shassouneh

Just a quick reminder (I have togo So I'll read your replieslater): I have tested the ram and it works great (tested it on a freind's machine). The ONLY thing I have to test now is the hard drive, as well as the mobo (obviously) I'll read your replies in more detail later. Thanx guys.

Thanx davros. Quote: You know you need a cpu, so get one and try it in your mobo. Then buy a new mobo if you need it. Maybe you should wait until you have money for both, just in case you have to buy the mobo also. I still think I need to see if my mobo is working. If its NOT I may as well save my money and sell the working components. If it IS, the I can consider a CPU/HSF combo purchase. Please let me know what you guys think. So there is no way I can test the motrherboard as it stands?

Thank you all for your support and nice gestures. I certainly appreciate them. I have taken the initiative to test various parts to make sure thery're working. The memory, video card, power supply, and sound card are all working (phew). I have yet to test the hard drive and motherboard. I hope the motherboard is not fried as it has a built in lan card I use. If it is not fried, I may buy an athlon Xp processor later when my economic situation allows. Is there a way I can test the motherboard to see if its working without using a processor? Nobody wants to trust me with borrowing a processor (for OBVIOUS reasons). Anyways, Thanx again soooooo much for all your help and support. I sincerely hope it has not been a complete waste of your time, and I hope someone learns from my mistakes through this thread (me being the first to learn ironically). Does Anybody know where i can get a SUPER heatsink for a future processor?I'mthinking of buying an Athlon XP processor sincemy motherboard supports XP processors. That is, of coarse, if its not entirely fried.

Do you have another OS installed by any chance? If so. try booting with it. If it boots fine, then at least you know its a windows problem. If NOT (doesn't boot with another OS that is) you may have hardware issues involved good luck

Dear All, I have just committed and act of Pure Stupidity that is unforgivable indeed. As I took out the fan to measure it and write down various numbers and its dimensions, I then placed it back. Only this time (mr idiot here) forgot to PLUG IN the damn fan to the fan outlet!! This resulted in frying the processor completely, if not the motherboard! The end result of this is All this thread has been a waste of your time. Allow me to sincerely appologize for your loss in time. I really am an Idiot, and I certainly and sincerely appolgize for wasting your time with an idiot like me. I am lucky to have my old machine running, even though I will miss playing all the games. An idiot like me does not deserve a powerful computer it seems. Yes, you're probably banging your head for the waste of time, and I know Dirty harry, and Sampson are doing it the most. For that All I can do is ask you to accept my appologies. That's the best I can do right now. Since most of the hardware is either unusable or too new for my old machine, I am in the process of testing individual components, and I will be putting the working ones on sale, or maybe on ebay. Again, I appologize sooooooo much for wasting your time like this. It is a mistake I never intended on doing, and its one of the few things any smart computer science student "should know better". Please do accept my appologies. The last thing I ask is you keep this thread open (for other idiots like me) to read it and learn from my mistakes! Wish me luck. Peace, and Sorry yet another time

Dear Alien And All. Something Idiotic have done has caused me tolose everything. Please check out THIS thread for details

Quote: Let me make sure what you did. I did not ask yout to Move them back to the Start Menu\Program directory. What I asked you to do was Right click on the Start Button. Click on Open. You should see the Programs folder. Double click on it. It should be empty. Now, drag the folders in the Windows Explorer window (under Holder folder but not Holder folder itself) into the Programs folder that is empty. You can drag them one at a time or all at once. There is a difference in the two procedures. If you simply moved them back through Windows Explorer, this does not update the Registry. You would have to reboot to have it do that. If you did the procedure the way it was outlined it should update the registry immediately. These would be two keys you can look at: Computer\HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVe rsion\Explorer\MenuOrder\Start Menu\Programs\ Computer\HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVe rsion\Explorer\Shell Folders There are other keys under HKLM and those that are appropriate to %UserProfile% Have you been using some Registry cleaner that is deleting keys? My bad, simple misuderstanding. As for what I did, I tried to look under the program directory (by right click->open) and it was NOT empty. It had all the files in there to begin with. I had to MOVE them to Holder to make it empty thrn move/copy them back. That did not help. Also I tried using different user names by switching or logging off/logginf on to no avail. I'm also not using any registry cleaning software of any kind, unless Windows XP messes with its own registry.

