ME crashing redux

[Dan Mitchell]

I have a new (~2 months) Gateway Athlon 1100, 128m ram, 40g HD, ME (what I meant to say was %#@#&***++==^!!!!!!##$%%%%!!! ME). The system crashes *AT LEAST* once per day, typically once ever 2nd or 3rd time I actually attempt to do something with it. Usually this occurs when transitioning from one program to another (either opening the 2nd program or alt/tabbing to one already open) or when attempting to do something new in the existing program (going to mail from netscape browser, going to spell check in word after writing for awhile, these are more examples of typical scenarios rather than particularly trouble prone situations. No program/task exhibits more of the problem and none seems immune). The more invloved the transition, the more likely a crash. In a previous post, Pete mentioned that these are often memory conflicts, and that a bad chip on the memory board can cause this, but that such a fault may not show up on routine memory checks. How can I determine definatively if there is such a hardware problem? What else may be at issue here? I understand ME is known for instability, is my situation (number of crashes) unusually severe? I have parred back the TSR/background situation to what I believe to be the minimum. What else can I do? Would another 128M ram help? What about disabling all of ME's "restore" functions? Never say never, (especially with this OS) but after 8 years of pc's from DOS up, I have yet to have a catastrophic system error, is it really necessary to be geared up for full-scale collapse at all times???? I have a friend with a 2 year old copy of 98 I could install, after removal of ME. Too drastic, or is it advisable?

Sorry for the length, thanks as always for any input.

Dan

[mjc]

Well it is 2 months old; get Gateway to check it out under warranty and don't settle for less than fixed.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

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

[skhips]

Did you install ME ontop of 98 (which can make it very unstable), are you or have you run Norton Utilities 2000 which does not support Me and can cause problems.

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[sboucher]

I installed WinME on my 98SE machine (clean install and everything) and I experienced similar problems. It got to the point that I couldn't even use my DSL connection. It wouldn't let me see any webpage at all.

I switched back to 98SE and have had no more problems. The only thing WinME was better at was installing. It had most of my drivers for my computer built in. When installing 98 I have to search for all of my driver CDs or download from the web.

You may find some other reason for your problems, but their is only one way to find out ----- Make another partition using a partition utility and install a copy of 98. If you still have problems then your computer is to blame. If your problems end like mine did then WinME is the problem.

[skhips]

I installed WinME on my 98SE machine (clean install and everything)


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But was the insall on top of 98 or on a freshly formatted HDD, (including the mbr being wiped) (fdisk /mbr)
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[hiredgoonz]

If you ordered it with ME then I would go with mjc's suggestion and let Gateway handle it...

I've installed ME on 5 different systems and was unhappy with only 1 of them (but 98 wasn't any better on that one) they were all clean installs on a blank hd, so I have never witnessed ME's "instability" first hand...

With any M$ OS, sometimes the only solution is to start over, so if you want to try and fix it yourself, and can back up your data, you might want to reinstall it...

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When all else fails, read the instructions.

[Revjapaca]

I had the same problem. After 2 dozen calls to tech support a tech finally told me that ME is still buggy. They (DELL) sent me a factory installed Win 98 SE. I havent talked to anyone that has not had probs with ME. Good luck