51 replies to this topic

[MikeBoa]

hi & thanks much, paws. I'll go w/ that from the how-to-geek & try that when I get the time tonite!

[paws]

[MikeBoa]

hi all! I'm posting using the Ubuntu OS off the burned CD. this looks to be working fine, so good chance it's my XP Pro SP OS? after 3 years of massive use, a new abit MB installed, & never doing a clean reinstall, or even a reinstall repair, could it be my OS is so corrupt that I can't even do a install-repair nor clean install now? looks like I might be forced to clean reinstall 'cause now I don't have a acronis full image backup on my c:, & can't make a new one 'cause the system crashes when I try.

[jephree]

That is a good sign for your hardware.

In general anytime you change a motherboard you need to Format/Clean Install the OS.

If you are saying you cannot do so then try running KillDisk first:

http://www.killdisk.com/

Obviously at this point all data will be erased.

[MikeBoa]

That is a good sign for your hardware.

In general anytime you change a motherboard you need to Format/Clean Install the OS.

If you are saying you cannot do so then try running KillDisk first:

http://www.killdisk.com/

Obviously at this point all data will be erased.

thanks, though that'll be tons of work getting everything back to normal.

wonder, did that Ubuntu use the video card too?

if I do the complete, guess it'd be best to download all the primary Windows updates (except IE8 for me) all the way thru SP3, then reinstall all my programs? Maybe I should just go get Windows 7 if I'm going to go thru all that.

[jephree]

The easiest way for an XP reinstall at this point is to create a slipstreamed XP SP3 CD.

http://blogs.zdnet.c.../?p=1848&page=2

All Windows OS write data to the motherboard and thus it becomes a foundation for the OS.

Replacing the foundation requires replacing the connections via a reinstall.


Ubuntu used your video hardware although probably not the Windows drivers.

You will also find Linux drivers from Nvidia.


I would definitely suggest going to Win 7.

You can still load RC1 as a temp.

By the way starting tomorrow MS is offering 1/2 price pre-orders:

http://www.informati...cleID=218101425

[MikeBoa]

thanks for that info, J! guess it'd be cheaper to reinstall XP & upgrade. sorry though, should have done more on the memory test. I was reading another thread where someone here mentioned using Memtest86, so I downloaded that on a boot CD. no matter which combo I use in whichever slot, single 512mb or double sticks, the test either freezes or crashes/reboots on either test #3 or test #4. then I went back & tried the Windows Memory Diagnostic & it crashed when I did extended tests - on the LRand (applies random data). I'll get 2 more sticks of Samsung 512mb back soon & can test w/ those, but this looks like a definite MB issue. seems beyond coincidence that all mem sticks & slots could be bad(?).

[MikeBoa]

another thing that makes me think it's gotta be hardware is the sound of the computer - keeps reving up w/ the fan speed/sound. guess it could be the CPU too, but that shouldn't be in play on the memory tests, no?

[8210GUY]

The CPU is much hardier than people realise, yes it's a delicate item, but it can take a lot considering, the ram tests crashing doesn't sound good, have you tried testing 1 stick at a time ? Also try testing in a different slot on the board, this allows it to see if it is a bad stick, or a bad slot, so I hope it will show up what is playing up, one note though, because I have the memory span of a goldfish lol, make sure you clearly remember\know which stick is which and what has been done with it already, it will stop you from testing a stick\slot that you have already done.

[paws]

Hi,MikeBoa,

hi all! I'm posting using the Ubuntu OS off the burned CD. this looks to be working fine, so good chance it's my XP Pro SP OS?

That is good news......
if Ubuntu works correctly running from a live distro and your machine doesn't crash or present with any problems then we have identified that most of your hardware is most likely OK......
Ubuntu will use whatever hardware it finds on your machine (video card, sound card, ethernet card etc.) and load the correct linux drivers for them (usually!)

As Ubuntu Live is running entirely from RAM it gives a pretty good workout to your RAM, and the fact that the system works OK with Ubuntu means that there can't be a lot wrong with your memory/CPU/mobo/PSU hardware...

We can deduce therefore that its likely to be either a problem with your hard drive (remember Ubuntu doesn't use your hard drive) or your Windows operating system........
You have performed hard drive diagnostics previously, I believe,, and the drive has passed the tests.......the most likely culprit therefore is the Windows operating system itself......

As jephree accurately stated, it's always best to completely reinstall Windows following a mobo change.......it always amazes me that some systems (not many of them but just some) seem to be able to work at all when this is not done......however even though they may work with very limited functionality, most folks are left with a badly crippled system.

Slipstreaming SP3 is a good idea to create a fairly up to date installation disc (as jephree also said) and then this will leave you with just 50 or 60 Windows updates to do and your applications to install, email/Internet to configure and data files to copy across.

Don't forget you will be well advised to download up to date drivers for your mobo, video card, sound card, and all peripherals before you start.....although you may be lucky and find that the "native" Windows drivers within XP will do the job to a satisfactory state, without further ado. You will of course need your anti virus and 2 way firewall installation executables handy...
There is just one caveat about slipstreaming SP 3 into an installation disc that I would mention.....and that is if you have lots of "old" applications that you wish to install...they could react badly (go grumpy!) upon seeing SP3.........if you have lots of said old applications then its often best to consider installing your basic Windows XP and then install applications ( they will be more comfortable and more likely to run OK if they "see" the version of XP they were designed for!......and then install the Service Pack required.

Good luck with all this and don't forget as soon as your system is all up to date firewalled, all updates installed, all junk deleted , drives defragged and the machine is running fast and sweet, its a good time to take an Acronis image of your now "perfect" system , validate it for accuracy and reproducibility, keep it safe on removable media ( take an extra copy to be extra safe! and make a bootable Acronis startup disc)

In the event of serious trouble in the future that can't be resolved by the usual methods in a timely or cost effective way you can reimage your system and be up and running in less time than it takes to walk the dog!
Regards and good luck with this
paws

[MikeBoa]

guy, yes I tried 1 stick of ram at a time in all 4 slots, with 2 dif sticks - so all 8 dif possibilities. I even tried it also with the Memtest86 on a floppy, & w/ MemScope test on a floppy. On every test I'm getting either a freeze or crash/reboot. paws, real odd that the Ubuntu works fine even though the memory is failing in tests. then again, my system in Windows runs fine (for now) until I try something like an Acronis backup to another drive; or, when I stream certain video off the internet it will freeze/ could it be something with an interface on the MB?

[8210GUY]

Just a thought here, have you checked the ram is listed as being compatible with that board ? Should you want to check go to the ram makers site, and input your board details into the Configurator and see if that ram comes back as suitable.

[MikeBoa]

yeah looks ok - I'm now using the original 2 sticks the builder put in: Samsung (though it says "Major Brand" on it) 512mb DDR2 533 PC2-4200 CL4 240-Pin DIMM. one site I checked confirms this is ok for my abit AL8 MB: * 240-pin DDR2 DIMM Banking: 4 (2 banks of 2) * Chipset: Intel 945P * DDR2 SDRAM Frequencies: PC2-4200 and PC2-5300 * Error Detection Support: Non-ECC only * Graphics Support: PCI Express x16 * Max Component Density: 1024 * Max Unbuffered DDR2 SDRAM: 4096MB * Module Types Supported: Unbuffered only * Supported DRAM Types: DDR2 SDRAM only * USB Support: 2.x Compliant * Although the memory can be installed one module at a time, the best performance comes from using matched pairs of modules.

[8210GUY]

The thing with ram it is extremely fussy, the fact it's from Samsung means I can't check it, at least not like I can with the big names like Crucial etc, can I ask is this double sided ram ?
Because if it is there lies your trouble, well possibly at least, this assumes I found your exact motherboard, because there is more than 1 type of the same name, the only difference is a single letter behind it, so if this suspicion has any chance of being right you will need to ensure that your board has no other letters, or is not a specific revision etc, but assuming it is as you state, the manual says the following:-

• Due to chipset limitation, 128MB DIMM modules or double-sided x16 memory chips are not supported

So it may be possible that the ram is not faulty, but simply incompatible, the only way to check is if you have some ram known to work with that board, because sometimes it is more involved than just getting ram of a certain speed, my first experience with ram had this exact issue, turned out the board would only accept ram of a specific size, and this kind of thing will drive you crazy trying to figure why ram wont work when it's the right speed etc, could this be a factor here ?

[MikeBoa]

guy, it's definitely an AL8 with no letters behind it. I pasted the above from a ram check at crucial.com don't think it's double-sided. Samsung is the manufacturer; here're the specs for what I have from the vendor that sold it to me: Specifications: # Capacity: 512MGB # Type DDR2 533 # Bandwidth PC2-4200 # 240-pin unbuffered DIMM # CAS Latency: 4 # Organization: 32Mx8/ 64Mx8 (FBGA) # Chip: Samsung # ECC/REG: Non-ECC # PCB Height: 1.181" # Certification Intel # Maximum 4.3GB bandwidth # JEDEC standard 1.8 + 0.1V power supply # Off-chip driver (OCD) impedance adjustment on die termination (ODT)

Edited by MikeBoa, 26 June 2009 - 05:38 PM.