Motherboard Freezes?

the ide control is not a likely problem. i am asuming you put in the startup disk and it loads the virtual drive with fdisk and such. you run the fdisk to partion the drive, reboot the system again with the startup disk and then format C:. and this is where you are having it freeze. this sounds like either a HDD problem or a simple power problem. try using a different power plung on a different line. if this is still a problem, set the HDD to slave and put it in another system and see if you can acess the drive. just make sure you get the slave jump right or it won't see it. you may have to put it on slave and hook it in with the cdrom drive cable. this is sometimes how some systems work. if it is seen by this computer, then the power supply is most likely the culprite. if it is seen in the other system, then go ahead and format it in that system for then you can just use the strartup disk and select boot with cdrom support.. anymore problems, email your number and i'll help you further, providing you are in the USA..

-Do you have any doubt about your Power unit, check it!

-Have you done an exhaustive visual check on the mainboard components? Sometimes capacitors blow on top...

-Everything looks good? Now unplug / check all connectors pin by pin / re-plug everything but the hard disk.

-Do you have any doubt about your video card? check it! If you dont have one because the video is On-Board, see next.

-Clear BIOS CMOS as indicates your Mainboard manual.

-Be sure your settings are back to defaults and "Advanced BIOS Setup" says memory management by "SPD"

-Be sure your memory modules are compatible at all

-Download Hiren's BOOT CD (Last available) and run PC Tests and Memory Tests (At least 2 successful of 3)

-If everything looks right you should try to BOOT with a Windows PE CD and be sure it doesn't freezes.

Now insert your hard disk...

If all succeeded until HDD came replace your hard disk.

get an Optimizer program a good one with good reviews. Some can find and fix a problem you are having also tell you what the problems is.

One warning though some optimizers can erase files you don't want deleted and possible but less likely can mess up your computer if not care full.

Or you might need a new processor.

Make sure the system is not overheating. And try another harddrive. If another hd has the same issue, something like the motherboard, memory, or cpu would be causing it. If a 2nd hd has no issue, bad sector on the hd.