Random issues with an nf2 system

[artimusbill]

I built my Mom a computer using some parts left over from a system of mine. It is an Athlon XP 1800+ on an Epox 8RDA nforce2 motherboard. Lately, she has been having issues where it seems only 2 out of three things work at one time; those being sound, printer, and lan. She says they will not work together anymore. I have verified this to be true. The motherboard is about four years old (I think), as well as the cpu/ram (1gb, 3 pieces). She was on AOL (now yahoo dsl), and the AOL dialer also kicks in randomly, but I think that is a separate issue.

My question is, what might cause this? A dying motherboard? I have run a pc diagnostics app (System Mechanic 7), and it did it's thing with no help to my issues (no huge supprise there). I have never had a motherboard exibit a slow death, if that is what this issue is. The random, intermittent thing is driving me nuts.

Suggestions, or comments? Thanks in advance.
Artimusbill

Additional information:
XP Home SP2
SB Audigy value something
Lexmark usb printer
SBC Yahoo DSL

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

sounds like a dying mobo. All those are on pci lanes aren't they? Assuming parallel port printer (hell, even integrated usb), integrated sound, and integrated lan. Even so, they'd be pci add-ins so it sounds like the board. Before you trash it I'd try a fresh install, because there is no use buying a nf2 board again.... just get a new system.

 

[IdaGno]

Could be the mobo, but maybe not. How recent was the switch from AOL? Was a time when AOL so effed up a W's install as to practically require an OS resinstall. Doubt they've changed much since then.

Details Here

Rather than proceed with a mangled copy of AOL, I reformatted and restored the known-good disk image, and repeated the same steps (including the initial download) from scratch. This time -- I have no clue why, because everything was identical -- I didn't get the WAOL fault and was able to get online to the AOL service. Because I was trying to find out what AOL was changing on my machine, I did nothing online -- I didn't access any part of the AOL service beyond the opening screen, and did nothing that would change the initial setup in any way. In fact, as soon as I'd successfully connected to AOL, I immediately logged off. AOL then determined that I needed updates to my brand-new setup. It automatically downloaded the updates, and restarted the AOL software.

The Results
In all, I found AOL had added or altered 229 files on my system, including more than 4.5MB of Windows system files! Most of these system files were placed in a directory called C:\America Online 5.0\net\win98se\, and if you're somewhat familiar with Windows, you'll recognize many of these files as essential components of Windows networking -- they're emphatically not files you want to be fooling around with: A partial list includes ftp.exe, mapi32.dll, msnet32.dll, mswsock.dll, ndis.vxd, net.exe, nwlink.vxd, protman.dos and protman.exe, secur32.dll, svrapi.dll, vdhcp.386, vnetbios.vxd, vnetsup.vxd, vredir.vxd, winipcfg.exe, winpopup.exe, ws2thk.dll, wshtcp.vxd, wsipx.vxd, wsock.vxd, wsock2.vxd and many, many more.

 

[myocardia]

I agree with IdaGno and Comdrpopnfresh; although it could be a dying motherboard, it sounds more like a messed up Windoze install to me, especially since it had AOWell on it at one point. Do a fresh install, and see what happens.

 

[artimusbill]

Usb printer, PCI add-in sound card, and pci add-in nic. If I replace it, I will upgrade to something like an X2 system. Think a repair install might help?