[SOLVED] HP Pavilion m8300f

[JNEWTON]

PROBLEM : Re-installing windows vista as client requested. HP no longer sales the recovery discs for this model so I was told to contact computer surgeons where I then ordered the recovery discs. Once I received the discs, I re-installed the OS. The following BSOD's have occurred a number of times during installation: PFN list corrupt, IRQL not less or equal, memory management.

The BSOD's are random and do not always occur, with that said I threw in a good stick of memory and the memory management BSOD continues regardless. Once I got past the BSOD's, I was able to re-install the OS up to a point. It says that it will reboot as its finished installing the OS, upon rebooting it loads windows PE where it issues partition commands and then goes to a white screen with 2 folders transferring files and stays there.

HP says it should stay on the screen for 72 hours, I did that and it continues. Computer surgeons says its a result of a bad sector on the HDD. This pc has 2 hdd's, I have tested both with gsmart control as well as the on board tests and they all come back fine. I tried both hdd's and the same thing happens. I have gone through the BIOS and disabled everything that was not necessary in addition to removing the sound card and nic card. I googled this issue and its common on this model but no one has found a solution.

SPECS :

HP pavilion m8300f
32 bit windows vista home premium
product # GX611AA-ABA
SN: CNX7500PH4


This is the first time I've had a pc problem that I haven't been able to solve and everything that I've listed above I have done 2x or more. The pc is currently on the white page with the 2 folders transferring files and has been there in excess of 72 hours.

If there is anything I missed let me know.

Thanks!

 

[NYJimbo]

Open it back up and eyeball all the caps not just the tops but where they sit on the mobo. Lots of old cans on that motherboard to go bad on you.

Did you run a ram test, even with the new ram, just in case its a mobo issue ?

 

[JNEWTON]

Open it back up and eyeball all the caps not just the tops but where they sit on the mobo. Lots of old cans on that motherboard to go bad on you.

Did you run a ram test, even with the new ram, just in case its a mobo issue ?

Checked all capacitors, only one bulging but none of them look loose or abnormal. I've ran ram tests with both sticks and they come back fine, I tried booting it without ram and it does acknowledge there is no ram( beep noise).

 

[FremontPC]

One bulging nukes it. Caps can go bad and give no visual confirmation, but if you see one that's bulging, mobo's a goner. You can replace all the caps that are of the same issue (value, voltage, etc) but their cousins may spoil the party.

Call the priest.

 

[JNEWTON]

One bulging nukes it. Caps can go bad and give no visual confirmation, but if you see one that's bulging, mobo's a goner. You can replace all the caps that are of the same issue (value, voltage, etc) but their cousins may spoil the party.

Call the priest.

Thanks everyone!

Problem solved, bulging capacitors.