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One for the geniuses...
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| Chris E 2003-05-03, 12:23 am |
| I hope someone here can help. I was handed a machine that would start to
fire up as soon as power was introduced (the power button did not need to be
pushed). The hard drive would start to spin and then the machine would
abruptly shut down. I checked the power supply. It was bad. I swapped in
a known good PSU and the machine still behaved the same way. I then tested
the hard drive on a good machine, and everything was fine with the HDD. So
now I knew I had a bad PSU and either a bad mobo or CPU (yes, I tested with
nothing more than the HDD, mobo, CPU, video, and RAM.)
So I ordered an exact Gateway replacement mobo (cheaper than the CPU) and
PSU for the system. I installed them both, and everything seemed fine. It
booted to the CMOS setup and I doublechecked each setting, then tried to
fire it up. Everytime I try to boot to the GUI (W98) in normal mode, the
system checks for a registry problem, says it fixes it and to restart. I
restart and go through the same process over and over.
I tried booting into safe mode, I get a message that HIMEM.SYS is missing
and then it halts the boot process. HIMEM.SYS is there and not corrupt.
I've replaced it from a startup disk. But the system still claims its not
there.
I can get to a command prompt. I've tried everything I can think of from a
prompt, too numerous to list here, and nothing has worked. So I asked my
friend if she had a backup of her files. She said she did and that there
was nothing important on there anyway, as she had just got the system not
too long ago and basically just uses it for Internet access. She told me to
format the HDD. I thought this whole thing was strange and tried to install
W98 over the current system and it kept locking up after starting the
install process. (Fatal exception errors and BSOD). I FDISKED, formatted
and tried a clean install. Same thing. I copied the installation files to
the hard drive and tried again. Same thing. I then remembered that I had
another HDD sitting in the closet with 98 loaded on it. I tried to boot to
that one. Same errors when booting into Safe Mode. It began to boot into
the normal GUI, but when it starts to load the new onboard hardware, it
starts giving me messages about fatal exception errors (multiple errors, and
none are the same). Thank God there was nothing of importance on the
orignal HDD, because stupid me realized that the problem most probably does
not lie within the HDD. The problem is that now I am completely stumped.
Did I get a bad mobo? Could a bad CPU cause all of this? The RAM is fine.
I've unhooked all other devices. I have no known good Socket 7 CPU to test
with and would hate to have my friend shell out more cash, especially if it
doesn't fix the problem!! Does ANYBODY have any ideas? I'm dead in the
water here.
Chris
A+, Network+
| |
|
| The RAM may not be fine.
Double check the CMOS settings, especially for timing.
Use the least aggressive settings, if it still reports Fatal Exceptions find
the bad stick.
"Chris E" <evans364@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:MhIsa.189100$gK.272056@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
> I hope someone here can help. I was handed a machine that would start to
> fire up as soon as power was introduced (the power button did not need to
be
> pushed). The hard drive would start to spin and then the machine would
> abruptly shut down. I checked the power supply. It was bad. I swapped
in
> a known good PSU and the machine still behaved the same way. I then
tested
> the hard drive on a good machine, and everything was fine with the HDD.
So
> now I knew I had a bad PSU and either a bad mobo or CPU (yes, I tested
with
> nothing more than the HDD, mobo, CPU, video, and RAM.)
>
> So I ordered an exact Gateway replacement mobo (cheaper than the CPU) and
> PSU for the system. I installed them both, and everything seemed fine.
It
> booted to the CMOS setup and I doublechecked each setting, then tried to
> fire it up. Everytime I try to boot to the GUI (W98) in normal mode, the
> system checks for a registry problem, says it fixes it and to restart. I
> restart and go through the same process over and over.
>
> I tried booting into safe mode, I get a message that HIMEM.SYS is missing
> and then it halts the boot process. HIMEM.SYS is there and not corrupt.
> I've replaced it from a startup disk. But the system still claims its not
> there.
>
> I can get to a command prompt. I've tried everything I can think of from
a
> prompt, too numerous to list here, and nothing has worked. So I asked my
> friend if she had a backup of her files. She said she did and that there
> was nothing important on there anyway, as she had just got the system not
> too long ago and basically just uses it for Internet access. She told me
to
> format the HDD. I thought this whole thing was strange and tried to
install
> W98 over the current system and it kept locking up after starting the
> install process. (Fatal exception errors and BSOD). I FDISKED, formatted
> and tried a clean install. Same thing. I copied the installation files
to
> the hard drive and tried again. Same thing. I then remembered that I had
> another HDD sitting in the closet with 98 loaded on it. I tried to boot
to
> that one. Same errors when booting into Safe Mode. It began to boot into
> the normal GUI, but when it starts to load the new onboard hardware, it
> starts giving me messages about fatal exception errors (multiple errors,
and
> none are the same). Thank God there was nothing of importance on the
> orignal HDD, because stupid me realized that the problem most probably
does
> not lie within the HDD. The problem is that now I am completely stumped.
