windows 7 - Computer will not boot from any disc

I am trying to fix someone's computer. They have Windows 7, and my plan was to just reinstall. However it appears the computer will not boot from any disc. I have tried

• Hiren boot CD


• Lucid Puppy Linux


• Windows 64-bit


• Windows 32-bit


• Parted magic

In each case it reads the disc, and starts the boot process, but does not finish. For example with Lucid Puppy Linux Live CD, I will see

boot:
Loading vmlinuz.....
Loading initrd.gz...

Then the screen will turn black and stay that way forever. If you boot the computer without any discs the computer will stop at

Starting Windows

same with Safe Mode.

I ran one Pass of MemTest86, with no Errors

I tried booting from CD and flash drive, same problem.

I tried unplugging SATA hard drive and just booting from CD/USB, same problem.

Answer

It sounds like a RAM issue to me, try making a Memtest Boot CD, and checking that the ram is all ok, http://www.memtest.org/. if it's the RAM try removing a stick, or if theres only one stick it may be a trip to the computer store.