Hi everyone. I'm stumped on an apparent hardware issue that is likely not going to end well, but I wanted to explore all possible options before I give up completely, so I'm here to ask for some input/help that's beyond my experience. Data is safe and backed up, but the challenge of fixing runs deep in me.
I am running an old Asus K8V Deluxe motherboard with an Athlon 64 3200+, ATI Radeon AGP video card (unsure of exact model), 500GB IDE HD, USB Mouse, PS2 Keyboard and a single stick of 1GB ram. Everything else (that wasn't onboard like LAN and Audio), including CD/DVD drive, has been a USB device. This thing is my main computer and a trusted friend for the better part of 2 decades. About 10 days ago, trouble began. Probably just coincidence, but I had JUST tweaked some TCP/IP settings in WinXP Pro SP3 when it started.
The first symptom was a nearly-stable system that would consistently (but only) BSOD when USB media was accessed (CD, HD, Flash drive etc). Frequently the BSOD would reference USBPORT.SYS. So, I took to doing a RESTORE POINT thinking the TCP/IP changes were in play. No Restore Point would complete. Next step was to try a REPAIR install of XP pro SP3. That seemed to go ok based on status screens, but did NOT fix the problem. To continue troubleshooting, I grabbed my Knoppix discs (6.0.1 CD and a recent 8+ DVD build). Neither would boot now, after working fine in the past. They both would seemingly crash at "dev/src0" right after the USB message early in the boot cycle. (This was also after using 2 different USB CD/DVD drives on multiple ports, including the onboard ports with headers disconnected.) But I COULD get into the knoppix Memtest, which ran 100% for 12 hours, so I feel I've ruled out RAM as the issue. Checked CPU temp before and after as well, nothing seems out of the ordinary there.
Next, I checked the power supply, which appeared good on all voltages using a digital PS tester, then switched it out anyway to no change.
Then, I disconnected the IDE drive, no change. Multiple BIOS setting changes, disables and default settings saves (including a full CMOS clear and battery change out)-- no change.
Pulled out an old IDE CD/DVD rom drive from storage and connected it, and disabled USB support in BIOS. Got further (as far as a black screen with black X cursor that I couldn't move becasue I only had a USB mouse), but still KERNAL FAULTs (based on flashing Caps/Scroll) before I got to a useable OS using either Knoppix disc. Tested Knoppix disc on both USB CD drives on another system, they booted right up so I'm confident that isn't the issue. Ultimately, no change.
That's the whole story I think. Any suggestions on anything else to try? I'd love to get the satisfaction of getting this back up and running, but I'm out of ideas. Any tricks anyone can suggest or that I haven't tried? Thanks in advance!
I am running an old Asus K8V Deluxe motherboard with an Athlon 64 3200+, ATI Radeon AGP video card (unsure of exact model), 500GB IDE HD, USB Mouse, PS2 Keyboard and a single stick of 1GB ram. Everything else (that wasn't onboard like LAN and Audio), including CD/DVD drive, has been a USB device. This thing is my main computer and a trusted friend for the better part of 2 decades. About 10 days ago, trouble began. Probably just coincidence, but I had JUST tweaked some TCP/IP settings in WinXP Pro SP3 when it started.
The first symptom was a nearly-stable system that would consistently (but only) BSOD when USB media was accessed (CD, HD, Flash drive etc). Frequently the BSOD would reference USBPORT.SYS. So, I took to doing a RESTORE POINT thinking the TCP/IP changes were in play. No Restore Point would complete. Next step was to try a REPAIR install of XP pro SP3. That seemed to go ok based on status screens, but did NOT fix the problem. To continue troubleshooting, I grabbed my Knoppix discs (6.0.1 CD and a recent 8+ DVD build). Neither would boot now, after working fine in the past. They both would seemingly crash at "dev/src0" right after the USB message early in the boot cycle. (This was also after using 2 different USB CD/DVD drives on multiple ports, including the onboard ports with headers disconnected.) But I COULD get into the knoppix Memtest, which ran 100% for 12 hours, so I feel I've ruled out RAM as the issue. Checked CPU temp before and after as well, nothing seems out of the ordinary there.
Next, I checked the power supply, which appeared good on all voltages using a digital PS tester, then switched it out anyway to no change.
Then, I disconnected the IDE drive, no change. Multiple BIOS setting changes, disables and default settings saves (including a full CMOS clear and battery change out)-- no change.
Pulled out an old IDE CD/DVD rom drive from storage and connected it, and disabled USB support in BIOS. Got further (as far as a black screen with black X cursor that I couldn't move becasue I only had a USB mouse), but still KERNAL FAULTs (based on flashing Caps/Scroll) before I got to a useable OS using either Knoppix disc. Tested Knoppix disc on both USB CD drives on another system, they booted right up so I'm confident that isn't the issue. Ultimately, no change.
That's the whole story I think. Any suggestions on anything else to try? I'd love to get the satisfaction of getting this back up and running, but I'm out of ideas. Any tricks anyone can suggest or that I haven't tried? Thanks in advance!