MLSoccer06
Junior Member
For reference here are my relevant system specs:
Pentium 4C 2.8 running stock speed
1GB Ram Geil Brand 2.5 4 4 8 timings -- 2 512 sticks running in dual channel
Chaintech Motherboard 875 Chipset - 2 SATA I ports 4 Ram slots
Main HD is a Maxtor, first generation SATA or so
New HD is also Maxtor Diamondmax 10, SATA II
Over the past few months I have noticed my computer gradually performing slower and slower, getting into the crawl as new programs are installed, data comes and goes, etc.
I practice regular system maintenance such as uninstalling unused programs, somewhat regular defrags, etc.
I decided recently to backup all my pertinent data and start over with a clean format. Backup done, on an external, all clear there.
THe problems start when I open the case for a little dusting and to install a new HD while I am in there. The SATA HD install seems smooth, case nice and clean inside, all wires connected, everything seems tiptop.
I decide that since I am starting over I might as well run a memtest on my memory, since its a few years old and in the past I had this error where my computer would BSoD when I soft/hard reset it. The only way to reboot is shutdown, wait 10 seconds, and power on. I thought this might potentially be a memory issue.
Running the test everything seems find for a couple hours, then an error crops up, just one error on one segment on one test. Well it turns into a handful of errors, perhaps 7 all on the same section of the memory.
I looked but could not find the implications of such an error, whether my memory was bad or what. At this point I decided that since my PC was working fairly well even earlier that day, I would go on ahead and insert my Windows Pro CD to begin a reformat.
This is where the problems start. The CD begins to load, loading drivers and even beginning the setup process, but it freezes at some random point, different places on different attempts. Sometimes it wont finish loading drivers before CD activity stops and it freezes, one time it began a reformat to 1 percent...effectively wiping my OS install...before freezing.
The only thing I can think of is that this is a RAM issue, however something else I might mention is that now, after inserting this new HD, my first, and primary for 2 years HD will not spin up, and is not recognized by the bios or windows setup. I know the connections are fine, I even switched the 2 HDs into each others plugs and it is always the old one that fails to spin.
What do you all think is going on here, is my memory definitely hosed? If so why is it only now suddenly showing severe symptoms. And what could cause a previously rock solid hard drive to cease spinup activities? Thank you in advance for your reading of this lengthy query.
Pentium 4C 2.8 running stock speed
1GB Ram Geil Brand 2.5 4 4 8 timings -- 2 512 sticks running in dual channel
Chaintech Motherboard 875 Chipset - 2 SATA I ports 4 Ram slots
Main HD is a Maxtor, first generation SATA or so
New HD is also Maxtor Diamondmax 10, SATA II
Over the past few months I have noticed my computer gradually performing slower and slower, getting into the crawl as new programs are installed, data comes and goes, etc.
I practice regular system maintenance such as uninstalling unused programs, somewhat regular defrags, etc.
I decided recently to backup all my pertinent data and start over with a clean format. Backup done, on an external, all clear there.
THe problems start when I open the case for a little dusting and to install a new HD while I am in there. The SATA HD install seems smooth, case nice and clean inside, all wires connected, everything seems tiptop.
I decide that since I am starting over I might as well run a memtest on my memory, since its a few years old and in the past I had this error where my computer would BSoD when I soft/hard reset it. The only way to reboot is shutdown, wait 10 seconds, and power on. I thought this might potentially be a memory issue.
Running the test everything seems find for a couple hours, then an error crops up, just one error on one segment on one test. Well it turns into a handful of errors, perhaps 7 all on the same section of the memory.
I looked but could not find the implications of such an error, whether my memory was bad or what. At this point I decided that since my PC was working fairly well even earlier that day, I would go on ahead and insert my Windows Pro CD to begin a reformat.
This is where the problems start. The CD begins to load, loading drivers and even beginning the setup process, but it freezes at some random point, different places on different attempts. Sometimes it wont finish loading drivers before CD activity stops and it freezes, one time it began a reformat to 1 percent...effectively wiping my OS install...before freezing.
The only thing I can think of is that this is a RAM issue, however something else I might mention is that now, after inserting this new HD, my first, and primary for 2 years HD will not spin up, and is not recognized by the bios or windows setup. I know the connections are fine, I even switched the 2 HDs into each others plugs and it is always the old one that fails to spin.
What do you all think is going on here, is my memory definitely hosed? If so why is it only now suddenly showing severe symptoms. And what could cause a previously rock solid hard drive to cease spinup activities? Thank you in advance for your reading of this lengthy query.
