Hi all, I really hope anyone could help me with these problems, I have tried almost everything over 2 weeks trying to fix it but it remains the same. I recently got this new computer (upgraded from an old HDD and a SB live value sound card), I had lots of problems when I got it, including NICs conflicts, which I managed to fix it later with an USB replacement. Up to date, I have formatted the computer at least 10 times over the past 2 weeks.

Problems:

- Frequent crashes/lockups requiring boot.
- Program *.exe and dll files keep getting corrupted for no reasons, unstalling/deleting and clearing registry did not fix the problem.
- Sometime can't install programs with files corrupted for no reasons

What I did to fix it: This is the most recent one...

Since I thought a virus could be the problem, I tried to use my Mcafee program to scan the system...unfornately, the software itself doesn't work at all, I got some corrupted dat files. Reinstalling did not help. What I did was format (3 times already) the entire HDD and did a clean install as Window ME. Windows install pretty ok and I immediately set up my network to my brother's computer and grab my backup 4in1 VIA driver and install it straight away. Then I install the internet (usb card) and started downloading the latest drivers for my video/sound card. (liveware 3.0 for SB live) The video card driver installed properly, but the files (5 total with one exe) I downloaded for SB live did not work. The exe file for setup was said to be corrupted when I double click on it. So I deleted it and downloaded a new one. It then installs properly till the last file, saying it is corrupted again. I had to download all of them again to install my SB live driver properly.

Now, I tried to setup Sygate 4.0 (downloaded from net) to set up internet sharing with my brother's computer. It installs properly, reset properly, but during startup, the sygate.exe was said to be corrupted and is an invalid format and all the dll files were also corrupted. I uninstall them, delete them, delete the registry, reset computer and tried the file again. But it did not work. On one occasion, I overwrite the corrupted exe file from my brother's computer (have sygate too) and then the software starts up properly, but after reset, everything went corrupted again. Deleting it and copying a new one did not work.

Then, I tried downloading Powerstripe, it installed properly and asked for a restart, when I restart my computer, the startup menu tells me that there are registry and configuration errors, and told me to start in safe mode and clear reg. The problem is, I CAN'T even get into safe mode, it doesn't load Windows properly. I tried using normal mode and didn't work at all, there were nothign on the screen except the good old blue background for window, CTRL-ALT-DEL and I can't see any programs at all. I tried using WinMe CD setup and it helps clearing the reg, but the problem still exist. I had no other choose but to format again.

Right now, I really don't know what's going on with my computer. DEFINITELY there are no virus on my computer because it's a new install. I scanned my HDD using the standard procedure and also a surface scan, but there were no errors. Now I can't install any softwares at all, they just go corrupted for no reasons. And I don't think formatting it again will fix it.

PLEASE could anyone tell me if I have done anything wrong?? When I got this computer from the store, everything works properly, but after I fixed the NICs conflict problems, this new problem started to exist. If the HDD was physically broken, why doing a surface scan did not find any problems?


Specs:

Duron 800 (not oc)
2 x 128mb Pc133 Kingmax
Radeon VIVO 64 DDR retail
20 gig ATA 66 Hard drive, forgot the brand.
Abit KT7A motherboard using ZT bios version (latest) All settings default
Latest 4in1 VIA driver
Window ME
Network card for home netword
USB 10/100 ethernet card for cable internet

Btw, the history of my new computer errors over the past 3-4 weeks is WAY TOO long to post on them here. One problem fixed (NICs conflicts) another exist (bios settings), fixed with flash and another exist (Performance slowdown), then fixed with 4in1 via driver and another appears (files corruption even after clean install using clean software). Please help...

Sorry, but it still sounds a lot like a virus, which can be carried over if
a) The start up disk was made on an infected computer or
b) was not write protected and acquired it when attempting to boot an infected machine...

Try a couple of different virus scanners, several can be downloaded from the net, and get a known clean boot disk, so you can start over with a clean one.

If not that, I don't know what else it could be, unless a really bad connection is causing downloaded files to end up missing packets, therefore corrupting them, or insufficient power might be causing the same thing...

Try setting BIOS to defaults too, then make sure hard drive and floppy parameters are correct.

------------------
So many idiots, and only six bullets...
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

I agree with what Pete was saying, and one more thing (from randy past..lol)

are you plugged into a power strip ?? (surge protector)

if so try plugging directly into the WALL socket.

you may be surprised at the results.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

------------------
sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

Hello Temjin,
First off, you are saying "new machine" but also talking about upgrades. If its brand new, have you done anything to void your warrenty yet?? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif
Second, you say you are doing a clean install of ME. Is this an original disk or copy? Are you sure there are no surface damages to the disk? Are you absolutly sure you are following ALL on screen instructions when installing? ME is a very simple install and you said it "Installed pretty OK". That statement and the symptoms of a virus make me think of a bad OS install. Are you flatening the partitions and formatting?
You sound to be fairly knowledgeble so I hope I don't sound insulting, just think that a step or two is missing here or you have a bad disk on your hands.
Let us know, I'm sure we can get it fixed

------------------
They say to eat before you go to the grocery store so you don't buy so much. That doesn't work at the liquor store does it!

Thanks for the replies guys.

PAleo Pete -
It's true that the startup disk I'm using is pretty old (win98SE), I will get a new clean boot disk from my brother's computer which is clean of virus. The bios is default as well since I just flashed it and the parameters are the same before I flashed it. Well, it autodetected my HDD anyway. About the bad connection to the internet, do you think the USB device is causing it? I mean all the programs installed from a disk/CD works probably. It's just any programs I downloaded from the net shows such symptons. I had problems with the USB device before (crashing), I found it was conflicting with the sound card so I moved my sound card to PCI slot 5 and my network card to 2. It fixed the problem.

