Never had this many problems.... ever!

[HiHoStevo]

Hello and thanks for taking a look at this thread....... I have built a number of computer systems, but found a shop in SoCal that would assemble a computer for the same money that I could buy the parts for. They shipped the computer, but it did not show up...... they claim there was an accidental damage with UPS and the package was returned to them. Finally the box shows up and I have had nothing but problems......... If you can give me a clue as to what direction to head I would appreciate it.

Basics
Antec 1040B case/ amd approved 400watt power supply
shuttle AK31A with latest bios revision
AMD XP1700 /Volcano 5 fan
1 Gig Micron DDR 2100 Memory
2 IBM GXP60 Hard Drives
VisionTek GeForce 3 Ti/200
Creative Labs Audigy Sound Card
Creative Labs 52x CD-Rom

Added after arrival....

D-link 10/100 Ethernet Card
Promise FastTrack 100/TX4 Raid card
Plextor 16x CDR/RW

I was very anxious to get this baby up and running after all the good reviews I have read about the XP/Shuttle combo.

The array set up fine, and I could copy files to the array, but if I tried to run Windows98 setup after coping the files to the HD I would get an error that said that the file allocation had to be set to at least 442xxx and terminated the setup. If I tried to run setup from the bootable CD it would start the setup and after a few minutes either freeze or go to a blue screen. After trying a several of different copies of windows (each time I reformatted before attempting an install) with the same results I figured the problem must be the Promise Tech card. So after numerous calls to Promise Tech Support (I think I know them all by their first, middle, and last names)... nothing could get the system to load. I ran a full test from Norton Disk Doctor on the drives and they reported back as perfect.

So I pulled the Promise Card, the network card, and the sound card. I hooked up just one drive to the onboard IDE controller and tried again. Once again exactly the same results. Either the computer would feeze at some random spot during the installation or go to a blue screen. I pulled each one of the ram sticks and tried installing four more times with just one DDR dimm in (changing each time, after re-formatting). I reflashed the BIOS with the latest version from the Shuttle web site. Went into the BIOS and selected "fail-safe defaults" and tried again. This time (all the ram was back in) the OS mostly installed.... one time during the restarting procedure the computer hung, but with a little encouragement it finally completed the install. At least now I was at the normal Welcome to Windows screen Yipeeee. I loaded the Video Drivers, the audigy drivers, the network drivers, and all was well..... sort of. I went back in and selected the Optimized Defaults and restarted. So far so good......... Then as the computer detected a plug and play monitor I set up the monitor. Now to connect to the internet I had to reset the gateway so the network card would find my router. After doing this the computer had to restart of course......... except it would not.

This time the blue windows splash screen had the top 1/3 cut off .... just black.... The start would get to the logon screen, but no matter what you selected at this point you get an "illegal command" message and the computer freezes. So I restart in Safe mode so I can delete the monitor setting in case they were the problem....... I also went back and reset the BIOS to "fail-safe defaults," but to no avail..... The error message said the Kernal32.DLL was bad......... so I extracted a new one and replaced it....... this time Explorer.exe was the cause, so I extracted a new one and replaced it..... no change. In fail-safe mode I reformatted the drive 4 more times, once with each single memory chip in place.... no change... the install either freeze's or goes to a blue screen.

This is the craziest set of results I have ever seen.... My only thought at this point is that there must be some type of a problem with the MotherBoard itself. I have attempted to eliminate and or isolate every other potential problem area. If any of you folks on the forum have seen anything like this and can point me in the right direction, I would be very grateful. I am planning on sending a copy of this to the folks that put the computer together for me and see what they have to say. Supposedly the computer was burned in for 48 hours prior to shipping, but I would sure like to know how they did it!

Thanks again for taking the time to consider such a long tale of woe!

Steve

Ps. Oh yes, I have also changed drive cables about 3 times.....

:Q

 

[clumsum]

I've had some similiar problems with a mATX 735 SiS mb and Win98se for about 2 weeks .................. my pc would sleep or something, suddenly loose video and drive functions while I was using it in IE, and fail to resume without reboot (I replaced; video card, psu, eide cables and double checked temps) .......... I received similiar error messages to what you are getting and numerous lock-ups, ............. I thought it was related to ACPI, so I disabled it in bios and re-installed everything, still having problems so I .................

Finally gave up and installed Win2Kpro with ACPI enabled and so far everything is stable and functioning properly ........... ???

I wanted the Win98se for an elderly Aunt who is already used to it .............. now she has to adapt to Win2Kpro, hopefully she will like it better and not get frustrated .........?

You may want to try a different os before throwing in the towel?

 

[Duvie]

I see you 1gb of ddr ram....In how many sticks??? I have seen problems like this when a ceratin number of the dimm slots are filled...

May remove a little memory and see if problem continues. Most likely will require a fresh install...

Edit: sorry I see you have tried that...that is good...

How about are you ocing any??? Keep all settings at default, normal or safe during initial install...

