I've had a nightmare with this machine, but over the summer I dumped some cash and energy into it and had a rock-solid system running - until about two weeks ago.
Setup consists as follows:
Windows XP Pro
EpoX 8k7a
512 MB (2x256 MB) Crucial PC2100 ECC Registered
1.33 GHz Athlon w/ Alpha PAL8045
Gainward Golden Sample Geforce 2 Pro/64
Linksys 10/100 NIC
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
Lite-On 32x12x40 CD-RW
Lite-On 16x DVD
Seagate Barracuda IV (master) 40 GB
IBM Deskstar 60GXP 40GB (slave)
I had the HD's running off of one chain and the CD drives off of the other. Everything was working flawlessly until I woke up one day and found that the machine had dropped into a BSOD overnight - something about a corrupt file or other. Figuring it was no big deal, I rebooted. Machine ran flawlessly, except for a few hiccups now and then, common with WinXP. I decided to a long-overdue reformat. I copied all my files onto the backup IBM HD, then went ahead to format the master with XP and reinstall. The reinstall worked fine and everything was going well, and I was able to boot up no problems whatsoever. One thing lead to another and before I knew it I was A. Unable to copy files from the IBM to the Seagate, started getting BSODs left and right ranging from memory problems to nVidia driver issues, etc. IRQL_LESS_OR_EQUAL or something or other was a pretty common one. Next, the IBM crashed and I lost ALL of the data on it, and to compound things further upon trying to reformat the Seagate for a second try I would get a.) BSODs, or b.) "unable to read file XXXXX.XXX off of CD." After about 10 format attempts, I managed to get the damn thing to install.
I removed the IBM because it was a second drive after a second RMA (1st one went bad). Only running Seagate currently, was able to install fine and went through the process of Windows Update--->Drivers--->Programs, etc. Reinstalling...drops into a second BSOD, this time referencing nv4_disp driver. I restarted, then completely unable to start up, even in safe mode, without the computer crashing or giving me a BSOD.
What I've tried:
Resetting BIOS settings on computer
Clearing CMOS (thought this might do something on a long shot)
Now here's the kicker. I found that in certain configurations, my RAM reads as 384 MB. In others, it reads as 128. I thought it might be the motherboard, but I found that one of the chips reads in at 128 MB on the second slot and 256 on the other - the second stick reads in at 256 on each. I'm currently running off the second, intend on RMAing the other to Crucial tomorrow. Is this a nightmarish case of bad RAM? I know the CPU and the power supply are not at fault because my voltage lines run above spec. The EpoX issue with the 5V was resolved with an Antec PSU modded to give extra juice - now runs between 5.05 and 5.15, depending on load. Heatsink keeps processor between 38-42 degrees celsius. Any suggestions - RAM, motherboard, etc?
Setup now consists of the following, after I pulled out everything except for the drives and the video and was able to format/reinstall with no problems. I've since then reinstalled the NIC but no sound card.
8k7a
CD-RW/DVD Drives
Linksys NIC
Gainward Video Card
1.33 GHz Athlon
Seagate Barracuda IV
I have yet to do anything as far as reinstalling is concerned I've managed to get a fresh format.
Sorry for the length but much help would be appreciated...Oh yes - and what about the IBM? Any ideas? Is it the drive or did something else cause it to crash with all my files on it?
Setup consists as follows:
Windows XP Pro
EpoX 8k7a
512 MB (2x256 MB) Crucial PC2100 ECC Registered
1.33 GHz Athlon w/ Alpha PAL8045
Gainward Golden Sample Geforce 2 Pro/64
Linksys 10/100 NIC
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
Lite-On 32x12x40 CD-RW
Lite-On 16x DVD
Seagate Barracuda IV (master) 40 GB
IBM Deskstar 60GXP 40GB (slave)
I had the HD's running off of one chain and the CD drives off of the other. Everything was working flawlessly until I woke up one day and found that the machine had dropped into a BSOD overnight - something about a corrupt file or other. Figuring it was no big deal, I rebooted. Machine ran flawlessly, except for a few hiccups now and then, common with WinXP. I decided to a long-overdue reformat. I copied all my files onto the backup IBM HD, then went ahead to format the master with XP and reinstall. The reinstall worked fine and everything was going well, and I was able to boot up no problems whatsoever. One thing lead to another and before I knew it I was A. Unable to copy files from the IBM to the Seagate, started getting BSODs left and right ranging from memory problems to nVidia driver issues, etc. IRQL_LESS_OR_EQUAL or something or other was a pretty common one. Next, the IBM crashed and I lost ALL of the data on it, and to compound things further upon trying to reformat the Seagate for a second try I would get a.) BSODs, or b.) "unable to read file XXXXX.XXX off of CD." After about 10 format attempts, I managed to get the damn thing to install.
I removed the IBM because it was a second drive after a second RMA (1st one went bad). Only running Seagate currently, was able to install fine and went through the process of Windows Update--->Drivers--->Programs, etc. Reinstalling...drops into a second BSOD, this time referencing nv4_disp driver. I restarted, then completely unable to start up, even in safe mode, without the computer crashing or giving me a BSOD.
What I've tried:
Resetting BIOS settings on computer
Clearing CMOS (thought this might do something on a long shot)
Now here's the kicker. I found that in certain configurations, my RAM reads as 384 MB. In others, it reads as 128. I thought it might be the motherboard, but I found that one of the chips reads in at 128 MB on the second slot and 256 on the other - the second stick reads in at 256 on each. I'm currently running off the second, intend on RMAing the other to Crucial tomorrow. Is this a nightmarish case of bad RAM? I know the CPU and the power supply are not at fault because my voltage lines run above spec. The EpoX issue with the 5V was resolved with an Antec PSU modded to give extra juice - now runs between 5.05 and 5.15, depending on load. Heatsink keeps processor between 38-42 degrees celsius. Any suggestions - RAM, motherboard, etc?
Setup now consists of the following, after I pulled out everything except for the drives and the video and was able to format/reinstall with no problems. I've since then reinstalled the NIC but no sound card.
8k7a
CD-RW/DVD Drives
Linksys NIC
Gainward Video Card
1.33 GHz Athlon
Seagate Barracuda IV
I have yet to do anything as far as reinstalling is concerned I've managed to get a fresh format.
Sorry for the length but much help would be appreciated...Oh yes - and what about the IBM? Any ideas? Is it the drive or did something else cause it to crash with all my files on it?