Dear Davros, Thank you for your help and kind words. The same goes to Alien too. As for the CPU being damaged beyond repair, I would sincerely hate for that to be the case, BUT as Alien and yourself have said, i seem to be having heat problems anyways, so I am gonna have to account for that as a possible factor. As for buying a heat sink, I am more than willing to buy one, but I need some advice. For example, is there a "rating" of any kind to go by? Which is better, Copper or Aluminum? Does it matter HOW MUCH thermal paste I apply? etc... I know all of my questions may seem euther too simple or trivial for you, but please do humor me and give me some advice. If you don't have the time, direct me to a site or something that has more info about this. One other question is, is there ANY possibility whatsoever that If i get a quote-unquote "better" heat sink I may be able to operate at 1.4GHZ. I will operate at 1 gig if i have to, but you know how it is.. Thank you again for all your help and patience everyone. I appreciate the time, effort, and patience you put in to assist me. Oh, btw. I tried what you said for the start menu Davros. It didn't solve the problem. I even logged on with a differnt user name to no avail. I also tried restaring. Is there a way to "repair" the start menu directory? Maybe there is a registry entry of some sort that is disabling it? Anyways, I await your replies (if any)

Quote: BTW. I didn't think a T-bird would last more than a few mins without an adequate HSF without being permanently damaged? Quote: LMAO I wouldn't even run a P90 without a heatsink! Read my previous post (the text file). It turns out I had a heat sink all along! An Aluminum one I beleive

Here is the info I collected for my power supply and Temperature, along with the link to the UPDATED sysinfo (with minimal hardware) for those of you who care. Power Supply: 400 W generic (no brand name can be seen). There is some serial numbers and such. It has a model number: LPH2 Made In Thailand. LA112364 Level 3 FCC / UR / and SA symbold appear Temperature And Voltage (from BIOS, sitting idle for about 7 minutes): Vcore: 1.792 V Vcc2.5v: 2.496 V Vcc3.3v: 3.254 V Vcc5v: 4.865 V / 4.892 V (it varies between them. seithching every 2 to 3 seconds). +12v: 12.416 V / 12.352 V (it varies between them. swithching every 2 to 3 seconds). SB3v: 3.472 V -12v: --11.393 V SB5V: 5.053 V VBAT: 3.472 V SYSTEM Fan Speed: 0 RPM CPU FAN Speed: 5113 RPM / 5273 RPM (it varies between them. swithching every 2 to 3 seconds). SYSTEM Temperature: 23C/73F CPU Temperature: 61C/141F Here is the updated sysinfo.zip file. NOTE: You will find a sound card in it called "Sis7012". This is the onboard sound card (comes with the motherboard) and it has been disabled in the BIOS. Also, some form of AMR modem comes onboard and it has also been disabled in the BIOS. The Sis7012 has a status of "error" which is obviously due to it being disabled in the BIOS OPEN ME IN A WEB BROWSER, then use right click/save target as

Quote: WOO-AA the guy isn't even using a heatsink on his Athlon 1400. Can you believe it. You gave great advice too, this is actually so weird it is funny, even to funny to get really pi55ed about. Checkout my last message in the orig thread STOP errors maybe related to faulty cache memory Quote: Heh, he is propably doing this on the same machine (the one where nothing works) that we've been discussing in another 40+ thread. Sampson, you have the patience of an angel... Oh you are sooo nice DH. Someone is being too nice today. Perhaps before jumping to conclusions you should read the REPLY I made to that post?

THE REPLY TO THIS POST IS TOO LONG. I had to upload it. You can get it HERE: Its a text file

I tried just that, by moving all links and directories under "programs" to a temp directory called Holder on a different partition then moving them back to the stat menu directory. Its Still not working. Note: Not even the Windows Update icon is showing up any more, or any of the icon that usually come above "programs". Any other ideas? Thanx again for all those wonderful ideas Sampson

oh wow. I didn't know it would give me such a choice. This tip should prove useful for the future Thanx Sampson. I'm still having start menu problems (I tried the previous tip but it didn't help me much).

"XP System Disk"? You mean floppies? I don't have a floppy disk drive So I'm stuck with booting with win98 CD.

Thanx for the tip Sampson, I don't think it'll work simpley because you really cannot boot into a command prompt in XP. I would have to use a Windows 98 CD, and that will not work either since my C: is an NTFS partition, and the Win98 CD only recognized FAT32. I honestly don't know what caused the start menu to behave this way. My best guess would be some sort of improper shutdown. I have tried PowerToys (link above) and I have made sure the start menu points at the right directory and so does the "programs". I even tried a restart, still no success. I can always launch my applications by browsing to the directoryies in which they are installed, but that's a pain in the neck. Any ideas anyone? Again, thanx for the tip Sampson

thanx DrMSH. Still trying to figure out this thing...

