Gateway GT5238E Problems & Upgrade Help

[Ant_Teh_Nee]

Okay, there is going to be a lot of stuff here, but I wanted to compile it into one post. I am having multiple difficulties with upgrading my Gateway GT5238E computer, but every step I take seems to have a roadblock.

General Information/Background:
This computer was once my friend's machine until it was ravaged by viruses that appeared to be duplicating themselves. Deleting one, what seemed to be a "time bomb" was set off. Things started crashing and everything slowed to a halt, and so we shut it down, never to be turned on again. Until now!

Specs & Links:
Sound it makes when turning on, but no boot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urTm7-k4YHk

CPU:
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6300 (dual core) 64-bit processor

RAM:
Installed: 1024 MB DDR2 (PC4200), 533 MHz memory (two 512 MB modules)
Expandable to: 8 GB (4 memory slots)

GPU:
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3000
Up to 224 MB DDR shared video memory

PSU:
300W Supply (Exact is 295W) Note: CAN FIT FULL ATX PSUs

Expansion Slots:
One PCI Express ×16
One PCI Express ×1
Two PCI Conventional

Drive Bays:
Two external 3.5-inch
Two external 5.25-inch
Two internal 3.5-inch

SATA II HHD/SSD CAPABLE

https://www.amazon.com/HP-Pavilion-22cwa-21-5-inch-Backlit/dp/B015WCV70W (Monitor)
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https://panam.gateway.com/s/MOTHERBD/Intel2/4006153R/4006153Rnv.shtml (Motherboard)
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https://panam.gateway.com/s/PC/R/1009189/1009189nv.shtml (General Info about the GT5238E)
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hynix-1GB-2x512MB-DDR2-533-PC2-4200U-HYMP564U64P8-C4-DIMM-Desktop-Memory-/192109800264?hash=item2cbaa2eb48:g:jAUAAOSwtfhYqzuS (Currently installed RAM)
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/8GB-4X-2GB-DDR2-533MHZ-2RX8-PC2-4200U-240pin-DIMM-Desktop-Memory-Ram-PC4200-CL4-/391564384385?hash=item5b2b0e5881:g:yJQAAOSwNRdX3Knc (Considered RAM Upgrade)
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-2-Duo-E6300-1-86GHz-Dual-Core-Processor-CPU-used-/192098784638?hash=item2cb9fad57e:g:nWwAAOSwImRYfBJz (Current CPU)
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-2-Quad-Q6600-8M-2-40GHz-Quad-Core-Processor-SLACR-/172512526937?hash=item282a8c4259:g:YkEAAOSwTglYj7SE (Considered CPU Upgrade)

First of all, let's focus on the problems before we think about what to upgrade.

Problems/Questions:
- Computer Turns on, fans run, but Windows doesn't boot and the computer isn't detected by my monitor (HP 22cwa monitor) READ: Is it an issue with RAM or my monitor?
- RAM appears to be finicky (Doesn't like to seat properly)
- Hard Drive makes no noise (I'm assuming because it wouldn't boot into Windows)
- Little information about drivers/BIOS Updates/etc for it
- How can I format the drive if I can't boot it up? (Can I even format it?)

Alright, now onto what I want to upgrade, and my questions about them.

Hardware Upgrades & Questions About it:
- Not sure if it's capable of Low-Density or High-Density DDR2-533-4200u RAM
- Not sure if it's capable of a Core 2 Quad 6600 with's it's BIOS version (not sure which version)
- What graphics cards can this thing handle? Anything, or is it up to a certain date/model/version?
- Can my PSU handle it? (300W PSU)

Well, that's just about everything I can offer up! Any help with this whole thing is appreciated!

 

[USAFRet]

For a virus infection of that level, drop back and punt.

Boot from your OS install media, wipe the drive and reinstall.
This will also verify the hardware actually works.

Or, create a Linux LiveCD and boot from that.

 

[Ant_Teh_Nee]

For a virus infection of that level, drop back and punt.

Boot from your OS install media, wipe the drive and reinstall.
This will also verify the hardware actually works.

Or, create a Linux LiveCD and boot from that.

I'll give it a shot if I can find that darned Install CD. It's been years so I'm gonna have to look for a while. What do you think is causing it to not display anything? I've heard it does it when the computer detects no monitor or when the RAM isn't working properly. Definitely going to format though.

 

[USAFRet]

For a virus infection of that level, drop back and punt.

Boot from your OS install media, wipe the drive and reinstall.
This will also verify the hardware actually works.

Or, create a Linux LiveCD and boot from that.

I'll give it a shot if I can find that darned Install CD. It's been years so I'm gonna have to look for a while. What do you think is causing it to not display anything? I've heard it does it when the computer detects no monitor or when the RAM isn't working properly. Definitely going to format though.

Unknown.
But could be that flakey RAM that won't slot in properly.

But you can't know until you boot from something other than that virused up hard drive.

 

[Ant_Teh_Nee]

For a virus infection of that level, drop back and punt.

Boot from your OS install media, wipe the drive and reinstall.
This will also verify the hardware actually works.

Or, create a Linux LiveCD and boot from that.

I'll give it a shot if I can find that darned Install CD. It's been years so I'm gonna have to look for a while. What do you think is causing it to not display anything? I've heard it does it when the computer detects no monitor or when the RAM isn't working properly. Definitely going to format though.

Unknown.
But could be that flakey RAM that won't slot in properly.

But you can't know until you boot from something other than that virused up hard drive.

Good point. I'm going to look around for this CD so I can defrag and format the drive. Honestly, this would make a great Linux machine when it's all set up. At least the PSU works lol

In fact, I just reseated the RAM. For all that it's worth, that was the most annoying experience ever. One side in, the other out. One side in, the other out. ughhhh

(I did that after the boot test)

 

[Ant_Teh_Nee]

For a virus infection of that level, drop back and punt.

Boot from your OS install media, wipe the drive and reinstall.
This will also verify the hardware actually works.

Or, create a Linux LiveCD and boot from that.

I'll give it a shot if I can find that darned Install CD. It's been years so I'm gonna have to look for a while. What do you think is causing it to not display anything? I've heard it does it when the computer detects no monitor or when the RAM isn't working properly. Definitely going to format though.

Unknown.
But could be that flakey RAM that won't slot in properly.

But you can't know until you boot from something other than that virused up hard drive.

FINALLY managed to get it to turn on! Required some fiddling but I got it to turn on. And then this happened. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AgakrDqNTc

If you want to keep helping me (I hope you do), please refer to this article for the continuation of the newly dubbed "Gateway Saga".