What can be wrong here??? One for the experts I think!

[CotswoldCS]

This is an unusual problem.

I am repairing a PC for a friend. It's an old Cyrix 333 Running Windows 98. She decided to upgrade the memory from 32Mb and install some backup device. I replaced the 32Mb module with a brand new 128Mb DIMM and installed an Iomega Zip 250 internal ATAPI drive. I setup the software and all seemed fine. Until later that evening I was phoned - the computer had crashed. And then it kept crashing. Mostly BSOD and Illegal Operation messages. There was no pattern and no single program causing the problem. Sometimes Explorer.exe, Sometimes a DLL, sometimes IEXPLORE, etc, etc.

My first thought was a faulty memory module. Not so. Tried two others now and still crashing.

I then did a clean install of Win 98 and all software. Took a little time, as you can imagine. Still the computer kept crashing. Again, no pattern. Sometimes in Windows (just double clicking My Computer would cause a BSOD), sometimes IE, OE, Word, etc. Very annoying.

So it didn't seem to be a faulty, memory chip, it's a clean install of the OS and I was beginning to think that I had damaged the motherboard installing the ZIP drive or Memory. This would have been BAD. New mobo? - So I took it home to have a play with....

Get this. I plug it in to my computer, switch on and guess what. I can't even make it crash!!! Not once. It's running better than XP (possibly?!) WHAT CAN BE THE CAUSE???? It must have something to do with the ZIP drive & Memory, but I can't see how. No other hardware is connected apart from a printer and speakers.

The only thing I can think of and I'm not certain, is that her monitor was powered from the PSU of the computer and mine uses independant power supply for monitor. Could it be that installing the ZIP drive & Memory has increased power usage beyond what the PSU can take???? I cannot test this, so am looking for some advise. Is it possible or not?


PLEASE HELP!

 

[RustyNale]

It certainly sounds like you've hit the nail on the head, I'd put in a new psu, one able to handle the load, OR, just try plugging her monitor into the wall socket not the tower's psu.

 

[CotswoldCS]

Thanks for the reassuring answer Rusty Nale!!! I've been sweating over this one and kept thinking it was more complicated than it may be.

My friend has no surge protection for her computer. I think that this will be a worthwhile investment as well.

 

[eliya]

i'm going to disagree with you two

i believe the psu is just a pass-through for the voltage from the wall to the monitor
so it shouldn't be any problem (one wall outlet can power an entire room via splitters)
remember that the monitor works on 220/110 volts, not the 5/12 the psu gets out
so i'm quite sure that's not the reason. though i cant say what is

good luck

 

[DN]

CotswoldCS,

What piece or pieces of hardware did you take home to test..? Just the MB, just the ram, just the zip drive, the entire PC, etc..? What does plugging into your PC mean exactly..? lol.. I just need a clarification of what EXACTLY you did before I can give you my opinion..

 

[obsidience]

Let me guess...

Is your friend is running an ECS, PCCHIPS, or AMPTRON motherboard?

Obsidience

 

[SonicTron]

It could be a fluctuating, or 'dirty' power source at her home. If her home is rather old, she might not be getting a constant flow of clean power. It could explain system instability.

 

[CotswoldCS]

When I say I plugged in her computer to mine, I took the base unit and plugged it into my 4 port KVM switch box. This way I can diagnose one computer whilst operating others by flicking a switch. I need only one Keyboard Monitor & Mouse. No other hardware apart from Power, VGA, Keyb & Mouse were plugged in.

The only additional hardware my friend has is a printer (LPT1) and speakers.


I'm still suspicious of power but am not convinced this is the answer. Anyone had frequent yet random crashes & BSOD after having reinstalled OS & Software or having installed Internal ZIP Drive???

Not sure exactly what motherboard it is - SIS Chipset (PC100). Onboard Video & Sound.


More advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Xeno555]

maybe the driver for the monitor... Or is it pluged into the same circut as lets say the fridge?


X

 

[BD231]

Sounds like a heat issue to me, I had an old k6-2 pull that exact same thing on me and when I went in for a closer look, I saw that I had accidently unhooked the power cord to the HSF.

 

[CotswoldCS]

I don't think it's a heat issue - the system runs fine here, but crashes all the time at my friend's house. The room temps are not that different, besides I have been able to run the PC here fault free for several hours.

 

[obsidience]

SIS Chipset...
On board video/sound...

It is most definately one of the motherboards I listed. These are very very cheap motherboards with poor driver support and errors abound.

Trust me, its not a heat or ps issue the motherboard is the problem.

Best of luck,

Obsidience

 

[thraxes]

Really does sound like a power issue... I really would check aut a surge protector

 

[imgod2u]

It could be a number of things. If it were an issue with heat, I doubt it'd even be able to boot up Windows. And as for power, that I have no experience with. What does the zip drive use? USB? Is it self-powered or powered through the USB? What about the printer?

 

[GregMal]

Does your friend live in an "older" building? Are there 3 prongs in her
electrical outlet??? Or is she using a 3 prong/2 prong adapter???
May not be getting enough power at the source......
Greg

 

[Coolone]

*wild guess here*

im assuming you're not taking the printer with you, could it be possible that its a conflict between the printer and the zip drive? It would make sense to me if its only crashing at their house.