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| Acmlm's Board - I2 Archive - Hardware/Software - Something's gone very wrong. |
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HyperLamer <||bass> and this was the soloution i thought of that was guarinteed to piss off the greatest amount of people Sesshomaru Tamaranian Level: 118 Posts: 5477/8210 EXP: 18171887 For next: 211027 Since: 03-15-04 From: Canada, w00t! LOL FAD Since last post: 2 hours Last activity: 2 hours |
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| Yeah, something's totally screwed up here. Several months ago, I found that my Start menu would occasionally not draw itself. It would display as just a solid black square until I hovered over items on it. I then got a new hard drive for Christmas, and installed Windows on it from scratch but somehow this problem has persisted.  It never happened before then, but it still does to this day.A few weeks ago I found I could no longer access the Regional and Language Options control panel. When I try to open it, the process terminates immediately. Restoring it from the install CD didn't fix it. This would also happen if I tried to access the Game Controllers panel from within my joypad software, but just opening it from the Start Menu works fine. Well yesterday my computer was shut off unexpectedly and as a result the Windows partition was corrupted. Starting up the old installation on the old hard disk fixed this (it scanned and repaired the partition) but since then there have been more severe problems. I'm rarely able to drag and drop files. Often, Explorer's interface will lock up (I can't click the taskbar or desktop) until I hit Alt+Tab. Worse still, another program - one I use often and which worked 2 or 3 days ago - is now doing the same as the Regional/Language control panel, and re-downloading it hasn't solved the problem.  My computer has a history of weird bugs like this. Things are always screwing up in weird ways, even more often than is typical of Windows. (Also, according to the thermometer I just installed, my CPU temperature goes up 5 degrees in Standby mode. ) I've done memory checks, though, and it checks out fine, and I've never seen anything that might indicate a big problem like a faulty CPU. (If the CPU was screwed up, I would think programs would randomly crash, even Windows. I'm using XP Pro, which doesn't just randomly crash, it just has a million little bugs instead.  ) I've never had such severe or long-lasting problems though, usually just one-time or short-term stupid things (icons don't show up in the taskbar, titlebars don't redraw etc) or stupid things that are obviously Windows bugs (desktop icons moving when I enter a fullscreen app). I can't think of why these things might be happening, though... A hardware problem would probably have much more significant effects (random crashes, data loss) and a software thing like file corruption should be detected by the OS. XP keeps copies of the important system files and verifies them against eachother... I really doubt that unexpectedly shutting down managed to corrupt both explorer.exe and its backup in the same manner, and leave them with the same checksum, especially when all file activity was being done way off in a different partition.So does anyone have any ideas as to why these programs won't run, why Explorer is acting up, and why my computer's just so buggy in general?  Specs copied from System Information: OS Name: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version: 5.1.2600 Build 2600 OS Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation System Name: ORION System Manufacturer: 00101680 XG843 System Model: 15395700051130 System Type: X86-based PC Processor: x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 6 GenuineIntel ~797 Mhz BIOS Version/Date: Phoenix Technologies LTD 2.05, 21/12/2000 SMBIOS Version: 2.0 Windows Directory: E:\WINDOWS System Directory: E:\WINDOWS\System32 Boot Device: \Device\HarddiskVolume6 Locale: Canada Hardware Abstraction Layer: Version = "5.1.2600.0 (xpclient.010817-1148)" User Name: ORION\Administrator Time Zone: Eastern Daylight Time Total Physical Memory: 190.48 MB Available Physical Memory: 35.82 MB Total Virtual Memory: 828.85 MB Available Virtual Memory: 385.60 MB Page File Space: 638.36 MB Page File: E:\pagefile.sys More detailed specs: Motherboard: HP Pavillion XG843 CPU: Intel Celeron 797mhz Coppermine Video: 4MB Intel Onboard 82810 Graphics Controller Sound: Intel 82801AA AC'97 Audio Controller Hard disk 0: Western Digital WDC WD2500JB-00GVA0 250GB (232.89GB actual size) Hard disk 1: ST320413A 20GB (18.6GB actual size) CD-ROM: Mitsume CR-48X5TE IDE controller: Intel(r) 82801AA Bus Master IDE Controller Memory: 192MB OS: Windows XP Pro (no service pack, because SP1 causes a bunch of problems and SP2 won't boot at all) Average CPU temp: 40 (edited by HyperHacker on 07-02-05 11:27 PM) (edited by HyperHacker on 07-02-05 11:52 PM) (edited by HyperHacker on 07-03-05 12:00 AM) (edited by HyperHacker on 07-03-05 04:30 AM) |
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Sukasa Boomboom Error 349857348734534: The system experienced an error. Level: 57  Posts: 1139/1981 EXP: 1446921 For next: 39007 Since: 02-06-05 From: *Shrug* Since last post: 6 days Last activity: 1 day |