> Did I get a bad mobo? Could a bad CPU cause all of this? The RAM is
fine.
> I've unhooked all other devices. I have no known good Socket 7 CPU to
test
> with and would hate to have my friend shell out more cash, especially if
it
> doesn't fix the problem!! Does ANYBODY have any ideas? I'm dead in the
> water here.
>
> Chris
> A+, Network+
>
>
>
| |
| SBfan2000 2003-05-03, 5:24 am |
| My educated guess would be bad memory.
"Chris E" <evans364@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:MhIsa.189100$gK.272056@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
> I hope someone here can help. I was handed a machine that would start to
> fire up as soon as power was introduced (the power button did not need to
be
> pushed). The hard drive would start to spin and then the machine would
> abruptly shut down. I checked the power supply. It was bad. I swapped
in
> a known good PSU and the machine still behaved the same way. I then
tested
> the hard drive on a good machine, and everything was fine with the HDD.
So
> now I knew I had a bad PSU and either a bad mobo or CPU (yes, I tested
with
> nothing more than the HDD, mobo, CPU, video, and RAM.)
>
> So I ordered an exact Gateway replacement mobo (cheaper than the CPU) and
> PSU for the system. I installed them both, and everything seemed fine.
It
> booted to the CMOS setup and I doublechecked each setting, then tried to
> fire it up. Everytime I try to boot to the GUI (W98) in normal mode, the
> system checks for a registry problem, says it fixes it and to restart. I
> restart and go through the same process over and over.
>
> I tried booting into safe mode, I get a message that HIMEM.SYS is missing
> and then it halts the boot process. HIMEM.SYS is there and not corrupt.
> I've replaced it from a startup disk. But the system still claims its not
> there.
>
> I can get to a command prompt. I've tried everything I can think of from
a
> prompt, too numerous to list here, and nothing has worked. So I asked my
> friend if she had a backup of her files. She said she did and that there
> was nothing important on there anyway, as she had just got the system not
> too long ago and basically just uses it for Internet access. She told me
to
> format the HDD. I thought this whole thing was strange and tried to
install
> W98 over the current system and it kept locking up after starting the
> install process. (Fatal exception errors and BSOD). I FDISKED, formatted
> and tried a clean install. Same thing. I copied the installation files
to
> the hard drive and tried again. Same thing. I then remembered that I had
> another HDD sitting in the closet with 98 loaded on it. I tried to boot
to
> that one. Same errors when booting into Safe Mode. It began to boot into
> the normal GUI, but when it starts to load the new onboard hardware, it
> starts giving me messages about fatal exception errors (multiple errors,
and
> none are the same). Thank God there was nothing of importance on the
> orignal HDD, because stupid me realized that the problem most probably
does
> not lie within the HDD. The problem is that now I am completely stumped.
> Did I get a bad mobo? Could a bad CPU cause all of this? The RAM is
fine.
> I've unhooked all other devices. I have no known good Socket 7 CPU to
test
> with and would hate to have my friend shell out more cash, especially if
it
> doesn't fix the problem!! Does ANYBODY have any ideas? I'm dead in the
> water here.
>
> Chris
> A+, Network+
>
>
| |
| Chris E 2003-05-03, 9:23 am |
| I'm pretty positive that the memory is good. I've swapped in 3 different
sticks (the original, a known good from one of my PCs, and brand-new store
bought). Where exactly did you mean by timing in CMOS? I don't think this
BIOS is near that advanced. Could a bad CPU cause anything like this?
Thanks for your responses.
Chris
A+, Network+
"SBfan2000" <webmaster@glenngriffith.com> wrote in message
news:vb742uktqrc3ee@corp.supernews.com...
> My educated guess would be bad memory.
>
>
> "Chris E" <evans364@mchsi.com> wrote in message
> news:MhIsa.189100$gK.272056@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
> > I hope someone here can help. I was handed a machine that would start
to
> > fire up as soon as power was introduced (the power button did not need
to
> be
> > pushed). The hard drive would start to spin and then the machine would
> > abruptly shut down. I checked the power supply. It was bad. I swapped
> in
> > a known good PSU and the machine still behaved the same way. I then
> tested
> > the hard drive on a good machine, and everything was fine with the HDD.
