Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: eskimo2 on October 12, 2002, 04:55:56 AM
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I havn't been able to play for 2.5 months. Been tinkering with this AMD K7AMA Win Me POS for the past few weeks, and its's still a POS.
What components can I go buy at Best Buy tomorrow that will work? Conflict, CTD lock-up free. For gaming only.
Right now the only thing that I have that is worth a damn is a GeForce4 Ti 4200, a case with a new power supply, and a new cheap Wester Digital 40 GB HDD.
Thanks,
eskimo
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If you've been buying parts at best buy, thats probably your problem. Format the drive completly, Forget ME, install 2k or XP.
Save the CPU, buy a good athlon motherboard for it(Im sure someone who knows more about such things will jump in) Your ram is probably okay.
BTW, you suck.
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BTW, I'm tired and pissed off from staying up all friggin night tryin to get this POS puter to load a OS. I think my Win 98 CD has a scratch, and Win Me just plain sucks.
(Loading Me for the 2nd time, loaded 98 3 times)
I don't trust my motherboard, RAM memory, or CPU.
eskimo
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For easy and problem free setup I'd reckommend to buy an nforce board. They come in cheap, especially MSI k7n420pro.
Most of the things you need are integrated to the motherboard and the installation is absolutely hasslefree. W2k just drops in and works rock solid straight out of the box.
However performancewise I'd look for the new Epox 8RGA+ or even the new shuttle flex-atx (breadbox size) Nforce2 barebone.
Just remember that you need to install the memory to slot 1 and 3 to get best performance out of nforce boards.
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Originally posted by eskimo2
BTW, I'm tired and pissed off from staying up all friggin night tryin to get this POS puter to load a OS. I think my Win 98 CD has a scratch, and Win Me just plain sucks.
(Loading Me for the 2nd time, loaded 98 3 times)
I don't trust my motherboard, RAM memory, or CPU.
eskimo
Why dont you stop squeaking about winme and 98, and install a real OS? Like XP or 2k.
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Oh, and FYI, just last week I was asked to consult a local company with their computer problems. They had a brand new P4 rdram setup which froze up constantly. It was fixed simply by upgrading it to W2k. It had a virus called Win ME. :)
Before buying new parts though, make sure of the following:
1) Your ram is not broken - if you have more than 1 stick test them one at a time in your computer. If it starts to hang with one stick then you found the broken one.
2) Your computer is not overheating: Make sure your CPU cooler is properly installed with thermal grease AND the plastic removed from the bottom of the cooler. Manually check the temperature of your chipset and CPU immediately after you shut your computer (make sure to ground yourself first to the case) and if they feel burning hot, you have a heat problem.
3) Your geforce is not a hercules one - hercules adapters are known to cause problems with an array of motherboards. If it is, check hercules website for compatability info.
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This PC was a hand me down.
AMD 1400
256 ram
I figured that anything had to be better than my old P-II 350 that I was using up until 3 months ago. It worked fine when I got it, I put in the Geforce to get the frame rates up (I was used to 5-15 on my old 350) Then when 1.10 and the patches came out, everything went to crap. Been tinkering with it a bit, but been too busy with my new job to give it much attention till last weekend.
eskimo
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Originally posted by Innominate
Why dont you stop squeaking about winme and 98, and install a real OS? Like XP or 2k.
Because I'm *^%*$%# POOR!
Ok, which one is cheaper?
Is the XP home version OK?
it's about $200... yes?
eskimo
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Who buys an OS anymore?:D Screw the microsoft tax.
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Box it up and bring it to someone who knows how to fix it.....or I'll give ya 50 bucks for the lot. :)
What you have works fine for many. Win XP and 2k for gaming is nothing but more headaches piled on top.Those two OS's should come with a 500ct bottle of Tylenol.Set this , fiddle with that, turn this on, turn that off...WTF!? I have XP (Pro and Home) sitting on the shelf collecting dust.Went back to 98 on 2 machines and ME on the other 2..... Gaming life is fun again. :) GL
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Hopefully you have the latest version of directX...thats what's required here.
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Originally posted by DingHao2
Hopefully you have the latest version of directX...thats what's required here.
Just talking about getting my system running here, not even looking at the game yet.
eskimo
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Originally posted by eskimo2
I havn't been able to play for 2.5 months. Been tinkering with this AMD K7AMA Win Me POS for the past few weeks, and its's still a POS.
