Need help, BSOD!

[Elysium]

OK, so I'm having some trouble figuring this one out guys. The same friend who had problems in THIS thread is having problems again. In case you forgot, here are the specs:

E4300
Gigabyte 965P-DS3 (PCB Rev 3.3)
2x512MB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 675MHz RAM
MSI 8600GTS (Factory OC)
Thermaltake Toughpower 650W modular
WD 250GB HDD
Windows XP (used to be Vista Home Premium)

So here is the problem: yesterday, the machine was working fine, I even went over to his place and saw for myself, the computer was working great. Then this morning he calls me up and says his computer is not booting into Windows. I thought that was kind of strange since it was working perfectly the day before. I asked his if he opened the computer up or changed any hardware around, he say no. I just woke up and the computer would not boot into Windows.

So I go down to his house to check it out. The machine turns on, gets past the BIOS, then asks me whether I'd like to boot into normal mode, safe mode, etc. I chose normal mode and the Windows loading screen comes up like normal. After a few seconds the screen goes black, then BSOD's; it was too fast to read.

After the BSOD, the computer reboots itself. This time I go into the BIOS and load the fail-safe defaults. Once again, the machine BSOD's at the Windows loading screen.

Then I try safe-mode. I looks like it's going fine, but then it hangs, and I have to manually restart.

I check the temps in the BIOS, everything looks good (idles around 30C with the stock cooler). So the CPU isn't overheating.

We try one stick of RAM, then the other, in all the slots, same thing. At this point I suggest we take the machine up to my house so I could run MemTest on it or maybe try some of my hardware on the machine to make sure he doesn't have any broken or failing parts.

So we haul the computer up to my house and throw it on my tech station. I run MemTest and it passes with no errors. Just to be sure, I decide to use my G.Skill set.





Still, it BSODed. So, maybe the PSU? I know it, it was a long shot, but I'll try anyway.



Still with the BSOD. I thought, "maybe a failing HDD?" So I hooked up my HDD (which has Vista on it, BTW)



Half way through the Vista boot-up, it BSODed! Even in Vista! So I guess it's not related to the OS.

I decided to check the contact between the HSF and the CPU. I remember I put some crappy Coolermaster thermal paste on it last time I reseated the HSF for him.





And indeed, it is crappy. All dried out, and just overall crappy. Even though the CPU temps were fine, I used AS5 for the reseat.



And of course, another BSOD. At this point I was getting desperate, so I tried the GPU. He had the MSI 8600GTS...



And I switched it out for my BFG 8600GT.



Still BSODed. I then tried my E6420 in place of his E4300. The contact was pretty good, but could have been better.





E4300 (on the left) and E6420 (on the right)



With my E6420 in place, it still would BSOD. I'm really at a loss here guys, any ideas?

Thanks.

[Parker]

Hook up a different HD without windows on it, and see if you can install vista or something. If you get a BSOD installing vista, then I think you've got a bad mobo.

[Capper]

Disconnect everything, except the video card....no USB, no PS2, no ethernet, no HDD.....then just connect the HDD.

If you have the latest BIOS, and you've tried various BIOS settings, you may have a bad chipset.

[Elysium]

Originally Posted by Parker

Hook up a different HD without windows on it, and see if you can install vista or something. If you get a BSOD installing vista, then I think you've got a bad mobo.

But do mobos just go bad like that? It was working yesterday, perfectly!

[Elysium]

Originally Posted by Capper

Disconnect everything, except the video card....no USB, no PS2, no ethernet, no HDD.....then just connect the HDD.

If you have the latest BIOS, and you've tried various BIOS settings, you may have a bad chipset.

Just connected the HDD, no keyboard, mouse, etc. Still has the BSOD. I'm not sure if it's the latest BIOS, but both the E4300 and the E6420 get past the BIOS so I'm assuming that is not the issue.

I loaded the fail-safe settings in the BIOS, then tried the Optimized settings, both get the BSOD. So I guess it is a bad chipset/mobo... God, I'm gonna HATE giving him that news.

[Capper]

Try updating the BIOS first, if that doesn't work, its probably a bad chipset.

If the BIOS is F10 or earlier, neither CPU you are using is supported

[Elysium]

Originally Posted by Capper

Try updating the BIOS first, if that doesn't work, its probably a bad chipset.

If the BIOS is F10 or earlier, neither CPU you are using is supported

I disabled the full-screen boot-up logo and found out the BIOS is F12. So I guess it is a bad chipset. Well, I guess I can see how good Gigabyte's RMA really is now.

[Elysium]

Very strange observation guys... I switched out his Gigabyte 965P-DS3 for my DFI Blood Iron, but used all his parts (used his CPU, RAM, GPU, HDD). Of course, blue screen! But then I switched in my HDD, and got into Vista! So it must have been a HDD issue right? Maybe. Because when I was using the Gigabyte mobo, I couldn't boot into Vista, but with the DFI I can. So is it a mobo or HDD problem?

[Parker]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

Very strange observation guys... I switched out his Gigabyte 965P-DS3 for my DFI Blood Iron, but used all his parts (used his CPU, RAM, GPU, HDD). Of course, blue screen! But then I switched in my HDD, and got into Vista! So it must have been a HDD issue right? Maybe. Because when I was using the Gigabyte mobo, I couldn't boot into Vista, but with the DFI I can. So is it a mobo or HDD problem?

Edit:
Try using a blank HD with all of his stuff (including his mobo).
See if you can start installing vista or something.

[Elysium]

Originally Posted by Parker

Then it's an HD issue.
That's why I said to try out a different hard drive.

I tried both mine and his HDD with his mobo, both BSODed. Tried mine and his HDD with my mobo, only his BSODed, mine got into Vista.