My new build, 2004-RZ Gigabyte motherboard, 3.2ghz P4 processor 800mhz FSB, Geforce 6800 Ultra 256mb, 512mb DDR333 Ram, 650W Q-Tec PSU, LG DVD Rom Drive.
When start it up, it runs ok. I try and install windows, and things work most of the time, but a few times I try the thing freezes midway. If I do manage to install windows, however, when I load windows itself sometimes it simply loads the background and nothing else at all. If I reinstall, sometimes it works, and windows starts normally. However, if I try and load any games or programs they work for about 5 seconds before cutting out. I have installed all the drivers etc. Every now and then I got a blue screen and an error message with loads of 0's involved, and it has to 'dump physical memory'. I have tried using my old processor which I know works, and that has the same problem. There is nothing wrong with the graphics or DVD drive. Would it have anything to do with compatibility between FSB and anything? I have no idea, im sincerely confused. The motherboard is the only new bit which I think is the problem, its not broken but theres obviously something i havent done right. Thanks loads to anyone who can help me. PLEASE TRY!!!

Is it an on-board graphics chip or a separate graphics card that you have proved is working OK?

Could be a FSB/memory conflict but I don't know what to advise for that really. Read the whole motherboard manual and make sure you've triple-checked any settings.

Are your hard disk properties displaying correctly in the BIOS? Sometimes, the auto-detection feature will get most of the settings right but mess up one of them, only causing a problem after Windows has been installed.

Although it seems like a random load of rubbish, those blue screen errors (including the numbers) do actually mean something to Microsoft. Make a note of the error next time you see it and type it into the Microsoft Knowledge Base search box to see if there are any articles explaining what it's got stuck with.

separate graphics card that is definitely working. tried it on my friends computer just earlier.
i have a few problems with the hard disk settings, mainly because I dont know what the right ones are! how can i find that out? Ive checked all the settings but i havent had a look at a memory conflict.
ill have a look at the error message, but it changes sometimes, it ends with 8 or 2 and has loads of zeroes before. every now and then the error message disappears so quickly i cant read. thanks for the swift reply!!!

Its not a compatibility problem with my FSb and memory, i tried using my old motherboard which has a 400mhz fsb and it would definitely work with my ddr333 ram and that isnt working either. it could still be the auto assign for my hard drive, but i dont know what it actually is. its a Western Digital 40gb 5400rpm but i dont know what model, i think its a wd400EB. something like that, but im not sure. thanks a lot.

it turns out that my hard drive is getting the wrong settings picked up, it has far too many cylinders, but i cant find out what landing zone or sector it should have. do u think u could please help? its a Western Digital WD400EB hard drive. would these incorrect settings account for th problems im having? thanks a load to anyone who can help.

16,383 cylinders
16 heads
63 sectors
landing zone 16,383

Ultra DMA mode 5 (ATA100 / 100Mbps) if you get an option to enter that anywhere.

It could definitely explain the problems that you are getting. Let us know how you get on

what access mode do i use? the only one where i can actually change the settings is CHS? if i change the settings, save and exit, if i immediately reenter BIOS and have a look at the settings, theyve returned to how they were before! and if i change the settings to the ones u said, it says I only have an 8.4 GB drive, which aint right! if i try and install windows, it gets through around half of the installation, and then freezes still. is it possible that my hard drive is simply broken? maybe it sparked and messed its settings or something? thanks againn for the help.

Hi, see if your BIOS has an access mode for 'LBA' or 'Block' or 'Large'. If it doesn't, see if there's a setting in one of the other BIOS screens to switch on 'Logical Block Addressing'.

I still reckon that it's your hard disk settings that are causing the problem, especially if you are having trouble getting them to save properly in the BIOS. I could be wrong but I think it's the most likely cause.

i tried the large setting, didnt work, the blue screen came in the middle of installation. tring LBA now. it seems to have the right number of sectors and the right size for the drive but still the wrong size for the cylinders. dunno why? anyway, will reply with what happens.cheers again.