Anybody who has more computer experience than me

I f**ked up :biggrin:

Since my monitor blew about a month ago, my parents have been thinking about buying a whole new computer (due to previous problems as well). Now the computer has been ordered and we will be picking it up in a few hours. My parents gave me the old one.

They kept the hard drive for a data transfer later.

I took my hard drive, memory, video card, and CD-RW/DVD combo from my computer and added it to this one. But Windows dosent load up and half the time the computer crashes on startup.

I think its because of the hard drive. I think I kinda killed it cause when I put it back in the original computer, it dosent work either.

Either way, it was an old 6.4gig. I was planning on getting a new one tonight. You guys think that would solve the problem?

i think anyone who would steal a hard drive from a working PC for later data transferal should be shot.

you have a cd/rw, put it on disc and leave the HD

my advice is to put it back, barring that, put all the parts you have in the comp, and reformat.

there is nothing wrong with a 6.4 gig HD, at least not because its a 6.4.

if there is, it is most likely a compatibility issue..

check the jumpers, either set it for "master" or remove them as a "single"

look at the one that worked in it before, set the jumpers the same.. it could be one of those unique comps that use "cable select"

bring it here, i can fix it for you :smile:

were doing the data transfer because the comp that had that hard drive dosent have a burner. I just bought it for my computer.

I checked the jumpers, and the CD ones are ok. The hard drive one I dont know. There arent any markings as to what is what. So I left it as default.

I tryed booting the computer with CD support to reinstall windows but after a dozen trys, I gave up. I keep getting errors and have to reboot.

Indeed there is nothing wrong with 6.4 except for the fact that my Half-Life and all the mods and maps are over 2 gigs alone. Then I have to include my other games (and "questionable materials"... just kidding).

I'd bring it over, but its a little far away.

set the hard drives one upon the other, compare jumpers, they should be same place.. if not.. look it up with google.. there will be a diagram someplace..

if the hard drive is not broke, it will format and work.

err. Why do hard drive jumpers have to be more complicated than CD drives. I will play around a littlebit. But if not. You figure a new drive would fix the problem?

Wild Card said:
err. Why do hard drive jumpers have to be more complicated than CD drives. I will play around a littlebit. But if not. You figure a new drive would fix the problem?

depends bud, is the hard drive the only issue?

did the PC work, prior to the originals removal?

assuming it is, then yes, plus the new drive will come with documentation.. but seriously, the jumpers on the original drive, HOW are they set?

post the 6.4 ID numbers, i can research it maybe.

me goes and gets it....

....

there, me back.

Its a Maxtor 6.4gig manufactured in 1998
model number is 90640D4

the jumpers look like so

:::.:

and the pin is on the second group

:[:]:.:

like so.

http://support.ap.dell.com/docs/storage/6181E/Jumpers.htm

lol, me and you reach almost the same conclusions.

I take it it should be in master and not cable select correct?

your link is borked, so... i dunno what it says.. please remove it, cause its borking the page with a slidebar..

what are the jumper settings for the "WORKING ORIGINAL"

Ok, the original drive, at the moment, I dont know. Its at the store for the data transfer.

But right now, I put the hard drive back in the comp and booted up.

my earlier problems are gone. However, I get some sort of error message in dos for like a 10th of a second (so I cant really read it, I just see ERROR in big).

Then the computer proceeds to shut down. I am guessing that is because I started reinstalling windows but due to an error it never finished. Should reinstall again right?

yeah, can't hurt, set the jumper to master, and go for gold.

Orpheus said:
yeah, can't hurt, set the jumper to master, and go for gold.

lol, John, read above, I just did do that. And.. well, just read, it explains all :smile:

Sorry Orph, I am going to pick up the new computer. I'll be back in a little while. Say around a half hour.

Well, it still aint working out right. I'll think of something tomorow.

Have you tried reformating the drive and reinstalling windows on it? If the PC will get to windows and then crash, this would be the first thing that I would try. It is unlikely that a bad hard drive would allow windows to load and then crash.

If you sucessfuly reinstall windows and the PC still won't turn on completely, take out everything that you do not need. This means network cards, modem, sound cards, cd drives, secondary hard drives. Now, once you have done this, set the hard drive to master (it should be the only drive), and see if the PC will turn on properly. If it will, then great, you know it was something else screwing things up, and you can add things back in one by one until the PC stops working. If windows will load but just crashes (by crash I assume you mean it freezes or resets itself, not just an error message) straight away, then perhaps you have a heat problem. Is the CPU heatsink on properly? Is it packed with dust? If so sort these things out. The next thing to try is taking out some of the memory modules. Perhaps the computer runs fine with only one of them plugged in, and then crashes when another one is in; obviously this means a dodgy/incompatible memory module. If the suspect memory module works fine when it is the only one plugged in, then perhaps one of the slots on the motherboard is broken. Try some of these things then get back to us :smile:

Well, a 6.4gb drive is pretty puny by today's standards for a start, plus I'm guessing due to its age it'll be riddled with bad sectors which can often either stop windows from loading, or cause it to just hang in the middle of something.

