video and audio problems, major assistance needed!

[gemini_blade]

hey guys i hope someone can help me. i recently bought a new k7s5a mobo, a new amd 1.8ghz processor, athlon. an ati video card, 32 mb radeon,pci slot. a sound blaster pci512. and 512 sdr ram. the ram is being misreported for one, the monitor goes into standby mode after windows starts up but before i can do anything with the display devices to see for error, i also get a weird beep\buzz outta the external speakers when i try to run mobo sounds. the bios check out ok but not completely sure if the settings are correct, me and my computer literate friends are stumped. appreciate anyt help possible. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

[bassman]

Hi Gemini and welcome,
I don't know the specs on all the newer boards, so I will ask you a couple questions. Does this board have any on-board devices(video, audio,...) If yes, have you disabled these in BIOS to allow the cards to work properly?
You said the RAM is not being reported correctly, what is it reporting?
What OS?
That should get us started http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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[gemini_blade]

ok here we go, there is no on board video card, but there is a sound card and yes i disabled it. the ram is being reported at 511mb, but i looked up the potential of the board and it said i can go as much a a gig.<-- the ram is a glitch i think. the os is 98 se. anything else i can provide let me know.

[YODA74]

???? your worried about the Ram being reported from 512mb to 511mb?? I don't get it ? and the problem is?

I've got a machine thats got just 128mb sitting in the corner and it only reports 112mb it can also go to a gig this is normal it could be i guess what they call memory leak or holes. or unusualy low performance in the hard drive.And i agree with bassman on the other he's got you on the right track.

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[gemini_blade]

yoda,
i am not really to caring about the ram i was just curious and you reply gave me the answer to it most likely being a hole. the only bad part is now that my comp cant keep going my internwet access is limited to work which i leave from in about 2 hrs. hope bassman has any ideas or you yourself yoda, that can keep me going this weekend.

thanx again,
gemini http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

[bassman]

Can you boot into "SafeMode"? During the POST, hit F8 and when you see the Log on dialog, select option 3 for SafeMode. If you are able to get to a workable screen, go to Device manager and see how many display drivers are listed.
Select and Delete any and all of them. Reboot, and be ready to install your vid card drivers.
You should do this for your sound card also.

The RAM posting at 511 is perfectly normal, no holes, no leaks, that is just how your system reads it.
Yoda a 16Mgb miss-read would concern me, but, if it works, don't fix it, right? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

The next thing to consider is a faulty vid card. Can you test it on another machine? Or the RAM?
Keep us posted. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

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[gemini_blade]

a faulty vid card is unlikely but probable i had it installed in my older comp, i will try the safe mode thing and yes the ram was also installed on my old pc. it read right. thanx for the advice, i have one more thought, do you think that the plug and play display device could cause problems with the vid cards display device, and thus cause the pc to be stabel long enough to boot but not to run. something i forgot to add is that the monitor will stay on indeffinately in dos mode, but as soon as windows kicks in i have about 30 to 45 seconds. i will be checking on here this weekend if i can from my friends pc. thanx for the help so far and i will keep you updated.

gemini

[bassman]

that would indicate a problem with the number of devices that are loading. In DOS, you are useing genaric system drivers. When you go to Windows, it is trying to load your videocards drivers. It is appearently taking a moment to all come together and then,...conflict and lockup.
I think you will find your answer when you boot into safemode.
Good luck

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[mjc]

The monitor going into standby when Windows starts is most likely an improper refresh rate/resolution...try uninstalling the drivers for the video card (Safe Mode uses 640x480 at 60Hz and 16 color...SVGA..same as the the logo and DOS...so it should work in safe mode), but you can't change resoultion in safe mode so you can either change the driver to standard SVGA and then reboot into Windows and reinstall the card drivers or you can remove the drivers in Device Manager (in safe mode) and then reinstall them when windows reboots...check you monitors manual to make sure that you don't select a resolution/refresh rate that is out of spec...

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[gemini_blade]

hey guys thanx for the help the biggest problem by the way was the fact that just yesterday i found out that the video card i had bought was not fully compatiable with my mobo. so i returned it put in a new tnt2 and away i went. for future notice if your are trying to help anyone out the radeon video cards are not compatiable with any type of directX, so if your trying to help anyone that is getting the ddhelp.exe error, let them know it is probably the video card drivers that are causing it. thanx again. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[gemini_blade]

whom ever wants can close this topic it has been resolved.

thank you.