What brand mobo is that K7AMA? I am using an AthlonXP 1.2 gig with an ABIT KT7A with no problems. If you list all your components maybe we can help.
Originally posted by eskimo2
What components can I go buy at Best Buy tomorrow that will work? Conflict, CTD lock-up free. For gaming only.
You can get better deals and better stuff other than best buy unless you really know what you are buying. If money is an issue, you shouldnt really be buying at best buy. Try this link for component suggestions and pricing:
http://arstechnica.com/guide/system/budget.html
Originally posted by eskimo2
Right now the only thing that I have that is worth a damn is a GeForce4 Ti 4200, a case with a new power supply, and a new cheap Wester Digital 40 GB HDD.
Thanks,
eskimo
Also, dump ME stay with 98SE or go up to XP, tho 98SE is right now the better of the two for gaming. Hope that helps.
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Re: What doesn't suck?
What brand mobo is that K7AMA? I am using an AthlonXP 1.2 gig with an ABIT KT7A with no problems. If you list all your components maybe we can help.
The board itself says; K7AMA
The CD says;
Mainboard
ISO 9001
Version 6.1 S
The CD files don't even have a dang read-me, The're really proud of this product! Sheesh.
You can get better deals and better stuff other than best buy unless you really know what you are buying. If money is an issue, you shouldnt really be buying at best buy. Try this link for component suggestions and pricing:
I got the GF4 TI4200 AGP on sale for $170 there 3 months ago. After shipping it was within $10 of anything I could find online at the time. The western Digital 40 GB HDD was on sale for $60.
I'll look at the site though.
http://arstechnica.com/guide/system/budget.html
Also, dump ME stay with 98SE or go up to XP, tho 98SE is right now the better of the two for gaming. Hope that helps.
One more vote for 98 then... thanks
eskimo
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I'm running an RDRAM system w/ 98se...haven't had a CTD or lockup in 2 1/2 months.
I did have an ISP hickup last night though. Lost connection in the middle of a 262 sortie :mad:
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Originally posted by eskimo2
Re: What doesn't suck?
The board itself says; K7AMA
The CD says;
Mainboard
ISO 9001
Version 6.1 S
eskimo
Found this site on it:
http://www.templeoftech.com/articles.cfm?ArticleID=54&PageID=1
Make sure you update your bios. It seems while the above guy rated the board "high" it seems to be a real elcheapo. If you do a search on it you will see people having all sorts of porbs with it.
Good luck.
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Originally posted by Rotorian
Found this site on it:
http://www.templeoftech.com/articles.cfm?ArticleID=54&PageID=1
Make sure you update your bios. It seems while the above guy rated the board "high" it seems to be a real elcheapo. If you do a search on it you will see people having all sorts of porbs with it.
Good luck.
I just downloaded the K7AMA drivers.
Windows ME is running.
I get CTDs in AH instantly.
(yes I downloaded DX 8.1)
Ive been thinking the mobo is a POS ever since I got the system.
thanks.
eskimo
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a real machine (http://www.alienware.com/main/system_pages/area51-m.asp)
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ERROR IN GOD.SYS
PLEASE REBOOT UNIVERSE
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.
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in my experience helping others with fast and/or slow-crappy computers, Win98SE is great for 'low end models' and 2k is the deal for newer machines.
A lot of poeple with newer machines like XP but the drivers aren't always avaliable for older devices.
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Eskie - does the motherboard have an ALI or a VIA chipset? Make sure you download thr 4-1 drivers if it's VIA, and the new ALI chipset drivers.
I'm running an Athlon 1.4GHz, on a Asus KV266 mobo. I had problems of I/O errors until I installed new ALI drivers.
Email me at mr.fork@shaw.ca if you get a chance. I used to be a tech support guy for EDS. I've spoken with a lot of idiots and you are intelligent which is half the battle. :D
Fork
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Oh yeah Eskie. The K7AMA - is that the ECS mobo? If so, it's using the ALi M1645 chipset.
