just shoot me......XP clean install

[finding z0]

Why I did it.

1. Random lockups (could be hardware/heating issue)
2. Lately, an error message suggesting an invalid msls,dll causing a
bad image or somesuch. Functionality degrading rapidly. Couldn't
install anything.Tried to use Carbonite (online) to back up system-
ended up buying an external HD instead.
3. Did a search on usenet for 'random lockups and came up with my own
post from 2003(?) hahaha... figured I reformatted back then to fix it.
On my 3rd HD.

What I did
Originally used a home XP upgrade from Win98 several years ago. This
time it didn't asked for proof of previous Win product? Changed Bios
to cd rom as first boot device.Booted sys with winxp cd. 1st tried to
format only the C: partition and keep my D: & E: Install proceeded to
nearly the end then hung at boot. Went back and repeated. No joy. This
morn I deleted all partitions and made it all C: (just in case there
was bad stuff on D: & C. The install goes all the way to end to
windows boot-Black xp screen with loading bar then goes to black with
HD light staying on even after 20 minutes. No error messages.
Rearranged boot devices in bios. Sys will boot to safe mode. Device
manager shows onkly one exclamation under "other devices" for audio
controller. My driver cd (custom) and SB Live cd couldn't fix this.
What to check next? Cheers and thanks in advance.

 

[db]

usually, lock ups are
the result of an issue
with hardware, perhaps
but not limited to
over heating.

the first course of action
would have been to
examine your system
via safe mode.

in doing so, you might
have learned that the
the core system files
may not have needed
to be re-installed.

if so, then a repair install
would have been the next
logical step.


in any case, you should
find and install the drivers
for your system and components
like bios, sound, etc...
directly from their home sites
as your windows cd may be
lacking with updated drivers.

also, you might want to
double check the internal
cabling and connections
to ensure the hardware
is / are securely connected
and the cabling has not
become frayed.
--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[finding z0]

usually, lock ups are
the result of an issue
with hardware, perhaps
but not limited to
over heating.

the first course of action
would have been to
examine your system
via safe mode.

in doing so, you might
have learned that the
the core system files
may not have needed
to be re-installed.

if so, then a repair install
would have been the next
logical step.

in any case, you should
find and install the drivers
for your system and components
like bios, sound, etc...
directly from their home sites
as your windows cd may be
lacking with updated drivers.

also, you might want to
double check the internal
cabling and connections
to ensure the hardware
is / are securely connected
and the cabling has not
become frayed.
--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
 - Systems Analyst
 - Database Developer
 - Accountancy
 - Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WILCO

 

[Mark]

The lockups previously experienced and during the latest install could point
to a HD issue. You are on your 3rd HD? Why is that? Does the install hang
similarly with all 3 drives? If so, then there could be a hardware issue
(if so, heat could be causing a marginal condition. There are several ways
to help troubleshoot a heat issue such as: direct a fan right into the
hardware, etc).

 

[finding z0]

The lockups previously experienced and during the latest install could point
to a HD issue.  You are on your 3rd HD?  Why is that?  Does the install hang
similarly with all 3 drives?  If so, then there could be a hardware issue
(if so, heat could be causing a marginal condition. There are several ways
to help troubleshoot a heat issue such as: direct a fan right into the
hardware, etc).






- Show quoted text -

I think my MB eats HD's. Yup, 3 HD's in 8 yrs. Epox 8KHA+. I'm on a
seagate now. I looked at Events in safe mode. There were plenty of
warnings and errors, but i suspect most are related to being in safe
mode. One suggested a bad block on my cdrom? I will not feed this
beast another HD. I run MB monitor and though the sys would slow as
the temp rose (especially in the summer) it never read over 51 deg. C.
It idles about 47. The cpu was O'clkd, but now it's underclocked.

 

[Mark Adams]

I think my MB eats HD's. Yup, 3 HD's in 8 yrs. Epox 8KHA+. I'm on a
seagate now. I looked at Events in safe mode. There were plenty of
warnings and errors, but i suspect most are related to being in safe
mode. One suggested a bad block on my cdrom? I will not feed this
beast another HD. I run MB monitor and though the sys would slow as
the temp rose (especially in the summer) it never read over 51 deg. C.
It idles about 47. The cpu was O'clkd, but now it's underclocked.

Download Seagate's Seatools diagnostic utility and check the drive. Who
knows? The drive might be good and your RAM or mainboard might be checking
out. Check the RAM with memtest86. Worth a free try.

