Recovery disks

**Niclo Iste** · December 7th, 2011, 09:28 AM

One way I test to see if there is a hardware issue with a PC is I try to install ubuntu on it. 99% of the time if there is an issue with the hardware ubuntu will flake out on the install. The added bonus is the Ubuntu CDs have a built in memory test you can use. Just a suggestion though and not something you have to do for troubleshooting.

**slgrieb** · December 7th, 2011, 06:38 PM

I think that just about all the glitches reinstalling/installing Windows are due to memory problems, with bad MOBOs a distant second place. I also believe that there isn't any memory diagnostic that can consistently detect some of the memory problems that can prevent Windows installing and running, no matter how many hours they are run. I'd try changing the memory, and if there is still a problem, I would assume there is a problem with the motherboard even if there aren't any obvious physical signs like leaking caps.

**xpuser357** · December 7th, 2011, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by Niclo Iste

One way I test to see if there is a hardware issue with a PC is I try to install ubuntu on it. 99% of the time if there is an issue with the hardware ubuntu will flake out on the install. The added bonus is the Ubuntu CDs have a built in memory test you can use. Just a suggestion though and not something you have to do for troubleshooting.

I put ubuntu and it came back read disk error ctrl-alt-delete to restart