Reasons why....

[Genesis15]

Hello, I'm not a computer novice before you get your hopes up. I have spent 3 years working with computer and an addition 2 using one... I have built 3 computers in my time and am very familiar with errors/problems and hardware failures.
I take time out of my busy life to help my family members fix their computer which could be/are infected with massive problems. But finally a problem comes along I cannot fix, this problem has been around for a couple years. I have replaced every part on my computer except for the Case and the CD-ROM drives.
To get to the point my computer takes 100 secounds to boot (almost 2 minutes) according to most people 3-7 passes MAX are sufficient for the windows boot screen to go by. I get 42 passes. Sounds like fun doesn't it? Especially on a clean format =).

Now before we jump to conclusions I have narrowed this down to every possible scenario:

1: My Hard Drive could possibly have some problems so I replaced it with a new/better hard drive, 80GB 7.2K 2MB Ultra ATA-133 Western Digital. Well that helped a little but nothing at all with my computers slowdowns.

2: I did a clean format installing essentials from a CD-ROM right off the starts in this order:

Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade (SP1)
I created a restore point
Service Pack 2
AVG
Sygate Firewall
Motherboard Drivers
Video Drivers
FireFox

Still no luck as I am running off those same programs being installed right now.

3: I decided hey it may have been my motherboard so I just went along and upgraded to a Nforce3-250 Chaintech and a skt 754 3000+ 64-bit AMD CPU. Helped a lot since it was upgrading from a Celeron and ASRock P4AL-800. But didn't come close to fixing my problems.

4: I then decided well my RAM could be the little problem to this so I bought my friends DDR333 Samsung 512MB and put it Dual-Channel with the 512DDR333 Convent I had before... No help and very small performance increase. I even ran memtest and turns out there were no errors at all and I also switched over each RAM stick. No luck.

5: Now I'm getting irritated and decide it probably isn't any of those buy a lack of power... So I disconnected all my drives and just ran off of, Video Card, HDD, Motherboard, CPU, PSU. Still no luck, so I chipped for a 300w Antec power Solutions and still no luck...

6: Now I have pretty much narrowed it down to software issues... So I tried formatting dozens of times only to come up with the same slow computer. So I finally try installing drivers/programs in different orders and I even bought 2 other OS's to test: Windows 98, Windows 98 SE and Windows Professional... None were any more effective same problems...

7: It has became appearent that my problem isn't easily fixed... So I then Reset my CMOS for nessled Virus's and no luck @ all... I check med wiring over and over and over, looked for fried chipsets etc. nothing was out fo ordinary, I even cleaned my case out and checked my temps, all in order...


What could my problems be?
I have a XFX 6600GT 8x AGP 128 video card if that helps.

Thank you.,

 

[pol II]

When you reinstalled, did you notice when the slowing-down began? In other words, did you reboot after installing each program so you could identify which one caused the jump from 7 (or whatever) passes to 42 passes?

How about disabling whatever you can in msconfig startup (probably not the problem though).

I have never created a restore point immediately after installing Windows and before installing drivers. I don't really know how that could be the problen, but it is something foreign to my personal experience.

Did you install the NVIDIA IDE drivers (from chipset drivers)? Many have reported anomalies and difficulties after having installed them.

I'm just brainstorming here hoping something can be identified

Your installation process is different than mine. Mine goes like this:

1. Windows Xp, SP1, SP2

2. Chipset drivers

3. Video drivers

4. Firewall, AV

 

[pkypkypky]

i'd slipstream xp and use the install order recommended above. Download and install updated mobo drivers from nvidia.com because your problems sounds like you don't have the right drivers installed. Other than that you're not explaining your problems pretty well. And you said something like you mixed sticks and put them in dual channel mode??

 

[pkypkypky]

and tell me you're not running an A64 with a 300watt power supply.

 

[Trevante]

Speaking of power, make sure you plugged in the 4 pin CPU power cable.