 

[Peter]

DOS-based Windowses (3.1, 95, 98, ME) don't run right with more than 512 MBytes of RAM - that's an architectural problem (argh, I said "architecture" and "Windows" in the same sentence *shiver*) you can't really get around. Remove RAM or use an operating system that deserves being called one.

regards, Peter

 

[clumsum]

Peter,

I am using 512mb DDR ........ (256 x 2) ....... it's hard for me to believe the numerous problems were all RAM related, however that would sure explain the Win2K fix?
I also had a case/re-set switch shorting problem that kept me guessing for some time ....(duh)!

Thanks for the information ........

Merry Christmas, and please keep hanging around the numerous forums ........!

 

[DaveSimmons]

<< DOS-based Windowses (3.1, 95, 98, ME) don't run right with more than 512 MBytes of RAM - that's an architectural problem (argh, I said "architecture" and "Windows" in the same sentence *shiver*) you can't really get around. >>

the problem is with the virtual-memory system and it can be fixed with a settings change, I just don't have the MS link handy.

Also, on a new system I now always test the RAM itself using free software from www.simmtester.com

 

[o1die]

I would start over with a fresh install. Set the bios to the optimal default settings. Take out all cards but the video. Install directx 8 first, then video card driver. Then install your sound card and driver. Then modem or ethernet card. If you continue to get the same error messages, you may have to move the ethernet card to a different pci slot, or switch to windows 2k. #9software.com has windows 2k professional oem for $90, and I don't think you have to buy anything else to get it.

 

[HiHoStevo]

Thanks Peter, but I am also having the identical problem with only one 256k stick installed.

Steve

 

[HiHoStevo]

Oldie..... I have done all that ..... after the first six installs failed I pulled all of the cards except the video card. After each install attempt I reformatted the drive and started clean for each new attempt. This includes trying the install with only one ram stick installed.... and I tried each stick (4) individually as well as in pairs and groups..... same results each time.

I have not tried installing a different OS however..... my son has the same setup and his is running great....... the difference is that he started right off the bat with WinXP.... as I stated above ... I need a dual-boot system at least until April of next year when my company is supposed to finally have it's software updated so we can log in through their own firewall rather than using Compuserve as a firewall.

Steve

 

[o1die]

Sounds like you have tried just about everything. I run the same board with win98se, and it took me weeks of trying different bios settings before all problems went away. I would rma the board or swap it for something else.

 

[HiHoStevo]

Oldie......... That is kind of what I am afraid of.... I think I have eliminated just about everything I can think of....... except the motherboard.

Before I ordered the Shuttle, this forum was loaded with people praising the Shuttle/AMD combo, and talking about how stable it is. Based on what you are saying, perhaps this MB is not nearly as stable as I originally thought. Which is a Bummer, because it is supposed to be fast and it definately was nicely priced.

Steve

 

[topspin]

You state 400 W approved p/s. Which one. I had the same problems with a ABIT board, even with Win2K.

Check your power supply, the symptoms are classic. Also beware "micron" memory if you are stuck with a generic memory pc boards holding good micron memory, the cheap pc boards sometimes cause a real intermittent problem.

Another problem could be the seating of your video card. It may be making sufficient contact to allow video but still not fully seated.

 

[HiHoStevo]

Thanks TOP....... I actually did not look at the manufacturer of the PowerSupply.... it is the one supplied by Antec with the case. Antec claims it to be AMD certified and it is listed at 400W.

Steve

Thanks for the suggestions............ I will try re-seating the video card and see if that makes any difference. I am also planning on trying to install XP to see if that goes any better than Win98.

I have an AMD certified 300W PS that is supposed to arrive today, that I was going to use in a different computer, but perhaps I will swap it into the big case to see if that makes any difference.

 

[HiHoStevo]

I may have found the problem .....

In snooping around I found a pair of wires (blue and black) coming off the power supply and running to a connector on the motherboard under the video card. I had not noticed them in my son's machine... so I went to take a closer look. He had the wires and connector, but they were just rolled up and tucked away unused (and his machine works). When I checked the Motherboard info I found that the connector the wires were plugged into is supposed to be for power "out" to the cpu fan. So the tech's that assembled the computer apparently had run power from the power supply to a power out port on the mother board..... I am not a nuclear brain surgeon, but I don't think that is a good plan!!

When I removed the connector I was able to actually boot the computer and load the OS... something I had not been able to do before....

Thanks again,

Steve

 

[Greatwolf]

Ah! So the moral of the story is this: ALWAYS assemble your own computer. Don't let some silly tech guy at the computer shop, that don't know what they're doing, assemble it. hehehe

 

[PCHPlayer]

Those wires are the RPM monitoring circuitry for the PS fan. I have mine plugged into the case fan header on my Epox 8KHA+ and it works just fine. I am able to monitor the fan RPM using Motherboard monitor 5. You may want to try plugging it into another fan header that the motherboard can monitor just for grins. You may have a PS problem, or a MB problem with the CPU fan header. Either way it would be better to find out now. BTW, where is the CPU fan getting its power? I assume from a 4 pin connector.

 

[HiHoStevo]

Yes the cpu fan is plugged into another header on the MB.

Could having these (blue/black) wires plugged into the cpu fan outlet under the agp slot cause damage to the power supply and/or motherboard?

Thanks,

Steve