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| Well, for the drawing problem, I'd have to say you'd want to look at checking your graphics card, since you reinstalled the drivers I would presume that the GPU is failing. As for standby mode, what happens to the cooling fan? The only other solution I can think of is calling an exorcist. | |||
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HyperLamer <||bass> and this was the soloution i thought of that was guarinteed to piss off the greatest amount of people Sesshomaru Tamaranian Level: 118 Posts: 5479/8210 EXP: 18171887 For next: 211027 Since: 03-15-04 From: Canada, w00t! LOL FAD Since last post: 2 hours Last activity: 2 hours |
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| Some of the fans shut off, I'm not sure which. I don't think it's anything serious but I would have figured it would cool off when it's not doing anything, not heat up. Also, rebooting got that one program to run again (thank God) but not the Regional controls. They haven't worked in weeks. The desktop/taskbar still locked up too, and I haven't tried to move a file yet. (Both of those problems appear and disappear randomly though.) Another issue I've noticed in the past few days is that sometimes it just slows right down. With very little CPU load, I'll try to open a page in Firefox and the whole thing will pretty much lock up. Firefox just sits there processing for a looong time, appearing to not be responding at all, and things like the volume control won't respond (which is way annoying when I have loud music on and it takes literally a minute to turn down the volume). I figured it was just overheating, since it's been hot out, but the thermometer I stuck in there reads 40-42 the whole time just like it usually does under any amount of stress. (42 is the highest I've seen. Right now with only Firefox, Winamp and Notepad running, after gaming for an hour and finishing 15 minutes ago, it's at 39.6.) I guess this could be a Firefox issue though, since it never really affects anything else, but then Firefox probably uses the most resources of any program I generally use except Photoshop. (I generally only have Firefox, Winamp, Textpad, a command prompt and a few dozen instances of Notepad and some folders open, so yeah.  )Could a fragmented hard drive be the cause of any of this? I probably don't defrag as often as I should, probably will tonight. It generally takes like all day, though, and doesn't actually make much difference according to the graphs in the program. I'm about to install the newest graphics driver. Thought I already had it, but Intel's site shows otherwise... I'm pretty sure I had it before I reinstalled though, and the only issue is with the Start menu which I've found is pretty weird anyway. Alright, got that installed, nothing seems to have blown up. Started in 640x480 though, which messed up my desktop. The menu bug is pretty random though, so we shall see.(edited by HyperHacker on 07-03-05 01:44 AM) |
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Lenophis Super Koopa Level: 44  Posts: 519/830 EXP: 584360 For next: 26925 Since: 03-15-04 From: Duluth, MN Since last post: 4 hours Last activity: 3 hours |
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| It's possible (although unlikely) that it is trying to find some stuff in a hardcoded drive location (aka C:\). Just food for thought... | |||
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HyperLamer <||bass> and this was the soloution i thought of that was guarinteed to piss off the greatest amount of people Sesshomaru Tamaranian Level: 118 Posts: 5481/8210 EXP: 18171887 For next: 211027 Since: 03-15-04 From: Canada, w00t! LOL FAD Since last post: 2 hours Last activity: 2 hours |
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| That shouldn't be a huge problem, the old install (which should be pretty much identical) is on C:. This interface-locking-up thing is really annoying though. It seems it's not just a simple matter of Explorer, but rather the entire system won't respond to anything being clicked until I Alt+Tab. It happens like every 5 mintues now. I'm gonna defrag and go to bed, hopefully that'll clear things up a bit.(edited by HyperHacker on 07-03-05 10:44 AM) |
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neotransotaku Baby Mario 戻れたら、 誰も気が付く Level: 87 Posts: 3443/4016 EXP: 6220548 For next: 172226 Since: 03-15-04 From: Outside of Time/Space Since last post: 11 hours Last activity: 1 hour |
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| i think your celeron is wearing out--you do quite a bit of processing on that machine don't you? so, it may be the case the CPU is ready to go and it is the one influencing all these problems in windows I've never run into. However, it could also be the case that the add on programs you've been writing for windows is also influencing this behavior in a way you have not anticipated. also, why don't you try to use an alternative to explorer...i think taryn as a link in the suggested software thread |
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kitty Come on babe, pet the pussy ;) Level: 70 Posts: 1643/2449 EXP: 2962406 For next: 53405 Since: 03-15-04 From: Scranton, PA, USA Since last post: 3 hours Last activity: 3 hours |
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Originally posted by HyperHackerYou have a hardware issue without a doubt. Be it bad RAM, CPU, or motherboard. Possibly bad capacitors on the board (the boards with bad capacitors were around the 500MHz-1GHz CPU era). WinXP SP1 or 2 should both install and boot flawlesly. Since they don't, I'm not even going to specualte as to what it could be. Your PC has a dying component in it somewhere. |
