tried to restart it hours later. Same problem as
>before. The system hangs while loading the GUI or just after and there is
>no more hard disk activity.
>I removed the HDD, replaced it with a known good one and loaded Windows 98
>on it (the system came with Windows ME). Same thing.
>I removed all PCI cards including the new NIC. Still hangs.
>I tested the PCU. It seems fine.
>I swapped out RAM. Same deal.
>I checked the mobo for blown capacitors and the like (I'd expect spontaneous
>shutdowns or reboots, rather than lockups, but ya never know). Everything
>seems fine.
>it locks up whether drivers are loaded or not. It locks up going into Safe
>Mode.
>But I can reload the OS and it will run fine for as long as I'm working on
>it. I can restart the machine, shut it down to remove hardware, etc. It
>boots right back up, no problem. But once I walk away for a while, the
>machine will not load the GUI.
>
>Please, please, please, any ideas?


Are you sure it's a *permanent* hang?

Many times a machine with network problems *appears* to be hung, when
in fact, it's just waiting a long time for an IP address from a DHSCP
server. If there isn't one available, it can seem like a hang.

Are there "leftovers" from the previous NIC that might be screwing
things up? Do you have it connected to your network when thsi
happens? Try assigning it a permanent IP address (IOW, don't have it
use DHCP), see if that makes a diff.


M

"sardu" <> wrote in message
news:IeDae.11542$ hlink.net...
>
> "Chris Evans" <> wrote in message
> news:6IAae.15097$r53.6940@attbi_s21...
>> PCU should have been PSU... my apologies for large fingers.
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> "Chris Evans" <> wrote in message
>> news:%FAae.15094$r53.1990@attbi_s21...
>>> Working on a system. The customer asked me to format the system using
>>> the restore disks that came with the system. Its a Gateway Select 1100.
>>> I used the disks and everything went smoothly. I had to replace the
>>> NIC, because he wasn't sure where it came from (his ex-wife had the
>>> computer for a while), so I couldn't find a suitable driver. Started it
>>> up, set it up, gained Internet access through my network. Still no
>>> problems. Shut it down and waited until the next afternoon for delivery.
>>> I started it up to check it out one more time before I delvered it and
>>> it would hang while booting to the GUI (either during or right after the
>>> splash screen or while loading the icons on the desktop).
>>> I tried to reinstall from the disks again. It went slick as snot again
>>> until I shut down the system and tried to restart it hours later. Same
>>> problem as before. The system hangs while loading the GUI or just after
>>> and there is no more hard disk activity.
>>> I removed the HDD, replaced it with a known good one and loaded Windows
>>> 98 on it (the system came with Windows ME). Same thing.
>>> I removed all PCI cards including the new NIC. Still hangs.
>>> I tested the PCU. It seems fine.
>>> I swapped out RAM. Same deal.
>>> I checked the mobo for blown capacitors and the like (I'd expect
>>> spontaneous shutdowns or reboots, rather than lockups, but ya never
>>> know). Everything seems fine.
>>> it locks up whether drivers are loaded or not. It locks up going into
>>> Safe Mode.
>>> But I can reload the OS and it will run fine for as long as I'm working
>>> on it. I can restart the machine, shut it down to remove hardware, etc.
>>> It boots right back up, no problem. But once I walk away for a while,
>>> the machine will not load the GUI.
>>>
>>> Please, please, please, any ideas?
>>>
>>> Chris
>>>
>>
> Did you try stripping it down to the bare minimum to boot? (no
> soundcard, nic, etc.) And loaded default settings in the bios?
>
Yes, stripped it down to just HDD, RAM, video, mouse and keyboard. Removed
the mouse and keyboard and tried also. I loaded both defaults in the BIOS
(there is Failsafe Defaults and Optimized Defaults), neither helped.

Two of the first things checked. Thanks.


"D. Brown" <> wrote in message
news:y-qdndVgF6q7YvffRVn-...
> Hi Chris,
>
> Did you check the CPU fan or switch out the IDE cable?
>

Bill,

I did give it a jolt and was able to get it up and running well for quite a
while, shut it down, let it rest and not able to boot again. Bad mobo.
This was strange one for me. I actually woke up last night thinking maybe
it was a grounding problem with the mobo, but this was a first for me. Live
and learn. Thanks a lot.

Chris
A+, Net+

"Bill" <> wrote in message
news:Ovednc3Un46u8PbfRVn-...
> Hi Chris,
>
> Symptoms sound thermal related.
>
> Shut it off, give it a good jolt and start it up.
>
> I've had a few do the same thing. If it (the jolt) makes any difference at
> all, the mobo may have a cracked circuit trace somewhere (assuming you
> have reseated everything already).
>
>
>
> Bill
>
> Chris Evans wrote:
>> Working on a system. The customer asked me to format the system using
>> the restore disks that came with the system. Its a Gateway Select 1100.
>> I used the disks and everything went smoothly. I had to replace the NIC,
>> because he wasn't sure where it came from (his ex-wife had the computer
>> for a while), so I couldn't find a suitable driver. Started it up, set
>> it up, gained Internet access through my network. Still no problems.
>> Shut it down and waited until the next afternoon for delivery. I started
>> it up to check it out one more time before I delvered it and it would
>> hang while booting to the GUI (either during or right after the splash
>> screen or while loading the icons on the desktop).
>> I tried to reinstall from the disks again. It went slick as snot again
>> until I shut down the system and tried to restart it hours later. Same
>> problem as before. The system hangs while loading the GUI or just after
>> and there is no more hard disk activity.
>> I removed the HDD, replaced it with a known good one and loaded Windows
>> 98 on it (the system came with Windows ME). Same thing.
>> I removed all PCI cards including the new NIC. Still hangs.
>> I tested the PCU. It seems fine.
>> I swapped out RAM. Same deal.
>> I checked the mobo for blown capacitors and the like (I'd expect
>> spontaneous shutdowns or reboots, rather than lockups, but ya never
>> know). Everything seems fine.
>> it locks up whether drivers are loaded or not. It locks up going into
>> Safe Mode.
>> But I can reload the OS and it will run fine for as long as I'm working
>> on it. I can restart the machine, shut it down to remove hardware, etc.
>> It boots right back up, no problem. But once I walk away for a while,
>> the machine will not load the GUI.
>>
>> Please, please, please, any ideas?
>>
>> Chris

