Need help please

[JeffSweeney]

Just purchased new motherboard, DFI AK7,xp 1700 processor (2 sticks of kingston 256 meg DDr)all ready burned in when I bought the board, set it up with all my components and it ran beautiful. After about 2 weeks with no problems I started getting registry error messages.(O.S. is windows Me, creative audigy sound card,Voodoo 5 video card, netgear ethernet card, Updated drivers,updated motherboard drivers). I made no changes in either software or hardware for that 2 week period with no problems. Been playing Castle wolfenstien on gamespy, no problems.This seemed like the smoothest transition of components I ever had with a new pc and processor. Then the registry error message started, I clicked on "OK" to fix,It rebooted and same message appeared I felt like I was on a treadmill. Ran system restore,same thing happened. Ran scanreg /fix same error message. Ran scan reg restore-same message "windows has found an error in the registry, windows will now repair". Most software would run but I could no longer conect to the net. I went in to msconfig and tried to isolate the issue, went through the start up menu and closed out programs to isolate the problem and i couldnt resolve it. Ok so then I reformatted and loaded up everything step by step to see if I could discover the problem. Got through everything and no error message. I thought I fixed it. Couple of restarts later and the error message started again. I made no changes since my last good reboot.Decided it was time to upgrade to XP, I hear Win me can be buggy at times even though I never had a problem before. Verizon accidently shut off my dsl at this time (A whole other story)so I bought a new creative labs modem and a Oem copy of xp did a clean install. During the installation process at one of the restart point it came up with a blue screen 0000000.000000000000 something error sugested I might want to change video adapter and disable shadowing. Went out and bought a gforce 4 mx 440 got xp up and running. The first reboot I tried I got error missing system/system32/config file, well missing or corupted. Bought a new hard drive, samething. Tried several installs with just the video card and the same thing. I reformatted and repartioned every time. Bought a brand new hard drive and the samething. Bios problem? I flashed and updated my bios,first couple of times i tried award flash program said I didnt have enough memory. Finally it worked and the updated bios is fine. Tried to reinstall xp this time when I reboot it says im missing some other system files. I loaded nothing when ever I rebooted xp. Nothing! Wanted to wait untill the first reboot out of fear!
Gave up. Reformatted my new drive,put in my new gforce card and new modem,and new hard drive Loaded Win Me back up and "Windows has encountered an error in the registry........!! Disabled registry scan, loaded up Aol to do some reading on the net. Cant get aol to work my modem. moved modem to a couple of diff pci slots when ever I used a diff slot than the bottom one the agp would become disabled. Initial memory tests during all boots showed memory is fine. Took one stick out and switched it round in case the bios missed something on the memory. No difference. Is it time to have the board checked? memory checked? Ide cables are only a year old. Power supply is only a year old, its 300 watts.
Anyone have any ideas of what to try next. No conflicts in any of the of the harware that I could find in with system information. I did reformat once and loaded windows 98 se, no registry errors but alot of illegal operation notices. A couple of reloads with windows I did get messages of "not Enough memory". If the memory went bad wouldnt the bios see on the initial boot during the check. Like I said I switched the sticks around using each one sepparatly and there were no changes. I cant believe both sticks could bad. any advice to point me in the right direction would be apreciated.

[bassman]

Hello Jeff and welcome,
This may be a bit of a reach but worth a try. Have you cleaned or changed your CD drive?
Seems to me the only constant in your mix is this drive.

If you are doing a full repartitioning and format, then their is no old issues left behind. Just a faulty install.

Good luck http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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A real Christian is one who can give his pet parrot to the town gossip.
Frank's Place (http://dreamwater.net/tech/frankscomp/)

[hiredgoonz]

What is the memory set to? What fsb and what timings? Make sure the system isn't overclocked and make sure that the CAS latency is correct...

For the Athlon XP, you should be running a 133mhz fsb, however, in order to do so, you need PC2100 DDR. If you bought PC1600, then you're stuck at 100mhz for the fsb. (if the memory is PC1600 and is set to 133, it may cause errors)

Also make sure the latency is correct...CAS 2.5 and CAS 2 are the most common types, if you try to run memory rated at 2.5 at 2, you will have problems...

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When all else fails, read the instructions.

Microsoft Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;rid;kbinfo)

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Google (http://www.google.com)

[JeffSweeney]

Originally posted by hiredgoonz:
What is the memory set to? What fsb and what timings? Make sure the system isn't overclocked and make sure that the CAS latency is correct...

For the Athlon XP, you should be running a 133mhz fsb, however, in order to do so, you need PC2100 DDR. If you bought PC1600, then you're stuck at 100mhz for the fsb. (if the memory is PC1600 and is set to 133, it may cause errors)

Also make sure the latency is correct...CAS 2.5 and CAS 2 are the most common types, if you try to run memory rated at 2.5 at 2, you will have problems...

