This, my friends, is truly ridiculous.
Eight weeks since i first ordered from Zyaan, ive received my stuff, discovered its faulty, corresponded with them, sent back the motherboard, processor and heatsink for testing, received the same processor and a different motherboard (which wasnt the same kind as i ordered, it only had ddr ram slots so i had to buy more of that) and its still not working.
Thankfully i have this machine in my room fully operational so i can at least attempt to get help.
Ok, where i am?
Everything is connected up. I know for certain that the Ram, the processor, the monitor speakers keyboard and mouse (duh, yes i know) work. The motherboard must surely work to an extent if i can load it up to the bios.
When i loaded up all the "non working" parts together, it would hang when detecting the Hard Drive. I tested it as primary and secondary master, both times it hung.
So, i thought the Hard Drive was the problem (and it may still be). I put that hard drive in this machine taking out the working one, and although i got past the bios, it wouldnt load. Id get the "start windows normally" / "last good known configuration" / "safe mode" thing - and every one of these options would hang the computer. I looked at the bios and made sure the devices were all detected which they were, and that the HD was meant to boot first - which it did.
This hard drive should already have windows XP and some of my files on it. Previously id got it working in this machine, with my other HD connected as slave. I installed XP, and transported some of my files, then took it out and placed it in the non working tower, where it didnt work.
In addition to testing the non working HD in the working machine unsuccessfully, i took out the Good HD and placed it in the Bad machine. Id get past the bios, but when loading up itd say it failed to find any boot record, and asked for a boot floppy (which i dont have, because i never had one for xp pro i dont think and if i did its at home, i live in the halls now). Once again i checked the bios to make sure everything was detected. The CD drive wasnt for some reason, but the HD was - and it was #1 in the boot from list too.
Im stumped, i dont know what to do. I have a very limited knowledge of computers, and i dont mind if any of you folks talk to me like a complete idiot, so long as i can at least attempt to get something working here. I paid £350 or so for this machine out a £790 student loan, and id like to see it work sometime
Thanks a hell of a lot in advance. I cant offer much in return bar a floor for anyone to sleep on in Stirling or Glasgow, and maybe a pint of cider.
-Deffeh