Need help to keep my antique puter from kicking the bucket!! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

crewsor · 07-07-2003, 07:03 AM

I have a 4455 HP pavillion running win2k pro. I have recently added two 20 gig Harddrives and upgraded the ram. Every thing worked fine until recently I started getting the error cannot find operating system whenever I shut it down for longer than a couple hours.
I usually have to turn it off and on 10 to 20 time before it will finally reboot. I have allready swapped out the harddrive with the op system and replaced the cables. I believe that indicates the problem is with the mother board.
I am planning to get a new computer but would like to get this one operational as a second machine on my wireless network in addition to my laptop and new one.
My question is, does anyone know how dificult it would be to locate an inexpensive mobo for this unit. I'm not looking for anything fancy. It is a 400mghz celeron and the same thing would be fine.
I'm not sure how I can tell if another mobo would be compatible with my system, if I should look for something used or if I would be able to find a new one for such an old system.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

VeXteR · 07-07-2003, 08:27 AM

You might try a different power supply. A board could prolly be found for 20 bucks on Ebay. But I dont really like them too much. Another solution would be a newer mainboard for and AMD and an 1800xp. Newegg could get ya into that for right at a 100 bucks. Would still new a new power supply as the one you have would prolly not like the power draw of the newer hardware.

crewsor · 07-07-2003, 10:46 AM

The only problem is I don't know what I'm searching for. I need a site where I can enter my model and it will tell me what will work. I went to newegg but was lost. I don't know enough to know what specific type or brand will be compatible with my mini tower and system.

petergriffin24 · 07-07-2003, 11:00 AM

yeah you would be better off getting a new computer because it can be a HUGE hassle finding the right mother board with the processor and the memory it all has to match up and be operational

crewsor · 07-07-2003, 11:03 AM

That sux. It seems like such a waste to just trash the system.

cheerios · 07-07-2003, 11:42 AM

careful!! those HP cases aren't standard size!!! if you buy ssomething new, it may not fit! There's something odd in your IDE connections, it sounds like to me... have you looked at hte pins on the hDD and hte mobo, to make sure they're not bent/missing? Make sure they're seated correctly. that's serious weird, especially the part about it having a time limit for a proper reboot

crewsor · 07-07-2003, 12:38 PM

Yeah the connections are all good, it works like a champ as long as I don't shut it down for an extended period. Maybe thats my solution, but I seem to have this complex about things not working the way they should, and I'm thinking its probly gonna crash hard soon if I just ignore it.

yodapaul · 07-08-2003, 04:13 PM

Have you checked your CMOS battery?

yotta · 07-08-2003, 06:34 PM

Yea, this sounds like a problem with the cmos battery.... It's usualy user-replacable.

crewsor · 07-09-2003, 01:15 PM

The battery huh? That never even crossed my mind. That will cause that symptom? I guess I could just put a meter on it and check. You would think as advanced as they are they could have a prompt for a low battery. Oh well.

tinfoil · 07-09-2003, 05:27 PM

I still vote on power supply. If your BIOS has an IDE delay feature in it, try that. If you can set it to do a slow POST, try that as well. As it's an HP, it may have a wonky HP only power supply that is model specific. Have fun if it is.

crewsor · 07-09-2003, 05:45 PM

I don't understand why you think it may be the power supply. The drives are getting power. I have run with the case open and can feel and hear the drives spinning, but it still doesn't find the o.s. sometimes. Could it still be the power supply even though the drives are spinning?
As far as the IDE delay, I poked around in the bios settings and didn't find that, but I havn't changed any of the bios settings since it was working properly so I wouldn't think the settings would be causing it.

yakimushi · 07-09-2003, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crewsor
I don't understand why you think it may be the power supply. The drives are getting power. I have run with the case open and can feel and hear the drives spinning, but it still doesn't find the o.s. sometimes. Could it still be the power supply even though the drives are spinning?
As far as the IDE delay, I poked around in the bios settings and didn't find that, but I havn't changed any of the bios settings since it was working properly so I wouldn't think the settings would be causing it.

I didn't think proprietary machines had any user changeable bios settings to speak of

crewsor · 07-09-2003, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yakimushi
I didn't think proprietary machines had any user changeable bios settings to speak of

You're right, theres not much there. A few basic settings and thats it.

