Christianb

Dear Blake, I'm going to suggest something different here. Let's deal with the facts you installed Windows 2000 SP4 and it failed. I'm going to start by assuming that the service pack was bad. That being said you could try going into safe mode and then re-installing it. However, don't do that until you've gotten a new copy of SP4 from a friend or by calling Microsoft 1800-642-7676 and ordering it on CD. A CD will cost you about 10 dollars and should come in no more than 3 days. However, I say that living in Cali and knowing that it might be coming from Redmond, WA. So your results may vary. The other thing you could try is running the Repair facility by booting off your Win2K CD and choosing repair, automatic as the options present themselves. There is another couple of things that can cause problems with service pack installs, for starters if you were running something incompatible in the background like a virus scanner or something. Did you remember to terminate all non-MS processes before installing? (visible and invisible alike?) The other likely issue is that a particular device driver isn't compatible with service pack 4. You might take someone else's advice here and roll back the service pack (providing you let it create a backup) , update all your device drivers, bios'es, and firmware and then re-install the service pack. I used service pack four for about a year and rarely had problems it's great. It definetly boots, I install it on customers computers all the time without issue. Like most OS service packs there are a few legitimate and isolated experiences that are quite negative. Another thing I'd recommend is reading through all known SP4 installation issues, and see if you have any of hardware, software plagued by Sp4 compatibility issues. It might be as simple as installing a patch for some firewall application. Well good luck. Also in my childhood I had a best friend named Blake Montgomery I don't suppose you are him .

Hi Gang, I can't update the firmware of my Creative Muvo TX FM, before we go further yes I'm sure that's the model name, because that's exactly what it's identified when I plug it in via USB. I updated the firmware once long ago and recall something about that, but I can't remember how to do it. Has anyone sucessfully installed the latest firmware dated Aug 19th, 2005? Firmware Download Page When I run the previous firmware update it'll work without a hitch. Some instructions have indicated that if I hold down play before I stick the player into my USB slot, and continue to do so for 10 seconds thereafter it'll be in recovery mode, but even after doing that it doesn't work. Also there's nothing wrong with my play button I use it all the time . I can't verify that those instructions are correct though, because the PDF manual for the device doesn't even contain the word recovery . Also when I stick it in the OS is recognizing the device just fine and creating a workable drive F:\. I already erased all the files off the drive, thinking that would help. Cheers, Christian Blackburn

Okay, I figured it out you have install the drivers, which Creative Lab's download page clearly list as being ONLY FOR WIN98SE. That is pretty lame considering I didn't have to install them with any previous firmware updates. Also there is no indication of what I needed to when you try to flash the device. Additionally lame, is the fact that it just says you're not in recovery mode, rather than actually telling you how to get there (duh!). Oh well another computer related customer service nightmare to the record books (10 Trillion and 1 and counting...). You can read about the new driver update on NomadNess.net which seems to be a pretty cool MP3/Creative Labs news site. Cheers, Christian Blackburn

Okay that looks to be a Soundblaster PCI rather than a soundblaster live, they were selling that for around 10 dollars. Either way, 7 bucks for a name brand sound card WITH A GAME PORT is a good deal in my opinion. Cheers, Christian

The plot thickens, when I hold down play and insert the 1GB drive portion into my USB 1.0 or USB 2.0 controllers it's no longer identified as a Muvo TX FM, but rather a "STMP3500". Any ideas?

Dear GodlyDom, First and foremost VIA USB controllers aren't that great. That being said I would like to start by suggesting that you spend 5-10 bucks on an NEC (Chipset) USB 2.0 controller. There are a few things that puzzle me about that IRQ Map. #1 ACPI used to be an IRQ 9 only thing, but that may have changed? #2 one of those serial port IRQs can be freed if you BIOS doesn't suck and will properly release the serial ports. The only port you need is the virtual port occupied by your WinModem. Also if you're switicing to wireless you could very easily remove that ethernet card. However, if you understand ACPI then you should understand that an IRQ conflict is probably not the issue since ACPI gives you 100s of IRQs. Here's an article from microsoft that recommends disabling PNP OS in the bios. You might try that: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/314068/EN-US/? In the future I recommend buying an Intel brand motherboard and using an intel brand CPU. Cheers, Christian Blackburn

Dear Pepe, Are you trying to use Microsoft's hardware, in an unsupported way, and still use their drivers? That's what it sounds like and I'm afraid that simply won't work. Why not return the adapter, and try picking up a used SideWinder USB. You could also buy a gameport, or better still a decentsound card that comes with one like a Soundblaster Live which can be purchased for a whole 5 bucks! Excuse me it looks to be 6.99 with free shipping (I was way off ): http://www.surpluscomputers.com/store/main.aspx?p=ItemDetail&item=CRD10783 Cheers, Christian

I have to assume VB4 is service packed and has all available updates? Also the runtimes on the system are the most recent available for vb4?

