Recently purchased a Biostar m7vkq motherboard and athlon xp 1700+ processor. Attempted to install and recieved numerous problems. Including: Unstable windows operations: Continual registry problems that forced reboot and reset my registry to initial windows level. Unstable: Constant crash upon trying to boot. Lock up: Continual lock up when trying to install new pci devices and when I did get them installed had explorer crashes in windows. Onboard lan: Upon successful installation my cable modem went down forcing me to purchase new modem. Unknown if related. Odd coincidence if not. Sound: Does not detect onboard sound device. Have tried new ram, new hard drive and attempted to install win xp (after partition of hd) and couldn't install it at all. 200 w power 256 sdram pc133 Toshiba dvdrom biostar m7vkq motherboard athlon xp 1700+ I am guessing that the motherboard or the processor is bad. Any other ideas on this or similar experience?

Did you try to reseat the RAM. My RAM wasn't in correctly which kept causing my system to crash.

Yes reseated ram, replaced ram with new ram, reseated new ram, replaced with old ram, reseated old ram, etc.

200w power sounds like a possible power problem. Try a 300w PSU at least. Good Luck

I have this identical set up with a 300 watt ps and it is doing the same thing!!!! it is driving me nuts, (i hear ya, probaly a short drive? ha.) i have tried everything in changing bios and something is not right???

It still may be your power supply 200w or 300w doesn't mean diddly!!!! You need to check your side rail output, +5V Rail Max 35A +12V Rail Max 16A +3.3V Rail Max 0.5A There's more info on AMD's site for minimum power requirments. Cheap Power supplies will not drive the athlon xp 1700+ under load. I am currently building my first AMD based box and I have done a lot of research on the subject. ITChef