> So
> > now I knew I had a bad PSU and either a bad mobo or CPU (yes, I tested
> with
> > nothing more than the HDD, mobo, CPU, video, and RAM.)
> >
> > So I ordered an exact Gateway replacement mobo (cheaper than the CPU)
and
> > PSU for the system. I installed them both, and everything seemed fine.
> It
> > booted to the CMOS setup and I doublechecked each setting, then tried to
> > fire it up. Everytime I try to boot to the GUI (W98) in normal mode,
the
> > system checks for a registry problem, says it fixes it and to restart.
I
> > restart and go through the same process over and over.
> >
> > I tried booting into safe mode, I get a message that HIMEM.SYS is
missing
> > and then it halts the boot process. HIMEM.SYS is there and not corrupt.
> > I've replaced it from a startup disk. But the system still claims its
not
> > there.
> >
> > I can get to a command prompt. I've tried everything I can think of
from
> a
> > prompt, too numerous to list here, and nothing has worked. So I asked
my
> > friend if she had a backup of her files. She said she did and that
there
> > was nothing important on there anyway, as she had just got the system
not
> > too long ago and basically just uses it for Internet access. She told
me
> to
> > format the HDD. I thought this whole thing was strange and tried to
> install
> > W98 over the current system and it kept locking up after starting the
> > install process. (Fatal exception errors and BSOD). I FDISKED,
formatted
> > and tried a clean install. Same thing. I copied the installation files
> to
> > the hard drive and tried again. Same thing. I then remembered that I
had
> > another HDD sitting in the closet with 98 loaded on it. I tried to boot
> to
> > that one. Same errors when booting into Safe Mode. It began to boot
into
> > the normal GUI, but when it starts to load the new onboard hardware, it
> > starts giving me messages about fatal exception errors (multiple errors,
> and
> > none are the same). Thank God there was nothing of importance on the
> > orignal HDD, because stupid me realized that the problem most probably
> does
> > not lie within the HDD. The problem is that now I am completely
stumped.
> > Did I get a bad mobo? Could a bad CPU cause all of this? The RAM is
> fine.
> > I've unhooked all other devices. I have no known good Socket 7 CPU to
> test
> > with and would hate to have my friend shell out more cash, especially if
> it
> > doesn't fix the problem!! Does ANYBODY have any ideas? I'm dead in the
> > water here.
> >
> > Chris
> > A+, Network+
> >
> >
>
>
| |
| The PC Guy 2003-05-03, 9:23 am |
| Hello:
In Windows 98, if there is a serious problem with the registry, it
usually tells you about it but does not automatically fix it.
If, instead, you are getting ScanDisk running and fixing problems on
each startup, that could be a symptom of the Klez virus.
Have you done a virus scan?
--
regards,
bruce
The PC Guy
Bruce Von Deylen
South Bend, Ind. USA
Serving the computer impaired in northern
Indiana and southwest lower Michigan
E-mail: brucevd<at>michiana<dot>org
"Chris E" <evans364@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:yqPsa.716189$L1.204072@sccrnsc02...
> I'm pretty positive that the memory is good. I've swapped in 3 different
> sticks (the original, a known good from one of my PCs, and brand-new store
> bought). Where exactly did you mean by timing in CMOS? I don't think
this
> BIOS is near that advanced. Could a bad CPU cause anything like this?
> Thanks for your responses.
>
> Chris
> A+, Network+
>
>
> "SBfan2000" <webmaster@glenngriffith.com> wrote in message
> news:vb742uktqrc3ee@corp.supernews.com...
> > My educated guess would be bad memory.
> >
> >
> > "Chris E" <evans364@mchsi.com> wrote in message
> > news:MhIsa.189100$gK.272056@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
> > > I hope someone here can help. I was handed a machine that would start
> to
> > > fire up as soon as power was introduced (the power button did not need
> to
> > be
> > > pushed). The hard drive would start to spin and then the machine
would
> > > abruptly shut down. I checked the power supply. It was bad. I
swapped
> > in
> > > a known good PSU and the machine still behaved the same way. I then
> > tested
> > > the hard drive on a good machine, and everything was fine with the
HDD.
> > So
> > > now I knew I had a bad PSU and either a bad mobo or CPU (yes, I tested
> > with
> > > nothing more than the HDD, mobo, CPU, video, and RAM.)
> > >
> > > So I ordered an exact Gateway replacement mobo (cheaper than the CPU)
> and
> > > PSU for the system. I installed them both, and everything seemed
fine.