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HyperLamer <||bass> and this was the soloution i thought of that was guarinteed to piss off the greatest amount of people Sesshomaru Tamaranian Level: 118 Posts: 5490/8210 EXP: 18171887 For next: 211027 Since: 03-15-04 From: Canada, w00t! LOL FAD Since last post: 2 hours Last activity: 2 hours |
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| Aaargh! I Defragged E: and it went fine... Tried F:, went out to watch a movie and came back to a BSOD. E: is no longer formatted. (F: seems fine from the quick scan I did. ) Since I'm going to need to reinstall now anyway, I'm gonna try some experimenting with the install disc a bit (namely nLite and SP1/2 integration; I hear doing it that way works better than installing them manually) so I might not be around for a few days. I really do think there's something wrong with something, motherboard sounds like a good bet. If I can ever actually get a job I'm gonna buy a whole new system, but until then I'm stuck with this.  It still bugs me, though, because the 'problem level' seems to be too major for software problems (lots of weird stuff) but not enough for hardware problems (no random crashes, besides that defrag just now...). XP is pretty stable but it can't do much if the hardware isn't working; I'd think it would barely run at all.The possibility of problems from me hacking system files and cramming new programs and such in does exist, but it's not that significant. Actually modifying the system files is something I rarely do, and the hacks I do use are popular ones like enabling custom themes; if these caused huge problems I imagine a lot of people would know by now. The 'add-on' programs aren't anything that should be causing huge problems, the only one I even run all the time is the window menu (which wasn't running during defrag; I was in safe mode, not even the shell was running). An alternative to Explorer... dear God how I'd love to. I don't recall seeing a full-blown replacement though (mostly just skins and add-ons, or a few that lacked all but the most basic features.) Someday I need to get around to making my own... [edit] Well I added SP2 and removed some stuff with nLite, and it didn't blow up when I booted, yay. Many things wrong though. A zillion 'file not found' errors at startup, I can't install my video drivers (nothing like surfing at 640x480  ) and many of the tweaks didn't do anything. (edited by HyperHacker on 07-04-05 04:23 AM) |
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neotransotaku Baby Mario 戻れたら、 誰も気が付く Level: 87 Posts: 3450/4016 EXP: 6220548 For next: 172226 Since: 03-15-04 From: Outside of Time/Space Since last post: 11 hours Last activity: 1 hour |
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| no way to go to a previous OS that uses less resources? | |||
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HyperLamer <||bass> and this was the soloution i thought of that was guarinteed to piss off the greatest amount of people Sesshomaru Tamaranian Level: 118 Posts: 5493/8210 EXP: 18171887 For next: 211027 Since: 03-15-04 From: Canada, w00t! LOL FAD Since last post: 2 hours Last activity: 2 hours |
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| Not when I'm developing and using programs that only work on XP. I'd really rather not, anyway. (And after re-tweaking and reinstalling, it's working... for now. Though there's still some bugs that appear on both this and the old install, which worries me...) [edit] So yeah. After reformatting, tweaking and reinstalling... the exact same bugs are still present, and some new ones because nLite sucks.  Isn't there some program that can test everything and figure out WTF is wrong?(edited by HyperHacker on 07-04-05 06:25 PM) |
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DarkSlaya POOOOOOOOOOOORN! Level: 88 Posts: 3773/4249 EXP: 6409254 For next: 241410 Since: 05-16-04 From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Since last post: 8 hours Last activity: 5 hours |
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| Whenever something fucks up and you don't know what it is, look at the motherboard (trust me, I've had my share of problem with my old one, making Windows do weird things.) | |||
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HyperLamer <||bass> and this was the soloution i thought of that was guarinteed to piss off the greatest amount of people Sesshomaru Tamaranian Level: 118 Posts: 5495/8210 EXP: 18171887 For next: 211027 Since: 03-15-04 From: Canada, w00t! LOL FAD Since last post: 2 hours Last activity: 2 hours |
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Yep. The motherboard is my main suspect, and as such I've decided to buy a new one.  Only one question - how do I tell what kind of RAM I have? I don't have a whole lot to spend so I probably won't be able to buy more memory, so I need to know exactly what I have here (clock speed, type etc). According to HP I have PC100, 100mhz synchronous, 168-pin DIMM, SDRAM, 100 MHz, Intel PC SDRAM unbuffered DIMM specification, revision 1.0 compliant. I'm not quite sure what all that means though. I also have some spare memory sticks that this computer doesn't seem to like (won't start up, as hard as it tries) so if I could identify them it'd be good too.The first is clearly labelled: SD 168PIN PC133 128MB. The second only says: KTD-GXI/32 1936-002.A00 CE And the third: PC100-322-620 KMM366S424CRS-GL I'm not even sure those work, though, because I don't have a computer they're compatible with. (That, or they don't. ) I'll check the ones in the computer sometime later, but, well, it's running right now. As for nLite, bah. I'm just gonna integrate SP2 and not remove anything, because nLite doesn't seem to be able to tell what I actually want removed (it deleted CALCULATOR) and what it does remove only makes things not work. [edit] What's everyone think of this? As best I can tell it meets my specifications; AGP, several PCI slots, good memory capactiy, and comes with a nice CPU. (edited by HyperHacker on 07-04-05 10:45 PM) (edited by HyperHacker on 07-04-05 10:51 PM) |
