EXTREMELY frustrated with my new cpu...

[Huskair]

need some major help here...


It all started back in early january when I decided to purchase a new computer, and build my own... with the help of some people...

We came up with
Running on Windows 2000 PRO..

AMD ATHLON 64 3000+ | MSI K8T NEO-FIS2R
MEMORY: 512 Mushkin 3200 hi level perf 2 (something like that)
ATI RADEON 9700 PRO 128MB 8XAGP DDR
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 PCI Sound Card
Raidmax Silver 10-bay Case w/ 420Watt Power Supply
Lite-On Black DVD-RW/+RW Drive, Model
Lite-On Black 16X DVD ROM Drive
Hitachi 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
ViewSonic E70FB 17" PerfectFlat CRT Monitor
Logitech Cordless MX Duo USB/PS2 104keys
Logitech Z-5300 5.1 THX Certified Speaker System

The reason I have my memory italicized, is because originally that's what I thought the problem was. I was regularly having physical memory dumps...random program errors... blue screens, almost most annoying Internet explorer errors. But there was always this ONE problem I had, after I installed everything....critical updates/directx9/my games..everything... If I restarted my computer, it would boot up JUST fine... but if I were to SHUT DOWN my computer and turn it back on... it wouldnt even get to windows... it would have the "Starting Windows" with the blocks, and stop about 3 blocks in on the loading... and say:

Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEMced startup option for Windows 2000, press F8.

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows 2000
Setup using the original setup floppy disk or CD-ROM.
Select 'r' at the first screen to repair.

I was like "....ok", and I went into the win2k installation program, and tried repairing it. But I encountered another problem... it couldnt find a windows 2000 installation TO repair!

So I was screwed. I reinstalled windows atleast 20 times (no...seriously atleast that...spent countless school nights up till 2 am killing myself trying to figure this out). So then I thought...'maybe it's the memory'. So i took out the memory, and tried some of my brothers memory he had in his machine. It worked flawlessly. So I RMAed my memory back to NewEgg... got some different memory that someone suggested...

Corsair XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, Low Latency 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200

So I got that almost a week later...put it in... installed everything. All the program errors.. iexplore errors, everything went away...I thought it was SOLVED. NOPE, I was wrong...

Just yesterday (about 2 weeks after I had 'everything solved'), I was playing CounterStrike...and suddenly had a blue-screen, physical memory dump error..GRRR... so I was like "ok...that's not good...", restarted my computer... Everything was fine for a few more hours. Then I told myself.. "hmm, let's shut down my computer and see if it boots up.." Sure enough, I shut it down, rebooted it...and GUESS WHAT?! This error has returned....

Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEMced startup option for Windows 2000, press F8.

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows 2000
Setup using the original setup floppy disk or CD-ROM.
Select 'r' at the first screen to repair.

And it does the same thing when I try repairing it...doesn't recognize a windows 2000 installation... I said...I guess I'll take this opportunity to try Windows xp 64 bit edition (which I have on a cd)... forgetting there are not any ATI 64 bit drivers out.... NOT that it mattered...I have a SATA harddrive, so when I start the windows installation, I press F6...pop in the disk, and it said my "Viasraid.sys" file was corrupt...so, I moved on to trying Windows 2000 again.. installed everything....everything was working just fine. Then just about an hour ago, I shut down. Then I thought... "uh oh...plz don't screw up...", I booted up, and got the error again.

What could be my problem guys? I'm tempted to throw this thing out the window (really I am) ...but that's like burning $1500. I've put so many hours into this thing... I'm getting kind of stressed/depressed over it.

 

[Markfw]

OK, two pieces of advice... First do you have a GOOD 350 watt PSU or better (Antec or other highly rated brand). And if you are having memory problems, then before you spend money, or blame it one something else, set the memory to run at 333 mhz cas3. If it is stable at that, then your memory is either bad or incompatable. Coul be either....

