KenB

Hi, using software for PSU voltages is not really accurate enough - it will give you an idea but not definite. Testing a PSU: click here The voltages need to be quite close to the expected ones - say within +/- 5% So on the 5v side ......... 4.75v would be OK( just) but 4.5v is low. 12v .............. 11.5 v would be low.

If the CMOS battery is OK it could well be linked with the PSU. As already explained, the PSU could be giving a low voltage on one of the the 5v / 3.3v / 12v rails. I would try a different PSU ( it does not have to be 550Watts as you have in at the moment to test ) Can you borrow one or take one out of another system ? If you have a friendly local tech - they may lend you one to test your system.

Not necessarily. Was your Date and Time correct on the PC? The reason I ask is that the error you indicate could be related to the CMOS battery. Try removing the CMOS battery ( coin sized disk battery on the motherboard ) leave it out for 1 minute and replace. The + should be on top. If the Time and Date don't hold correct then this battery needs replacing. So ............. PSU may need replacing. CMOS battery needs looking at - and the very least remove it for 1 minute ( this will reset the BIOS to defaults )

Good to hear we are nearly there :) Take a look here: ( prompted by Nev ) click here Does this help at all ?

Hi and welcome from me too :) If the HDD diagnostics comes up with no problems I suspect, as you do, that it is a PSU problem. I have seen these conditions before and the cause turned out to be a problem PSU. The thing with PSUs is that often they do not die ..... but function below voltage on one of the rails or the voltage fluctuates. The easiest way to test a PSU is to swap it for a known good one. The replacement does not need to be the same wattage ( for testing ) and if the wattage is greater than the present one this is fine. Let us know how you get on.

Looks like you drove it through a dung heap !! Nev - that looks like a pint of mild you are being served :) Great effect !!

The RAM module that is causing the problem needs to be replaced. ( there are different types - make sure you get the right one ) It has died a very quiet death :) Don't bother with the BIOS - I suspect that the problem lies totally with the RAM module. Yes - no problem. You may find that the machines runs a little slower than usual - but at least it is running :)

At this stage it is looking for the OS to boot from. Download Linux Mint ( or an other Linux OS ) and try to install this on the new HDD. See if the system will boot from this. click here You will need to burn this to a CD. You can run this OS from CD or install it. Try both. If it installs and runs OK - then there possibly is a problem with the Windows disks.

Hi again If it is getting this far it has gone past POST ( Power On Self Test ). At this stage the system is looking for an OS to run. Did you manage to install the OS or were there problems ? I assume this answers my question above ? Basic question ..... When you tried to load a new OS onto the new HDD .......... did you check to see if the CDROM was the first Boot Device in the BIOS ? If it isn't the system will go straight to the HDD ......... not find an OS to run ...........error message.

Hi I am sure Nev will be able to point you in the right direction on this one. He should be online soon :)

Hi Take a look here ( saves typing :) ) click here You are interested in the LED flash sequence ( scroll down the page ) Does this give a hint as to what is going on ? Also: Try taking the RAM modules out completely ( they will be under a panel in the base of the laptop ) Switch on. Anything on screen now ? If yes - shut down and put just one module in and try this. Try the other if no go with the first module.

I think you may well be correct - if the motherboard is different from the original. OEM installations are tied to the motherboard. Was it a like for like replacement? How did you manage to get the Vista OS to run once you replaced the motherboard ? As Nev says - if it was simply a case of replacing the m/board then switching on ........ your recovery disks should work. Just a thought .. You do have the CDROM set as the first Boot Device in the BIOS ?

Hi and welcome to ExTS Try taking the battery out and using just mains power. Do you get anything on screen now? Try it with battery alone ( no mains lead ) If still a problem ....... switch on and constantly tap F8 about once per second. Can you get to the Startup Options ? If so - try "Last Known Good Configuration" first then "Safe Mode" if no joy with L-K-G-C Let me know the results.

Hi gracebie and welcome to ExTS :) I assume you are referring to a laptop battery ? I suspect that joddle is having problems with a desktop machine ( I may be wrong ) and his hard disk in particular. Thanks for posting the video - it may help. We will not know until joddle replies.

We don't give up that easily here :) DVD drive not working ?? What symptoms do you get ? I am still not convinced re. Hard Drive.

Is this a Dell machine ? If so - this error code indicates a failing hard drive. Presumably a different fault? ( you give no details ) When you say you ran diagnostics .... Was this the hard drive manufacturers software ? If not - I suggest you download the manufacturers software from their website and run that. ( obviously you will need to have the HDD connected to a working machine ) You will either get a pass or fail on the drive. Often there is a short test and a longer one. If either fail I would replace the hard drive. XP is not very forgiving when you change hard drives - even in similar systems. This may explain why you got an error when you swapped drives.

You say the W-D is new ..... If the W-D diagnostic is giving you a fail on bad sectors I would return the drive to whoever sold it to you and ask for a replacement.

Hi seglea and welcome to ExTS :) Thank you for your positive comments and good to hear that you managed to fix your problem.

Let us know the results of both the Win8 Upgrade Assistant and the W-D diagnostic software. :)

Hi 2 Hard Drives - one with XP other with Win 8 Disconnected WD with Win 8 on it. This points to the WD HDD Boot up with XP then connect WD Drive. If you get an error then it looks like a faulty drive. If not - as the drive is not in use it should not get hot. Monitor this. Download WD Lifeguard from here: click here Install it on the XP drive and run a test on the connected WD Drive ============ I assume this is not a modern board - but a replacement for the original XP one ? 2GB RAM is fine for Win8. Did you run a Win8 diagnostics on your system to see if it is compatible. Download Upgrade Assistant from here click here

Hi I think I have got the gist of what you are saying ...... The Hard drive should not be hot to touch after just switching on. This is probably why you are getting the "required device is not connected" message. Suggest that you connect the HDD to another machine and run a diagnostic on it. WD should have software on their site to do this.

Hi Jim I have moved this thread to the Windows 7 forum ............ it is probably more appropriate there :)

Hi Jim Good guess - I taught Technology specialising in Materials and Electronics :) We are the same age .... 1950 ?? This is a far better way of getting qualified ........... as long as the support in the school is good !! I used to be the one who looked after any Uni students who were attached to our department ..... I took no prisoners but those who wanted to get on and learn did :) Wish him and his partner luck. It is a lottery - get into a good school with decent kids ... they will be fine. What they don't want is to go to work and every day is a battle !! Recipe for stress !!

We must be a similar age Jim :) Which Uni and what course is he doing Jim ? [ I used to teach before I retired :) ] Let it run for a day or two just to confirm that things are OK. Is there anything else that we can do with SWMBO's machine before you pass it on ? Can you access the internet with it for instance ? Is the webcam working?

Me ?? ............ little me ???? :)