losing devices

[ErnieK]

Not sure where to put this Sytem, Hardware or software. So plumped for hard
ware.
The following is what is happening
Printing a document. Then whilst it is printing do the following
Start/find files folder/enter details and press go.
Result:
Computer just sits there on the desktop (hangs) doing nothing (printing
stops and does not search). Press
Cont-Alt-Del and I am then left with a blank desktop. As though the monitor
is turned off (just black screen) nothing showing what atall. Press the
keyboard at this point and you see the hard drive activity light lighting up
as long as the finger is on the button on keyboard, take finger away and
nothing.
This can be re-created at ant time by doing the above. It also happens
whilst doing other things. (For example - insert CD and as it opens
automatically desktop freezes and as above this one is intermittant) There
are NO error messages.
Scan disk finds nothing at re-boot nor when done in windows prpoer.
Comp make up:
AMD Athlone 800MHz - Gygabyte GA-71XE4 mobo - 256MB mem (one chip) - Sansung
Syscmaster 753df monitor - ATI Radeon All inWonder AGP (VIVO) 32MB -
Win98se - Fujitsu HDD - Trust sound card - Trust wheel mouse - mCannon
BJC250 printer. (all drivers for the above are the latest available) Only
AVG antivirus and Zone alarm running in the back ground. (C-A-Del shows
Systray, explorer and the above two items). An on going problem is that the
computer intermittantly "loses" devices installed. Mouse, keyboard etc (they
stop working as though they are not there). So more than likely linked to
this problem.
I am only on-line for an hour at weekends so may be sloww in replying to
your answers.
TIA




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Ernie

[loki]

I'm not sure how to fix it, but it sounds like a motherboard problem to me.

[mjc]

Boot into safe mode (hit the <f8> key during boot up, afte POST,before windows starts to load, or <f5> ) and see if any of the symptoms are still present. Also while in safemode goto to device manager and see if there are any duplicates of your devices....

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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.

Gun Control...hitting what you aim at!

[ErnieK]

Loki:- This is what I have been saying ince I fitted the board. This is only the latest of the faults, all are similar (losing keyboard mouse etc) and there is no frequencey to them. the one posted CAN be re-created unlike the othes. But when I contacted Gygabyte they want nothing to do with it and can only suggest I upgrade the bios (Board is only 4 months old and was delivered to the shop when I was standing thee so I know it is a new one) and Shop where purchased just says "pay us and we will check it out" In other words get lost.
Another thing that is happening is that the L2 Cache dis-ables its self somehow. I have had to re-set this twicw in the past 10 days.

MJC:- When I re-boot system everything sorts out for a while. And whilst in safe mode there is not a lot I can do as only the basics are loaded. No doublers in Device Manager. No conflicts what so ever any place.

Thanks guys http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

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Ernie

[mjc]

Ok, that is what I was looking for..if any devices were doubled, since there are none then "ghost drivers" are not a problem.

Do you know what version the BIOS is? There are some reports running around in other forums and newsgroups that the f8 version (April 16, 2001) is the only version that properly supports the L2 cache (which may be why it is being disabled -- not supported properly in the BIOS version you currently have). Also the latest chipset drivers may help...they can be downloaded here (http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/support/d_via.htm). The latest listed is ver 4.32, the manual ishere (http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/support/msocketa.htm#7ixe4), and the BIOS upgrades are here (http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/support/swamd.htm#link7ixe4) (read the recommended links and if in doubt about the procedure see if the shop you bought it at will do it (yeah, I know they said pay but this thing should have some sort of warranty on it!)

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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.

Gun Control...hitting what you aim at!

[ErnieK]

MJC
will get back to you later in the week as still do not have my own Internet access yet. Am using the free public library net access at the moment and time is short. Thanks for the links.
Speak to you later.
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Ernie