axlsalinger
04-25-2001, 06:52 PM
Hey everyone. Major problems with my computer system, esp. with Startup. I posted this tale of woe a couple of weeks ago in the video section, and thought I would try my luck here as well. So here goes...
I have had a P3 800 computer for 6 months, 128 MB of RAM. Worked fine all along... until now. Major problems... system comes up with many error messages upon startup, goes into safe mode or freezes. (Ctrl/Alt/Del does nothing) Also windows protection errors, and Performance tab sometimes says "compatibility mode paging, drive's A,C&D running in MS-DOS mode!"
I tried many things, system file checker, selective startup, c drive defrag, etc. Corrected a few problems along the way, but main one getting worse. I find if I turn the video card (Rage Fury 128 32MB) performance hardware acceleration from full to zero, computer will start without safe mode.(sometimes) However if I try anything like connecting to the net, computer will freeze. On full acceleration, I get safe mode or fatal exceptions.
No new installs before the trouble started, I had watched a DVD with no problems, then sent some faxes using Supervoice. Someone mentioned I might have a DOS video game causing my system to run in DOS mode, so I went on a search and deleted a few games, to no avail.
I ran Scandisk and it said it would repair one thing... i couldn't do the "Thorough" version, however: it was taking forever and it kept re-starting, saying that another program was running... Control/Alt/Delete gave the usual list of "startup" programs... after I disabled the Startup list, it was still crashing or taking forever, although Explorer was the only thing on the list. Eventually I ran a full Scandisk in DOS mode. Another diagnostic that I did (maybe it was system file checker) said a "setupx.dll" file was corrupted, and it was reinstalled from the D drive.
Also, it says "Unknown device" in the bottom section of Device Manager sometimes, with a red "X" when it goes into safe mode...
Earlier, I was advised to return the computer to the store where it was purchased, which I did. After several days, they called saying it was fixed... the Windows 98 registry was corrupted, so they replaced it, configured to my system and drivers, and that everything worked fine.
When I got the computer home, I turned it on and noticed that my video card "Hardware Acceleration" was set to None... I moved it to Full which I believe it needs to be to be set at to use many programs. I also went to my Startup menu, and turned on PC-illin virus protection, then restarted the computer. Well... now I have the exact same problems as before!! Even the guy at the store doesn't know what to do!!
I guess I will have to return it again, but does anyone have a suggestion before I do that?
Here are some possibilities:
- something at my home is corrupting the Windows 98 registry (monitor, keyboard, printer, etc.)
- There is some kind of a video card problem which flares up when acceleration is turned on... however what could be the problem?? Or more importantly, the solution...
- PC-illin is corrupting Windows 98
- some kind of virus?
- Gremlins!!
The guy at the store said something about the keyboard possibly corrupting things if it is made by Packard Bell, which i will check when I get home... he has also suggested wiping the C drive and reinstalling Windows 98, although this would be an extreme annoyance having to reinstall and redownload everything, especially if it ends up not working!! Any ideas???
Last point: who can I contact for tech support? Windows 98 came installed on the computer.
THANK YOU!!
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"Believe in me, cause I don't believe in anything... and I wanna be someone who believes" - Counting Crows
I have had a P3 800 computer for 6 months, 128 MB of RAM. Worked fine all along... until now. Major problems... system comes up with many error messages upon startup, goes into safe mode or freezes. (Ctrl/Alt/Del does nothing) Also windows protection errors, and Performance tab sometimes says "compatibility mode paging, drive's A,C&D running in MS-DOS mode!"
I tried many things, system file checker, selective startup, c drive defrag, etc. Corrected a few problems along the way, but main one getting worse. I find if I turn the video card (Rage Fury 128 32MB) performance hardware acceleration from full to zero, computer will start without safe mode.(sometimes) However if I try anything like connecting to the net, computer will freeze. On full acceleration, I get safe mode or fatal exceptions.
No new installs before the trouble started, I had watched a DVD with no problems, then sent some faxes using Supervoice. Someone mentioned I might have a DOS video game causing my system to run in DOS mode, so I went on a search and deleted a few games, to no avail.
I ran Scandisk and it said it would repair one thing... i couldn't do the "Thorough" version, however: it was taking forever and it kept re-starting, saying that another program was running... Control/Alt/Delete gave the usual list of "startup" programs... after I disabled the Startup list, it was still crashing or taking forever, although Explorer was the only thing on the list. Eventually I ran a full Scandisk in DOS mode. Another diagnostic that I did (maybe it was system file checker) said a "setupx.dll" file was corrupted, and it was reinstalled from the D drive.
Also, it says "Unknown device" in the bottom section of Device Manager sometimes, with a red "X" when it goes into safe mode...
Earlier, I was advised to return the computer to the store where it was purchased, which I did. After several days, they called saying it was fixed... the Windows 98 registry was corrupted, so they replaced it, configured to my system and drivers, and that everything worked fine.
When I got the computer home, I turned it on and noticed that my video card "Hardware Acceleration" was set to None... I moved it to Full which I believe it needs to be to be set at to use many programs. I also went to my Startup menu, and turned on PC-illin virus protection, then restarted the computer. Well... now I have the exact same problems as before!! Even the guy at the store doesn't know what to do!!
I guess I will have to return it again, but does anyone have a suggestion before I do that?
Here are some possibilities:
- something at my home is corrupting the Windows 98 registry (monitor, keyboard, printer, etc.)
- There is some kind of a video card problem which flares up when acceleration is turned on... however what could be the problem?? Or more importantly, the solution...
- PC-illin is corrupting Windows 98
- some kind of virus?
- Gremlins!!
The guy at the store said something about the keyboard possibly corrupting things if it is made by Packard Bell, which i will check when I get home... he has also suggested wiping the C drive and reinstalling Windows 98, although this would be an extreme annoyance having to reinstall and redownload everything, especially if it ends up not working!! Any ideas???
Last point: who can I contact for tech support? Windows 98 came installed on the computer.
THANK YOU!!
------------------
"Believe in me, cause I don't believe in anything... and I wanna be someone who believes" - Counting Crows