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  1. J

    Anyone remember the memory foam thread?

    I believe this thread lasted years but I was not privy to it's demise. Anyone know when and how long that thing lasted? I remember at least 3 birthdays.... 2002 to 2005???
  2. J

    Putting old HD into new computer

    Well there are a lot of issues here, and most of my suggestions are based on a small pool of DYI and good bad personal experiences: First, if you ar going from a VIA chipset to VIA chipset your mb drivers MAY survive if they are close in age. This may be the same w/ SIS to SIS ect, and AMD to...
  3. J

    Hard drives and general disc failure

    Yes, my thoughts as well. We bought these (Aopen custom models) because at the location they were going to be put, the size was perfect. I believe at the time (and apparently not anymore) aopen had a choice between these and shuttle boxes. Since I had good luck w/ most aopen products opted for...
  4. J

    Hard drives and general disc failure

    Got to start somewhere.. was hoping the BIOS would be the easiest but for some stupid reason Aopen Bios's for their MB say there not for that MB. Sounds confusing but to sum it up Evergreen reports MB to be S661 Fxm (-S)/ s661 Fxm-7 in each of the 2 boxes. There are different BIOS's for each...
  5. J

    Hard drives and general disc failure

    Web search of this error led to few possibilities BUT one person solved a similar problem by updating BIOS.. Will have to chek into that one...
  6. J

    Hard drives and general disc failure

    OK, excerpt from the Microsoft "solution" Problem caused by a hard disk drive error Windows was temporarily unable to read your hard disk drive. This problem is general in nature and we are unable to determine the specific cause of the problem from the problem report. In most cases this...
  7. J

    Hard drives and general disc failure

    Since we bought them (myaopen compact boxes like the shuttle) weve had system failures due to (apparently) bad writes to the HD. Windows will basically re-boot, report a serious problem (?) and then go happily on it's way. Generally if you send an error message and click on the "more info" link...
  8. J

    New (old) topic re: 1680x1050 res in VGA

    Please note the correct chip was 9550.. not 6550 as originally posted.
  9. J

    New (old) topic re: 1680x1050 res in VGA

    SOLVED: New (?) ATI 9550 card set up monitor automatically at 1680x1050 on the VGA line. Even the newest drivers for the nVidia 440 probably wouldn't have worked.. but I'll never know know. Anyways monitor looks as it should... much better than interpolated...
  10. J

    New (old) topic re: 1680x1050 res in VGA

    Sorry still find this topic a mystery... Bought a new card to replace the nvidia 440 on this monitor) I actually have 2 of these and the other one is powered by a 5500. Funny even Matrox dosn't list this mode (though the chart is for refresh rates and may be a minor omission). Does pose some...
  11. J

    New (old) topic re: 1680x1050 res in VGA

    Thanks for the in depth answer. From one of my searches on this topic I found an Nvidia spec sheet on the 6800 and it correlates w/ this statement from someone who solved the problem: I Got it ! I called Samsung Awesome 2nd tier support and the guy who answered my call explained to me that it...
  12. J

    New (old) topic re: 1680x1050 res in VGA

    OK, I've searched here (and posted at Techspot to no avail except a short comment to buy a new monitor ;)) regarding video cards and Acer widescreen LCD monitor w/ 1680X1050 res and NO DVI port.... Read some things re: "custom resolutions" as well as 3rd party software that would do the custom...
  13. J

    K7VZA rev 3 CPU help

    UPDATE: It's the 512mb RAM stick causing the problem. Stuck a stick of 128MB and it's cruising along (albiet quite doggy. Too under-RAMed :)) 512 just not stable at 266, fine at 200 and 66 (threw it in an old Tyan/Celron box.....)
  14. J

    K7VZA rev 3 CPU help

    UPDATE: CPU is probably a legit 2400+. Just can't get this board (Actually Win2000) to run at 266. No how, no way. Jumpers, BIOS settings, not working as to a stable OS. May have to look into some incompatability bewtween Win2000 and VIA and AMD-XP, and ECS ect. Success stories of running this...
  15. J

    K7VZA rev 3 CPU help

    Got A problem: Just installed the 2400... BUT can't get it to run past 200mhz FSB. ON top of that both AIDA32 (CPU ID) and CPUID (from AMD) list it as a 1800+. Now granted I can't get the BIOS to go to 266 without BSOD-ing Win 2000...but I thought this was a string value and not dependent on bus...
  16. J

    K7VZA rev 3 CPU help

    Thanks for the reply. That was ver 1 of the board (only 200) Ver3 goes to 233 I believe. Anyways I picked up a used XP 2400 thoroughbred core. Will let you know how it works (It will be awhile though)
  17. J

    K7VZA rev 3 CPU help

    I recently decided to update the box w/ this MB (see Dead motherboard? thread for the fun w/ BIOS part) and at one point wrote to ECS, who politely informed me "we could give a rats .... about this board, your on your own" :) But politely mind you. Anyways after I updated the BIOS to the very...
  18. J

    Dead Motherboard?

    Hmmmm.. I just experienced something similar w/ a ECS k7vza board, only a bit scarier as the flash was not reported as successful though Win 2000 flash utility (actually think that I had unfortunately updated the original BIOS earlier with a "pulled BIOS" as the date code on my version and the...
  19. J

    OS Question...

