Member Avatar for jln555

Recently my HD on my Gateway 700xl crashed. I bought a WD HD and installed it. when I booted the computer with the operating sys disk that came with the computer I got the black screen of death during Windows setup/ setup is starting windows. An IT friend suspected that since I had changed the video board from the original, maybe my operating sys disk didn't have the driver for my new video board. I tried a new Win XP OS disk with the same result. Any ideas?

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Short, ordered triage that builds on the thread (thanks to for the details and to and for pointing at hardware): this focuses on tests that quickly distinguish RAM, PSU, video, drive, and motherboard problems without buying parts blindly.

  • Run a standalone RAM test first: boot a MemTest image and let it complete at least two full passes. Download and instructions: MemTest86. Any errors narrow the fault to memory or the DIMM slot; test sticks one at a time.
  • Boot an independent live environment (CD/USB) to check overall stability and graphics. A lightweight rescue image or the Ultimate Boot CD will tell you whether the machine can reach a GUI outside Windows setup: Ultimate Boot CD. If the live environment also blacks out, suspect PSU/GPU/mobo.
  • Isolate the video card and power draw: remove the aftermarket card and try onboard video (or a simple spare card). Ensure any PCI(e)/AGP card power connectors are fitted. Modern or high-power cards on an older PSU can cause hangs that look like a video problem.
  • Verify the new disk and BIOS recognition: reset CMOS to defaults, confirm the HDD is seen by BIOS, and run the drive maker’s diagnostics (Western Digital tools available at their support site) before blaming the OS: Western Digital Support.
  • If you have a spare PSU or can borrow one, swap it in before buying. Note drive/CPU/fan activity and any POST/beep codes when the screen goes black — those symptoms help locate the failure.

If MemTest passes and a live CD works but XP setup still fails, check SATA/IDE controller mode and driver needs (XP setup can stall on some modern controllers). Start with the cheapest/quickest checks (MemTest, live CD, swap GPU, swap PSU); if those all pass, the motherboard or CPU becomes the likely culprit. Take ESD and safety precautions when swapping parts.

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Member Avatar for hughv

This is not a driver issue. Maybe faulty memory, bad PS or some such.
Why did the HD crash?
Check all your connections, reseat the memory, etc.

Member Avatar for jln555

Thank you for your help. I thought the HD crashed due to old age. It's 6 yrs old. A clicking sound came from the computer that I judged was the HD and the screen froze. I rebooted the computer and everything worked fine long enough for me to move files to an external drive but eventually the blue screen of death appeared and the computer would not reboot.
I reseated my memory and checked all of my connections. Same result.
What is PS, as in "bad ps"?
Thanks again for the help.

Member Avatar for hughv

Power Supply.
You're probably right about the HD-clicking is a sure sign of problems.
Can you boot to the CD and remain stable?

Member Avatar for jln555

I'm booting to the cd when the screen goes black.

Member Avatar for Suspishio

There are a few threads here with "clicking" as a suspect symptom. It could also be electrical if the clicking can be heard through the speakers.

Hughv is on the right lines - note that the PSU can glitch and damage the CPU and if that's in mid disk write (even if not) that's a damaged disk. If you renew the disk and boot from the CD, then it' got to be what Hughv suggested.

6 years old? Time for a change and my money's on the mobo and prolly also the PSU.

Member Avatar for hughv

I agree.
It's easiest to pull the PS and get it checked, or check it yourself. I've seen PS testers at Office Depot for $15.00.

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