I just purchased a new MSI K7N2 Delta motherboard. I using my current CPU, AMD XP 2400. I had to purchase new memory because my old DIMMs didn't go into the board. I purchased a stick of 512MB PC3200. I got everything together and the system won't boot up. I get a glimpse of a blue screen with letters but it is gone before I can make out a word. The system then starts to boot up again. I checked the BIOS and made sure everything is correct. Still no go. Is it because the memory and the processor are at different Mhz? Or is there something else I'm missing? The MB comes with lights that are suppose to tell you what is wrong but they don't light up.


AMD XP 2400
MSI K7N2 Delta L
512 MB PC3200 DDR
nVida gforce MX440 64MB (video)
Sound Blaster Live
56K modem
12x DVD ROM
8x DVD +/- RW
Maxtor 60GB & 40GB HD

PC3200 works as a pair, I am not sure if one would work in your system.

The PC3200 memory should work fine with your system.

http://tinyurl.com/65r7n

The only memory that must be installed in pairs is the old SIMM memory sticks.

I would try a barebones boot (ONLY install one stick of memory, the video card, the processor and heatsink/fan - no drives, other cards or peripherals, not even mouse or keyboard). If that doesn't work, pull the board out and lay it on a non-conductive surface (a piece or cardboard is perfect) and try to boot it then.

Edit - I just re-read your post and saw that you checked everything in BIOS - so you are getting it to boot, then? I'm not sure what blue screen you're referring to. Could you be a little more specific as to what point you're at (you're attempting to run Windows installation from the CD? you're attempting to fdisk from your boot floppy? etc.)?

Are you using the same harddrive with the OS configured to the old Mobo? If you are you may have to try a repair install or a clean install to configure it to your new mobo(wait on this if you have data that you want saved). After you post the information Pentachris was asking for, others will post back and supply more information about your problem.

Good Morning....

First, I added the 2nd stick of memory, no go. I reset the CMOS still nothing. I disconnected everything and tried again to no avail. So I got out the manual for the new motherboard and found a jumper for SAFE MODE. The manual basically said if you are having a problem set this jumper to safe mode from user mode. I did and guess what happened? Things started to work. After the first success, I reset the jumper back to user mode and reconnected everything. I put the Windows XP CD back in and rebooted. I did a Setup/Recovery and the machine is running like a champ. Thanks for all your help. I even added a new video card and it works great. If at first you don't succeed, read the manual.....

Good job, Big Daddy!

One of the first things I learned when I started tinkering under the hood of computers was that motherboard manuals are mandatory reading material on new builds.

While reading a motherboard manual for the first time, I learned that all your motherboard are belong to us. :rolleyes: