Memtest Errors in My System

[Dave_McMahon]

I honestly can't say that I've used this autopatcher program or even heard of it, but the best way to do a windows install is first reformat the drive, second disconnect all lan/wifi internet connections, third, install all anti-x software and firewalls, fourth, install all programs. That should keep you clean, but I wouldn't download anything right now considering you have a virus, because there's a chance it will have part of the virus attached when you back it up, making it completely useless to download as it will bring you the virus you tried to escape

This is why ANY anti-x (good phrase) programs should be downloaded on clean machine (he has Laptop) and then transferred using CD or USB pen etc.

Good point though

p.s Autopatcher lets you download Windows updayes without having the "virgin" machine have to use Windows update and it saves download time (and cost) if you have more than one machine (i.e for a small network)

 

[billdcat4]

I honestly can't say that I've used this autopatcher program or even heard of it, but the best way to do a windows install is first reformat the drive, second disconnect all lan/wifi internet connections, third, install all anti-x software and firewalls, fourth, install all programs. That should keep you clean, but I wouldn't download anything right now considering you have a virus, because there's a chance it will have part of the virus attached when you back it up, making it completely useless to download as it will bring you the virus you tried to escape

Yea, I am using a laptop to download the files. It probably isnt pristinely clean, but it never experienced any virus/spyware/stuff problems ever.

What are your opinions on whether I should reinstall on New Hardware (gpu and ram) or just use the old hardware.

I am undecided on the above matter.

 

[Dave_McMahon]

I would go back to factory so that the OEM drivers do thier job without getting confused. (update drivers once the pc is secure for the internet)

As for memory you need to check the timins are as relaxed as the slowest memory i.e dont let the pc autodectect and use the settings from the new memory so i would put

C1 C2 C3 C4
OLD NEW OLD NEW

so that it might detect settings from OLD mem in C1 (slot 1 closeets to CPU) check the settings youself in BIOS (Get the Dell Manual or go online

hey get us the ID numbers etc from the machine and i will see if i can look them up. especially the S/N etc

 

[billdcat4]

Well, until you've gotten the whole memtest thing straightened out, I'd say use the old memory until that's resolved, and then just go through the steps I suggested

Im done with that new RAM, im definitely not using it. Im thinking about the GPU and Sound Card.

Should I use the old RADEON and Sound Blaster that I KNOW work, OR use the new GeForce and Bluegears that may have issues.

 

[billdcat4]

I would go back to factory so that the OEM drivers do thier job without getting confused. (update drivers once the pc is secure for the internet)

As for memory you need to check the timins are as relaxed as the slowest memory i.e dont let the pc autodectect and use the settings from the new memory so i would put

C1 C2 C3 C4
OLD NEW OLD NEW

so that it might detect settings from OLD mem in C1 (slot 1 closeets to CPU) check the settings youself in BIOS (Get the Dell Manual or go online

hey get us the ID numbers etc from the machine and i will see if i can look them up. especially the S/N etc

not using new ram, simple as that
All of my serial numbers are a couple pages before

Can I ask what your job is Dave? What exactly do you do?

 

[Dave_McMahon]

Are the old GPU And SPU from Dell? If not then leave them out (maybe the Dell came with Onboard GPU?????)

Leave out anything Uncle Dell didnt give you.

p.s I fix PC's for a living! I was out today diagnoseing a faulty PSU (easy!) (Just short out the green pin and a black pin)

Anyway will look for S/N then i will go to Dell and try and get Bios/Cmos info so you can adjust your ram to correct settings (or maybe you can just reset Bios to factory default)

 

[Dave_McMahon]

have you a service tag?


No need Downloading stuff

 

[billdcat4]

Are the old GPU And SPU from Dell? If not then leave them out (maybe the Dell came with Onboard GPU?????)

Leave out anything Uncle Dell didnt give you.

p.s I fix PC's for a living! I was out today diagnoseing a faulty PSU (easy!) (Just short out the green pin and a black pin)

Anyway will look for S/N then i will go to Dell and try and get Bios/Cmos info so you can adjust your ram to correct settings (or maybe you can just reset Bios to factory default)

I have made a big decision: I will install Windows as my PC came, and I will not install or test my new parts at all. ALL of my new parts will go back to the Newegg warehouse whence they came. I will follow the install as I did the other 4 times that I reinstalled WinXP on the same machine.
I will use Autopatcher, and I will patch windows that way. Then I will install my protection apps downloaded from the internet and transferred thru the laptop and a USB Key. Then, I will install the Wifi Card.

I expect no problems. None whatsoever, and if you feel differently about what I should do, please tell me; however I probably will not listen.

THE END... and perhaps really the end of this whole thing...

 

[billdcat4]

just use whatever you know works

I couldn't have said it better.

 

[Dave_McMahon]

why don't you just try linux first to see if you hae the same problems, that we if you do, you know it has to be hardware related since linux has no where near the amount of security holes windows does

Would be cool to Dual-boot but we need to get it working first! Linux is a nightmare to fix if it does go wrong but is 'better' if you know what your doing (I don't)

I got abused on a Free BSD thread so they **** off anyway

The XPS bios has a reset to factory settings option this might help but dont forget to check all settings (Especially the time ) if you do this.