I agree I think VB6 is probably the way to go. You shouldn't have to change your code much. It may still be a programming issue, but VB6 might be more explanatory as to what you did wrong whilst coding. I have to assume you're using the Win32 version of your program? You didn't specify and VB4 is 16 or 32 bit. If you aren't already running a 32 bit version I'd make that the first change.

What type of Descent 2 are you trying to run? It sounds like you want to run the dos version, but there are several of those. There were three to my knowledge: Software Rendered DOS, Glide, and S3 Virge. If you just want to play the game I suggest running the DirectX version, but if you need to have it work with your 3D card, you'll also run into another problem, your sound card, which you will also need to get working with it. The Win9X/DirectX version is definetly your best bet. Cheers, Christian Blackburn

For the record sis USB controllers blow. I repair computers and the first thing I do when a user is having a usb problem with a SiS controller is update the drivers. When that fails and it always has in my experience, then I make them get a USB 2.0 controller with an NEC Chipset. That was the only USB controller MS had to design their USB 2.0 interface against for most of its development cycle. It is the reference board. You can't find a more solid USB 2.0 board. Try getting one with 4 or 5 ports on the back and one internally. I'd just disable the onboard USB controller in the bios and in remove it from devman, hopefully it'll quit coming back, but if the motherboard has a bad IRQ routing table (common on generic boards) then you'll want to disable it in Devman. Good Luck, Christian Blackburn

Hi Bill, Hi I totally don't have a solution for this one. However, I think you need a solid piece of advice. What domain are you at? NT Compatible, that's a Windows user-base why not ask a Beatrix or at least Linux user-base? Cheers, Christian Blackburn

Hi Gang, Quote: Stupid MS couldnt have support for it automatically in ME--even though it came out AFTER Win2k. Actually, Microsoft charges for OS integrated drivers. You see every driver included with a particular release of windows came about through one of two means one Microsoft wrote the driver or a company paid for their WHQL test on that particular version of Windows (Windows Hardware Quality Labs). It's extremelyr rare for Microsoft to write drivers for 3rd party hardware, but when DEC went out of business MS pitched in, because so many people use/love their network adapters. Intel owns DECs assets today. As for the Voodoo 3 not being bundled with WinMe, 3DFX totally mismanaged their business strategy. They were winning because they had great hardware, a sucessful proprietary API, and were letting 3rd parties share in the profits. Then they got idiotic and started behaving like the companies that were already going down hill like Matrox and decided to make their own chipsets and their own video cards so they too started going out of business. Because 3DFX was broke they couldn't afford WHQL testing which I think costs about 40,000 dollars per product/driver version. You'll notice that there were hardly Voodoo2 drivers for Win2K, because they couldn't afford further driver development. To this today the only Win2K drivers for a Voodoo 2 that supports both DirectX and OpenGL are bastard drivers by the 3DFX user-base. However, the Voodoo 2 Driver issue with Win2K is partially related to MS changing their security model. They knowingly did something that broke 3DFX's drivers and invited them over to figure out a solution. However, MS and 3DFX didn't get along and 3DFX left in outrage and the rest is history. I know I remember the day it happened I was working in the same building. Cheers, Christian Blackburn

Hi Tom, I agree that in the past reapplying the service packs was necessary. However, I don't think that'll be necessary in Office 2003. Also it's my guess that if you try re-installing it it'll tell you the service pack is already installed. But yes changing the installed packages part should work fine. I just don't want to see you worrying, because you are unable to reinstall the service pack. Cheers, Christian Blackburn

Hi Gang, I can't figure this out. I don't have a volume hidden or visible named G:. I even went and checked Disk Management for kicks and giggles. Why does the Windows XP Indexing service lists a catalog named System as being located at "G:\System Volume Information"? Furthermore, it won't let me change the path to something valid? Thanks, Christian Blackburn