07-07-2003, 07:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
crewsor Women want me. Men fear me. Location: Maryland,USA	Need help to keep my antique H.P. from kicking the bucket!! I have a 4455 HP pavillion running win2k pro. I have recently added two 20 gig Harddrives and upgraded the ram. Every thing worked fine until recently I started getting the error cannot find operating system whenever I shut it down for longer than a couple hours. I usually have to turn it off and on 10 to 20 time before it will finally reboot. I have allready swapped out the harddrive with the op system and replaced the cables. I believe that indicates the problem is with the mother board. I am planning to get a new computer but would like to get this one operational as a second machine on my wireless network in addition to my laptop and new one. My question is, does anyone know how dificult it would be to locate an inexpensive mobo for this unit. I'm not looking for anything fancy. It is a 400mghz celeron and the same thing would be fine. I'm not sure how I can tell if another mobo would be compatible with my system, if I should look for something used or if I would be able to find a new one for such an old system. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. __________________ We all have wings, some of us just don't know why. Last edited by crewsor; 07-07-2003 at 06:26 PM..

07-07-2003, 08:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
VeXteR Crazy Location: Missouri	You might try a different power supply. A board could prolly be found for 20 bucks on Ebay. But I dont really like them too much. Another solution would be a newer mainboard for and AMD and an 1800xp. Newegg could get ya into that for right at a 100 bucks. Would still new a new power supply as the one you have would prolly not like the power draw of the newer hardware. __________________ If its not broke I'm prolly not done yet.

07-07-2003, 10:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
crewsor Women want me. Men fear me. Location: Maryland,USA	The only problem is I don't know what I'm searching for. I need a site where I can enter my model and it will tell me what will work. I went to newegg but was lost. I don't know enough to know what specific type or brand will be compatible with my mini tower and system. __________________ We all have wings, some of us just don't know why.

07-07-2003, 11:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
crewsor Women want me. Men fear me. Location: Maryland,USA	That sux. It seems like such a waste to just trash the system. __________________ We all have wings, some of us just don't know why.

07-07-2003, 12:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
crewsor Women want me. Men fear me. Location: Maryland,USA	Yeah the connections are all good, it works like a champ as long as I don't shut it down for an extended period. Maybe thats my solution, but I seem to have this complex about things not working the way they should, and I'm thinking its probly gonna crash hard soon if I just ignore it. __________________ We all have wings, some of us just don't know why.

07-07-2003, 11:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
petergriffin24 Insane	yeah you would be better off getting a new computer because it can be a HUGE hassle finding the right mother board with the processor and the memory it all has to match up and be operational

07-07-2003, 11:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
cheerios Banned Location: 'bout 2 feet from my iMac	careful!! those HP cases aren't standard size!!! if you buy ssomething new, it may not fit! There's something odd in your IDE connections, it sounds like to me... have you looked at hte pins on the hDD and hte mobo, to make sure they're not bent/missing? Make sure they're seated correctly. that's serious weird, especially the part about it having a time limit for a proper reboot

07-08-2003, 04:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
yodapaul Insane Location: MN	Have you checked your CMOS battery? __________________ I'm Just here to help. Now, Where is your problem?

07-08-2003, 06:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
yotta Irresponsible	Yea, this sounds like a problem with the cmos battery.... It's usualy user-replacable. __________________ I am Jack's signature.

07-09-2003, 01:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
crewsor Women want me. Men fear me. Location: Maryland,USA	The battery huh? That never even crossed my mind. That will cause that symptom? I guess I could just put a meter on it and check. You would think as advanced as they are they could have a prompt for a low battery. Oh well. __________________ We all have wings, some of us just don't know why. Last edited by crewsor; 07-09-2003 at 01:19 PM..

07-09-2003, 05:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
tinfoil Fucking Hostile Location: Springford, ON, Canada	I still vote on power supply. If your BIOS has an IDE delay feature in it, try that. If you can set it to do a slow POST, try that as well. As it's an HP, it may have a wonky HP only power supply that is model specific. Have fun if it is. __________________ Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

07-09-2003, 05:45 PM	#12 (permalink)
crewsor Women want me. Men fear me. Location: Maryland,USA	I don't understand why you think it may be the power supply. The drives are getting power. I have run with the case open and can feel and hear the drives spinning, but it still doesn't find the o.s. sometimes. Could it still be the power supply even though the drives are spinning? As far as the IDE delay, I poked around in the bios settings and didn't find that, but I havn't changed any of the bios settings since it was working properly so I wouldn't think the settings would be causing it. __________________ We all have wings, some of us just don't know why.