This computer is Driving me Nuts

[lurchbourke]

Hello,

I have a computer that I use with some bands Im in to record demos the motherboard is an ECS Elite group K7S5A which Im told is unstable (and danm it that certainly true). I have one stick of Ram the code on it is 7M8RE-SA when I looked this but on the net this code corresponds to a Samsung 512mb DDR PC2700 stick of Ram but when the system is booting up it only shows 256mb in the memory check

Does anyone know why that is?.

The second problem I have is that the system randomly restarts like its overheating but the memory timing is on safe. Other times windows displays something about system admin and tells me I have 60 seconds to save my work before it shuts down. Then other times while starting windows it says svchost couldnt start up or explorer couldnt start and the screen just stays up with my wall paper and nothing else and I cant do anything. Other times it just restarts as its about to start windows then it has do scan the disk. Other times it just plain freezes on what ever program Im using and Alt Ctrl + Del wont even work, other times programs crash saying I cant write to a certain place in memory. Other times when it starts it says Im using files that are corrupt and asks me to put the win 2000 cd in. so you can imagine how annoying all that is if you lose what your recording or the system restarts during the playing of a song.

I know that list of stuff is vague but its just examples of whats going on with the system and I would like to know the safest way to deal with it.

Should I update the bios
Backup and reload windows
I dont think its a virus cause I loaded it from scratch and it has never been on a network or even the internet and I never installed weird programs on it

Thanks for taking the time to read all this

The processor is a 1Ghz Athlon.
A creative 52x cd burner
Using onboard video
And a audigy LS

 

[Swampster]

Good Morning Lurch,

To answer your first question, YES this a motherboard known to be very unstable.

1. While booting, hover your finger over the Pause/Break key and hit it as soon as you see a line of text at the BOTTOM of the screen. Note the date listed as this is the date of your BIOS.

Go to http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Downloads/...ad.aspx?Categoryid=1&MenuID=35&LanID=9

At this page, you will be able to select the motherboard you have. Note that there are different versons for this board, so you will have to have this information before you start. This will be noted on the motherboard in the same area as the K7S5A tag.

Download (I am assuming here that you will be using another virus protected computer for this task) the lastet BIOS file AND the instructions. Take this on a floppy to your computer and update the BIOS.

2. While you are rebooting from this update, go into the BIOS and make sure all settings are correct. The time/date will need to be reset, for example. Also note what size the BIOS thinks your memory module is. I have seen modules that had the wrong part number on them, so don't be surprised by what you find.

3. If this hasn't stabilized things, then use a memory checker utility from a bootable floppy to run a through test on the memory. Expect to let this run continously for at least several hours.

4. If you are still unstable, then try temporarily replacing the power supply with a known good unit of atleast 300W. This motherboard is VERY sensitive to weak or erratic power, but this is hard to find short of replacing it to see if it makes an improvement.

5. If you STILL haven't fixed it, and you haven't gotten mad and done something distructive to it <G>, then consider replacing the motherboard with another brand. My preference would be MSI . . . but that a personal choice and there are many other good brands.