    I'd try the install and register first. Worst thing that could happen is MS says NO but they seem to be unlikely to do this (common knowledge) though it is there right to do it. If you have to "dial home" to MS directly you may have 2 options 1) the'll give you a new key or 2) you MAY...
  20. J

    Installing Windows

    Service pack 2 contains all the sp1 stuff. There's kind of a "gotcha" w/ XP. If you install XP and then download sp2 via internet your computer will be exposed to a certain virus rather quickly and could become infected. Best to download sp2 disc and install before going on line. If you are...
  21. J

    My Windows XP Pro starts up ok...

    Can you boot into safe mode?
  22. J

    Need help please!!

    http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm Dig through this thread. Is Vista booting OK??. THat is what you have right. Vista on one partiation / XP on another same drive?
  23. J

    Need help please!!

    Did you try all of these: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314477
  24. J

    OS Question

    NO it's only tied to the Motherboard................
  25. J

    OS Question

    Yes that is perfect. EXCEPT I'm not sure of a lateral upgrade XP to XP. Not sure that would work. You do know that as an upgrade you have to have a previous liscensed version of Windows 98 or ME ((or NT or 2000, not sure of these 2)). Don't think you can "upgrade" 95 The OEM version can be...
  26. J

    OS Question

    One more time.. per MS the OEM OS is tied to the MB... and MB only. MS is a bit flexible here but by letter of the law :) if you have a different MB you buy a new OS.. I'll find the MS responses to this topic later. In practice MS turns a blind eye to the OEM criteria but the "gotcha" is there...
  27. J

    Got a free computer with a Win2k coa sticker on the case

    Boy did I read that wrong or what............... Sorry.
  28. J

    Windows XP OEM INSTALLATION QUESTION

    Retail vs OEM.... If you can find a RETAIL version for close to the same price I'd go w/ that for only 1 reason. Once you load the OEM into your system the OS is perminently "wedded" to that motherboard. If you at some time get a new blank box or upgrade the MB, by liscense you have to buy a...
  29. J

    Got a free computer with a Win2k coa sticker on the case

    Thanks, I'm so used to working w/ XP I forget the difference sometimes. I assume this is from experiece that they won't activate 2000 as easily as XP seems to be done??? But I did suggest trying :)
  30. J

    is it illegal to install windows xp on one computer but on two diffrent hds?

    Due to some recent computer ills, MS recommended doing a parrallel install. Wether you keep it and don't delete it is apparently optional. Doubt if MS cares one way or another.......
  31. J

    Got a free computer with a Win2k coa sticker on the case

    Actually it's supposedly just the motherboard the liscense is wed to. And the motherboard could be replaced as long as it's identical. In reality MS is still fairly leniant about a liscense transfer regardless of "type" (not my personal experience, just general replies to the tons of other...
  32. J

    Boot problem solved........

    FOUND IT.................. SOOOOOOOOO SIMPLE (so far) Extracted and installed NTLDR from my original CD (pre SP1 version) replacing the buggy/damamged or whatever NTLDR from the SP2 disc. No formats, no software reinstalls YEA>>>>>>>> Excuse my enthusiasm :) BOOT COMPLETELY...
  33. J

    Boot problem solved........

    Well maybe i'm being too logical about all this stuff. After all this is Windows:) All the other suggestions involve modifying things that have worked for months if not years. I know there is a lot of garbage in the registry from prev OS's, motherboards, software ect. but all was well behaved. 5...
  34. J

    Boot problem solved........

    No there dated Nov 15th or so... Not good. I used the term debug mode loosly. Basically gives you an echo for the loading of hardware prior to GUI stuff :) That one registry key though... There should be a file associated with it that wasn't created. Will back up registry and delete the 2...
  35. J

    Boot problem solved........

    Your asking me???? Anyways I found this: sprestrt....... It's windows stuff I think.. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodte...8284e-d1d2-4dc7-88d3-4e75bbf63a97.mspx will check the other stuff after looking at this. http://www.programchecker.com/file/2519.aspx
  36. J

    Boot problem solved........

    There's an "alternate ntdetect.com on the Windows disc. It is a "debug" version. All you do is rename ntdetect in the root drive and then paste the "alternate" file. see this link http://www.windowsitlibrary.com/Content/435/13/6.html I've set the /sos swiutch in mscofig and also checked the...
  37. J

    Boot problem solved........

    Lots of "stuff in that file. Brings back years of memories. :) Confused by Microsoft???? There's a concept LOL. So if the error occurs after ntdetect but prior to loading drivers what does that leave???? Using the /sos switch successfully loads all the drivers and gets me to logon screen.
  38. J

    Boot problem solved........

    Ran the altenate ntdetect. Can honestly say I didn't have a clue there :) Lots of pretty text though. After that was done it BSOD on me as usual. Had to f8 and boot to VGA mode. Then correct resolution, run msconfig and check /sos again. Then rebooted. Alt ntdetect ran again, then "normal" boot...
  39. J

    Boot problem solved........

    Agee. I've booted more times this past month then I did in years. LOL. Anyways as to the 3rd party driver thing, on a related topic I did a search of "certified" drivers' and apparently my system had NONE whatsoever. Not to mention windows drivers are not the best anyways and again considering...
  40. J

    Boot problem solved........

    Thanks for this and your earlier reply. That advice I accepted . Problem w/ any system restore ect is that the new MB has all new chipset (nVidia 3) ect. Didn't think any of this would help. Do believe that going back to my original XP CD and repairing from there might solve the problem. Of...