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Computer problem...
shmokes:
I'm pretty sure that what you need to do is put both aflash.exe and A7NC1004.AWD into a folder (make the folder directly off the root and name it something with no spaces and less than 8 characters (e.g. C:\BIOS). Boot to a Win98* shmokes startup disk and type:
CD C:\BIOS <press enter>
Then type:
AFLASH A7NC1004.AWD <press enter>
You may want to double-check all that at the Asus website. I really don't want to be at fault for screwing up your motherboard.
cdbrown:
hyiu,
Did you try to copy the entire CD to the hard drive and install from there? This has helped me before. Also make sure you have the bare minimum components in your system before installing, this will help reducing the hardware conflicts.
I would only have the new hd, the newer of the cd drives, graphics card (if not onboard) and a floppy installed. Get out a floppy boot disk. Start the pc and select to load the cd drivers, copy the cd across to the hd making sure to create a directory for it to go into. Make sure hd is master on ide controller 1 and cd is master on ide controller 2. Make sure you have any ata controller drivers - I remember when installing 2000 I had to have a floppy disk that contained the promise ata controller drivers before it would install properly (but XP might already have this).
You should be able to copy files across from the dos prompt. Just some ideas you can try before going out and buying new components.
Good luck
-cdbrown
Amra:
I know exactly what your problem is.
Windows ME has something called System Restore, what this is, is a secret directory that everything you access, everything you copy, everything you do, gets copied to this directory. Its a great Idea in Theory, but in practise its the absolute worst resource hog ever invented. The more you install on the computer, the worse it will get, within six months, it goes form only taking 90 seconds to boot up, to almost 5 minutes. Your programs no longer load within 20 seconds, its more like 2 minutes.
The first thing to do, is disable System Restore, since I Got rid of Windows ME for that and a few other reasons, I cant tell you exactly where its at, but im pretty sure its in preformance, right click my computer, goto properties, choose performance, and then troubleshooting or somewhere around there. Anyhow, check off the "Disable System Restore" box. Then you need to restart in safe mode.
If you dont know how to show hidden/system files, then just open explorer and type C:\_RESTORE\ and press enter. Delete EVERYTHING in there!@
Now, you might need to delete only a portion at a time to keep it from locking up, but after you finish deleting everything, delete the folder as well.
Now, you need to make a new text file, name it _RESTORE and remove the .txt extension, this will prevent windows from somehow re-starting System Restore, right click your new empty folder and click properties, check off Hidden System and Read Only.
Now, restart your computer one more time, and be amazed that Windows ME no longers sucks as bad as it did. It still sucks, but at least not as bad as it did!
P.S. If this doesnt solve your problem, then you need to Install a new OS, Win98SE is a solid OS, as is WinXP. Those two would be your best bets.
If you do that and STILL have problems, THEN maby, just maby, you have a hardware problem, but im almost posative that you are simply victim of the infamous System Restore Slowdown Syndrome, or SRSS for short. ;)
CitznFish:
I've had similar problems twice. both times it was bad RAM. there are free DOS util RAM tests out there . Grab one and use it.
hyiu:
Thank you everyone for throwing me new ideas...
I've updated the bios.... still no good.... same problem...
I tried another ide cables... but somehow it didn't work...
(might need to buy a new ide cable...)
it seems like 1 of the cables has 1 less hole in the middle...
that one works better... the others doesn't work....
not sure for now....
as for restoring ME... I guess its too late....
I might just have to reinstall....
now... should I install 98 ?? or XP ??.. I think I'll keep trying XP...
(since it's going to be a computer and Mame machine....)
I'm thinking bring the whole freaking machine to my friend's place over the wkend... his knowledge of fixing computer is far better than mine...
hope he can help solve the problem....
I'm thinking it might be the DDR RAM.....
(let me see if I can get another DDR Ram to switch....)
if I found out what's wrong... I'll let everyone knows...
Thanks....
for now... I cannot play any Mame..... (for a month already...)
*** sigh ***