First thing - update the bios by going here:
http://www.ecs.com.tw/download/bios_m.htm
Next download the new Ali AGP driver here for the mobo:
http://www.ecs.com.tw/download/driver_vga_m.htm#aliagp:
Next download and install the new EIDE driver here:
http://www.ecs.com.tw/download/driver_ide_m.htm#amdeide
Does this mobo have any built in devices? Latest drivers here:
http://www.ecs.com.tw/download/index_driver_k7a.htm
Also, don't forget to update Windows ME with the latest updates here:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/?IE
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Most men's wifes
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Originally posted by Mister Fork
Oh yeah Eskie. The K7AMA - is that the ECS mobo? If so, it's using the ALi M1645 chipset.
First thing - update the bios by going here:
http://www.ecs.com.tw/download/bios_m.htm
Next download the new Ali AGP driver here for the mobo:
http://www.ecs.com.tw/download/driver_vga_m.htm#aliagp:
Next download and install the new EIDE driver here:
http://www.ecs.com.tw/download/driver_ide_m.htm#amdeide
Does this mobo have any built in devices? Latest drivers here:
http://www.ecs.com.tw/download/index_driver_k7a.htm
Also, don't forget to update Windows ME with the latest updates here:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/?IE
I've been to the first place on your list, but it had a warning about porking the system...
I've heard flashing is kind of risky... yes? no?
eskimo
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I can't bare to read all your whining, but I won a hoopty WWII altimeter or something I didn't take for this mastery of the obviousness last time someone shat themselves in frustration all over the AH BBS.
If your system is a lockup toejamcase, get a new power supply for Gods sake.
Start with something that makes everything work, or that last thing YOU screwed around with.
My God, people would still be sitting at a HUB trying to get home if mechanics toejam the bed and got so frustrated.
You got a system that was working, you did something, it stopped.
It worked fine when I got it, I put in the Geforce to get the frame rates up (I was used to 5-15 on my old 350) Then when 1.10 and the patches came out, everything went to crap.
There's a hint, now figure it out.
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Mr. Fork
I went to the first site with the WinFlash utilities, but was afraid to use them.
The second site I loaded in and installed, the ALI AGP driver for the K7AMA and Win ME.
The third site that you mentioned doesn't support the K7AMA. The closest it has is for the K7ASA. But it isn't for Win. ME. (The AMD EIDE diver)
The fourth site has five drivers for the K7AMA:
-AMD EIDE driver V1.24
-RealTek 8139 LAN driver V5.02
Pctel AMR Modem driver V2.40.0029.2
Ali Codec Sound driver
Ali AGP driver V1.73E
Which should I use?
And I did the Microsoft updates.
eskimo
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Originally posted by Creamo
I can't bare to read all your whining, but I won a hoopty WWII altimeter or something I didn't take for this mastery of the obviousness last time someone shat themselves in frustration all over the AH BBS.
If your system is a lockup toejamcase, get a new power supply for Gods sake.
Start with something that makes everything work, or that last thing YOU screwed around with.
My God, people would still be sitting at a HUB trying to get home if mechanics toejam the bed and got so frustrated.
You got a system that was working, you did something, it stopped.
It worked fine when I got it, I put in the Geforce to get the frame rates up (I was used to 5-15 on my old 350) Then when 1.10 and the patches came out, everything went to crap.
There's a hint, now figure it out.
Creamo,
The power supply is brand new.
I inherited the system, it's a hand me down, it's been messed with before I got it. It worked fine for about 2 weeks before 1.10 came out. (I put in the GeForce right away) Then it started going bad (with the release of 1.10). CTDs and more CTDs. Then it began restarting at will, so I replaced the Power supply. But I still got CTDs. So I waited another month for the golden patch... it never came. So then I figured that something must be wrong with the system. (hadn't been able to play in over 2 months) Folks say Me sucks, so I tried loading my old Win. 98, but the CD is scratched or something, didn't work. Then I tried to load Me, better, but still porked. So I figured the HDD was fried from all the improper shut-downs, and the fact that it couldn't load anything. I just put in a new HDD, and it wouldn't load 98 (scratched) but it loaded Me.
Now I'm trying to get it going with a new HDD, power supply, GeForce, and fresh Win Me install.
So its not just one thing, its a lot of things, including a OS install.
You tell me where to start...?
eskimo
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Putting on the Apollo 13 handmade vest...
"What do we have GOOD on this machine people?"
1.Power Supply -Check it cables IS seated. Good
2.Reformat, install WIN98 - ME, doesn't matter, both good gaming platforms
3. Did the CDROM take both disks easily? Or IS it screwing up on disks and constant light on? Then I tried to load ME, better, but still porked.