And for the new one, yeah make sure you use the correct jumper settings for the correct cable- although I've personally never had a problem from incorrect jumper settings! (not that I've gone wild with them or anything...) Make sure the BIOS recognises it too, if it's an old PC. And while you're in there, tell it to do a 'full' memory check on startup (where it counts the RAM), and check the internal temperatures if you can.

If you're still having problems unplug the CD and hard-drive, and leave in only a floppy. If it was still the early 90's I'd suggest you get a bootdisk with ramdrive on it, and have DOTT on disks too and install that to check it's not a core problem with your PC :razz:

personally i think the root cause was the removal of a functioning hard drive and rendering the PC inoperable.

secondly, there IS a cd/rw available, it would have taken far less time to have unplugged the cd/rom and replaced it with the cd/rw and burned everything to disc.

thirdly it is my understanding that the PC was fully operational before the hard drive was removed, SO IT IS my opinion that the new problem stems from the installation and successive failures in the 6.4

the 6.4 is probably alright, it is more likely the settings and/or the format are not properly in place, and a failed installation of windows surely added to the problem.

use all the advice given, but i am betting i am correct, at least as far as the information provided can extrapolate.

lastly, a 6.4 hard drive will make an excellent storage area as a second hard drive, dont throw it away just because you cannot see it as a viable option as a main hard drive.

i think you want to fail because it is just to small to use, more so than its own failure to deliver.

good luck

Make sure the hard drive is supported by your mother board. Best to have a peak at the documentation if I were you. SiSandra is a good idead, it'll tell you about the type of components your pc has. click here

Orpheus said:
personally i think the root cause was the removal of a functioning hard drive and rendering the PC inoperable.

You don't say?! I thought Windows was built into the BIOS or something

methinks its formatted to your system, more so than supported it would be a good bet that it won't be a mac system hard drive he took the 6.4 out of, so i doubt there will be any conflicting interests.

i need to run, but will be online tonight on my dads massive 2.6 dialup connections.. gives a whole new meaning to "to much time on my hands" when i log into SP from their house

i can tell in just a few seconds, which parts of snarkpit are not 56k friendly :biggrin: .. usually its some asshole who posted a 150k image in a 25k slot :sad:

cyas, and good luck W_C

Well BIOS supports everything, the memory checks out fine. And removing everything one by one and adding them back dosent change a thing either.

The computer was running fine (sort of) a few days ago when it had the other hard drive running Win XP. But we took that hard drive to the store for a data transfer to a new computer we are buying. They are also going to try and remove everything so I can install Win ME on it.

So everything in the computer works fine, and since I was at school when they took the hard drive, my mom had to bring the computer in cause she didnt know how to take the thing out. The service guy cleaned the whole thing out with a can of compressed air.

Were going back there today to pick up the hard drive so I'll try and see. Maybe its just the 6.4 being stuborn. Probably is. I do like it though, I mean, I had most of my new maps on there. Hopefully I'll still be able to access the drive as a secondary.

Theres no reason why just because the drive is old it will have bad sectors and not work. I have an old 80 meg hard drive that works fine, and thats after having its casing removed (it worked with no casing on it at all :smile: ), and a 4.3 that still has no bad sectors on it. But really don't install ME. If it can't run 2K/XP, then 98SE is the better choice.

Another idea would be to put the 6.4 as slave in another machine, and run a thorough scandisk on it, that's if you are sure that the other components all work properly (I still think it might be due to this memory you transfered over to it...)

You can buy a 20 gig HD for a few bucks.. I have seen them as low as 20 bucks. Why well because everyone is moving to the larger HD, So if you were dealing with less than 10GB before, getting a 20GB HD would suit your needs.

If you have a bios problem, contact your Bios manucaturer, and ask them how much an update to your bios is.. I bought a MoBo that was rated to handle upto a 1.5 Ghtz Processor, I contacted my MoBo, and Bios Manufacturer and got an update for 40 bucks, and now It can handle a 2.2 Ghtz Processor.

Do You own a Dell, or Compaq, or HP computer? If so, its hardwired and configured as one person said before me to that system, it wont work in another machine. I used to have a compaq, and I snagged the HD, and it kept telling me the Mobo was not there. A Chip in the HD was looking for another chip on the MoBo.. When it could not find it.. it ceased to work.

Always build your own system, or have a friend help you.. I have had home grown Systems now for over 5 years, and never a problem, if I have had any, they were quick and easy to fix.

Ok, I've taken out everything except the hard drive and original memory again. When I boot up, it asked me how to load windows (normal or safe). But either option starts to load windows and then the computer proceeds to shut itself down displaying the "it is now safe to turn off your computer" screen. Then the computer turns itself off. Is this because I tried reinstalling windows and it crashed?

Should I keep trying to reinstall windows?

The problem isnt with my BIOS, it reads the drive.

Ait, I dont know what I did, but right now everything seems to be working. I only have the hard drive and CD-RW/DVD installed and the original 128mb SDRAM. Since booting from the hard drive only made the computer shut itself off, I am booting from the CD and reinstalling windows. Im at 47% with about 20 minutes to go but so far so good. If Im lucky my maps are still there.

Once windows is installed I'll start adding in the other hardware one at a time.

pets the 6.4 good boy.. :biggrin:

What version of Windows?

Did it ask to repair windows when booting from the CD?

Did it ask to format the drive before installing Windows?

Did it give you a warning about having mulitple windows installed, and asked if you want to set up a multiple boot OS?

($)

Ok, Windows ME has been succesfuly reinstalled. Both CD drives are in, the LAN and modem cards as well. The hard drive works fine and so does the computer. But, I am only using the original ram chip. Everytime I add the second one, it f**ks up. I dont know why though.

But yea thats my situation now, everything works and I still have everything on my drive (including my maps yay!)

I cleaned out my tower removing alot of dust around the heatsink and fan. However the damned thing still makes a highpitched noise. I am thinking of buying a new one.

"I used to have a compaq, and I snagged the HD, and it kept telling me the Mobo was not there." - there is no such error. If a device thinks there is no motherboard, it will simply do nothing. If it managed to tell you that there was no motherboard, then it would have obviously needed to use the motherboard to display this message. As for bios updates, they are totally free. Go to a motherboard manufacturer's website and you can get the lates bios image for nothing... I don't know what you paid $40 for, but if it was a bios then somebody ripped you off.

scary_jeff
Another idea would be to put the 6.4 as slave in another machine, and run a thorough scandisk on it, that's if you are sure that the other components all work properly (I still think it might be due to this memory you transfered over to it...)

Wild Card
But, I am only using the original ram chip. Everytime I add the second one, it f**ks up. I dont know why though.

Go into BIOS and increase some of the numbers for RAS and CAS (and similar settings involving these two), making a note of what they were originaly set to. It may well be that if you relax the memory timings, the memory you are trying to transfer over will be able to run at the clock frequency of this new system. What processor did the machine the memory is from have, and what processor does the machine that the memory doesn't work in have? This will tell me what speed the memory would like to be running at, and what speed you are trying to run it at in the new system.

MoneyShot - why are you and every other system builder so fascinated with the windows installation process? My friend has a Dell laptop, and tech support only ever care about reinstalling windows, when the computer won't even turn on, or crashes due to something that obviously isn't the fault of windows... It has only ever been fairly trivial software or specific device problems that were fixable by reinstalling windows, and yet the first reaction of system builders to a PC that wont even turn on or that is highly unstable is to say "reinstall windows"?

err. sorry to poke my head here again but I'm having a slight problem again.

I was playing Rogue Spear for a while then I had to turn off my computer. I turned it off for about 10 to 15 minutes then when I turned it back on, the monitor stayed in stand-by mode. The keyboard and mouse didnt give any sign that they were on. (the lights for CAPS, num lock, and scroll lock didnt turn on and the red light on the optical mouse didnt turn on either)

The computer has been like that ever since everytime I try and turn it on.

Anybody have ideas?

Also, Im thinking of trading in all my used parts including the CPU and mainboard Im using for a new hard drive and CPU and mainboard.

I'll let Scary Jeff help you, he seems to think he has all the answers..

But If you were to ask me, I think its your BIOS..

MoneyShot, listen to what he has just said. The PC won't turn on - how is he supposed to flash the BIOS?

Wild Card - have you got a PC speaker attached to your motherboard? If not try to find one to plug into it, as the PC should produce some kind of beep code that will indicate why it hasn't turned on (e.g. VGA failure, memory failure).

it turned on finaly. I tried the next day and it turned on. Perhaps the damn thing was just too hot? Could that be?

Anyways, right now I'm looking into getting a new hard drive (WD 40gig 7200RPM 8mb cache) and a new CPU fan cause mine isnt working very well and is very loud.

Glad it's sorted. A friends PC wouldn't turn on in certain weather... we never figured out why and it fixed itself in the end :smile:

1's and 0's arent as simple as they seem arent they...

There are 10 types of people in this world those who understand binary and those who dont...

Wild Card said:
Well BIOS supports everything, the memory checks out fine. And removing everything one by one and adding them back dosent change a thing either.

The computer was running fine (sort of) a few days ago when it had the other hard drive running Win XP. But we took that hard drive to the store for a data transfer to a new computer we are buying. They are also going to try and remove everything so I can install Win ME on it.

So everything in the computer works fine, and since I was at school when they took the hard drive, my mom had to bring the computer in cause she didnt know how to take the thing out. The service guy cleaned the whole thing out with a can of compressed air.

Were going back there today to pick up the hard drive so I'll try and see. Maybe its just the 6.4 being stuborn. Probably is. I do like it though, I mean, I had most of my new maps on there. Hopefully I'll still be able to access the drive as a secondary.

Pardon me while I shoot myself in the face.

scary_jeff said:
Glad it's sorted. A friends PC wouldn't turn on in certain weather... we never figured out why and it fixed itself in the end :smile:

Static in the air maybe? If not temperature.

You would have thought, but there didn't seem to be any real pattern in the problem.

That happened to me for a while, my power supply was buggered and I had to get a new one.

Hey Windows ME is great. Besides WIN 98, its the best OS there is.

I disagree, Wild Card.

No Offense, but I've witnessed every windows version since 3.11, and none of them really sucks ... but ME constantly crashed and kept pushing those error windows on start-up ... had it for 2 days ...

Of course, every system is different and ME could be running smoothly on your machine ...

"De gustibus et coloribus non disputandum est"

( You cannot discuss tastes and colors )

Hopefully that was a joke WildCard?

"Besides WIN 98, its the best OS there is" - Add 'I think' to this and fair enough, otherwise, no.

Oh, honestly Jeffery :wink: It's like school religion classes where all the kids are so pathetically parenthetic, prefixing every sentence with "If I believed in God, then....".

If I say, "thin-crust pizza is far superior to deep-pan", I am not seriously claiming that it is objectively more tasty. I'm just expressing an opinion of taste. Nothing but a slight change in emphasis would be added by saying, "I think thin-crust pizza.....".

so then let us agree to disagree.

I havent had problems with ME personnaly. All my problems have been with XP. Anyways, I just got a new CPU fan and its so damned sweet. I also got my other 20 gig drive back from the store, they wiped it clean so I can use it now instead of buying a new one.

I have a question again though :biggrin: (as if I ever run out of thoses)

I have 2 video cards. A GeForce 4 64mb DDR PCI and a 32mb NVIDIA TNT/TNT2 AGPx1 card. Im only using the GeForce card right now but could I plug the TNT2 one back in and add it's video memory to the GeForce?

For me all the fears of XP were un-warranted. Personally I'd put the modern Windows based OSes in this order (Top to bottom) XP -> 2000 -> '98 -> '95 -> NT -> ME

I've found XP to be great, although I do have a few gripes it's never had any real problems. For a while there were many nay-sayers that were talking about '98 being the gaming OS...but I found those claims to be quite false as editing and changing a lot of parameters was much, much easier with XP. ME just plain sucked...it was a cruddy bastard child of '98 and 2000 that was of no real improvement, from all my experiences with it it was just slower and buggier. (It was shorter lived for a reason...) 2000 is stable but I prefer the support of XP and the overall GUI of it more. If I was doing more office work or server work I'd probably be using 2000, but since I'm the average schmo just playing a lot of games I'm for sure going with XP.

Oh shh Gollum, you can't even spell my name right, so your opinion is obviously totally invalid! :razz:

Wild Card - you can't add the memory of the two cards, but if one is PCI and one is AGP, you can plug them both in at the same time, and have two monitors.

scary_jeff said:
Oh shh Gollum, you can't even spell my name right, so your opinion is obviously totally invalid! :razz:

we know how to spell it, we just found that little niggle that bothers you, course it doesn't bother you much, but its enuff to satisfy our little habits

IMO windows XP is the best, but the one drawback about it monitoring your PC specs to tell when you have stolen a copy ruins it for me, yes i have a legit copy, and love it, but the hassle i would receive in doing a major upgrade??? screw that noise.

so with that all said, my choice of choices is windows 2000 pro, it has virtually everything windows XP has, without any of the hassle.

IMO the worse is win95 followed closely by winME, both receive the blue screen of death awards.

win98se is fairly stable, but has no perks of the modern sysop, but if you don't need perks, use that.

W_C we talked about win 2000 pro before, the offer still stands, i can teach you all you need to know about its use.

Orpheus said:

scary_jeff said:
Oh shh Gollum, you can't even spell my name right, so your opinion is obviously totally invalid! :razz:

we know how to spell it, we just found that little niggle that bothers you, course it doesn't bother you much, but its enuff to satisfy our little habits

Indeed. Honestly Jeffery, did you really think I made an unintentional spelling mistake?