Hello,

We have a problem with a computer. It crashed and it's impossible to install Windows XP anymore. The setup CD-Rom begins its harware detection and then crashes (the computer restarts).

I thought maybe my XP setup-CD-Rom didn't work, so I tried to install Ubuntu Linux. I got a crash at 33% of the formating process.

I believed it was because of a hard disk problem, so I put a new HD, but the problem remains.

Where can this problem come from? From the part that controls hard disks?
What could I do to save this computer?
I don't know enough about hardware functionning.

Thank you in advance,

Boby

It could be a power supply problem. Leave the computer running (just have it sit and run) and if it crashes I woud bet it's a power supply issue.

My advice would be to swap power supplies with another machine and try it. If it still crashes than that's likely not the problem. Use this method to cancel out faulty hardware. Make sure when testing to unplug all unnecessary expansion cards and such. This will eliminate the chance of one of those being the problem as well.

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