> > It
> > > booted to the CMOS setup and I doublechecked each setting, then tried
to[co
lor=darkred]
> > > fire it up. Everytime I try to boot to the GUI (W98) in normal mode,
> the
> > > system checks for a registry problem, says it fixes it and to restart.
> I
> > > restart and go through the same process over and over.
> > >
> > > I tried booting into safe mode, I get a message that HIMEM.SYS is
> missing
> > > and then it halts the boot process. HIMEM.SYS is there and not[/color]
corrupt. [colo
r=darkred]
> > > I've replaced it from a startup disk. But the system still claims its
> not
> > > there.
> > >
> > > I can get to a command prompt. I've tried everything I can think of
> from
> > a
> > > prompt, too numerous to list here, and nothing has worked. So I asked
> my
> > > friend if she had a backup of her files. She said she did and that
> there
> > > was nothing important on there anyway, as she had just got the system
> not
> > > too long ago and basically just uses it for Internet access. She told
> me
> > to
> > > format the HDD. I thought this whole thing was strange and tried to
> > install
> > > W98 over the current system and it kept locking up after starting the
> > > install process. (Fatal exception errors and BSOD). I FDISKED,
> formatted
> > > and tried a clean install. Same thing. I copied the installation[/color]
files
> > to
> > > the hard drive and tried again. Same thing. I then remembered that I
> had
> > > another HDD sitting in the closet with 98 loaded on it. I tried to
boot
> > to
> > > that one. Same errors when booting into Safe Mode. It began to boot
> into
> > > the normal GUI, but when it starts to load the new onboard hardware,
it[co
lor=darkred]
> > > starts giving me messages about fatal exception errors (multiple[/color]
errors,
> > and
> > > none are the same). Thank God there was nothing of importance on the
> > > orignal HDD, because stupid me realized that the problem most probably
> > does
> > > not lie within the HDD. The problem is that now I am completely
> stumped.
> > > Did I get a bad mobo? Could a bad CPU cause all of this? The RAM is
> > fine.
> > > I've unhooked all other devices. I have no known good Socket 7 CPU to
> > test
> > > with and would hate to have my friend shell out more cash, especially
if
> > it
> > > doesn't fix the problem!! Does ANYBODY have any ideas? I'm dead in
the[c
olor=darkred]
> > > water here.
> > >
> > > Chris
> > > A+, Network+
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>[/color]
| |
| Billy 2003-05-03, 10:23 am |
| This link is pretty good. The main topics for each area is on the left, with
a description on the right(main).
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/mbsys/bios/set/advch.htm
"Chris E" <evans364@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:yqPsa.716189$L1.204072@sccrnsc02...
> I'm pretty positive that the memory is good. I've swapped in 3 different
> sticks (the original, a known good from one of my PCs, and brand-new store
> bought). Where exactly did you mean by timing in CMOS? I don't think
this
> BIOS is near that advanced. Could a bad CPU cause anything like this?
> Thanks for your responses.
>
> Chris
> A+, Network+
>
>
> "SBfan2000" <webmaster@glenngriffith.com> wrote in message
> news:vb742uktqrc3ee@corp.supernews.com...
> > My educated guess would be bad memory.
> >
> >
> > "Chris E" <evans364@mchsi.com> wrote in message
> > news:MhIsa.189100$gK.272056@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
> > > I hope someone here can help. I was handed a machine that would start
> to
> > > fire up as soon as power was introduced (the power button did not need
> to
> > be
> > > pushed). The hard drive would start to spin and then the machine
would
> > > abruptly shut down. I checked the power supply. It was bad. I
swapped
> > in
> > > a known good PSU and the machine still behaved the same way. I then
> > tested
> > > the hard drive on a good machine, and everything was fine with the
HDD.
> > So
> > > now I knew I had a bad PSU and either a bad mobo or CPU (yes, I tested
> > with
> > > nothing more than the HDD, mobo, CPU, video, and RAM.)
> > >
> > > So I ordered an exact Gateway replacement mobo (cheaper than the CPU)
> and
> > > PSU for the system. I installed them both, and everything seemed
fine.
> > It
> > > booted to the CMOS setup and I doublechecked each setting, then tried
to[co
lor=darkred]
> > > fire it up. Everytime I try to boot to the GUI (W98) in normal mode,
> the
> > > system checks for a registry problem, says it fixes it and to restart.
> I
> > > restart and go through the same process over and over.
