Second computer crash in 3 hours - GPF error

[Philp]

Hi,

Well the Gods are working against me. My second computer used mainly for internet access has died on me. The other, Abit Dual PIII failed 3 hour previously (See 'Boot failure, no beeps').

Well this machine makes past the POST and when it is just about to start Win 2K it gives a General Protection Fault followed by manu coded including error 1010. I can boot from the CD-ROM using the Win2k setup disc but energency repair does not do anything. I can get to the console but usual choices like fixmbr had no effect.

I could reinstall Win2k but would like to know if this will solve the problem. Is it better to swap the hard drives and install on the second hard drive. I could then see whether the original boot drive is accessible.

Abit SE6
PIII 700Mhz
256Mb RAM
2 x 40Gb HD
Using on board sound and video
Firewire card
CD-ROM
Floppy,
Zip
Win 2K

Thanks!

[mjc]

Philip....I would seriously consider having the wiring in the building checked out...it seems too much for two machines------ to go belly up that close together without there being some sort of external factor involved, like power surges. Also if you are running them through some sort of protector try (temporarily) bypassing it.

If you have a second drive then I would try it (install) on the second drive (that would leave your data intact for possible future recovery).

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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.

[Philp]

Thanks mjc.

Both machines are connected via a surge supressor to the mains. This is designed to prevent lightning strikes since we get our fair share in Memphis (and we have lost an answer machine, alarm motion sensor and damaged a surround sound processor due to static - the latter protected by a panamax!) I suppose the surge protector could be at fault, but I think I am really clutching at straws.

I'll swap the drives and reinstall Win2k. This sounds the safest option to me.

Thanks.

But does anyone know what error 1010 means with a GPF?

[Philp]

So I tried to reinstall Win 2k on the second hard drive after setting the jumpers to make it the master.
It all looked good until an error which indicated that there was a hardware problem and Disk I/O error 8001. After
much cursing I put the original master drive back in, reconfigured the jumpers and reinstalled win 2k. This found
the old installation and proceeded to repair it (even though the repair option that appears initially, did not work!).
30 mins later, I now have a functional PC with all the old settings intact.

I suspect a program deleted or changed a crucial system file, that was just reinstalled from the win 2k CD. Oh the
joys of computers, but at least it now works

[mjc]

Ok...one down one to go...

------------------
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.