 

[Huskair]

Only programs I recall installing were:

VIA 4 in 1 drivers (not the 64 bit ones)
MouseWare
ATI Control Panel/Graphics Drivers
Creative SB Drivers/control panel
Winamp
AIM
MSN Messenger
Steam
Final Fantasy XI
Unreal Tournament 2003
Quake 3 Arena
Quicktime
RealPlayer
Windows Media Player
All the windows critical updates
DirectX 9.0
Winzip
Acrobat Reader
WinDVD 4
Battlefield 1942
Diablo 2
Warcraft 3

 

[NFactor]

With that kind of a problem and since it apparently isn't the ram I am tempted to say that something on your MB is blown, i can't be sure though. It is also possible that there is something wrong with your harddrive, have you tried to install everything with a different PATA drive? If that does not fix it i would RMA the board. Sorry i can't be of more help.

 

[Huskair]

We'll ya see, it worked fine for about 2 1/2 weeks... for one night on a different HD, I'm not sure if that'd tell alot or not. I think I am screwed. I originally ordered my MOBO on january 2nd from mwave. RMA policy is 30 days. Shoulda gone Dell (but i didnt have the money). I hate computers now.

 

[flexy]

>>>
What could be my problem guys? I'm tempted to throw this thing out the window (really I am) ...but that's like burning $1500. I've put so many hours into this thing... I'm getting kind of stressed/depressed over it.
>>>

dont ust guess and assume.

If you want to KOW whether your mem is the culprit then get memtest86 and let it run for some time. Try out bios/memory latency settings too.

If memtest86 passes a few hours....get prime95 and stress-test the cpu. If this does NOT fail...AND memtest does not fail...then i might assume that your basic hardware is ok...so are your bios settings...and it is someting software related.


From your description however it could be a lot, from a bad PSU to too lax bios-mem latecy settings...to a wrong mounted HSF.....soething wrong with cooling/airflow etc....endless possibilites.

Start a clean system and do NOT install 100 programs...get memtest86 and prime95 and start the whole testing thing slowly....and yes....also use the general rule: Bare system...all not really necessary cards removed..ust put VGA card i and sinstall win.....test.....then start adding the other components..

 

[mechBgon]

What voltage are your memory modules set to, Huskair? If you just left them on Auto, then set them to 2.8 volts and see what happens. And if the problems persist, then I second the motion for a high-quality PSU like Markfw900 said.

 

[wakedog102]

i had a lot of problems with my msi k8t800 mobo as well. RMAed it to Newegg and have an Asus in the mail. mine would constantly freeze at POST, freeze if bootable media was in the cd drive, freeze IN the bios screen. it took me something like 4-5 attempts to install windows without it freezing. i'm tempted to agree that it's the mobo.

-N

 

[Zinn2b]

Don't want to sound like a broken record but go to PC pitstop run there free test it takes about 3 min. I well bet you a dollar to a donut you OS comes up critical

 

[Snoop]

Here are some suggestions:
Update the mobos bios,
Run memtest,
Run your harddrive MFG's hardrive fitness test, and check MAKE SURE your floppy cables, harddrive cables, master slave pins are oriented correctly,
Purchase new PS from local store, if it solves problem keep it, if not take it back,
Last ditch effort I would try pulling out the audigy and reinstalling the OS without it, you never know, the soundcard 'could' have somethign wrong with it,
RMA Mobo.

What could be my problem guys? I'm tempted to throw this thing out the window (really I am)

Please throw out in my direction, I will pay shipping Or trade you.

 

[Zinn2b]

What snoop said me to

 

[Farmer]

It probably isn't the CPU you should be frustrated at.

Snoop:

Before all that, I think he still should do what both Mark and mechBgon stated eariler, either backing off memory timings and speed or increasing memory voltage.

I find this odd, because I run the same mobo and memory (at default voltage, DDR400 2-3-2-6), and, after one bad board, it runs fine (with XP SP1).

But you are right, the MSI board is very much a hit or miss.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I would try running with your memory set to 333Mhz. I had a similar problem as you with my Asus K8V and Athlon 64 3400+. Random reboots, BSOD, Windows install issues and then I tried lowering the clock on my memory and this system is rock solid stable now. I think some of the VIA chipset motherboards have some issues running memory at 400Mhz. Mine sure does. I have 2 sticks of PC3200 Corsair XMS 512MB and I haven't been able to run it at 400mhz.

Oh well, it is plenty fast and stable at 333 so I'm not going to bother with an RMA and re-installing new hardware. To me it is more trouble than it's worth.

