Another Dumb Question

I bought a new PC, planning on finally upgrading from Windows 98 to XP.
As part of this package, I had the builder upgrade from 256 to 1024 Memory.
Was never able to get XP to load properly, even with hours of on-phone help from Microsoft.
I am now back to 98. It works miserably.
I was told today that 98 cannot supoprt so much memory, and thw answer to my troubles was to simply remove one stick and run at 512K.
Does this make sense?
If so, which stick should I pull?
Or is there a better way around this. As it is, this thing does less, and does it more slowly then my ancient Compac (from 1998, fer Gossake!)

 

Did you do a clean install

 

Thanks for the responses, folks.

Xflat & Jujet, Yep, it was a clean install. There was no OS on this PC when I bought it, & I bought the XP discs from Wal-Mart. The download problems were too many to list (or remember). It was so bad that the MSN Tech people gave me an authorization number for the local Wal-Mart so that I could return the program, which they usually will not do with an opened program.

I wonder now if that was due to the excess memory.

Robo, thanks for the info on which stick(s) to pull. I don't know if it's two 512 sticks or four 256 sticks. I'll find out tomorrow, when I do PC brain surgery.

 

Maybe this link can help:

Enable use of large amount of memory in Win98

 

Agree that the best thing would be to get the WinXP install up and running, and if it is impossible to install WinXP, then it is best to return your new PC to the builder and say it is not WinXP compatible..
The Win98 install should only be a potential fallback option incase the WinXP install goes fubar overtime (Good to have when needing to download repair tools for the WinXP install).

 

Snakefoot:

Thanks for the link to enabling larger memory usage in Windows 98.

I went into the System files and added the MaxPhysPage=30000 under the (enh386) line.

Now all I can do is to wait and see.

Thanks to all who responded to my request, and I hope this is the cure for the problem. If not, tomorrow it's into the case, and out with the memory.

 

Back to the Drawing Board

Well, didn't have to wait too long to see.
Within 5 minutes of changing the Vcache amount, I received a message that "memory is critical and Norton may not be able to..."
Then, when I tried to shut down and restart, it froze solid, to the point that Neither Ctrl+Alt+Delete, nor Esc would help and I had to turn it off by the power switch.
I let it sit for a while, and when I turned it back on and tried to come online, it gave me an error message along the lines of "unable to complete the data stream."
I went back and removed the "MaxPhysPage=30000" from the system.ini program, and it is back to its prior crappy functionability.
Tomorrow, I trepan, and remove half of it's brain.
I would love to send this back to the builder, and have him fix it, but I bought the @!#%&^%&@$%&*(*%^&** off EBay, and the guy turns out to be pretty shady, despite a 97.5% good rating. I've already called him all sorts of vile names, mainly due to the fact that I paid for an AMD 2100+ and received a 1500+, so there is little chance of him doing anything in the way of meaningful repair.
If the brain surgery does not work tomorrow, I go back to my elderly Compac, and this thing goes to the target range.
I

 

Maybe you should run some diagnostic like memtest or similar to check the RAM.
Maybe check whether new bios has arrived for your motherboard.
Maybe check whehter new chipset drivers for your motherboard has arrived (Usually better than the Win98 default)
Maybe check whether disabling onboard devices(USB, COM1+2, LPT1+2, Audio, etc.) on your motherboard helps.
Maybe check whether any of your PCI is sharing the same IRQ (Should show IRQ usage during BIOS POST)

 

It's a true "mothah" board

XFlat And All Who Have Helped;

I did some research after your comment about the possibility of a bad motherboard. Yep, he gave me a PC Chips Model 810D. I don't think it is "bad" as in broken. I think it is "bad" as in a miserable piece of crap.
Everything I read tells me I might be better off with an abacus.
Anyone have suggestions for a good but inexpensive MomBoard that will work with an AMD 1500+, and accept 1 Gig of Ram?
This is on it's way to becoming a true learning experience, much like brain surgery performed by Theodoric of York, Medieval Barber.

 

Thanks again, Robo;

I checked those MomBoards, and also some others that I found in Price Grabbers, right here on MajorGeeks (hmmm, one-stop geeking?)

As soon as I can overcome my fear of buying the wrong thing, again, I will be ordering one. Maybe I should move this thred to the hardware section.

 

Open (and shut) case

I finally got my old PC set back up in my son's room, and decided it was time to delve into the mysteries of my new PC.
Opened the braincase - red was everywhere!!! (Damn, spilled my Bloody Mary).
Learned a few things.
The builder did give me a 300 Watt power supply.
The memory is from Spectek, in 2 sticks, "512 MB PC2100 DDR"
I got very brave, then and pulled the one furthest from the CPU.
Closed the case, turned it on and - NOTHING - would not even boot. Hmmmm
Opened the case back up, put the memory stick back and all is back to (ab)normal.
How interesting that the more distant stick was the one that held all the important stuff, or at least that the PC requires both at this point.
At least I now know my memory type & speed.
Does anyone have an opinion on Soyo Dragon Momboards. They seem to have good ratings, and are inexpensive enough to allow me to upgrade my CPU and still stay rather low-cost.
Again, thanks to all who respond, and, in fact, anyone who listens to my blather

 

Xflat.. Love that avatar..... perfect

 

Donald, Just out of curiosity. Did you try and swap both sticks of memory around. Stick 1 in position 2, Stick 2 in position 1 and reboot. Did it/ does it make any difference? Baz

 

Robo & BigBazza;

No, I didn't try reversing the memory sticks (heck, I was almost out of my depth opening the case), but just slid the one back in and clicked the locks on the ends, breathing a sigh of relief that it went back in.
To illustrate my level of incompetence, I even forgot to turn off the surge protector when I reinserted the memory, so the board was powered as I performed my reconstructive surgery.
There may indeed be little printing on the Momboard to show me which stick is primary, but I didn't know enough to look for it.
Does not matter now, as I have decided to buy a new Momboard anyway.
After considerable research, I decided on a Microstar/MSI K7N2-L(MS6570).
It has excellent reviews (including comments about onboard graphics), and a very low price at NewEgg. I will probably buy it tonight, unless someone tells me that it is over-rated, soon.
I am going to ask another question, if I may, as I have gotten no response, yet, in the hardware section.
What are the differences in various types of Athlon CPU's?
Is a Barton better than a Thoroghbred better than a Palomino (or verse vica)? I am going to buy a new CPU as well, and am interested in getting the best I can.
Also, I have just found the Athlon MP's. Are they that much better than the XP's, that a slower MP is worth more than a faster XP?
Again, thank you all for your help.
If the website manager is listening, how about a new Message Board category of "How To Build Your Own PC" for those of us who are geeks at heart, but lack the courage to do this on our own?

 

Donald, you are going to have to check your ram out anyhow, either when installing a new mobo or on your old mobo. I would recommend swapping the Ram around on your old mobo before installing your new mobo. Maybe 1 of your sticks is defective. Obviously make sure your old ram is speed compatible with your new mobo. You could lose the benefits of a new mobo by fitting old (slower) ram. Too many varieties of Ram speeds amd mobos that can easily affect your desired outcome.

Baz

PS: Let us know if swopping the ram around makes any difference.

baz

===============

 

Do a memtest http://www.memtest86.com/

 

I have the MSI K7N2 Delta-L and I like it quite a bit. Haven't had any problems with it yet. One thing though... It does NOT have onboard video. Make sure you get the K7N2GM-L.

The difference in the Athlon processors are the clock speeds mainly.

The Thoroughbred and Palomino both have 266Mhz front side bus speeds, but the Thoroughbred runs cooler and overclocks better.

The Barton processors have 333Mhz and 400Mhz front side bus speeds, so theoretically, they are faster. But, if you don't have PC2700 memory to support the 333Mhz bus speed, then the Barton processor won't be much better than a thoroughbred. If you have PC2100 memory (266Mhz) then you'd want a Thoroughbred processor. If you have PC2700 memory (333Mhz) then you'd want a Barton.

To answer your last question, Athlon MPs are made for multi-processor systems. They are mainly used in servers. The home user will want an Athlon XP.

 

BigBazza - I will try swapping the memory sticks this Sunday, when I am off work and less exhausted.

I will definitely let you know how that turns out. In any case, I cannot afford new memory just now. I will be stretched with the new Momboard and CPU I plan to get, so I guess I will have to settle for a bit of slowdown until I can afford better memory (Hmmm, I wonder if Ginkgo Biloba and Ginseng might work in a PC?)

Jujet - thanks for the link. I will test the current memory and see how bad (good?) it may be.

Wyatt- Damn,damn,damn,damn,damn,damn, DAMN!!! Thanks for the info, but I have already placed the order for the K7N2-L, and it HAS shipped. Whoever expected efficiency from an online merchant? I have already gone to Price Grabbers and clarified the fact that this board does not have onboard graphics, despite the reviews.

