YAY! MY COMPUER SUCKS ASS!!

[Punl<]

I'll start from about two weeks ago.

Computer was running slow and occasionally crashing at first.. mostly during SoF2. It eventually escalated into what I guessed was XP’s version of the blue screen of death. “Memory dump” follow by a bunch of other random junk on a blue screen. It got to the point where it wouldn’t recognize the primary drive. It just wouldn’t see it. But if I turned off the computer and unplugged the drives cables (power and IDE) it would eventually boot. I got to the point of thinking the drive was bad. So I cleared out a 60 Gig drive.. fdisked and reformatted on it hoping that would solve the problem. Installed and ran fine.. for about 5 or so days. Now it likes to crash allot. Generally when im running SoF2 (like before).. it’ll actually crash and then delete my SoF2 config file for some stupid reason. But it has crashed when I just open mozilla.

The last few days I can actually hear the hard drive spinning like crazy when the system goes to shit. Doesn’t always go to shit when it spins.. but usually does.

A couple random “lets reboot the system to piss him off’s” too. When it does lock it’s like it’s frozen.. the sound (whatever was playing at the time) loops. It seems to be happening more and more.


Heres what I have in it.

(I am not a computer expert by any means lol)

MSI 645Max2 mother board. I don’t seem to see it on the msi site though. I know that’s what it says on the box (that’s at home and not here at work).
512 PC2700 micron memory
1 60 gig Maxtor as the boot drive on its own cable.
1 180 gig wd on a PCI card on its own cable
1 120 gig wd on a PCI card on its own cable (on the same above card)
Radeon 9800 pro



I am lacking sleep and feeling like crap. Sorry if this sounds kind of incoherant.

[Anasazi]

I would guess that your Maxtor is bad.
Especially if SOF2 is on it. (You seem to play SOF2 a lot)
If it's rebooting I would think it would be whatever drive is running windows. If it was another dive I would expect it just to haev problems and return to windows or just not work.

If the drive is indeed gone bad I don't think that reformatting would help at all. All reformatting does is install a new OS.
It sounds like a hardware problem to me.

[Punl<]

I originally had it installed on another 120. Thats the one that went bad initially. I took the 60 (that was working fine, or so I thought/think) and fdisked/reformated that and started from scratch with that. Try another drive ya think?


No SoF2 jokes. It's scary how great that game is.

[DeadLamb]

one rule I have stuck to when building up systems is "new cpu = NEW drive".... No reformat, no "I think it's fine"... New clean OS install for a new MB / cpu chip gets a brand new, out of the box drive..

It just cuts out sooooooo many issues as far as guessing what might be going wrong...

you are at the point that you need to strip your system down to next to nothing.. Clean OS install on a new drive.. Do NOT bringing anything over with it.. Reinstall everything, keep the system simple at first to see if it runs fine... So maybe just one drive for while.. It works, then add more stuff in.. but you are at tear down, start over level of problems..

Odds are one or more of your drives is on the way out and it just crashing you out all the time.. then after all those dumps the programs start to mess up and so on and repeat... Just start allllllllllllllllll over.... I know you don't want to hear that :)

[Punl<]

Ill try that. I have another 120 thats basically new. Only usedit for a few monthes. Ill transfer whats on it off.. fdsik/format it.. unplug all the other drives (including the cables and whatnot) and install XP fresh on the drive. Ill just re-do my game configs and what not. I'll even wait on bringing over my bookmarks just in case. Ill just install the essentails: Nero, DVDShrink and a few other essentails. I'll hold off on everything else.. even my beloved SoF2.

I'll keep the new CPU = New drive reccomendation for whenever I upgrade my motherboard cpu (which Id like to put off for as long as possible).

Thanks for the input. Ill get it re-worked tomorrow morning when I get home from work. I just want it stable enough to take to the LAN. Missed the last two because it wasnt running well. Eh. Hope it works.

If anyone else has any comments, suggestions no matter how small.. id appreciate the knowledge.

[Punl<]

Originally posted by DeadLamb
Odds are one or more of your drives is on the way out and it just crashing you out all the time.. then after all those dumps the programs start to mess up and so on and repeat... Just start allllllllllllllllll over.... I know you don't want to hear that :)

I hope thats what it is. With my luck it'll be my 180. Oh well. I just want to know why it keeps fucking dying.

YEAH!! INSTALLING XP OVER AND OVER!! JOY OF JOYS!!

[Bullfrog]

Check your PSU and make sure it isn't going out. If you are getting big voltage drops across the rails then it could cause your problems. If your supply is more then 2 years old and has been pushed hard I would replace it.

I always like using PSU that are MUCH larger then what I intend to run on them. I don't like pushing a supply to the max because it shortens its lifespan and can cause a lot of damage when it fails.