> > >
> > > I tried booting into safe mode, I get a message that HIMEM.SYS is
> missing
> > > and then it halts the boot process. HIMEM.SYS is there and not[/color]
corrupt. [colo
r=darkred]
> > > I've replaced it from a startup disk. But the system still claims its
> not
> > > there.
> > >
> > > I can get to a command prompt. I've tried everything I can think of
> from
> > a
> > > prompt, too numerous to list here, and nothing has worked. So I asked
> my
> > > friend if she had a backup of her files. She said she did and that
> there
> > > was nothing important on there anyway, as she had just got the system
> not
> > > too long ago and basically just uses it for Internet access. She told
> me
> > to
> > > format the HDD. I thought this whole thing was strange and tried to
> > install
> > > W98 over the current system and it kept locking up after starting the
> > > install process. (Fatal exception errors and BSOD). I FDISKED,
> formatted
> > > and tried a clean install. Same thing. I copied the installation[/color]
files
> > to
> > > the hard drive and tried again. Same thing. I then remembered that I
> had
> > > another HDD sitting in the closet with 98 loaded on it. I tried to
boot
> > to
> > > that one. Same errors when booting into Safe Mode. It began to boot
> into
> > > the normal GUI, but when it starts to load the new onboard hardware,
it[co
lor=darkred]
> > > starts giving me messages about fatal exception errors (multiple[/color]
errors,
> > and
> > > none are the same). Thank God there was nothing of importance on the
> > > orignal HDD, because stupid me realized that the problem most probably
> > does
> > > not lie within the HDD. The problem is that now I am completely
> stumped.
> > > Did I get a bad mobo? Could a bad CPU cause all of this? The RAM is
> > fine.
> > > I've unhooked all other devices. I have no known good Socket 7 CPU to
> > test
> > > with and would hate to have my friend shell out more cash, especially
if
> > it
> > > doesn't fix the problem!! Does ANYBODY have any ideas? I'm dead in
the[c
olor=darkred]
> > > water here.
> > >
> > > Chris
> > > A+, Network+
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>[/color]
| |
| Navin R. Johnson 2003-05-03, 11:23 am |
| On Sat, 03 May 2003 05:17:32 GMT, "Chris E" <evans364@mchsi.com> wrote:
>I hope someone here can help. I was handed a machine that would start to
<snip>
>Does ANYBODY have any ideas? I'm dead in the
>water here.
>
>Chris
>A+, Network+
>
It sure sounds like a memory problem - not finding himem.sys and not
reading the registry correctly are typical of a bad memory chip. But,
since you've tried different memory sticks and the symptoms changed when
you started working with the "new" Gateway motherboard, I suspect they
sent you a bad one. As for the CPU, (what CPU is it?) I'm assuming that
the heat sink fan is spinning normally and that you applied new thermal
compound when you installed the CPU on the new board.... have to rule
out a heat problem. If that checks out I'd talk to Gateway again. BTW,
which motherboard is it and how much did they charge you for it?
NRJ
The new phone books are here!
| |
| Barry Watzman 2003-05-03, 12:23 pm |
| First question, how do you KNOW that the RAM is fine? Ram is the first
thing I'd suspect, and even if the RAM is good, that doesn't mean that
it will work in THAT motherboard. Run MEMTEST on THAT system for at
least a few hours, at least 4-6 passes, and then I will accept that the
memory is good (in THAT motherboard).
If the memory is ok, the problem could be anything -- motherboard, CPU,
or ANY plugged in card (ISA, PCI or AGP), or in principle a hard drive,
but you've swapped the hard drive and the problem persists.
However, my more serious point is this: Why are you screwing around
with a socket 370 system in 2003? If you fix the system it won't be
worth as much time as you've already spent. I'd tell the customer that
the system is no longer worth enough to be worth fixing, and that it
should be replaced with a modern motherboard and P4 or [P4-based] Celeron.
Chris E wrote:
> I hope someone here can help. I was handed a machine that would start to
> fire up as soon as power was introduced (the power button did not need to be
> pushed). The hard drive would start to spin and then the machine would
> abruptly shut down. I checked the power supply. It was bad. I swapped in
> a known good PSU and the machine still behaved the same way. I then tested
> the hard drive on a good machine, and everything was fine with the HDD. So
> now I knew I had a bad PSU and either a bad mobo or CPU (yes, I tested with
> nothing more than the HDD, mobo, CPU, video, and RAM.)
>
> So I ordered an exact Gateway replacement mobo (cheaper than the CPU) and
> PSU for the system. I installed them both, and everything seemed fine. It
> booted to the CMOS setup and I doublechecked each setting, then tried to
> fire it up. Everytime I try to boot to the GUI (W98) in normal mode, the
> system checks for a registry problem, says it fixes it and to restart. I
> restart and go through the same process over and over.