"Rightard Whitey" <> wrote in message
news:G9Pae.10292$. ..
> Chris Evans wrote:
>> Working on a system. The customer asked me to format the system using
>> the restore disks that came with the system. Its a Gateway Select 1100.
>> I used the disks and everything went smoothly. I had to replace the NIC,
>> because he wasn't sure where it came from (his ex-wife had the computer
>> for a while), so I couldn't find a suitable driver. Started it up, set
>> it up, gained Internet access through my network. Still no problems.
>> Shut it down and waited until the next afternoon for delivery. I started
>> it up to check it out one more time before I delvered it and it would
>> hang while booting to the GUI (either during or right after the splash
>> screen or while loading the icons on the desktop).
>> I tried to reinstall from the disks again. It went slick as snot again
>> until I shut down the system and tried to restart it hours later. Same
>> problem as before. The system hangs while loading the GUI or just after
>> and there is no more hard disk activity.
>> I removed the HDD, replaced it with a known good one and loaded Windows
>> 98 on it (the system came with Windows ME). Same thing.
>> I removed all PCI cards including the new NIC. Still hangs.
>> I tested the PCU. It seems fine.
>> I swapped out RAM. Same deal.
>> I checked the mobo for blown capacitors and the like (I'd expect
>> spontaneous shutdowns or reboots, rather than lockups, but ya never
>> know). Everything seems fine.
>> it locks up whether drivers are loaded or not. It locks up going into
>> Safe Mode.
>> But I can reload the OS and it will run fine for as long as I'm working
>> on it. I can restart the machine, shut it down to remove hardware, etc.
>> It boots right back up, no problem. But once I walk away for a while,
>> the machine will not load the GUI.
>>
>> Please, please, please, any ideas?
>>
>> Chris
> Virus? Did you install a firewall before you connected to the Internet? Is
> a virus checker installed?
>
> --
> Educating rightards every day.

I have a jump drive loaded with security apps that I always load before
inserting the RJ-45. Yes, the system was protected. It definately a
hardware problem.

"mhaase-at-springmind.com" <mhaase-at-springmind.com@> wrote in message
news:...
> On Sat, 23 Apr 2005 16:15:07 -0700, "Chris Evans"
> <> wrote:
>
>>Working on a system. The customer asked me to format the system using the
>>restore disks that came with the system. Its a Gateway Select 1100. I
>>used
>>the disks and everything went smoothly. I had to replace the NIC, because
>>he wasn't sure where it came from (his ex-wife had the computer for a
>>while), so I couldn't find a suitable driver. Started it up, set it up,
>>gained Internet access through my network. Still no problems. Shut it
>>down
>>and waited until the next afternoon for delivery. I started it up to
>>check
>>it out one more time before I delvered it and it would hang while booting
>>to
>>the GUI (either during or right after the splash screen or while loading
>>the
>>icons on the desktop).
>>I tried to reinstall from the disks again. It went slick as snot again
>>until
>>I shut down the system and tried to restart it hours later. Same problem
>>as
>>before. The system hangs while loading the GUI or just after and there is
>>no more hard disk activity.
>>I removed the HDD, replaced it with a known good one and loaded Windows 98
>>on it (the system came with Windows ME). Same thing.
>>I removed all PCI cards including the new NIC. Still hangs.
>>I tested the PCU. It seems fine.
>>I swapped out RAM. Same deal.
>>I checked the mobo for blown capacitors and the like (I'd expect
>>spontaneous
>>shutdowns or reboots, rather than lockups, but ya never know). Everything
>>seems fine.
>>it locks up whether drivers are loaded or not. It locks up going into
>>Safe
>>Mode.
>>But I can reload the OS and it will run fine for as long as I'm working on
>>it. I can restart the machine, shut it down to remove hardware, etc. It
>>boots right back up, no problem. But once I walk away for a while, the
>>machine will not load the GUI.
>>
>>Please, please, please, any ideas?
>
>
> Are you sure it's a *permanent* hang?
>
> Many times a machine with network problems *appears* to be hung, when
> in fact, it's just waiting a long time for an IP address from a DHSCP
> server. If there isn't one available, it can seem like a hang.
>
> Are there "leftovers" from the previous NIC that might be screwing
> things up? Do you have it connected to your network when thsi
> happens? Try assigning it a permanent IP address (IOW, don't have it
> use DHCP), see if that makes a diff.
>
>
> M

Thanks for the thought, but it hangs whether I have a connection setup or
not, even after removing all cards and drivers, so there was no temp hang
waiting on an IP address. I'm thinking a bad mobo from another post in this
string.