Hi,

I am a first time poster to this forum, and I hope that you can answer my question.

I have recently upgraded my CPU and Mobo, and since the upgrade I cannot load my OS. My new CPU is the AMD XP2500-M Barton, which is running at just above stock [166Mhz and 12.5 multiplier but it appears stable, although it is pulling 1.58V instead of 1.45V - I will change this myself], and my Mobo is the MSI K7N2 Delta2 Platinum, with onboard RAID and SATA.

I have 3 standard IDE hard drives, one which holds my OS [40Gb], a data drive [80G] and a brand new 160G drive. Although BIOS recognises all of these drives [I only have two connected at any one time], my PC will not load the OS. My new 160G drive now has a ghost image of my PC on it [which I know works as I built another PC from it last night], and this will not load either.

When I try to load, I get a blue screen error, but it is on the screen for a split second, and all I have manged to see is the words "Windows", "shutdown" and an error code that seems to end in zeros.

I am guessing that this is a BIOS setting, but as I have never built a system with either RAID or SATA on the Mobo, I am wondering if it has something to do with this.

I have returned the CPU back to 100Mhz and 8 multiplier as I wondered if it had become unstable [although if this chip is unstable at 2100Mhz I will eat my hat]. Memory isn't overclocked and is sitting at 7-3-3 timing, CAS 2.5. Can anyone help?

More Info: BTW, it POST's successfully [one short beep] so I guess there are no issues with hardware. I have also tried to boot into Safe mode, Last Know Good Profile, and normal and it just stops. I have also tried to use the Win XP repair program on the install CD. The CD loads so far and then when it says "starting setup" [or whatever] it just stops.

If you have Win2k or XP they do not take kindly to a MB replacement. I have personally never been able to get one to boot to a new MB without a reinstall.

Yes I am running a Microshaft OS, and I guess that the HAL [Hardware Access Layer] is way out. I should have known better than to expect it work straight off, but I just wondered if I had suddenly become a n00b overnight . I work all day trouble-shooting a huge server environment and sometimes I just forget how anal PCs can be.

Cheers for the tip AphJN, it looks like a data-transferring night tonight. Now where is that patch cable...