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kitty Come on babe, pet the pussy ;) Level: 70 Posts: 1661/2449 EXP: 2962406 For next: 53405 Since: 03-15-04 From: Scranton, PA, USA Since last post: 3 hours Last activity: 3 hours |
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| HH: Your RAM won't work in that motherboard, but RAM is the cheapest thing around. That would give you amazingly fast performance compared to what you have now. NO modern mobo is compatible with your RAM (You have SDRAM, all new boards use either DDR or DDR2). I know those are Canadian prices so it's hard to compare, but if you're on a budget... I bought one of these (refurb) - it's in my parents' PC, stable as can be. This link is for a new one though. Combo price with 256MB of RAM is good too (256MB is low, but you don't even have that much now). It has a better chipset (nForce2) and IGP (integrated graphics processor) that's equivalent to a GeForce2 MX. Decent graphics for onboard, especially compared to the shit you have now. This processor is a good one, and can be overclocked as easily as pushing the FSB from 333 to 400MHz. I did that with mine AND lowered the core voltage, and it's an older chip so I'm sure this newer-core one will have no problems doing it. The CPU you're getting doesn't have a heatsink, this does. Total cost of this, with the 256MB RAM package deal: $143.82 (US). Edit: Oh, I THINK you need a 4-pin power plug for that motherboard to work properly too, I don't recall. It's easy enough to make one yourself if that's the case. (edited by Yiffy Kitten on 07-05-05 01:11 AM) |
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neotransotaku Baby Mario 戻れたら、 誰も気が付く Level: 87 Posts: 3451/4016 EXP: 6220548 For next: 172226 Since: 03-15-04 From: Outside of Time/Space Since last post: 11 hours Last activity: 1 hour |
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I'm pretty sure the RAM in your current computer isn't salvagable for your new motherboard. Stick 1 is PC133 and Stick 3 is PC100. Possibly the reason they don't work with your HP (which i guess is the computer this thread has revolved around) is because they aren't ECC (error correction code) enabled. otherwise, I don't see any other reason why if they fit, they don't work (other than they just don't work period)Originally posted by HyperHacker as for this computer, seems a tad bit overpriced...but has enough features to survive the long haul |
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HyperLamer <||bass> and this was the soloution i thought of that was guarinteed to piss off the greatest amount of people Sesshomaru Tamaranian Level: 118 Posts: 5503/8210 EXP: 18171887 For next: 211027 Since: 03-15-04 From: Canada, w00t! LOL FAD Since last post: 2 hours Last activity: 2 hours |
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| Well I like the sound of those, and apparently TigerDirect.ca has them too. (Newegg is one of those places that thinks only the US uses computers. ) Board and CPU. I might end up just buying something in town, though. (And just within my price range too, as opposed to having to borrow 30 bucks. Yay! ) I'm not going to order just yet, though, for a few reasons (namely I don't have a bank account so I'd have to wait for my mom to get home to write a check ), so if anyone has anything to say, say it now. [edit] Order's in the mail.  I got some more birthday money so I splurged and got 512MB RAM. Now all I need's a video card. (edited by HyperHacker on 07-05-05 09:15 PM) |
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kitty Come on babe, pet the pussy ;) Level: 70 Posts: 1667/2449 EXP: 2962406 For next: 53405 Since: 03-15-04 From: Scranton, PA, USA Since last post: 3 hours Last activity: 3 hours |
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That's why I linked to the MSI board It has onboard video, which is better than any Intel onboard video by far. If you want an AGP video card, the cheapest ones are like $50 and are on par with that onboard video  |
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HyperLamer <||bass> and this was the soloution i thought of that was guarinteed to piss off the greatest amount of people Sesshomaru Tamaranian Level: 118 Posts: 5529/8210 EXP: 18171887 For next: 211027 Since: 03-15-04 From: Canada, w00t! LOL FAD Since last post: 2 hours Last activity: 2 hours |
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| Yeah, I noticed the onboard video. Good because I won't be affording an AGP one anytime soon. (This is all birthday money... would have saved up for better, but it's not a matter of "I'm gonna buy a really powerful computer" so much as "I need a new computer ASAP". ) |
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