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I would try running with your memory set to 333Mhz. I had a similar problem as you with my Asus K8V and Athlon 64 3400+. Random reboots, BSOD, Windows install issues and then I tried lowering the clock on my memory and this system is rock solid stable now. I think some of the VIA chipset motherboards have some issues running memory at 400Mhz. Mine sure does. I have 2 sticks of PC3200 Corsair XMS 512MB and I haven't been able to run it at 400mhz.

Oh well, it is plenty fast and stable at 333 so I'm not going to bother with an RMA and re-installing new hardware. To me it is more trouble than it's worth.

The motherboard and the chipset aren't your problems, its compatability with your memory !! I am running Kingston Hyperx PC3500 at 218 HTT and CAS2, rock solid. Please don't tell people that the VIA chipset or the ASUS motherboard have problems running at 400. There are MANY people here using memory at 400 or better, Hyperx, Mushkin, etc.. Corsair doesn't seem to work well with the Athlon64 setups.

 

[Huskair]

Originally posted by: Markfw900

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I would try running with your memory set to 333Mhz. I had a similar problem as you with my Asus K8V and Athlon 64 3400+. Random reboots, BSOD, Windows install issues and then I tried lowering the clock on my memory and this system is rock solid stable now. I think some of the VIA chipset motherboards have some issues running memory at 400Mhz. Mine sure does. I have 2 sticks of PC3200 Corsair XMS 512MB and I haven't been able to run it at 400mhz.

Oh well, it is plenty fast and stable at 333 so I'm not going to bother with an RMA and re-installing new hardware. To me it is more trouble than it's worth.

The motherboard and the chipset aren't your problems, its compatability with your memory !! I am running Kingston Hyperx PC3500 at 218 HTT and CAS2, rock solid. Please don't tell people that the VIA chipset or the ASUS motherboard have problems running at 400. There are MANY people here using memory at 400 or better, Hyperx, Mushkin, etc.. Corsair doesn't seem to work well with the Athlon64 setups.

My mushkin was even more unstable than this...

 

[txxxx]

http://www6.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20040112/memory_performance-11.html

The MSI gets a mention for Corsair not being too good with it, then again this is tom's hardware...

 

[nick1985]

whats your PSU?

 

[Huskair]

http://raidmax.com/products/products_display.php?&page_no=4&backnext=-1&cID=1

That's my case, except it's silver...I'm not sure what PSU though... it's 420 watt


One of my friend's friends had an idea... change my processor to 32-bit mode...how would i do that?

 

[mechBgon]

People's mileage may vary, but I haven't had any problems with my Corsair XMS 3200C2, which is the module that Corsair recommends for the K8V Deluxe (system specs). I'm using 2.7 volts and auto timings except I manually stipulated the clockspeed. Huskair, did you try upping your memory voltage to 2.7-2.8V?

 

[Huskair]

Yes, tried that, and it still has that error...I'm beginning to guess my whole windows installation is corrupt. I'm going to try XP I think...

 

[fstime]

Hi, I suggest that you make sure the CL is 2.5 or 3.0 as those are the more stable options.

I have Low-end corsair CL2 , Im gonna get a 1 bg kit [2x512] what do you guys reccomend , I see corsair isn't exactly the best, Mushkin or Kingston or maybe even OCZ in mind.. which do you guys prefer for the MSI+3400+ combo?


Mushkin
OCZ
Kingston

Price does not matter...

 

[Huskair]

OK, now this thing has me really confused. Just an HOUR ago, I booted it up...and it had the error still. Then I had a friend come over to see what he could do...and guess what? He asks me to boot up my computer so he can see what the problem could be... and of course, the computer works FINE! it booted up normally!! What's up with this thing... and of course we tried shutting it down, restarting, blah a whole bunch of things, and it worked normally...

 

[Huskair]

nevermind guys, as soon as he left, it didn't work again. We'll, RESTARTING works just great...but what's shutting down my computer mean in terms of the error only happening then?

 

[Snoop]

Updating the mobos bios my help with the memory compatibility problems. Have you tried following any of the suggestions people are giving?

 

[Viper96720]

I have a feeling it may be your sata cable. If running the memory at 333 it still crashes. If you got an extra one try switching it. Otherwise unplug and replug it from the drive and board.
Make sure dynamic overclocking is disabled.