[Punl<]

Originally posted by Bullfrog
Check your PSU and make sure it isn't going out. If you are getting big voltage drops across the rails then it could cause your problems. If your supply is more then 2 years old and has been pushed hard I would replace it.

I always like using PSU that are MUCH larger then what I intend to run on them. I don't like pushing a supply to the max because it shortens its lifespan and can cause a lot of damage when it fails.

I have no idea how to even test it. I dont think it's being pushed hard. Hell.. it's a 500 watt power supply thats roughly 6 monthes old.

[Gremlin]

get a Multi meter from fry's that should help you out.

[Punl<]

Originally posted by Gremlin
get a Multi meter from fry's that should help you out.

I dont see myself needing it more than once. Unless it's really cheap I'll just return it after the usage :D.

I spend enough money there as it is.


Thanks for the info. Ill head over there sometime this week to get one.... must... LAN..

[Gremlin]

you can return it within 30 days for a full refund

[Punl<]

Gotta love Fry's. Now if I could only find where I put those Damn Windows CD's.. lol I just had them yesterday.. they're here somewhere.

[Bullfrog]

Originally posted by Punl<
I have no idea how to even test it. I dont think it's being pushed hard. Hell.. it's a 500 watt power supply thats roughly 6 monthes old.

What brand supply did you buy? It's not totally about the MAX wattage of the supply but what the 12V, 7V, 3V rails can support what amp. A high end video card, 2 optical drives and 3 hard drives today can suck down a 12V rail. Depending on how a motherboard manufacture implements it's VRUs they can steal power from different rails to get clean power to the memory and cpu. On top of which if you have noisey AC power you can cause all kinds of problems.

I had a couple of cases fans that if I plugged into any mobo headers would cause lockups. Plugged them into a molex off the PSU and all the stability issues went away. Nothing like a $2 part taking down a $2000 system.

YMMV

[xwred1]

Does this box have an AMD cpu in it?

Switch to Intel :p

You're running AV and all that, right? Have you ruled out whether or not you might be consistently picking up the same virus or some other malware as part of your routine?

[Poncho]

Originally posted by Bullfrog

I had a couple of cases fans that if I plugged into any mobo headers would cause lockups. Plugged them into a molex off the PSU and all the stability issues went away. Nothing like a $2 part taking down a $2000 system.

YMMV

That's what you get for plugging a 2 dollar item into a product that is only worth $4(meaning the AMD motherboard). Bullfrog....when are you ever gonna learn? :ROFL: :sm:

[Bullfrog]

Originally posted by Poncho
That's what you get for plugging a 2 dollar item into a product that is only worth $4(meaning the AMD motherboard). Bullfrog....when are you ever gonna learn? :ROFL: :sm:

Those of us who have seen the light and follow the path of true enlightenment do not need to listen to your satanic words! Only thru true faith and persistance can we achieve one-ness with a computer. So BEGONE you demon-spawn! I choose the forces of good! :chair:

[Chronoglass]

good smood, I worship my AMdevil!

[DeadLamb]

if you really can't get your system up and running make sure to let us know.. odds are someone who is going to come to the lan has some sort of spare cpu..

[xwred1]

Originally posted by Bullfrog
Those of us who have seen the light and follow the path of true enlightenment do not need to listen to your satanic words! Only thru true faith and persistance can we achieve one-ness with a computer. So BEGONE you demon-spawn! I choose the forces of good! :chair:

Sweet, so you switched to Linux on Intel?

:D

[DeadLamb]

Originally posted by xwred1
Sweet, so you switched to Linux on Intel?

:D

blah....why would ANY gamer run Linux on a game / LAN box?? I mean I can see it for other stuff but not games...

[xwred1]

I dunno... I do it because I'm too lazy to waste the drive space and deal with the hassles otherwise. Works ok for me.

I was just remarking on how he was all enlightened though.

[Punl<]

Originally posted by Bullfrog
What brand supply did you buy? It's not totally about the MAX wattage of the supply but what the 12V, 7V, 3V rails can support what amp. A high end video card, 2 optical drives and 3 hard drives today can suck down a 12V rail. Depending on how a motherboard manufacture implements it's VRUs they can steal power from different rails to get clean power to the memory and cpu. On top of which if you have noisey AC power you can cause all kinds of problems.

I had a couple of cases fans that if I plugged into any mobo headers would cause lockups. Plugged them into a molex off the PSU and all the stability issues went away. Nothing like a $2 part taking down a $2000 system.

YMMV

I'll have to check on the PSU modle when I get home in the AM. If it is the power supply.. any reccomendations on a replacement if I have to get one?

YMMV?

