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Ares
Clan Jade Falcon
Star Colonel
Joined: 20-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 737
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 Posted: 01-Mar-2003 13:29 Post subject: Computer Help! |
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(Kind of long-winded, bear with me please  )I just tried installing a nVidia TNT2 video card into my second computer (Celeron 1.2 ghz, 256 ram, 16 meg installed video card, windows XP home) that I bought with it around six months ago. I also put a 256 meg chip of RAM into it also, that I purchaced with the computer but took out when the computer had some problems.
Now, my computer is beginning to mess up again. I installed the RAM and the video card and uploaded the drivers that came with the card, and I had to change some monitor settings because it thought I was using two monitiors instead of one and my taskbar was missing. After getting that fixed, it was working well for about four hours.
I tried shutting it down, but the comp froze so I had to manually turn it off. Upon reloading it, the computer told me my only user profile was corrupted and that I was using a temporary one that would be discarded. I used system restore to go back to my first reboot to when I installed the video card, and changed the monitor settings again so it'd work and uploaded those drivers. I defragged it and ran a complete system refresh using Norton Systemworks, and set it to perform a fire system check next time it rebooted.
I turned it on this morning and it did the file check which turned out alright. Then, right when the comp was about to load Windows it restarted itself. It loaded up alright the second time, although it did prompt me for a file system check again, which I skipped because I already did one. I logged onto the net, and noticed some graphics were either missing or scruched together on all web sites.
So, I restarted it again, but when it finally loaded it was at 640x480 resoulution at 4-bit color, with no options to raise it. Windows prompted me saying it could fix it, so I clicked yes but it never did anything and never said anything good again. Clicking through my display options, the computer keeps telling me some .dll file is missing. Most windows and tabs aren't working, so I try restarting it again.
While loading, it shuts itself down again and restarts. The windows screen pops up, saying Windows didn't load correctly. I chose the option to try and start it normally, but it failed again and restarted, bringing me back to that screen. I then tried the option to "reboot using last set of settings that worked", but it failed again and brought me back to the screen. At that point I just turned the computer off.
What should I do from here? I'm not sure if it was the RAM (which was in my comp when it malfunctioned before), or my new video card, or some kind of a virus. Maybe just plain bad luck. Can someone please point me in a direction ?
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Gangrene
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 939
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Mar-2003 15:55 Post subject: RE: Computer Help! |
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Take out the new RAM and try it again.
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Gangrene
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Hardware
Clan Ghost Bear
Star Colonel
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 605
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Mar-2003 16:36 Post subject: RE: Computer Help! |
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Also check the video card manufacturer's site for the latest driver for the video card and check the motherboard and video card manufacturer's site for compatibility warnings.
It could be something as simple as bad drivers or as hidden as a conflict with another card in your system.
[ This Message was edited by: Hardware on 2003-03-01 19:26 ]
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Ares
Clan Jade Falcon
Star Colonel
Joined: 20-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 737
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| Posted: 01-Mar-2003 18:45 Post subject: RE: Computer Help! |
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I used System Restore again to move me back, but now my personal profiles on XP keep corrupting or something.
As for what went wrong, I'm not sure about the RAM but the comp recgonizes it. It has been sitting away in a drawer for a while, so it's possible scratches may've disabled it. There's no conflicts with my video card drivers and the card and the computer recgonize each other.
I'm going to use the rescue option on the hard drive to revert my comp to factory-fresh status, then DL the newest drivers for the vid card straight from nVidias site without bothering to use the CD.
As far as I can remember though, that comp never came with a manual or a rescue disk. Can someone tell me if it should have either of those, and how to use "rescue" options if theres no disk?
[ This Message was edited by: Ares on 2003-03-01 18:47 ]
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Hardware
Clan Ghost Bear
Star Colonel
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Mar-2003 19:26 Post subject: RE: Computer Help! |
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What manufacturer?
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Ares
Clan Jade Falcon
Star Colonel
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| Posted: 01-Mar-2003 22:12 Post subject: RE: Computer Help! |
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Hewitt-Packard, purchased at the Circuit City my brother works at.
[ This Message was edited by: Ares on 2003-03-01 22:12 ]
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chihawk
Clan Blood Spirit
Master Bartender
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Mar-2003 22:14 Post subject: RE: Computer Help! |
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Quote:
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On 2003-03-01 22:12, Ares wrote:
Hewitt-Packard, purchased at the Circuit City my brother works at.
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Are you saying that you didn't create a "rescue disk" or your machine didn't come with a "re-install disk"?
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Ares
Clan Jade Falcon
Star Colonel
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| Posted: 02-Mar-2003 10:32 Post subject: RE: Computer Help! |
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I didn't create one, and it didn't come with one. The only stuff I think I have for that computer is the machine itself.
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Hardware
Clan Ghost Bear
Star Colonel
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
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| Posted: 03-Mar-2003 17:18 Post subject: RE: Computer Help! |
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I'd start looking at HP's website. Dell uses a hidden partition on the hard drive to store the image for the machine. HP might use a similar trick.
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Peter_Smith
Capellan Confederation
Yi-si-ben-bing
Joined: 25-Mar-2002 00:00
Posts: 122
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| Posted: 03-Mar-2003 17:39 Post subject: RE: Computer Help! |
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Dell hasn't done that for a while now, they've been sending out BIOS-locked install CDs for the OS, and a series of CDs for the proggies you bought with the system.
As for Ares, try removing everything you installed, then see if you can get your system working again. After that, install the components one at a time. That should tell you where the problem is.
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Ares
Clan Jade Falcon
Star Colonel
Joined: 20-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 737
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| Posted: 03-Mar-2003 21:19 Post subject: RE: Computer Help! |
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I can't even get into Windows using normal settings or "last good configuration". I haven't tried safe mode, but if the comp is that far gone as it sits right now, I'd rather just administer a mercy-killing and get it factory fresh. No data on it except for some games I'll reinstall. I'm pretty sure it's partioned with a ghost of the factory-install on it, I'll have to check it out. No time lately though, so when I get around to it...
UO thanks for the 9.95 a month, because I don't even take up any bandwidth anymore
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Ares
Clan Jade Falcon
Star Colonel
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| Posted: 05-Mar-2003 12:19 Post subject: RE: Computer Help! |
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I took out the RAM and everythings peachy...
I love it when its the simple thing you think can never go wrong 
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
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Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
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| Posted: 05-Mar-2003 13:41 Post subject: RE: Computer Help! |
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So either that stick of RAM is faulty, or the memory slot on the mobo itself. Assuming the machine isn`t too old yet you should get a replacement on warranty.
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