Intermittent problems

[junket]

I recently purchased the following to upgrade my PC:

Duron 800 CPU
Epox 8KTA3 MBoard
128 MB PC 133 RAM

When initially attempting to install Win98SE onto the newly formatted HD, problems were encountered when the system attempts to detect hardware. Blue screens with all kinds of errors. Numerous restarts returned continous errors.
HD was reformatted and attempt number 2 and 3 had the same outcomes.
The primary partition was removed and then recreated, but attempt 4 was the same. WinME and Win 2000 had similar deaths.
Old MB (chaintech) and CPU (Cyrix 686MX) were put back in with NEW memory module and Win98 installed perfectly.
HD was then left untouched and new CPU and MB were used once again, this time allowing the already installed win98 to Plug'n'Play all system devices. With a few small hitches, we were working!

I have since found that on regular occasions I am being faced with Blue screens with all kinds of errors. When the CPU temp reaches around 55 degrees C, and the System temp is around 28C. I have read that the Duron has an effective operating temp up to 90C. Even more peculiar is the way the computer will sometimes automatically restart itself with no warning. Yesterday I woke to find the computer had started itself.

I have since attempted to reinstall win98 and found no troubles during installation as were encountered initially, but similar errors during normal operation. I have been told by my retailer that they will only test one component at a time, even though all three were purchased from the one business at the one time. If a component is not found to be FAULTY, I will be charged a fee.

Any help? Thanks!

[tjaymadison]

Welcome, junket! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif First thing to do is see if there any conflicts in Device Manager. Open Control Panel, then double-click System, then click the Device Manager tab. Go down the list, clicking the "+" signs once and look for yellow or red exclamation marks. If you find any, double-click on that device, and look in the Device status box for a reason for the conflict. If the list also contains duplicate entries for things you know there is only one of, those should be removed, but in Safe mode. For 98SE, you need to click Start, click Shut Down, select Restart, and then click OK. During the reboot, press the Control key a few times until a menu comes up, and select Safe mode. When the system comes up, go through the procedure to get to the Device Manager screen again. Find and highlight any duplicate entry, click the Remove button, and repeat as necessary. I usually don't let Windows automatically do the restart when it asks. Instead, close everything that's open by yourself, go to Start | Shutdown and select Shutdown this time, then turn the system off when you get the "safe to shutdown" message. Wait a minute or two, power up, and see if you have solved it.

For what it's worth, Power Management settings seem to cause more problems than they fix. If you have any of these enabled, either in BIOS setup or in Windows, try disabling them all. For $10 US, you can get a fan to mount inside the lower front of your case for additional cooling. Good Luck! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

ADDED: You might also want to try System File Checker, to make sure that Windows is "healthy". Click Start, click Run, type SFC and click OK. If any problems are found, you will be prompted for the Windows CD.
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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)

[This message has been edited by tjaymadison (edited 04-25-2001).]

[mjc]

Junket,

1. What version of the VIA chipset inf and VIA drivers do you have? The versions on the Epox site are 1.02 for the chipset and 4.28a for the 4 in 1 drivers.

2. How do you have the power button configured in BIOS, most BIOS have the function to configure the power button to something other than "off", set it to "power off" or something similar.

3. Do you have "wake on LAN" enabled in BIOS? If so you may want to configure to "disabled".

4. Does the CAS setting match the CAS of the memmory? Is the memory CAS 2 or 3 and does the setting in BIOS match it?

5. Are you trying to overclock it? If so try setting to defaults and get a stable install first.

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mjc
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