[JeffSweeney]

I was thinking on both Clt and and cd rom cleaning . Bios auto settings has memory set at 2 I was thinking of changing it to 2.5 and doing a reinstall and also cleaning the CD rom. I try this and get back to you guys. Anyone else have anyideas in the mean time let me know.

Thanks for the quick response http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif


Jeff

[mjc]

ESD can cause memory to start misbehaving, there is a level of ESD that doesn't kill the stick outright but causes errors and a "slow death" until it eventually quits working entirely (latent catastrophic falures...ESD damage that causes the transistor junction to weaken and over time fail; it will intially pass the tests but over time will react with poorer system performance and lockups....). 2000 to 3000 V is the leve typical humans can feel when a static discharge occurs, component damage can occur at muc lower voltages than that, less than 50V.

Try with one stick of RAM and/or a known good stick...


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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.

[JeffSweeney]

I took both sticks out and tried them each sepperatly. Could be esd but I took all the precautions when I handled them. I would be shocked if it was both.

Jeff

[hiredgoonz]

Is the memory CAS 2? If not, then you're going to have to set it to 2.5 since it may be causing the problems...also, do you have the system set to turbo or something similar? I had some problems with my mobo and the turbo setting...

------------------
When all else fails, read the instructions.

Microsoft Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;rid;kbinfo)

Drivers (http://www.driverguide.com)

Google (http://www.google.com)

[JeffSweeney]

I never touched the bios untill after I started having problems. Ive only switched it from fail safe defaults to optimal defaults. The bios has the latency automatically set to 2. Im gonna go switch it to 2.5 and try to install xp again. I found out that the memory was bought at circuit city and its Centon memory. They dont have any specs for thier memoryand there arent any on Centons web site. Maybe its time I get a stick from Crucial that I can match specifically with my board. I was just hoping I could solve this without spending a hundred bucks.


Jeff

[JeffSweeny]

The bus speed is correct, here are the current memory setings..

sdram ph limit-8 cycle
idle limit 8 cycle
trc timing value -8 cycle
trp timing value -3 cycle
tras timing value-7 cycle
trcd timing value 3 cycle
cas latency-2
What else should i change if I switch the latency to 2.5.

Crucial lists dimms at 2.5 for this specific board.


Thanks

Jeff Sweeney

[hiredgoonz]

Leave everything else alone and just change the latency to 2.5...2.5 is the most common type of DDR right now...CAS2 isn't really unusual, but just not as common...

------------------
When all else fails, read the instructions.

Microsoft Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;rid;kbinfo)

Drivers (http://www.driverguide.com)

Google (http://www.google.com)

[JeffSweeny]

Still couldnt load xp. Got 98SE loaded and its up and running. Found an old McAfee utilities cd and loaded it. Its memory diagnostics recorded 15 memory errors. Time to call crucial and match theres with my board? OOps 32 errors now that I started AOL.


Jeff http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

[This message has been edited by JeffSweeny (edited 03-21-2002).]

[mjc]

Yep, sounds like it is time for some new RAM, what you have is either not liking your motherboard very well or has met up with a little too much voltage along the way......

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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.

[JeffSweeny]

Took out the old memory and put in a brand new stick of crucial. The memory is listed as the exact stick for this motherboard. Same problems. Bios still recognizes the memory with a clt of 2.0 with both optimized and fail safe defaults even thought crucial has it listed as having a clt of 2.5. I set it at 2.5 but still have same problems. Mcafee utilities still lists multiple memory errors when a run memory diagnostic tests. Time to chuck the board for an Abit or Asus? Im getting depressed now.

Jeff http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

[mjc]

Beginning to sound like a problem with the slot....check it to make sure ther is nothing in it, that it is clean and no bent contacts. Also make sure the memory is fully seated and locked down.


If nothing helps then how about the warranty/RMA route?

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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.

[borgdrone1of2]

hello
m.e does not like 512 megs or more of ram theres way to make work with it but i dont have it writen down maby some one here knows. a lot of machines running 512 megs or ram with m,e will work fine but not all try takeing one 256 stick out and see how m.e does than.if no diferance.than this aint your problem
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

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resistance is invigorateing lol

[JeffSweeny]

This problem isnt because of to much ram. Im coming to the conclusion that board is faulty or they screwed something up when they installed the chip and heat sink.


Jeff

[JeffSweeny]

You really think the slot could need cleaning or one of the prongs on the processor is bent. This board and processor are new and it worked perfectly for almost two weeks. I ran that sandra diagnostic software and it also mentioned memory errors. It also said my bios might not be reading the board accurately. I upgraded the bios. could something be wrong with the bios chip?