 

[Genesis15]

I'm not explaining my problem relaly well? Obviously my problem is my computer is deadly slow for no reason... And I have tried everything, my drivers are straight off of nvidia.com the newest ones... I don't think the order you install in would matter, and if I've tried different orders and I have tried different OS's that shouldn't be it. As far as mixing rams I have 2 different brands but the same speeds etc. on dual channel... Yes I realize 300w is small for A64 and 6600GT but the Antec's are effecient so it's the best one I have ATM. As far as the IDE drivers I installed them but not the SW ones which I heard inflicted problems... Nothing occurs to make boot go for 40 passes it does it straight off a formatted HDD. Hah, I had allready said I checked my case, my power cords are fine and all cords that are needed are plugged in especially the 4 pin power cable. SP2 asks you to create a restore before the installation of it, this time I left SP2 out of the picture alltogether, notice smoother performance but my problem still persists. Anyone else? BTW my MSConfig is running off a fresh reformatt, hardly likly...

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Are you on broadband? If so have you tried a fresh setup with it disconnected? Seems like you eliminated every other possibility outside of the demonic possession :evil:

 

[GregANDTCH]

Are you on broadband?

Could it be waiting for a response from a network connection?

 

[tyborg]

yeah, only thing I can think of is the PS. You've done pretty much everything I can think of to do. It's not the harddrive, the processor, the motherboard, the RAM, or the BIOS that's the problem. Power supply is the only thing left to change. Unless one of your replacement parts is just as bad as the original... highly unlikely though. find a hardware shop and have them run some thorough hardware scans. You've checked absolutely everything else. EDIT: at the "starting windows XP" screen, it hasn't even gotten to where it looks for networks yet, unless you have a network boot set up.

 

[Genesis15]

I just ran Prime95 and it didn't crash I ran it for about 30 hours.... Any ideas now?

 

[ZoomStop]

That was what I was thinking reading this over.... network hangup or a drive stuck in PIO mode for some reason.

Try the following:

Disable your onboard network in the BIOS and re-boot. May need to reboot twice, once for Windows to remove the driver and once to see if it is moving quicker. Your system may be hanging while it tries to get an IP addy.

Check your hard drive transfer mode (device manager, Primary IDE Channel, advanced settings) and check to make sure the first device is set to Ultra DMA something... 5 or 6 is best and that it does not say PIO mode.

Last, since that board was one of the first Nforce 3 board and since Nvidia has such a great QC record for new boards make sure your running the latest BIOS. You can get it here: http://www.chaintech.com.tw/tw/eng/Download/dl_desc.asp?DCSNo=4&PISNo=276 - latest version is only a few months old.

Let us know how that works out.

 

[Genesis15]

One problem, I use onboard network... But if it helps I will put my other one in but I don't want to unless I have to so if it removes the driver I wouldn't be too happy... After this if I just change it back will it work again?
lso installed the drivers
Also I check for the MDA thingy and it was set right

 

[Genesis15]

OMFG wth did you do to my computer? I just downloaded the Zenith Nforce3-250 drivers and put them on a CD-ROM and then restarted and pressed ALT+F2 for AWD FLash of BIOS and I updated it with that CD and then my computer monitor just shut off and my mouse and my keyboard... So I then restarted thinking my computer was just adjusting, still no monitor power and still no mouse power, Keyboard does work thought... WTH did you do fry my motherboard? I'm friggin pissed.!

 

[atchon]

Just reset the BIOS by pulling the little round battery you see on your motherboard.

 

[Genesis15]

UH yeah I tried that and switching the jumpers and holding Insert while plugging in/unplugging power cord...nothing is working!

 

[ZoomStop]

What are the Zenith drivers? Did you get them from the page linked above? Sounds like you flashed your BIOS with the wrong BIOS.
While flashing the BIOS is a solid trouble shooting step in a case like this it only works if you flash it with the correct one.
You'll probably want to start a new thread and go about getting help for a bad BIOS flash.
Best of luck to you.

 

[ZoomStop]

Originally posted by: Genesis15
So I then restarted

And that is where you hosed your system.
Did you not read all the warnings to not restart while your system is flashing?
I know your pissed. I would be pissed too. But at myself not at the people helping me.

But you got hot headed in this thread and in PM's. So let's bump this to the top so people can try and help you with a bad BIOS flash.

 

[pkypkypky]

:disgust: