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| 25 APR 2011 at 2:03am |
AndromusGuild Master
Posts : 5537
Joined: 6 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | I'm only moderately knowledgeable about these things, but if you've ruled out the graphics card and the power supply as the troublemakers, it sounds much like what happened to my last computer, and that involved a bad motherboard. Bad RAM is another possibility. One of our resident techs will no doubt be able to pinpoint the problem, but personally I wouldn't put any more money into it if it turns out to be the motherboard, but would consider it if it's a question of bad RAM.
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| 25 APR 2011 at 5:25am |
InlandAZGuild Master
Posts : 5586
Joined: 4 MAY 2007
Status : Offline | For starters download and run Memtest86 - Memtest86 Memory Diagnostic CD-ROM
There's a free version available, make sure you get that one.
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| 25 APR 2011 at 7:17am |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16540
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | Okay Inland,
I've downloaded the zip file, I've unzipped it to a CD rom. Now how do I make it work please?
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| 25 APR 2011 at 6:03pm |
InlandAZGuild Master
Posts : 5586
Joined: 4 MAY 2007
Status : Offline | If you downloaded the ISO image, you'll need to create a disc from it using something like Nero or Roxio. Select create CD from Image, and point it to the extracted ISO (see comment about boot sequence below).
There is also a floppy disc version - place a blank floppy in your drive and run "install.bat". It creates a bootable floppy and all you have to do is reboot.
Make sure that which ever device you've written to is selected as the 1st boot device in the list. Some PC's allow you to edit the sequence by pressing Fx at bootup, others require that is be modified in the BIOS.
It will run forever - literally forever. To end the program, remove the disc and reboot. An hour or so should be sufficient to detect memory issues.
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| 25 APR 2011 at 7:11pm |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By InlandAZ (25 APR 2011 6:03pm)
If you downloaded the ISO image, you'll need to create a disc from it using something like Nero or Roxio. Select create CD from Image, and point it to the extracted ISO (see comment about boot sequence below).
Or imgburn, which is free.
http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download
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| 25 APR 2011 at 10:13pm |
tincup2Journeyman
Posts : 821
Joined: 8 MAR 2011
Location: US, NYC
Status : Offline | Random locks like that sounds like a ram problem if the video card/ps have been ruled out. Besides running the mem test [which is pretty rigorous] a simple test is to remove a stick of ram then reboot. If the problem persists replace the one you pulled, pull another, and reboot. Repeat if until all sticks have been tested like this - the idea is to isolate the bad stick(s).
While you're at it also check if the motherboard specifies that ram to be installed in specific slots - with some mobo's it doesn't matter where you put it, while others can be particulare depending on how many sticks are to be installed.
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| 25 APR 2011 at 11:11pm |
JKingSchattenjger
Posts : 2349
Joined: 4 MAY 2008
Location: 0
Status : Offline | Tincup raises a good point---memory can be incorrectly installed. Usually a machine won't get past POST if this happens, though, if memory serves. This actually happened to me once:
"Only installing one DIMM? It goes in slot three, moron!"
"Thanks, Mr. Manual! Can you tell the motherboard you document that he's a total douchebag for making me waste half an hour? Thanks."
Memtest is probably a good idea. Swapping out modules is a good way to isolate a memory problem, but given your comfort level, Caroline, you're likely better off identifying that's it's a memory problem first. For what it's worth, though, it's sounding like it is.
You can't kill someone in a studio.
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| 26 APR 2011 at 12:10am |
tincup2Journeyman
Posts : 821
Joined: 8 MAR 2011
Location: US, NYC
Status : Offline | good point - if opening the box is outside one's comfort zone only run the mem test by all means. But if there is a problem detected someone will have to remove/replace the offending stick.. I forget there are people who don't have half-built boxes and parts strewn around their game tables.. Either way let's hope it's not the motherboard which is way more of a pain in the arse to replace..
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| 1 MAY 2011 at 5:06am |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16540
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | Okay, something worse has happened. Windows Media Player has lost the ability to play music files and audio CDs. Youtube makes sounds just fine as do various games.
I've read pages and pages of help instructions and honestly, my eyes are hurting from all the screen reading. Nothing has worked. iTunes can play my music just fine - but I hate using that.
Obviously it's just a wmp issue. Any ideas what I could be missing? It must be something very simple.
Also, if I used the system restore function - would I lose recent data such as game save files? I'm assuming going back in time would fix this problem?
I haven't resolved the RAM issue yet because.... the other day I received 4 emails, then it froze so I shut it down, turned it back on only to find those four emails had vanished into thin air. I was told it could be the clock battery.
It's time for a new pc isn't it? [smiley=sad.gif]
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| 1 MAY 2011 at 2:28pm |
tincup2Journeyman
Posts : 821
Joined: 8 MAR 2011
Location: US, NYC
Status : Offline | Also, if I used the system restore function - would I lose recent data such as game save files? I'm assuming going back in time would fix this problem?
Well it depends how you have System Restore configured and how you organize stuff on your PC. If you have your games/data on a drive other than C:, and you have System Retore turned off on the drives where you put your games/data, then rolling back to an earlier restor point would not trash save games/data etc.
But if your setup is the default then System Restore is active for all drives, rolling back will loose data. You can check the settings for System Restore if you're not sure.
BTW, the battery is neither expensive nor difficult to replace - but you do need to open the case... consider it a real-life AG [which PC's are too often prone to!]
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| 1 MAY 2011 at 2:42pm |
InlandAZGuild Master
Posts : 5586
Joined: 4 MAY 2007
Status : Offline | Okay, something worse has happened. Windows Media Player has lost the ability to play music files and audio CDs. Youtube makes sounds just fine as do various games.
Do you mean it's isn't the default player, or it just won't play through the speakers?
Check your audio settings under Tools, Options - Devices tab. If you don't have the tool bar enabled, right click an area near the top of the player and select Show Menu Bar...
Ensure your CD/DVD drives are present, and then press properties for each. Do the settings match those of your speakers (Digital or Analog)?
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| 4 MAY 2011 at 1:46pm |
BXLebanonIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 86
Joined: 20 JUL 2005
Status : Offline | You didn't say what security programs you were using. If your old XP PC is low on resources you may want to consider using the free Avast antivirus from www.avast.com since it is very light on resources.
For a backup scanner do you use MBAM or SAS?
http://www.malwarebytes.org/
http://www.superantispyware.com/index.html
The free for personal use versions of those programs are considered to be two of the best programs you can use. The free versions don't offer real time protection or auto-updating, they just act as on-demand scanners.
You can get the setup files for all of these programs from www.filehippo.com or www.download.com.
You may also want to make sure you have the latest versions of the Flash Player, Java and all other standard Windows software to make sure you are up to date with security and performance fixes.
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| 5 MAY 2011 at 12:29am |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16540
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | Inland..... thank you.... went through the steps in the menu and now the speakers work. I can play music once more. [smiley=clap.gif] :-* :-* :-*
Now, can you please tell me why the sound stays in the speakers and isn't redirected into the headset when it's plugged in? It's a new usb set that I bought for skype and chatting in games and that's what used to happen but now only the mic on it works.
[img]http://www.mindspring.com/~markparrish/Mumbles.gif[/img] humph... is there no end to this woman's demands?
As for the other stuff, it looks like I'll have to open the box and post a photo so you can tell me what's what.
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| 5 MAY 2011 at 3:12pm |
InlandAZGuild Master
Posts : 5586
Joined: 4 MAY 2007
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Caroline (5 MAY 2011 12:29am)
Inland..... thank you.... went through the steps in the menu and now the speakers work. I can play music once more. [smiley=clap.gif] :-* :-* :-*
Now, can you please tell me why the sound stays in the speakers and isn't redirected into the headset when it's plugged in? It's a new usb set that I bought for skype and chatting in games and that's what used to happen but now only the mic on it works.
[img]http://www.mindspring.com/~markparrish/Mumbles.gif[/img] humph... is there no end to this woman's demands?
As for the other stuff, it looks like I'll have to open the box and post a photo so you can tell me what's what.
You would ask the one question I have no experience with - I don't use headphones
However, give this a shot...
With the Headphones plugged in, start Windows Media Player and press Tools, Options - On the Devices tab you should see something like sound or speakers listed. Select which ever you see and press the Properties button - Do you see an option to make the default playback device a headset?
If so, select it - from what I understand, when the headset is unplugged it will revert back to your speakers.
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| 5 MAY 2011 at 4:19pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Caroline, I just want to mention that if this only happens in Skype, if you have not enabled the set in Skype yet, it will likely be due to the fact that you need to enable your headset in Skype under "Options" .
If not just in Skype, revert to previous step as per Inland, but keep in mind the above when you do get to Skype.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 5 MAY 2011 at 11:36pm |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16540
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | Inland.... you're a genius !!! :-* :-* :-* :-*
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| 6 MAY 2011 at 2:41pm |
InlandAZGuild Master
Posts : 5586
Joined: 4 MAY 2007
Status : Offline | Good deal Caroline - glad you got it working
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