Hmm, i lookd on Microsoft.com and I couldn't find TweakUI or PowerToys for WIndows XP. I tried their download search thingy too. Do you know where I can get Powertoys or tweakUI for Windows Xp? Sampson -> The .lnk files are there alright in C:\Documents and Settings\Samer Hassouneh\Start Menu\Programs. For some reason though, its STILL not showing them in the start menu.

No, Proprietary? He** NO, LOL. I should know better. I built this machine myself. The BIOS date on it is September 20, 2001. I CANNOT UPADTE the BIOS on it since I don't have a floppy disk drive. IMPORTAND URGENT UPDATE: The system will now NOT BOOT WHATSOEVER at 1.4 GHZ. After it goes through the POST/BIOS thingy, it HANGS (freezes)! As a matter of fact, If i try to go into BIOS setup to change it back to 100/100MHZ (1GHZ) then it simply freezes too! THE ONLY way to get the machine to work and boot is to Manualy rest the CMOS/BIOs to 1GHZ and boot that way, so I can now ONLY boot at 1GHZ. Any ideas anyone? Please respond if you can, this may suggest sever hardware damage, and I really want to know if that's the case!

Ok dear folks. I'm kinda overwhelmed with questions and information to go through here. Let me reply to as many questions as I can remmember 1.) Surge Protection: No I don't have any surge protection of any kind. Sorry folks. And we've been having pretty smooth weather here, so the last thunderstrike was "ages" ago, LOL. The theory that other devices might have caused damage seems still reluctantly very probable 2.) Defaulting to 100/100: When the CMOS (BIOS) is reset it ALWAYS defaults to 100/100 MHZ. I always had to manually set it to 133/133MHZ to get the processor running at 1.4GHZ. When I first got the board/memory/cpu/psu, I did just that and it started to work OK on 1.4GHZ. 3.) Stressing it under DOS: Does anybody know of command-line software that could start from say a regular win98 boot disk/CD (not full DOS) that I could do to try to stress the CPU under DOS? 4.) Stressing it under Other OSs: Should I even try Win2k SP2 or SuSE Linux 7.3, or do you think I'm gonna run into similar problems no matter what OS(s) I have installed? 5.) Voltages? As you can tell I'm a complete idiot when dealing with detailed CPU / Voltage terminology. All I do know is that I have NO CONTROL WHATSOEVER on these voltages. I can ONLY change the 100/100, 100/133, or 133/133MHZ setting. The Bios "greys out" everything else. 6.) Heat Damage: Again, I never said my problem is not related to heat or heat damage, HOWEVER, judging from the fact that the procesor still CAN run at 1.4GHZ (although unstable) suggests (keyword suggests) that maybe (keyword maybe) heat is not the immediate cause of my headaches. 7.) Quote: Dump the junk and go Intel... , yeah, FAT CHANCE that's gonna happen with me being a broke college student. LOL (no offense Palos). Let me see, I'm STILL open to ideas and thoughts, so please do not hesitate to add your 2 cents to this thread PS: Note, again, When I use capital letters I use them for emphasis. I do not intend to "shout" or have a sharp tone of any kind. Its just sort of phonetic.

Ok, This is weird the directory C:\Documents And Settings\All Users IS EMPTY All the links and things that SHOULD be in the start menu are locate d here: (note: Samer Hassouneh is my user name) C:\Documents and Settings\Samer Hassouneh\Start Menu\Programs The weird part is this, even though the files are there, it still shows the start menu as being empty. Below are a few screen captures to help you see what I mean See, it shows the Start menu as empty I can explore the contents of that directory... (see below) The files are right there! Any ideas anyone?

Quote: You wrote that your CPU is autodetected as a 1050 (meaning 10.5 x 100Mhz) This is wrong, as 1400 is written on the CPU. It should be 1400 (10.5 x 133). Only when you manually tinker with the settings you get it to run at the speed it is made for, or am I missunderstanding something ? True! A fresh reset of the CMOS/BIOS will default to 100/100MHZ which will have the processor run at 1050MHZ (1GHZ). The setting would then have to be manualy set to 133/133MHZ to get the processor recognized as a 1.4GHZ one. As for the brand of the PSU, allow me to get back to you on that later. Its almost 4 a.m here and I need to sleep! I will worry about my computer more tommorow (today,LOL). Please remind me if i forget to look up the make / brand /model of my PSU.

Dear Dirty Harry, As you mentioned in your previous reply, it SEEMS (keyword SEEMS that the processor is indeed a 133MHZ (marketted as 266MHZ FSB) capable processor. (again, SEEMS). As for the Power Supply Unit (PSU), the PSU came with the case, and the case was marketted as "P4 ready". Now don't shoot me. I know this is an AMD processor, not an intel one, But when I bought the case I insisted on getting 400W instead of 300 or 350, so this case seemsed to be a reasonable bargain. It may very well be that the voltages are off since the PSU was desgined for a P4. Though an iminent and un-ignoarable possibility, I doubt that this has much to do with the problem since the machine SEEMED (keyword SEEMED to run OK for at least 6 months and is now running OK, at least at only 1 GHZ). As for the Motherboard picking up the processor, if you read my above posts the motherboard has no problem detecting it as a 1.4GHZ (1400 MHZ) processor. The problem is Windows gives me STOP errors If i give the processor something "important" or hefty to do, as in play a game, or run for an extended period of time. I am considering your (as well as many other's) idea(s) of trying with other hardware and/or PSU. However, This is not easily possible as my only freind who has an athlon board with DDR memory is reluctant to have me "borrow" hardware. He has fried one of his motherboards before and ever since he is very paranoid and skeptical about messing with hardware. So unfortunately Quote: - switch PSU - CPU in other mobo - Mobo with other CPU - different RAM will have to wait a bit. Please, there is no need for me to bore everyone here by reminding them that the machine ran at 1.4GHZ with the current hardware without a hitch. YES I know that doesn't say MUCH, but it least says that it IS possible to run this hardware at this configuration, or it least it WAS possible.

Quote: Have you or have you not resetted the CMOS properly ?? See my previous post. What settings does it then come up with as default, 100/100 or 133/133 ? yes indeed I have. When I reset the bios/cmos, it gives me a message like "you must run setup. press f1 to run setup", and i usually do. It DEFAULTS to 100/100 (which I am running right now for the sake of safety) Quote: You may indeed have a heat problem, your CPU temp is not 38C as you've previously reported, but 56C. Recalling that you claim to always run case open, this is really on the high side as an idle temp. For comparison, my overclocked CPU-temp (1400@1600) case closed is 45 C The temperature seems to vary. Sometimes its around 48C, others its around 55 or 56C, and after the machine has been shut down and allowed to cool a bit, it IS around 38C. So the 38 (or 32) I quoted you above is from the BIOS setup, and I did not make up that figure, LOL. I am just telling you what the BIOS said. Quote: Your voltages are off, in some cases way off. You'll need to test with another PSU to eliminate this suspect. What make and model is your PSU ? I don't think I can do anything about these voltages. As I mentioned above, the only thing the BIOS will allow me to change is the 100/100 or 100/133 or 133/133 CPU frequency/DRAM Frequency setting. The voltages I quoted you above come directly from the BIOS, and I cannot modify or tinker with them in any way. Also, pardon my ignorance, but what does PSU stand for? If it has to do with the socket, it says something like "Socket 436" next to the processor. Quote: "Auto Detect DIMM/PCI Clk: Enabled", what are your options there ? This setting can be set as Enabled or Disabled. I am unclear as to what this setting is for, so I have left it as it is after a CMOS/BIOS reset. If you need me to change it, let me know and I will set it to disabled. I don't know if this will help, but my motherboard is an ECS K75SA board. It supports Athlon Thunderird, and Athlon XP processors. It even has a label right next to the processor socket that says in bold letters "XP". Please feel free to ask for more information and I shall do my best to hunt it down for you and provide it for you, should you need it or ask for it

Dear Davros, I will look into your helpful suggestions tommorow. I'm tired and I need to go to bed Ironwalker -> only one jumper on the motherboard (to reset the CMOS/BIOS). No I use an AGP based video card. The BIOS displays a "7" for the parralel port IRQ. beats me! Also, the only thing I can change in terms of CPU and/or its voltage is the memory and CPU frequency, i.e Either 100/100 MHZ or 100/133MHZ or 133/133MHZ. The processor will show up as 1400MHZ (1.4GHZ) ONLY at 133/133MHZ.