Sea69 -

About the power surge, I indeed have my main computer plugged into one, just to make sure I don't ruin it with any sudden power losses. I will try putting it into socket.

Bassman -

Have I done anything to void my warranty? Not quite sure but does overclocking my cpu to 850Mhz via FSB counted as voiding? heh This computer is actually upgraded from a Celeron 300@450 machine. The only things I haven't changed with my new upgraded computer is the old 17' monitor, the same 20 gig ATA66 HD, SB live value, network card, CDrom, burner, and all other minor stuff. Basically I upgraded with a duron 800, Abit kt7a mobo, 2x128 pc133 ram and a video card and a new full tower case with 300 WATTS.


I'm pretty sure I've done all the correct steps required to do a ME install. Original or copy...does it matter? My brother's system is the same as my (upgraded as well), using the same CD/boot disk, his system is working wonder with no problems at all.
I'm 100% sure there is no surface damages to the disk drive, the checking took pretty long to complete, but it reported no errors were found. Also, my HDD is partitioned into two drives (35% and 65%). What do you mean by flatening?


One strange thing I notice about my computer, sometime when I load programs and when I install programs. During the loading (extracting, configuring system files) part (not copying), the computer sometime slows down by the fact my mouse is moving very slowly and sometime even paused for a bit. When it paused, my HDD light kept turn on (no flashes) for a 1 sec or 2.


Btw, thanks for the replies again. I'm been stressing out on this problem for 2 weeks along with my heavy study load at university. I really hope I can get this done over with.

Before I try to format my computer again, here are 2 images I got from this computer that shows the symptons, does this look like virus infection to you? I had the same problem in the first file during the last 3 formats, the big icons got distorted by this much. For error2, it is a faultlog file from windows when I try to execute Sygate.
http://www.geocities.com/doravin_1999/error.jpg http://www.geocities.com/doravin_1999/error2.jpg

And I hope these 2 files are virus free. hehe

For some reasons, you can't view the images by clicking on the links.... You have to copy and paste the link in order for it to work.

I gave up completely now, going to send it in for repair (and hopefully they know how to fix it)...

Few things I'm certain about this case..

- Definitely all the installed softwares are virus-free since I been used the most updated definition virus scanner once I installed WinME. The only thing I cannot confirm for virus infection is the bios software itself since it was updated.
- I tried using a new clean boot disk, did not solve. Plugging the computer plug directly into socket, did not solve. Cleared CMOS, did not solve.

Errors that were common all the time
- I always receive an error, usually after installing a program, whether it is downloaded from the internet, or from the CD (office 2000) or a driver update. I get the message after the "Verifing DMI pool...."

Windows cannot process the registry/configuration system, blah blah.
Boot into safe mode and do a cleanreg blah blah
There may not be enough extended memory to load the registry..blah blah

This error message been existed since my last 5 formats and it comes out randomly everytime I reset and no matter what software I installed. When this error message comes out, once I load into Window, it always say it detects a new hardware (a BLANK hardware with no message) and looking for updated driver, which can't find any of course. Usually I had to boot into safe mode and do a clean registry and it fix everything again. But some programs suffered from this with corruptions exe/dll files and the same error message will appear sooner or later..


Completely stuffed right now...sigh..is there a god?

you say you had a CLEAN boot disk, had you 'WRITE PROTECTED' it before you inserted it into your pc??

if you didn't, and you have a MBR virus then all you did was reinfect the "clean" boot disk right off.

where's Pete on this.. he knows this stuf.. hehe

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

------------------
sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)
note: "Master Geek" is an honorary title bestowed by tenure rather than actuall knowlege, learning is a process, not an event. :)~

Hi Temjun
Here maybe something to try. There is a problem with the via chipset (686bug) and SB Live. maybe you should leave out the sound card and see how things go. The current 4in1 drivers that are supposed to fix the problem are here. http://ads.admonitor.net/adengine.cgi?F3471|1017|1|iframe|C| ||_admonitor

Three things I noticed......1. You are overclocking and trying to install programs [not a good mix]. 2. You may have defective DDR Ram [even though its new]. 3. You are running Win Me......it doesnt like overclocking very well and has enough problems without any outside help anyway. It's a good idea to take it to a shop......they will replace the Ram for you I bet.


------------------
Will XP save Me ?

The clean boot disk I made is WRITE PROTECTED as soon as it was made from my brother's computer. Definitely not a virus problem now, maybe if the BIOS was infected when I updated it.

My computer is taken into the shop now, I really hope they "know" how to fix it. (and hope it doesn't take them long, I want it back! heh) If it's the video card DDR ram problem, then I'm in deep trouble. I got the Radeon VIVO 64 DDR card off another place in Australia... www.auspcmarket.com.au (http://www.auspcmarket.com.au) ,only that place in Australia sells this particular video card. And if I need to send it back, my computer would be down for at least 2 weeks. But during my history of errors, my computer works perfectly when I got it upgraded from the shop, except with the 2 NICs conflicts which I think I messed a lot around with the settings and probably broke something in between.

I haven't overclock anything yet, everything in the system are at default speed.

I'm suspecting the BIOS update and the 4in1 VIA update now...before these 2 new drivers were added, I didn't have any problems. Btw, the link didn't work. )

I will let you guys know what happened when I get my computer back from store. I hope my video card is not deflective, since I didn't do anything to physically hurt it and it works before. (Not even overclocking)
And thanks for the help you guys trying to give me. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif