Hey Gang,

I sure hope some of you are home today and can give me some advice. I tell ya, I have a lot of hair now, but I may end up like Pete ( http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif) if I don't get some joy here real soon.

Preface: Built computer, installation of OS hangs at "Windows is now setting up your hardware". BSOD. A fatal exception OE has occurred at 0028:C003BD1E, current application will be terminated.

System Specs:

Micronics C200 100Mhz FSB mobo
AMD K6-2 450Mhz
768mb PC-100 8ns (Crucial)
ATI Expert 128

Ok, so I originally thought it was due to the ATI, so I took that out and installed a run of the mill SIIG 2mb ISA card. No joy.

Disabled L2 cache. No joy.

Processor is cool.

I'm beginning to wonder if some or all of the RAM is bad. It counts up fine on boot though.?

Help me quick please! I have been all over the net trying to find my error message, including Microshaft KB, and can't seem to find that exact error message. I have reformatted and reinstalled several times, and it's always the same error message.

Thanks heaps for any info.

Big Blue 66


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

Do you have kind of Anti-Virus program running or loaded in any way into memory during the install? If so, this may be what is hendering the install.

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BiosCentral (http://www.bioscentral.com)
BiosCentral Forums (http://www.bioscentral.com/cgi-bin/UltraBoard/UltraBoard.cgi)

"768" MBs RAM ??

what size sticks??

I would try just one stick @ a time, to see if any of them are correct.

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



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sea1_69@hotmail.com

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


;)~

Thanks guys. Nope, no anti-virus stuff. Have BIOS option disabled, too.

(3) 256mb sticks. Am trying right now to install using only one. Will let you know the results.

Forgot to mention my Quantum Fireball ATA100 and my Promise Ultra ATA 100 controller card. However, I was getting problems even before I installed those. I originally tried to install to an old 8.5Gb ATA33 HD using the onboard IDE controller.

Oivay!! Oh oh, I see I'm at the restarting phase of the installation. Wish me luck.

Nope, same thing just happened. Damn!!! Same error message.

I am currently out of ideas. Hope you guys can come up with some. Guess I will go try a different stick of RAM.

BB

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Yes Sir, Occifer!

probably something basic/simple and right in front og us!

try all 3 sticks .. one at a time to eliminate this as the cause.

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



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

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


;)~

This AMD link (http://www1.amd.com/K6/k6mbl/index/1,1054,,00.html) only shows your board recommended up to 400 MHz.

You might try running it at a lower bus speed if it has one, then move the multiplier up.

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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

I have had this with a overheat issue before.
Mine was no fan running but yours could be it overclocked or just to much for the board.

But the symptoms were exactly the same and sometimes you could get a bit further in the installation.

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

Thanks guys. I have just now completed trying to install using each 256mb stick individually. No joy. I'm sure I have the BIOS set up correctly for this RAM: (FAST, CL2) Actually, I have tried several different combos to no avail. Beginning to think it's not memory related.

Reid: Thanks for the link. There seems to be several conflicting recommendations for this board. I have a .pdf manual that I downloaded that says a max of 350Mhz. Other places I have seen say a max of 500Mhz. Oivay! I think I will give your advice a go chum. I have had the feeling in the back of my head all day, and most of last night, that maybe I should tone it down a little.

Skhips: As stated earlier, my processor is cool. My case is open and both the case fan and CPU fan are blowing around a lot of air. Plus, it's a nice day today, not too hot. Don't think it's heat related, at least not at this point. Thanks for the thought though. I do agree however, that the processor speed is possibly a bit too much for the board. Seems to be about the only option left.

Ok Reid, so what you're saying is to reduce the bus speed and increase the multiplier so as to obtain around 400Mhz? I think I can do that. It has several FSB speed options and a slew of multiplier options as well.

Wish me luck guys. I'm gonna need it! Check back with ya'll later.

BB 66


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

[This message has been edited by BigBlue66 (edited 08-18-2001).]

Originally posted by BigBlue66:

Ok Reid, so what you're saying is to reduce the bus speed and increase the multiplier so as to obtain around 400Mhz? I think I can do that. It has several FSB speed options and a slew of multiplier options as well.

BB 66



I built a couple of K6-III systems and had to bump the bus down from 100 MHz (probably due to cheap memory). One worked at 89 MHz and the other at 95 MHz. I then picked a multiplier that brought the CPU back to its rated value. You might have to experiment to pick a stable setting. I also usually have to use CL3 with most memory.



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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

REID!!???

Ok, here are my options:

Host Bus Speeds:
100
95
83
75
66
60

CPU Core/Bus Ratio:
1.5 or 3.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5

So before I go ahead with this, what do you recommend. I read your previous reply, but I would like your input now that you know my options.

Could I just underclock the CPU altogether, ie., leave the bus at 100, but reduce the multiplier to 4.0? Or, should I try what you suggested earlier, by using a slower bus speed and a larger multiplier to arrive at 450Mhz? Which do you think would be better? I would like to get it right the first time.

BB


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

I think I'd try 83 MHz and 5X.

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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

Oh, and as for the memory, it was recommended by Crucial. It's labeled as 8ns, CL2. I will try the CL3 though. My BIOS has three options for speed, SLOW, NORMAL, FAST. Should I set it to Normal, CL3?

How about a bus speed of 83 x 5.5 = 457 OR 100 x 4.0 = 400 OR 95 x 5.0 = 475. (Suppose that one's asking a bit much?)

Thanks Reid. Appreciate it immensely.

BB


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

OK. 83 x 5 it is. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif



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Yes Sir, Occifer!

Crucial is generally known to be a good brand. I think NORMAL and CL3 is a good choice.

I built one Tyan and two EPOX systems and none would run PC100 memory at 100 MHz. One manual seemed to imply that faster memory should be used. In all three, I was able to get the CPU up to its rated speed or slight overclock as long as the bus was slowed down.



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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

Hey;

What version Windows are you installing? On top of another? I assume so, since you have installed hardware previously. If so, and you tried all the above recommendations, try installing the os in another directory.

For example, when asked what directory to install to, say something like win_ME (if that is the version you are trying to install).

If this does not work, and if you have the disk space, try copying the win cd to a directory on the hard drive and then installing from the hard drive.

What do you think guys and gals?

I agree, Dan. I have had installations work better by copying the WIN9x directory on the CD to the hard drive, then run Setup from the hard drive.

I hope Big Blue knows not to try Windows ME http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

While this does not sound like your problem, it might be worth checking what I saw in a C200 review:

"Disadvantages: The only serious flaw with the board is the temperature
monitoring feature advertised on the box. Oh, it's great and all, but it's
NOT THERE. The little blue thermoresistor that's in the middle of the ziff
socket in the pictures on the box simply isn't there on the inside. After a
few emails to diamond's support (support@diamond.com; 911 in the
subject line) I found out that it was a manufacturing option that they
decided not to put in the production version. Well, that's all good, but why was the temp monitoring enabled in the BIOS? When I slapped the board
in the case, I started it up and it went into sleep mode right after the
POST. I thought it was odd, scratched my head and pressed the power
button only to have it go back to sleep in a millisecond. So, I kept doing
that, and once the OS took over, it stopped, but I decided to do a little
investagative work and found that the temp. monitoring is on by default in
the BIOS. Oops. After turning it off, there haven't been any operating
problems at all."

There is other info in the C200 review (http://www.sysopt.com/userreviews/mboards/reviewhtml/Diamond_Multimedia_Micronics_C200_Socket7.html) that you might want to check, such as a BIOS upgrade.

------------------
reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME



[This message has been edited by Reid (edited 08-18-2001).]

BB, I'll be away for about 3 hours. I'll check back later.

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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

Hey All,

Reid, your idea worked for the 83x5 setting. Was able to fully install the OS (clean install of 98SE). I wouldn't touch ME with a ten-foot computer. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Now, the whole system freezes up after about 3-4 min. after a full bootup. It happens without intense activity by the CPU.

I have disabled the L2 cache and set my memory to Normal, CL3. Still freezes. At least it's not spontaneously rebooting, which would mean I screwed up with the installation of the mobo.

So, what's next? Oh, and my BIOS doesn't even have a temp checking option.

Guess I will look into BIOS updates. In the meantime, Reid, do you think it would help to adjust the bus speed to 75Mhz times a 5.5 multiplier = 413Mhz? Or, should I downclock the CPU even further?

I will be gone for awhile myself, so will check back later. Hope somebody has a magic bullet.

Cheers, Sort Of,

BB 66


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

BB,

Glad you're making progress! I don't have any suggestions, but I've been rooting for you all day. Good luck!

Paul
~{:-)

Man I'm missing all the FUN! Hang in there Blue you're almost home free. The FSB speed needs to come down just a little more so that the system is stable and you don't get a freeze. Reid has got you on the right track with a little trial and error as far as multiplier and Bus Speed. After you get the combination so that things are stable, then a guy definitly needs to upgrade to the latest BIOS. Then you'll have support for all the K6 processors (maybe not the 550). Most of the problem comes from these boards(BIOS) being produced before AMD began producing thier later model chips. Take a Deep Breath. Hang in There.

------------------
......Indecision may or may not be my problem......
...... Kickin' A Rock....

BB, those sound like good numbers to try.

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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

You might try putting it in Safe Mode and see if it will keep running. If it does, that might point to a video driver problem or a protected-mode driver problem.

I can't tell if they are newer, but ALI chipset drivers are available here (http://www.ali.com.tw/). Of course, you wouldn't want to try loading them if you suspect your system is going to lock up while you are doing it.

------------------
reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

[This message has been edited by Reid (edited 08-18-2001).]

Hey,

Ok, system has been running steady for about 15 minutes. I made some changes to the BIOS, but now can't remember exactly what I did without rebooting. However, I think I may have L2 disabled yet.

Interesting development: Norton diagnostics is reporting a memory error at 92696576. Great. Now I have to run each stick separately to find the culprit. Oivay!

Gettin tired. Gonna go shoot some pool. Maybe have a beer or nine. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Will check in with ya'll later.

Cheers,

BB 66


------------------
Yes Sir, Occifer!

Oh, and thank you for your support.

------------------
Yes Sir, Occifer!

The L2 Cache usually doesn't have to be disabled unless a guy is getting serious lock-ups while running QuakeIII, etc. Intense stuff. Hey...hang in there some more. You got it where the slide is downhill.

------------------
......Indecision may or may not be my problem......
...... Kickin' A Rock....

Hey All,

Me again. Haven't quite made it out the door to go shoot pool. The system seems to have stablized. Have L2 cache enabled and DRAM set at Normal, CL3.

Installed my ATI Expert 128 PCI vid card without a hitch.

You know what? Seems things got to settling down after I, just for the heck of it, installed the AGP port driver (or something like that) from the system board CD. Not even using the AGP port, but methinks that helped whatever was going on. Go figure.

Oh, and I'm not too concerned with Norton's report of a memory glitch. Ran it again and it reported a different address. In fact, Norton reports a memory error at various addresses on this machine now and then, the Duron 750Mhz 810LM, and there's not one problem with it. Guess I will just have to wait and see on that one.

Ranch: I figgered since the wife was going to use her machine for disk/RAM intensive desktop publishing, that I might as well go ahead and get a kick ass HD and controller for her. I can always use them if I decide to just get a different mobo, too. Those drives you sent me will not go to waste though! Got big plans. hehe

I have the BIOS upgrade but will wait for awhile on it, until I see for sure that this system won't die on me in the middle of a flash.

Ok, enough for today. Gotta take my youngest kid to the bar and wipe his a$$ in pool. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Tomorrow is sound card and modem installation. Will keep you informed. Thanks a lot people, for being there for me. I just love this place. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Cheers,

Big Blue 66



------------------
Yes Sir, Occifer!

Very funny Scotty, now beam up my clothes. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/confused.gif The system is once again acting flaky. And here I thought I had it licked. Oh well. Back to the drawing board.

Guess I will bump the FSB down to 75Mhz x 5.5 and see what happens. Or maybe I should try to contain that elusive memory problem. Maybe I will try running with each 256mb stick individually for awhile to see what happens. Last night I wasn't too concerned with the reported memory errors, but now that it's acting flaky again, I may as well follow up on it the best I can.

Have a great day everyone.

BB 66


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

Well, guess I'm about to get slammed for this but...

The K6-2 had timing problems with win95, and I'm still not entirely convinced it doesn't have the same problem with win98, no matter what AMD says about fixing it. My brother tried the same CPU (K6-2/450) and had problems with it. 95 got Windows protection errors, 98 fell flat on its face, NT workstation never even made it through the install...

Be that as it may, usually my first thought is heat or memory problems, but I'm wondering if it might be video drivers. Try a different driver for the video card, and if you can get your hands on an AGP card, try it and see if it might be related to using PCI. If you do use the PCI card I would try disabling the AGP altogether in BIOS, it might be that it's looking for an AGP card first and can't find one. Check the manual, it might need to be disabled with a jumper...

Also check the BIOS settings and seet the most conservative defaults available. You say the CPU is cool, can you hold your finger on it for 10 seconds or so? The AMD chips do tend to run hot, but you should be able to hold a finger on the heatsink...Think you might have too much thermal past on it? I'm really not convinced it's heat, just checking...

Can't think of anything else right now, I'll keep watching this one...

------------------
Support the right to keep and arm bears.
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

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

Hey thanks Pete. I too have been wondering about that timing issue, but rationalized that since I'm running 98SE, that issue had been resolved. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/confused.gif I think there's a patch for it though, 95 I mean. Should I install it anyway?

Ok, so here's what I did this morning. As I stated before, first thing this morning, it was acting flaky again, freezing up after just a few minutes.

First, I took out all but one stick of RAM and ran Norton Diagnostics on the installed memory. No errors. So far, so good. But, it was still freezing.

Next, I set the FSB to 75Mhz and chose a multiplier of 5.5. Still flaky. So then I backed the multiplier down to 5.0. Still freezing and acting funky.

After I did all that, the system would only boot in Safe Mode. So while in that mode, I ran Norton Disk Doc and it reported no errors. Next, I removed the ATI drivers and powered down. It started back up in normal mode and reinstalled the drivers. But then, it froze again and when restarted, would only boot up to just before the GUI loaded.

Pete, this may be neither here nor there, but I was having the problems with the old ISA card before I even attempted to run the PCI card. Last night, after things seemed to calm down, I installed the ATI card with no problems and it ran good the rest of the night. I can get my hands on a Matrox Productiva G-100 4mb AGP, so if I keep having problems, I'll certainly try it.

So, since the system wouldn't even boot completely at this point, I got REALLY brave and flashed the BIOS with the latest one that Reid? pointed me to. It's not very new, but seems to the latest one that's available. It's dated 3/12/1999. After I flashed the BIOS, I reset the FSB to 83 with a multiplier of 5.0.

After successfully flashing the BIOS, the system booted up in normal mode. Voila! I messed with some of the ATI display settings with no detrimental effects.

I now have the system shut down and will install another stick of memory, and then run diagnostics again. I should be able to isolate the bad stick. And here I thought that if I ordered from Crucial, I wouldn't have any problems. Oh well, stuff happens, I guess.

NEXT BIG QUESTION: Since I have successfully updated the BIOS, does that mean I can go back to my original FSB of 100 x 4.5???? Or, should I gradually increase up to the processor limit? (I think I know the answer to that one. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif But, all your feedback is highly valued)

Oh, and both the processor and active heat sink are exceptionally cool.

Thanks for the help guys.

BB 66


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

[This message has been edited by BigBlue66 (edited 08-19-2001).]

[This message has been edited by BigBlue66 (edited 08-19-2001).]

I'd try the 100 x 4.5, then work down if it is unstable.

Does your board have a jumper for the PCI ratio? Some boards overclock the PCI bus depending on what bus speed and multiplier you use.


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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

Hey Gang,

After countless combos of memory sticks and dimm slots used, I can without a doubt come to the verifiable conclusion that the DIMM 2 and 3 slots are faulty.

That of course means that I can only have 256mb of RAM, but even so, that should be enough for what the wife wants to do with her system.

I should point out that the Micronics board was given to me by an outstanding individual free of charge. I will continue to use the board until such time as I feel the need to upgrade it.

I messed around with the FSB and multipliers again, and it seems that the system is the most stable at Reid's original recommendation of 83 x 5.

Now I will attempt the sound card and modem installation. I think though, that this saga is coming to an end. I will still have a decent system for the wife's desktop publishing stuff (greeting cards, etc.) at a very reasonable cost. The two extra RAM sticks have big plans, too. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Will update later on.

BB 66


------------------
Yes Sir, Occifer!

Hey Gang,

Seems to be an unusually high amount of internal server errors, so forgive me if I post about the same info twice.

Ok, after an hour of trying every possible memory stick and slot combo, including some other 64mb sticks I had, I have come to the verifiable and undeniable conclusion that the DIMM 2 and 3 slots are faulty.

I should point out that the Micronics board was given to me free of charge by a dear friend. I will continue to use the board with 256mb until such time as I feel the need to buy an Abit or something. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I have big plans for the other two sticks, which of course checked out fine when installed in DIMM 1.

Oh, and I messed with the FSB and multipliers again. The system is unstable except at the setting (83x5) originally recommended by Reid. Thanks, Reid.

Now comes the sound card and modem installation. Will let you all know how that goes, but I think the main problem has been rectified. Cross your fingers for me. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Cheers,

Big Blue 66


------------------
Yes Sir, Occifer!

Hey thanks, Reid. As stated before, it runs stable at 83x5. I haven't tried 83x5.5 yet, but will most likely give it a shot.

I think the main thing that worked for me is the BIOS upgrade. Finding the faulty dimm slots was good, too.

From what I can see, the board has no jumpers relating to PCI settings.

It's been running stable for half an hour so far. Will check back in tonight with any progress I have made.

BB 66


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

kool 'BB, http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif - although I haven't been of any help on this one, I do of course have this topic tracked.

sure is a learning experience here!

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



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

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


;)~