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Computer problem...
hyiu:
Hi All:
I have computer problem... I think this is hardware problem but I'm not sure.... (sorry for posing on main forum cos most people visit here....)
I have a mame computer....
AMD 1.2 GHz
Motherboard with DDR Ram 256M (only DDR ram slot)
a 40G HD
wireless network card,
sound card
GeForce4 video card
it was running Windows Me fine for about 6 months or so... but as I install more and more programs.... ME starts crapping out.... it freezes... blue screen of death... and so on...
so.... I was thinking... let me buy another HD (got a 100G)... then install XP Professional on it.... and add back the other HD as a slave... and reinstall all those programs... and waaa laaa..... it should be perfect...
now... I've got the XP professional disk... (real thing...not copy or illegal)
but when I tries to install... when its copying files over... it fails on reading files..... (around 4-10 files.... cannot copy... have to bypass by hitting escape...) random... different files fail each time... different number of files failed each time...
I tried escaping those files... so installation will go on, but without those files, I cannot complete my install.... (later it'll freeze or again... blue screen of death...)
I've tried 3 different CD drives... (1 cd drive... 1 cd burner drive.. 1 dvd drive)... same result....
I've tried with 2 different HD... same result...
I've tried pulling all unnecessary cards out... sound / network card... same result....
I really don't know what is wrong on this....
it doesn't fail on the same file everytime.... it fails on different files.... (sometimes, it fails on same files...)
I really don't know what is wrong....
is it memory ?? CPU ?? motherboard ?? what else ??
or the XP disk ?? (I have tried 3 different XP disk...) same result.... (so, I don't think its the CD itself...)
before I start buying stuffs and replace.... what else can I try ?? Any one had similar problems ?? Any suggestions ??..
Thanks for any help..... This is bugging me badly....
my Mame machine is down for 1 month.... I'm dying here....
I don't mind replacing parts.... but I want to pin-point the problem so that I buy parts that I need... but not all over the place.....
Thank you thank you thank you for any help....
:-\
RandyT:
--- Quote from: hyiu on March 20, 2003, 04:03:59 pm ---
...it was running Windows Me fine for about 6 months or so... but as I install more and more programs.... ME starts crapping out.... it freezes... blue screen of death... and so on...
--- End quote ---
This might be coincidental.
--- Quote ---...but when I tries to install... when its copying files over... it fails on reading files..... (around 4-10 files.... cannot copy... have to bypass by hitting escape...) random... different files fail each time... different number of files failed each time...
--- End quote ---
Here are some things to check.
1: Try different IDE cables if you haven't already
2: Make sure the clock settings for the system bus didn't get changed in your BIOS. If you are overclocking, it's time to give up :).
3: Make sure the fan is still moving on your CPU and that the heatsink isn't full of crud. An overheated CPU can cause weird things to happen.
4: Make sure you still have the slave and master settings configured properly after all the swapping of IDE hardware you did.
5: Try installing with ONE memory board in place. If it fails, try a different one.
6: Take the disk to a friend's house or to work and see if it's a bad CD.
7: Start saving for a new motherboard...... :(
*edit* can't count :)
Good Luck,
RandyT
shmokes:
I'm thinking it's the motherboard. There is, perhaps, a component (say, the IDE controller) that is not compatible with Windows XP. I've had a few machines that couldn't get through an XP or 2000 install, but would work fine every time if I tried to install 98 or ME. My problems were exactly the same, random blue screens (sometimes even during formatting the hard disk). I'd find out what motherboard you have and see if you can find a BIOS update for it. If it was a popular motherboard made by a major manufacturer there's a pretty good chance that a BIOS update will correct your problem. Just out of curiosity, is your motherboard an Iwill KA266?
hyiu:
thx for the suggestions... RandyT
up to my knowledge, I'm not overclocking anything at all...
the heatsink is clean and cpu should be cool...
I've used those air cleaner and cleaned it and at 1 point, suspecting it to be a heat problem, so, I put a massive fan on the open case... and blow it to keep it supercool while doing installing.... no effect....
I'll try to get another set of IDE cable.... and re-try...
most times, I have 1 cd drive and 1 HD plugged.... only... and both of them are "cable select".....
maybe I should set them as master/slave instead...
(will try that also....)
I will try that asap..... will get back and let you know.....
Thank you for the suggestions....
if there are other things that I should try... plz let me know...
thanks... I'll keep my fingers crossed.... :-\
BobA:
I had a similar problem with my computer degrading over a period of time. I tried an OS reinstall and started having problems getting trough the install. It turned out to be a combination of problems.
1. The CPU was probably getting hot as it was fairly dusty inside the cab. Cleaned out dust and reseated all cables.
2. The PS was very dirty and also getty really hot as the fan did not seem to be pulling much air. I replaced the PS fan.
3. The CDRW was extremely dusty inside where it could not be seen. It had tamper proof screws so I used a CD cleaning disk and air bottle several times until no dust could be seen when sparyed.
Ended up cleaning whole computer and replacing the fan on the PS unit. With normal temps and a clean cdrw everything insalled ok.
BobA
Seemed to be posting this just as you were posting that everything was clean and cool. Anyway maybe try master/slave for the drives. It is the more common setup to use.