Trouble loading XP in dell computer.

[BlueJazz]

Dell 2400
1 gig ram

When I load XP I experience a freeze when computer restarts for 1st time (after loading first files and checking hard drive)

The screen is rather dark...about 1/3 the brightness before restart.

I suspect the video controller or chip since screen is bright (and right) before restart.

....also adding a video card does nothing ....computer doesn't see it.

Board is screwed ....am I right ?? :)

[ChromeFoundry]

1. If you are adding a video card

to a motherboard that has a built-in video chipset, you will need to disable the on board chipset in the BIOS, then reboot in Safe Mode.
Install driver for the new board and reboot.

If you are seeing the BIOS Post messages (text stuff); then the on board video chipset is probably not fried... maybe bad memory when it gets placed into a higher resolution.... Does it work in Safe Mode?

[BlueJazz]

2. No..Doesn't even get far enough to install XP. Freezes on 1st restart...

...maybe..oh... 6 minutes after starting installation.

[hobbit709]

3. Check power supply.

I've had this happen on a Dell before and that's what it was.

Have you tried completely wiping the hard drive and starting over?

[BlueJazz]

4. New power supply. (checked it twice) and also changed hard drive.

[struggle4progress]

5. Will it boot a different OS -- say, a fairly recent livecd?

Your question, as I understand it, is whether this is XP or your box

It doesn't sound like your CD-reader is the problem

Could your XP disk be too old to recognize some new hardware you've added?

[BlueJazz]

7. It's a customers Box and I've tried XP, XPsp1, XPsp2, XPsp3

...tried different memory...drives...edited bios until I'm blue-in-the-face.

put drive/xp on similar computer...etc..etc..

Actually...I should have just drove to compusa...bought a cheap board and told the customer..."Everything's fine"

Kidding....been doing this for 12 years and never seen anything (exactly) like it.

More curious than anything else. :) ...still think the video controller is screwed.

[struggle4progress]

10. I meant something more like: boot some recent standard linux livecd

If that works, then the problem may be xp

If that doesn't work, maybe the board is gimpy

[hobbit709]

6. Try a different install disk

I've had that happen. sometimes an optical drive is slightly wonky and won't properly read a disk that's perfectly good on another machine.

It seems to happen on Dells more often than other brands at least in my experience.

[BlueJazz]

8. tried different drives, disks...etc. Thanks anyway. :)

[hobbit709]

9. About the only thing left is RAM.

If it's not that, scrap the board.

[canetoad]

12. I'd be inclined to make an early call

of bad ram. Could affect loading of BIOS thereby affecting screen.

Dunno, it's hard to say Jazz. Don't wipe the mobo off too early until all possibilities exhausted.

[BlueJazz]

13. Hi Canetoad!......haven't seen you in awhile.Nice to see your name again.

:) :)

[struggle4progress]

11. ... Troubleshooting Dell Dimension 2400 ...

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/SYSTEMS/dim2400/en/sm_en/advtshoo.htm