First lots of problems and errors, then no POST

[archcommus]

Okay, this took FOREVER to post, so here you go: http://www.nforcershq.com/foru...ic.php?p=423652#423652

Any opinions are appreciated, people seem to be stumped so I need input.

 

[archcommus]

Bump.

 

[mechBgon]

Ok.

1) You installed new RAM and it's built for 2.75 volts. Did you raise your memory to 2.7 to 2.8 volts yet? If not, try that. The viruses will run much more stable that way

2) From your post there, it appears you had some security weaknesses and you addressed them too late. If it were me, I would unplug the network cable, back up my important stuff, and Drop The Bomb On It­?. I have a suggested installation routine for you, and I'm just going to quote myself since I'm a bit tired:
:

• Unplug network cable and leave it unplugged
• Install WindowsXP
• Give the Administrator-class accounts a strong password
• Install Service Pack 2 for Windows
• Enable the WinXP SP2 firewall, and enable Data Execution Prevention for all programs
• Install your motherboard drivers
• After installing your motherboard drivers, now install your video-card drivers and other drivers
• Take a snack break
• Install your antivirus software
• Plug in your network cable and update your antivirus software, then update Windows at Windows Update
• Install and update your other software
• Install and run Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 1.2.1 to see if there's any oversights in your security measures
• ...and if it were me, I would set up a Limited-class account to use for day-to-day usage. You may need to temporarily make it into an Administrator-class account for the first run of poorly-written software (games especially) that need to be run at least once with Admin/Power-User privileges in order to work. Afterwards you can reduce the account to Limited again. This is a huge obstacle to spyware, adware and some types of viruses/Trojans.

There are links to the various resources on this page for your convenience. If you don't have the bandwidth to download the whole Service Pack 2 installer, there's an alternate method suggested there (getting an Update Rollup patch and free ZoneAlarm firewall software to start you off).

There are instructions for enabling Data Execution Prevention for all programs on the page I linked to, down a ways under the Ongoing prevention section.[/quote]Make sure you configure Windows to use Automagic Updates and make sure you configure your antivirus software to scan everything, with every detection option, and to deal with infected stuff without coming to you first asking what to do. And of course you'll want to set it to update its definitions as frequently as practical. Where I work, that's every 15 minutes (!). I also would disable System Restore permanently since lots of viruses and threats use it as a refuge.

Hope that helps If you want to try partial measures first, you could try the free Panda online antivirus scanner, there's a link to it on the Resources page, down a ways under the Removal part. If you have a broadband connection then also get yourself a budget router to be your "outside" firewall. I liked the Netgear RP614 that I set up for my little sister, if you need a suggestion.

EDIT: I guess it should be obvious, but (duh) you do need SP2 pre-downloaded and ready on a CD or a pen drive or something, so you can install it before going online. Also, go to Microsoft's Office Update site and update Office.

 

[Fern]

Listen to what Iceman is telling you over at nforcersHQ.

You see, memtest86 is bootable, that is, it doesn't run "through" windows. H3ll, you can disconnect your HD (meaning NO op sys while memtest86 is running) and run memtest. In otherwords, a fouled up OS has NO effect on memtest.

Try it and see: Disconnect your IDE cable (and the HD's 4 pin 5v molex connector) and run memtest86 . If you get errors it CAN'T be a virus in your OS.

Did you unplugg your pc (or turn off the PSU with the rocker switch in back)? If not, the 5v standby power may have fried your DIMM slots on the mobo when you were inserting/removing the ram. I regret to say that I know this as I have done the same myself.

EDIT: If my experience is similar, your ram is OK, but your mobo is dorked

Best of luck

Fern

 

[archcommus]

Well last night I reset CMOS and that got me booted again. I then went back to 200x11, and set the DDR ref. voltage to 2.8. Since then the system seems to be running okay, with the exception of Sygate giving me errors when I try to run it, but that MAY be due to an SP2 compatibility issue.

I'm assuming at this point that it's not a virus. But yes, I do have automatic WUs turned on now.

I did not unplug the power, I guess that was a stupid move. I simply turned it off and took the side wall off. As I said, everything seems to be running okay, but even if I put everything at STOCK speeds (133x13), Memtest still gives errors. I'm not sure what could be the culprit then, physically damaged memory?

 

[archcommus]

Bump.

 

[archcommus]

Well, I'm going to have to forget about running Memtest on stock speeds. Just now I applied default settings, rebooted, no POST. Pulled the power, plugged it back in, booted back up, reapplied defaults, no POST. This pulling the power didn't help. So, I had to disconnect everything, reset CMOS, and plug it back in again. Thankfully resetting CMOS allowed me to boot again. After I applied my OC speeds, it posted okay.

So does a no POST mean there are too many errors to even boot? Odd that that happens at 133x13, but NOT at 200x11. I don't know what to think. I could put my old memory back in, and see if I'm able to boot at stock speeds. But that won't do much good, because I already know that my old memory produced errors, as well, I just didn't worry about it. That leads to the question of why I can't boot at stock speeds with this memory.