>
> I tried booting into safe mode, I get a message that HIMEM.SYS is missing
> and then it halts the boot process. HIMEM.SYS is there and not corrupt.
> I've replaced it from a startup disk. But the system still claims its not
> there.
>
> I can get to a command prompt. I've tried everything I can think of from a
> prompt, too numerous to list here, and nothing has worked. So I asked my
> friend if she had a backup of her files. She said she did and that there
> was nothing important on there anyway, as she had just got the system not
> too long ago and basically just uses it for Internet access. She told me to
> format the HDD. I thought this whole thing was strange and tried to install
> W98 over the current system and it kept locking up after starting the
> install process. (Fatal exception errors and BSOD). I FDISKED, formatted
> and tried a clean install. Same thing. I copied the installation files to
> the hard drive and tried again. Same thing. I then remembered that I had
> another HDD sitting in the closet with 98 loaded on it. I tried to boot to
> that one. Same errors when booting into Safe Mode. It began to boot into
> the normal GUI, but when it starts to load the new onboard hardware, it
> starts giving me messages about fatal exception errors (multiple errors, and
> none are the same). Thank God there was nothing of importance on the
> orignal HDD, because stupid me realized that the problem most probably does
> not lie within the HDD. The problem is that now I am completely stumped.
> Did I get a bad mobo? Could a bad CPU cause all of this? The RAM is fine.
> I've unhooked all other devices. I have no known good Socket 7 CPU to test
> with and would hate to have my friend shell out more cash, especially if it
> doesn't fix the problem!! Does ANYBODY have any ideas? I'm dead in the
> water here.
>
> Chris
> A+, Network+
>
>
| |
|
| I definately agree with Barry...Why put that much money into an old machine?
Tell the customer it's not worth it.
"Barry Watzman" <Watzman@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:3EB3ED0B.6070608@neo.rr.com...
> First question, how do you KNOW that the RAM is fine? Ram is the first
> thing I'd suspect, and even if the RAM is good, that doesn't mean that
> it will work in THAT motherboard. Run MEMTEST on THAT system for at
> least a few hours, at least 4-6 passes, and then I will accept that the
> memory is good (in THAT motherboard).
>
> If the memory is ok, the problem could be anything -- motherboard, CPU,
> or ANY plugged in card (ISA, PCI or AGP), or in principle a hard drive,
> but you've swapped the hard drive and the problem persists.
>
> However, my more serious point is this: Why are you screwing around
> with a socket 370 system in 2003? If you fix the system it won't be
> worth as much time as you've already spent. I'd tell the customer that
> the system is no longer worth enough to be worth fixing, and that it
> should be replaced with a modern motherboard and P4 or [P4-based] Celeron.
>
| |
| Chris E 2003-05-04, 4:23 am |
| The CPU is an Intel 866 P3. The motherboard is an Intel 866 PIII Bryant R1.
"Navin R. Johnson" <TheJerk@optigrab.net> wrote in message
news:uvn7bvk52lbskns4ba1asme27
8o8mlnhtf@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 03 May 2003 05:17:32 GMT, "Chris E" <evans364@mchsi.com> wrote:
>
> >I hope someone here can help. I was handed a machine that would start to
>
> <snip>
>
> >Does ANYBODY have any ideas? I'm dead in the
> >water here.
> >
> >Chris
> >A+, Network+
> >
>
> It sure sounds like a memory problem - not finding himem.sys and not
> reading the registry correctly are typical of a bad memory chip. But,
> since you've tried different memory sticks and the symptoms changed when
> you started working with the "new" Gateway motherboard, I suspect they
> sent you a bad one. As for the CPU, (what CPU is it?) I'm assuming that
> the heat sink fan is spinning normally and that you applied new thermal
> compound when you installed the CPU on the new board.... have to rule
> out a heat problem. If that checks out I'd talk to Gateway again. BTW,
> which motherboard is it and how much did they charge you for it?
>
>
> NRJ
>
>
> The new phone books are here!
| |
| Crazymiclo30 2003-05-05, 10:24 am |
| Have you tried a different mouse and keyboard on that system. Since you
insist that the RAM is good, then I bet one of those two items is causing a
short in your computer and causing random errors. I have seen it before.