IS it loading complete or messing up? If so, so, get the CDROM out of there. Swap a friends in there. That's called shovel maintenance. Throw everything at it. Not likely though.
Dude, seperate Hardware from Software, Im to fukin drunk to make a case.
But if you made all the good hardware swaps, update every driver you have. Actually it's 90% of your problems, and my remedy.
And they aint the ones that came with the card, or soundboard. It's not easy, just search and update on the net, finally, install the latest DX8.
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Originally posted by Creamo
3. Did the CDROM take both disks easily? Or IS it screwing up on disks and constant light on? Then I tried to load ME, better, but still porked.
IS it loading complete or messing up? If so, so, get the CDROM out of there. Swap a friends in there. That's called shovel maintenance. Throw everything at it. Not likely though.
3 was before I put in the new HDD.
Windows ME is running fine now.
I actually think I'm back where I started before I tried to "fix" my system.
AH will run, but 4 out of 5 times that I try to start it, I get an instant CTD. I managed to play offline a couple of times, one CTD after about 10 minutes, and I exited after 5 minutes the second time on.
I think my problem is the K7AMA MoBo, or maybe the Ram.
6string wrote a book length post in another thread about the K7AMA MoBo, and it sounds like a total POS.
eskimo
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Stop being a cheap bellybutton and go with either XP or 2000, its pretty simple actually. All the wanna be computer gurus tellin you 20 different things. This has worked for me on 20+ systems, and about 5-10 of those had all sorts of issues with ME,98
#1 Buy XP
#2 reformat HD
#3 Install XP
#4 let it detect all your hardware, screw loading each driver for each piece of hardware you have (ex 98,me)
#5 Install the updated ALI drivers yourself
#6 make sure if the mobo has any onboard devices ex. sound, and you have an actual sound card in the machine. Be sure to disable that in the bios
#7 If that toejam dont work, your fuct.
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If the motherboard is a cheapo and its true that there are loads of complaints about it, it's most likely your problem.
Good motherboard costs $150 max (good one) so get one.
Oh and don't trust this guy:
Win XP and 2k for gaming is nothing but more headaches piled on top.
He just doesn't know what he's talking about. It takes an expert butterfingers (tm) to NOT to get xp working on modern hardware.. :rolleyes:
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Thanks guys,
I'm thinking about a new MoBo and memory at the minimum. I don't think I can go with XP because it won't support my CH PRO joystick, throttle and rudders.
eskimo
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eskimo,
I dont see any problem with your actual hardware, but:
1 - Check your power supply, 300W as minimum.
2 - Check your ram settings at bios, be sure u are not running with overclocked ram.
3 - Verify your ram, if you have more than one dimm, try them one by one and using different slots in each try.
4 - Get rid off Win ME, 98SE is the best.
5 - For your MB, download and install the latest bios.
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Originally posted by Hussein
For easy and problem free setup I'd reckommend to buy an nforce board. They come in cheap, especially MSI k7n420pro.
Most of the things you need are integrated to the motherboard and the installation is absolutely hasslefree. W2k just drops in and works rock solid straight out of the box.
However performancewise I'd look for the new Epox 8RGA+ or even the new shuttle flex-atx (breadbox size) Nforce2 barebone.
Just remember that you need to install the memory to slot 1 and 3 to get best performance out of nforce boards.
I'm running on an nForce board and it's nice and stable. But since you already have a GF4 card, save a little change and go with the k7n415 instead of the k7n420. The difference between the 2 is the k7n420 has the onboard gf2 mx.
I'd go with win2kpro. No subscription hassles of XP :D The nForce boards don't really like 98/Me.
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Originally posted by MANDOBLE
eskimo,
I dont see any problem with your actual hardware, but:
1 - Check your power supply, 300W as minimum.
Actually, that's just a starting point. If the P/S is only 300w, it MAY work. There is a certain wattage that must be available on the 5 volt rail and on the 12 volt rail. I think. I'm going off of memory, so I may have mistated that. Anyway, it it's a cheapo 300W P/S, it may still not work.
Antec is always a safe bet and you can get them at CompUSA. I'd buy an Antec 450W for your hardware.
XP is not the be-all and end-all of OS's. It has plenty of problems with certain combos of quality hardware. Stick with 98 if you can get it installed. With a good install, 98 should last you for quite a while without problems.