Originally posted by xwred1
Does this box have an AMD cpu in it?

Switch to Intel :p

You're running AV and all that, right? Have you ruled out whether or not you might be consistently picking up the same virus or some other malware as part of your routine?

It has a P4 in it.

I was running Norton 2003 yeah. I installed AGV this time around. Think ill go back to Norton 2003 for the NEXT install TOMORROW.

Malware? No idea. If I can catch the roommate i'll ask him how I check into that. He's more tech savy than I.

Originally posted by DeadLamb
if you really can't get your system up and running make sure to let us know.. odds are someone who is going to come to the lan has some sort of spare cpu..

I shall. I have an AMD system all set to go. But it's not nearly as nice as the intel/pentium set up.

I WILL be LANing somehow. If only for 24 season one and two :). Battle Royale WILL be there. Anasazi, Donnie.. your.. errr "back up's" are all set. 100% quality.. God loves DVDShrink.


Thank's again for the help everyone. I am feeling less and less tenative about asking for help in this forum (can you tell lol). I really do appreciate the help people.

[xwred1]

Malware? No idea. If I can catch the roommate i'll ask him how I check into that. He's more tech savy than I.

By malware I mean any of the bad things, like Gator or trojans or spyware or other things of that nature.

[Punl<]

I had Adaware and Spybot running on my last install. What one didnt find the other usually did. As for a Trojan.. could be. I wouldnt know where to begin looking for one.

How hard is it to check for a Trojan? Im guessing it's not something that'd be to easy to do. Though I could be wrong.

Malwar *makes mental note*.

[enervate]

Originally posted by Punl<
Battle Royale WILL be there.

Yes, yes! Must have my imported violence! The fates will smile kindly upon you for your contribution. Then they will disembowel you and feed on your raw entrails.

[Bullfrog]

Originally posted by xwred1
Sweet, so you switched to Linux on Intel?

:D

I didn't say I was Mormon....Opteron is TRUE love baby! YEAH!

[xwred1]

You instant-64bitters are all cockroaches. You don't even know what it means to be 64bit. Left on your own you'd cover the world in your own filth.

</hellsing>

[Bullfrog]

Originally posted by xwred1
You instant-64bitters are all cockroaches. You don't even know what it means to be 64bit. Left on your own you'd cover the world in your own filth.

</hellsing>

Wow....did you read a fortune cookie last night?

[Punl<]

Two days since ive installed and no crashes. I did unplug all but one hard drive and a few case fans (using a little portable fan to keep the case cool right now) and no issues at all.

Though I do have all of my drivers on a CD and set to reinstall should the need arise.

[xwred1]

Maybe you've got a bad piece of hardware that is now unplugged? When you plug everything back in, you should do it one device at a time so you know which one you just plugged in when the crashing comes back.

[Punl<]

Thats what im hoping. We shall see tomorrow.

[Dorzak]

Originally posted by Punl<
Two days since ive installed and no crashes. I did unplug all but one hard drive and a few case fans (using a little portable fan to keep the case cool right now) and no issues at all.

Though I do have all of my drivers on a CD and set to reinstall should the need arise.

It could also be you are simply drawing too much power as it was mentioned earlier.

Add the devices one at a time as suggested. When you start having problems remove the last item added, and add a different item. Try a combination where you remove the item when things started having issues, and item prior to it, and add back in the one that seemed to cause the problem. If no problem at this point, it is probably a power issue, and not a piece of hardware issue.

Examples (hardware is A,B,C,D in order added.

1. Add A, B (no problem)
2. Add A,B,C (problem)
3. Try A,B,D (if problem could be power)
4. Try A,C (if problem could be C)
5. Try A,D (if problem maybe its both C & D having an issue)

This doesn't 100% eliminate all posibilities but a place to start.

Try this for a while. It could be a case of your lock-ups or reboots occuring when both an optical drive and hard drive are access simultaneously.

Here is a real world example:

About 5 years ago I was VERY desperate for a job. I was laid off, had 2 kids, and a wife. I took a job at Staples doing hardware installs. Anyways, had this guy purchase a HP machine, but he wanted information from his old hard drive transferred over, and a different video card. It was also company policy at the time to install, run Norton System Utilities, and uninstall after any hard drive install or data transfer. Anyways we have installed the video card, and have the old machines hard drive plugged in (2 hard drives, high-end at the time video card (3dfx something or other 16 meg, early AGP). A coworker starts the Norton install, and the system shuts down. Seems that this PII-400 HP machine only had a 130 watt power supply. It was too much to have both hard drives and the CD-ROM drive going.

[Punl<]

I'll try it as you've suggest dorzak. Seems logical enough.

I've gotta say my system ran better than any other LAN. Weird.