--
crazymiclo
A+, Network+
"Chris E" <evans364@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:MhIsa.189100$gK.272056@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
> I hope someone here can help. I was handed a machine that would start to
> fire up as soon as power was introduced (the power button did not need to
be
> pushed). The hard drive would start to spin and then the machine would
> abruptly shut down. I checked the power supply. It was bad. I swapped
in
> a known good PSU and the machine still behaved the same way. I then
tested
> the hard drive on a good machine, and everything was fine with the HDD.
So
> now I knew I had a bad PSU and either a bad mobo or CPU (yes, I tested
with
> nothing more than the HDD, mobo, CPU, video, and RAM.)
>
> So I ordered an exact Gateway replacement mobo (cheaper than the CPU) and
> PSU for the system. I installed them both, and everything seemed fine.
It
> booted to the CMOS setup and I doublechecked each setting, then tried to
> fire it up. Everytime I try to boot to the GUI (W98) in normal mode, the
> system checks for a registry problem, says it fixes it and to restart. I
> restart and go through the same process over and over.
>
> I tried booting into safe mode, I get a message that HIMEM.SYS is missing
> and then it halts the boot process. HIMEM.SYS is there and not corrupt.
> I've replaced it from a startup disk. But the system still claims its not
> there.
>
> I can get to a command prompt. I've tried everything I can think of from
a
> prompt, too numerous to list here, and nothing has worked. So I asked my
> friend if she had a backup of her files. She said she did and that there
> was nothing important on there anyway, as she had just got the system not
> too long ago and basically just uses it for Internet access. She told me
to
> format the HDD. I thought this whole thing was strange and tried to
install
> W98 over the current system and it kept locking up after starting the
> install process. (Fatal exception errors and BSOD). I FDISKED, formatted
> and tried a clean install. Same thing. I copied the installation files
to
> the hard drive and tried again. Same thing. I then remembered that I had
> another HDD sitting in the closet with 98 loaded on it. I tried to boot
to
> that one. Same errors when booting into Safe Mode. It began to boot into
> the normal GUI, but when it starts to load the new onboard hardware, it
> starts giving me messages about fatal exception errors (multiple errors,
and
> none are the same). Thank God there was nothing of importance on the
> orignal HDD, because stupid me realized that the problem most probably
does
> not lie within the HDD. The problem is that now I am completely stumped.
> Did I get a bad mobo? Could a bad CPU cause all of this? The RAM is
fine.
> I've unhooked all other devices. I have no known good Socket 7 CPU to
test
> with and would hate to have my friend shell out more cash, especially if
it
> doesn't fix the problem!! Does ANYBODY have any ideas? I'm dead in the
> water here.
>
> Chris
> A+, Network+
>
>
| |
|
| Gateway? Interesting, I have a gateway sitting on my desk that just shut
down on me, no powerup, nothing. The fix for it was a total teardown and
clean all connections, in all connectors, machine returned to like new
function. Originally I suspected power supply died, but that too got ripped
down and cleaned and reassembled, saved me buying a new computer, and only
took a couple of hours .
David
"Chris E" <evans364@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:MhIsa.189100$gK.272056@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
> I hope someone here can help. I was handed a machine that would start to
> fire up as soon as power was introduced (the power button did not need to
be
> pushed). The hard drive would start to spin and then the machine would
> abruptly shut down. I checked the power supply. It was bad. I swapped
in
> a known good PSU and the machine still behaved the same way. I then
tested
> the hard drive on a good machine, and everything was fine with the HDD.
So
> now I knew I had a bad PSU and either a bad mobo or CPU (yes, I tested
with
> nothing more than the HDD, mobo, CPU, video, and RAM.)
>
> So I ordered an exact Gateway replacement mobo (cheaper than the CPU) and
> PSU for the system. I installed them both, and everything seemed fine.
It
> booted to the CMOS setup and I doublechecked each setting, then tried to
> fire it up. Everytime I try to boot to the GUI (W98) in normal mode, the
> system checks for a registry problem, says it fixes it and to restart. I
> restart and go through the same process over and over.
>
> I tried booting into safe mode, I get a message that HIMEM.SYS is missing
> and then it halts the boot process. HIMEM.SYS is there and not corrupt.
> I've replaced it from a startup disk. But the system still claims its not
> there.
