So, I'm trying to get an old computer useful again because my room mate needs a computer.
I tried installing Windows. Everything runs smoothly until the part where the computer has to restart, and then proceed with the GUI that shows how much time you have left and tells you how great Windows XP is. When it gets to this screen, after about two minutes, my monitor turns itself off. When I turn it back on, it's just a blank screen with the default settings menu for the monitor. I restarted the computer and got the same thing after a few minutes of that installation screen.
At first I thought it was the GPU, so I replaced that with a spare. Same problem. Then I took the HDD out and hooked it up to another computer to check for errors. No errors were found, but I replaced it with another known working HDD anyway, and still got the same problem. Then I tried checking the memory, and ran MEMTEST for about an hour and a half, and didn't get a single error.
I even thought that it might be the XP disc, so I tried using a friends CD, but it didn't make a difference. THEN I thought maybe it was the CD/DVD drive, so I replaced it with another known working drive; same problem.
I'm guessing my PSU, mobo, or CPU is blowing up, but I really don't have any other symptoms other than Windows failing to install.
Computer stats:
Mobo: Soyo KT8800 Dragon 2
CPU: AMD Athlon 2800+
PSU: Antec SL400
GPU: Radeon 9800
RAM: Random, can check if needed.
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So, out of crazy desperation, I tried to install my Windows 7 beta DVD that I downloaded from MS...and...it installed flawlessly? Why?? I just did this 30 minutes ago...and it has no problems at all. This computer once had XP on it...did it just decide to stop liking XP?
water spirals the wrong way out the sink
In which case, all you need to do in order to install xp (which I assume you're still trying to do) is look up instructions on how to remove the newer (windows 7) boot loader from the machine, then re-install xp as if it were the first time and your now loader-less device will cleanly reinstall it.
This is the weirdest computer experience I've had, and I've ripped apart/built many PC's and installed Windows 98/2000/ME/XP a million times.
water spirals the wrong way out the sink
"setupact.log-This log file contains a list of actions in chronological order that occurred during the graphical installation phase, such as file copies and registry changes. The OS also stores setup error log entries in this file. XP writes the setupact.log file to the %systemroot% folder (e.g., c:\windows).
setuperr.log-This log file contains a list of errors that occurred during installation and their severity (this log file should be 0 bytes in size if no errors occurred during installation). XP writes the setuperr.log file to the %systemroot% folder."
water spirals the wrong way out the sink
I've been trying to install good 'ol Windows XP for the past few days prior to trying Windows 7.
water spirals the wrong way out the sink
The only other option would be the power connection on the motherboard itself, or the cord between the switch and the mobo, or as you suggested yourself, a damaged power supply. I would try a different power supply before getting a new case or motherboard.