Hi Novice_G, Interesting. I'm not sure why your game would be acessing your com ports unless it supports some kind of multi-player, modem based, action. Is there a way you can disable that feature. If you can keep it from polling your modem then you might just be able to get it to work. However, DOS box is probably your easyiest bet. Other options include: Bochs, another emulator (VirtualPC or VMWARE), an old PC, using a DOS bootable floppy, or a bootable copy of FreeDos, but like I said Dos Box is your safest bet. Cheers, Christian Blackburn

Well my pie eating friend I'm glad you got things worked out. Based on the title of your thread I was simply going to respond that Win2K is an excellent gaming platform, but it sounds like you already know that . Also one tip on gaming make sure that everything in your task scheduler is set to run when idle so it won't interfere with your gaming. Cheers, Christian Blackburn

Hi Dean, You Can mix DDR all day long. It was PC66-133 that some motherboards/CPU combinations couldn't handle. Don't waste your time with such a pointless upgrade as 256+256 unless that's really all you can afford. Get 512 or 1GB whichever strikes you as economical. A lot of the time the 512 will be ~100 and the 1GB will cost ~270 so in that case it makes more sense to get two 512s and sell your old DIMM. Also did you try the crucial memory configurator? It's quite usefull though not 100% accurate (nor is anything else out there HTTP://www.Crucial.com. Just select your systems make and model or go by motherboard manufacturer if you built it yourself. Cheers, Christian Blackburn

Hi BMS, I have no idea why you application is crashing on first go on all these operating systems. It's possible that you're installing a web browser before Visual Studio in all of these instances. Did you try service pack 6a before trying to run anything. And yes I also agree bad media seems like an extremely probable situation. If you call Microsoft they'll send you a new copy of the disks for about 10 dollars. 425-882-8080 and then just ask the operator to get the media replacement department. Cheers, Christian Blackburn

Hi Gang, I've looked at the list of supported processors for my Intel D845BG motherboard http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/d845bg/sb/CS-013128.htm and it doesn't list a single celeron processor faster than 1.8GHZ. It does however list true pentium 4's going all the way up to 2.6GHZ. The true Pentium 4 2.6GHZ CPU is 179 dollars, there's a celeron version for 78 dollars (less than half the price, and certainly not half the speed either). Has anyone tried an unsupported celeron on this motherboard with success? Does anyone know of a reason why this wouldn't work? Thanks, Christian Blackburn

Hi Jimmjo, I'm not trying to use a 533 or higher FSB celeron. The celeron in question isn't a Celeron D and is in fact 400MHZ so the real question becomes are the voltage, multiplier, and anything else I'm forgettting compatible? Obviously the bios might say unknown CPU at post, but so long as it also says 2800MHZ I'm a happy camper. Cheers, Christian Blackburn

Ya I knew there were problems with the 7600 and Windows XP. Although it is good to hear that there are workarounds. However, the main problem for me is that Scansoft changed PaperPort 9 so much that the 7600's software is unable to integrate with it. Does anyone know if this is also the case with PaperPort 8? I've used just about every version between and including 3.5 to 9. However, I haven't used 10 yet. Cheers, Christian Blackburn

Hi Gang, I too have problems with video capture and scheduled recording. I can get it to somewhat work, but only if I choose no compression. I certainly can't get their DIVX recording to work either . I know it's supposed to require a 1.7GHZ CPu, but I have a 1.6 and it should be letting me record at reduced compression levels . I think I will go with an ATI card in the future. Can anyone comment on their recent success and or failures with one of these cards? Also this card sucks with TitanTV.com, much to my dissapointment. Thanks, Christian Blackburn

Hi Gang, I'm looking for MP3 Player recommendations. Before you tell me about your favorite Mp3 Player and I'm sure it's cool (for you) let me tell you what I'm looking for. I'm looking for something that will record me and possibly double as a flash drive (though that isn't as important). The more disk space the merrier, although I'm hoping to keep this under a 100 dollar proposition. Thanks in Advance, Christian Blackburn

Hi c00lguy, My first recommendation is not to install software that utilizes spyware in the first place. I don't have any software installed that uses spyware. Sure there are a few browser cookies that track me, but aside from that I avoid the heck out of spyware, who wants it? That being said you can remove the spyware with Adaware or there's some other program, I think it's called Spy Bot, and it's supposed to be good too. If you want to do it yourself and not install anything else then I recommend you create a boot disk and delete those files from Dos. If you want to know how to get awesome software that doesn't utilize spyware take a look at SF.net. For an instant messenger have a look at GAIM and for a KaZaA/Napster clone try out eMule. If you want to know any other open-source, free, and spyware-free commercial analogs, just ask . Cheers, Christian Blackburn