 

[billdcat4]

why don't you just try linux first to see if you hae the same problems, that we if you do, you know it has to be hardware related since linux has no where near the amount of security holes windows does

Would be cool to Dual-boot but we need to get it working first! Linux is a nightmare to fix if it does go wrong but is 'better' if you know what your doing (I don't)

I got abused on a Free BSD thread so they **** off anyway

The XPS bios has a reset to factory settings option this might help but dont forget to check all settings (Especially the time ) if you do this.


Sorry, no Linux, but I will try that Factory Reset feature. Right now im booting into XP so that I can run chkdsk.

that is all for now, the old parts are in and the wifi card is out.

 

[Dave_McMahon]

run chkdsk /f from the recovery console if your XP CD/Partition lets you.

 

[billdcat4]

I ran chksk and it gave no errors

Now: I did use the BIOS reset feature

problem: Now WinXP installation disk says it cannot see my HD

what setting in the BIOS do I change to fix this?

 

[billdcat4]

I tried changing the boot order to how it was before: CD, SATA.... then floppy and ide in what order I dont know...

I just disabled the floppy and took that and the IDE off of the boot list

we will see if it will work now

glum....

 

[Dave_McMahon]

ok you might need to correct the auto-detect drives in the bios so you change it form nothing to -auto

Dont know exactly how on your system though, XPS have RAID so you might need a "F6 driver" Floppy but prob not on a XP Recovery CD/partition.

If you are using a Retail XP CD you might need the F6 disk

 

[billdcat4]

ok you might need to correct the auto-detect drives in the bios so you change it form nothing to -auto

Dont know exactly how on your system though, XPS have RAID so you might need a "F6 driver" Floppy but prob not on a XP Recovery CD/partition.

If you are using a Retail XP CD you might need the F6 disk

I tried every possible combination of the autodetect list. I must add though that after I first clicked on the reset to factory defaults, I got a message telling me that I was about to change something that wouldnt let XP boot and that might require a reinstall. I figured that factory is best and clicked do it anyway.
Im on hold for dell tech support, I hope that they will know how to reset the bios as in the way I need. Been on hold for 20:20 now

 

[Dave_McMahon]

Did you get two Hard drives as standard?

 

[billdcat4]

n o

 

[Dave_McMahon]

OK try this

Boot PC

press F2 to get into bios

Try all the options listed under Drive controller

And try the options under performance regarding noise. It might be that the HDD is incompatible with current setting

You didnt knock the connector when you last opened the case?

 

[billdcat4]

noise settings ok.. I tried to use a different SATA port, but the one its in is the only one that can get on the bootlist

 

[Dave_McMahon]

There is also an OS install mode in bios under POST behaviour) never seen it myself but hey try it?

If windows install cant see the drive it might be the Raid settings from the Raid controller if there is a boot rom option (will look in a min) this might affect it. (i.e it's expecting another disk on same controller.)

 

[Dave_McMahon]

ok you should only see the Raid boot rom if you have enabled Raid i assume you havent so forget that.

You might be better on a Dell forum now if my suggestions dont help, maybe someone else knows better?

 

[Dave_McMahon]

ok going to sleep now talk tomoz.

 

[billdcat4]

I talked to the dell guy.

This will most probably be my last post on this thread.

We tried resetting the BIOS by moving the CMOS jumper.
We tried another WinXP CD.

Both yielded the same results.

However, at the end he suggested getting another SATA hard drive to test the system out with. He also suggested trying a voltage meter to test out the PSU's voltage. He and his collegues agreed that It wasnt my fault for resetting the BIOS to factory default.

What I told him is this: You and your collegeus think that my PC fried the Hard Drive. I told you before about frying my keyboard and mouse. My PC seems to be very good at frying things, therefore do you really think that its the hard drive's fault?

I think that I have a mainboard failure as Anorian Desian prophetically quipped on page 2, on Friday:

"It would be amusing in a macabre sort of way if the problem was a failing mainboard."

How true. As I see it, my mainboard or PSU is very very very dead, and has gotten into the habit of killing other computer parts. If you look at this entire 5-day ordeal without reading all of the details, you will see my PC and my situation in a steady decline.

At this point I basically have a 42-pound metal and silicon doorstop. If you would like to purchase a large blue doorstop you can PM me.

I figure that I have spent perhaps a hundred hours of my time attempting to resolve this issue, as well as many many hours of other peoples' time. I want to say a statement here that I hope will last me for my entire life:

I BillDCat4, will no longer attempt to be a 'techie.' I have assumed this position for the past several years, in my school, and in my home. I realize now that It is not meant for me. I do not want to be involved with this anymore. I hereby denote my status from middling techie to average computer user. I will take all that I know about computers, delete it, and empty the Recycling Bin. I will most likely never post on this forum again. I will not be known as BillDCat4 any longer. What will I do, you say? Maybe go for a walk, read a good book, pray to god. I personally think that this all was and is in God's great plan.


I would like to personally thank Anorian Desian, I Love Tacos, 4Ryan6, Jumping Jack, Verndewd, Mondoman, DaveMcMahon, as well as others.

You have no idea how amazed I am, and appreciative, that you helped me at your own expense through so much. You guys have really put yourselves at the public's service and I owe you a debt of gratitude.

I sign out now.... You can leave your condolences after this message:
I might, or I might not check back.




Good Night and Good Luck to All

 

[4Ryan6]

I expect no problems. None whatsoever, and if you feel differently about what I should do, please tell me; however I probably will not listen.

Your true problem is in red above, I'm not trying to offend you, just telling you like it is, a lot of people tried to help you here but you basically chose what you decided to act on, disregarding a lot of good advice.