 

[finding z0]

Download Seagate's Seatools diagnostic utility and check the drive. Who
knows? The drive might be good and your RAM or mainboard might be checking
out. Check the RAM with memtest86. Worth a free try.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I remember doing that with a Maxtor diagnostic tool some years back.
Thanks for the tips.

 

[John]

3 HDs in 8 years? Not bad. My PIII 1GHz desktop is almost 10 years old and
I'm on my 5th IDE HD now. It goes something like this:

- IBM Deskstar 20GB (brand new), died in less than 1 yr
- IBM Deskstar 20GB (warranty replacement of the above), died again in about
1 yr
- WD 80GB (brand new), died in about 4-5 yrs
- WD 120GB (brand new), died in about 4-5 yrs
- WD 250GB (currently used)

The lockups previously experienced and during the latest install could
point
to a HD issue. You are on your 3rd HD? Why is that? Does the install hang
similarly with all 3 drives? If so, then there could be a hardware issue
(if so, heat could be causing a marginal condition. There are several ways
to help troubleshoot a heat issue such as: direct a fan right into the
hardware, etc).






- Show quoted text -

I think my MB eats HD's. Yup, 3 HD's in 8 yrs. Epox 8KHA+. I'm on a
seagate now. I looked at Events in safe mode. There were plenty of
warnings and errors, but i suspect most are related to being in safe
mode. One suggested a bad block on my cdrom? I will not feed this
beast another HD. I run MB monitor and though the sys would slow as
the temp rose (especially in the summer) it never read over 51 deg. C.
It idles about 47. The cpu was O'clkd, but now it's underclocked.

 

[finding z0]

Download Seagate's Seatools diagnostic utility and check the drive. Who
knows? The drive might be good and your RAM or mainboard might be checking
out. Check the RAM with memtest86. Worth a free try.

BTW will the diagnostic run in safe mode?

 

[finding z0]

3 HDs in 8 years? Not bad. My PIII 1GHz desktop is almost 10 years old and
I'm on my 5th IDE HD now. It goes something like this:

- IBM Deskstar 20GB (brand new), died in less than 1 yr
- IBM Deskstar 20GB (warranty replacement of the above), died again in about
1 yr
- WD 80GB (brand new), died in about 4-5 yrs
- WD 120GB (brand new), died in about 4-5 yrs
- WD 250GB (currently used)






I think my MB eats HD's. Yup, 3 HD's in 8 yrs. Epox 8KHA+. I'm on a
seagate now. I looked at Events in safe mode. There were plenty of
warnings and errors, but i suspect most are related to being in safe
mode. One suggested a bad block on my cdrom? I will not feed this
beast another HD. I run MB monitor and though the sys would slow as
the temp rose (especially in the summer) it never read over 51 deg. C.
It idles about 47. The cpu was O'clkd, but now it's underclocked.

Ahhhhhhh the IBM DeathStar. I went through one of those as well.

p.s. those verification characters we have type to prove we are worthy
to post. Are they getting harder to decipher??

 

[finding z0]

usually, lock ups are
the result of an issue
with hardware, perhaps
but not limited to
over heating.

the first course of action
would have been to
examine your system
via safe mode.

in doing so, you might
have learned that the
the core system files
may not have needed
to be re-installed.

if so, then a repair install
would have been the next
logical step.

in any case, you should
find and install the drivers
for your system and components
like bios, sound, etc...
directly from their home sites
as your windows cd may be
lacking with updated drivers.

also, you might want to
double check the internal
cabling and connections
to ensure the hardware
is / are securely connected
and the cabling has not
become frayed.
--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
 - Systems Analyst
 - Database Developer
 - Accountancy
 - Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~









- Show quoted text -

I jiggled some connections and it's working so far!!

 

[db]

jiggling is good.

technically it is described
as enhanced hardware
protocol and analysis,

which is billed at
125.00.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Mark Adams]

BTW will the diagnostic run in safe mode?

Seatools and Memtest both run off a bootable disk; you can make either a
floppy or CD. The tests are conducted without Windows running.

 

[finding z0]

jiggling is good.

technically it is described
as enhanced hardware
protocol and analysis,

which is billed at
125.00.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
 - Systems Analyst
 - Database Developer
 - Accountancy
 - Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Musta been the ide connector. A buddy was gonna suggest that jiggle
because the same thing happened to his 8 yr old box. Random lockups
with the HD light staying on. Never need a good reason to reformat...
Thanks to db for the inspiration to jiggle. I tried to post this
yesterday from the jiggled rig but it wouldn't show me the
verification characters to post here. Something I had yet to install
on my revirginized HD?