>
> I can get to a command prompt. I've tried everything I can think of from
a
> prompt, too numerous to list here, and nothing has worked. So I asked my
> friend if she had a backup of her files. She said she did and that there
> was nothing important on there anyway, as she had just got the system not
> too long ago and basically just uses it for Internet access. She told me
to
> format the HDD. I thought this whole thing was strange and tried to
install
> W98 over the current system and it kept locking up after starting the
> install process. (Fatal exception errors and BSOD). I FDISKED, formatted
> and tried a clean install. Same thing. I copied the installation files
to
> the hard drive and tried again. Same thing. I then remembered that I had
> another HDD sitting in the closet with 98 loaded on it. I tried to boot
to
> that one. Same errors when booting into Safe Mode. It began to boot into
> the normal GUI, but when it starts to load the new onboard hardware, it
> starts giving me messages about fatal exception errors (multiple errors,
and
> none are the same). Thank God there was nothing of importance on the
> orignal HDD, because stupid me realized that the problem most probably
does
> not lie within the HDD. The problem is that now I am completely stumped.
> Did I get a bad mobo? Could a bad CPU cause all of this? The RAM is
fine.
> I've unhooked all other devices. I have no known good Socket 7 CPU to
test
> with and would hate to have my friend shell out more cash, especially if
it
> doesn't fix the problem!! Does ANYBODY have any ideas? I'm dead in the
> water here.
>
> Chris
> A+, Network+
>
>
>
| |
|
| had one that kept restarting as soon as power was supplied.... turned
out that inside the case the reset button was stuck. On the outside
every thing looked okay, but after tearing it down I was looking at
the power switch and notice the reset button was weird. Dumb luck.
On Fri, 30 May 2003 02:06:13 GMT, "news" <saywhat@who.net> wrote:
>Gateway? Interesting, I have a gateway sitting on my desk that just shut
>down on me, no powerup, nothing. The fix for it was a total teardown and
>clean all connections, in all connectors, machine returned to like new
>function. Originally I suspected power supply died, but that too got ripped
>down and cleaned and reassembled, saved me buying a new computer, and only
>took a couple of hours .
>David
>
>"Chris E" <evans364@mchsi.com> wrote in message
>news:MhIsa.189100$gK.272056@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
>> I hope someone here can help. I was handed a machine that would start to
>> fire up as soon as power was introduced (the power button did not need to
>be
>> pushed). The hard drive would start to spin and then the machine would
>> abruptly shut down. I checked the power supply. It was bad. I swapped
>in
>> a known good PSU and the machine still behaved the same way. I then
>tested
>> the hard drive on a good machine, and everything was fine with the HDD.
>So
>> now I knew I had a bad PSU and either a bad mobo or CPU (yes, I tested
>with
>> nothing more than the HDD, mobo, CPU, video, and RAM.)
>>
>> So I ordered an exact Gateway replacement mobo (cheaper than the CPU) and
>> PSU for the system. I installed them both, and everything seemed fine.
>It
>> booted to the CMOS setup and I doublechecked each setting, then tried to
>> fire it up. Everytime I try to boot to the GUI (W98) in normal mode, the
>> system checks for a registry problem, says it fixes it and to restart. I
>> restart and go through the same process over and over.
>>
>> I tried booting into safe mode, I get a message that HIMEM.SYS is missing
>> and then it halts the boot process. HIMEM.SYS is there and not corrupt.
>> I've replaced it from a startup disk. But the system still claims its not
>> there.
>>
>> I can get to a command prompt. I've tried everything I can think of from
>a
>> prompt, too numerous to list here, and nothing has worked. So I asked my
>> friend if she had a backup of her files. She said she did and that there
>> was nothing important on there anyway, as she had just got the system not
>> too long ago and basically just uses it for Internet access. She told me
>to
>> format the HDD. I thought this whole thing was strange and tried to
>install
>> W98 over the current system and it kept locking up after starting the
>> install process. (Fatal exception errors and BSOD). I FDISKED, formatted
>> and tried a clean install. Same thing. I copied the installation files
>to
>> the hard drive and tried again. Same thing. I then remembered that I had
>> another HDD sitting in the closet with 98 loaded on it. I tried to boot
>to
>> that one. Same errors when booting into Safe Mode. It began to boot into
>> the normal GUI, but when it starts to load the new onboard hardware, it
>> starts giving me messages about fatal exception errors (multiple errors,
>and
>> none are the same). Thank God there was nothing of importance on the
>> orignal HDD, because stupid me realized that the problem most probably
>does
>> not lie within the HDD. The problem is that now I am completely stumped.
>> Did I get a bad mobo? Could a bad CPU cause all of this? The RAM is
>fine.
>> I've unhooked all other devices. I have no known good Socket 7 CPU to
>test
>> with and would hate to have my friend shell out more cash, especially if
>it
>> doesn't fix the problem!! Does ANYBODY have any ideas? I'm dead in the
>> water here.
>>
>> Chris
>> A+, Network+
>>
>>
>>
>
|
|
|
|
|