When it arrives, I will RMA it (I've already spoken with Customer Service where I bought it) and buy the K7N2GM-L board in its place.

Unless someone has a better idea for a Momboard with good graphics and sound. I am NOT a gamer (except for TumbleBees on Pogo) and the only need I have for graphics is so that the stuff I look at online does not strain my eyes.

Once again, I deeply thank everyone who has used their time to help me in my (seemingly endless) quest to turn this dog into a wolf.

I am, truly, a Computer Geek at heart, though born about 30 years too early. Gee, last month I couldn't even spell "overclocking", and now I am wondering how much fun it might be.

 

By the way, XFlat has the best collection of Avatars imaginable. Now it's Rob't E. Lee? Coolness.

 

Memtest not working

I downloaded Memtest 3.1a, unzipped it and tried to run the program.
I cannot get it to do anything.
All it will do is to ask me what program I want to use to open it.
Any suggestions?

 

Once youve unzipped go to the containing folder and follow the instructions in the read-me file

 

Still no Memtest

General Lee;

I went to the readme file, where I found the various commands for Memtest. None that I tried would cause any sort of response.

I guess it just does not like me.

 

Man I can't take no more please follow this advice and guide for memtest
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6270-1058392.html?tag=series

 

Memtest at last!!

Thanks again, jujet;

Memtest loaded instantly from this link, and is now running on the problem-child PC downstairs.

 

Memtest results

Jujet;
After 5 1/2 hours and 1449 cycles, Memtest showed 0 errors. So I guess that is not the problem.
Still have no idea why the original link, did not work for me, but this one worked perfectly.
Later today I will try reversing the sticks and see if the does anything.
In any case, I have now been truly bitten by the upgrade bug, ans will still be adding a new Momboard, and probably a faster CPU.

 

Anyone up for some swapping?

As of now, I have operated this PC with the 2 memory sticks in every possible position, both singly and in combination.
It makes no difference.
I even tried pulling the one I had removed before and leaving the other. the PC booted and ran as well as it ever does (i.e., poorly).
I also noticed that, on the sticks, it does claim to be DDR266, as well as PC2100.
The PC has not rebooted itself yet today (one of it's favorite tricks, usually in the middle of a download of some kind), but it has not run for too long either, being interrupted repeatedly for memory swaps, as well as thunderstorms, and my leaving to take my Mother to lunch in honor of Mother's Day.
Maybe one of them was just loose?
Don't care. I am STILL putting in a new Momboard and a faster CPU.
Again, thanks to all.
Must go now, the thunder is beginning again. I don't want this thing fried before I have a chance to play more.

 

Way to set your priorities,"Mother" don't ya just like saying it-----to all the mum's have great day

 

Still rebooting

Well, I spoke too soon about this thing not pulling it's old "reboot-at-random" trick. Did it twice this morning within less than one hour online.
No warnings, no codes, no nothing. Literally, it just goes to a black screen, restarts and goes into the "windows was not properly shut down and you may have errors on one or more disks..."
I am hoping for a strong tailwind on the plane carrying the new Momboard.
Unless someone has other ideas.
I tried to download newer bios, but cannot find anything in PC Chips that even sounds like this board. PC Chips boards may be crap, but at least their online services are lousy.
It has Northbridge SiS740 ans Southbridge Sis962/962L chipsets. I wonder if an updated bios from another boardmaker using that chipset might help?

 

Ok, the Microstar/MSI K7N2-L momboard has been returned. MWzvw was very understanding, and forgiving of my error.

Now it is time to get a board that has the requisite graphics onboard.

It was recommended below that I get the Microstar K7N2GM-L, which is not much more expensive, and does have very good reviews. Would anyone like to make another suggestion?

Thanks again to all of you who have responded to this thread.
Also thanks to Tim & Jim for helping me get my avatar loaded. I know the pic is a bit fuzzy, but so's the inside of my head.

 

My one concern about the MSI K7N2GM-L is this bit that I've found on the manufacturer's site.

"Note: nForce2 does NOT supports x4 memory device. 1GB can be made by other density of dram chip such as x 8, x16.

Due to the High Performance Memory design, motherboards or system configurations may or may not operate smoothly at the JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council) standard settings (BIOS Default on the motherboard) such as DDR voltage, memory speeds and memory timing. Please confirm and adjust your memory setting in the BIOS accordingly for better system stability. "

Are these disclaimers something I should worry about? how difficult is it to adjust such settings?

Again, thanks for any assistance