Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - I'm almost through with the computer from hell

Marvelous Marv · 12-11-2005, 09:02 AM

The continuing saga ...

I finally got fed up with the situation, and gave the computer containing the new motherboard and processor to Fry's, paid them $70, and said "get it working." They said they'd swap out any defective parts I just bought from them. They also said it would be around ten days before they'd get around to it.

So ten days later, I called to see how it was going. Nobody had looked at it. The guy (the same one who had misdiagnosed it before, I think) acted a little embarrassed, and promised to call that day.

He later told me the (third or fourth) motherboard was bad, and said it was ready to be picked up.

I picked it up, took it home, and it didn't work.

Took it back around 8:30 p.m. That's when I discovered the technician had "recommended" a new motherboard. Hadn't replaced it.

The service manager looked at my face when I heard that, and said, "We're going to take care of this." He called over a kid who, in my observations, was the smartest one there. The kid was told, "Take care of this." I later found out it was the service manager's last day, so he didn't have to worry about Fry's hassling him. The kid (Thomas) said, "I can't fix this by 9:00." Then they both said, "Oh yeah--this is the first day of our holiday schedule--we're open until 10:30." I couldn't believe my luck, since it had been all bad up to that point.

They looked for another of the same motherboard. None available. More good luck! The kid asked me if I "like Intel." Yeah, I do. So he issued me a refund for the motherboard, processor, and repair service, even though I hadn't brought all the boxes. Another miracle.

Thomas and I installed everything while talking computers, and I happened to have brought an XP CD. I was even able to use the same keycode that was used on the preinstalled XP that came with the computer. Didn't mind not having to buy another copy. Then we installed all of the drivers that came with the motherboard.

So I got it home, and everything was fine, EXCEPT...

No sound. Little yellow exclamation point in device manager.

I did a web search, and lots of people have had problems with this particular onboard audio after an XP install or reinstall. Unfortunately, none of the fixes I found online worked for me. It's a C-Media AC97. The drivers I found on C-Media's site didn't fix it.

So I'm hoping some knowledgeable person here will be able to assist. It's an ECS "Elite Group" motherboard model P4M800-M7. Chipset is VIAP4M800&8237R. The processor is an Intel Pentium 4 506, 2.6 GHz, 533 MHz FSB. The box also says Intel EM64T. I have 1 gig of DDR memory in it, if that makes a difference.

If other details are necessary, I can provide them.

Any takers?

Thanks.

12-11-2005, 09:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
Marvelous Marv Cunning Runt Location: Taking a mulligan	The continuing saga ... I finally got fed up with the situation, and gave the computer containing the new motherboard and processor to Fry's, paid them $70, and said "get it working." They said they'd swap out any defective parts I just bought from them. They also said it would be around ten days before they'd get around to it. So ten days later, I called to see how it was going. Nobody had looked at it. The guy (the same one who had misdiagnosed it before, I think) acted a little embarrassed, and promised to call that day. He later told me the (third or fourth) motherboard was bad, and said it was ready to be picked up. I picked it up, took it home, and it didn't work. Took it back around 8:30 p.m. That's when I discovered the technician had "recommended" a new motherboard. Hadn't replaced it. The service manager looked at my face when I heard that, and said, "We're going to take care of this." He called over a kid who, in my observations, was the smartest one there. The kid was told, "Take care of this." I later found out it was the service manager's last day, so he didn't have to worry about Fry's hassling him. The kid (Thomas) said, "I can't fix this by 9:00." Then they both said, "Oh yeah--this is the first day of our holiday schedule--we're open until 10:30." I couldn't believe my luck, since it had been all bad up to that point. They looked for another of the same motherboard. None available. More good luck! The kid asked me if I "like Intel." Yeah, I do. So he issued me a refund for the motherboard, processor, and repair service, even though I hadn't brought all the boxes. Another miracle. Thomas and I installed everything while talking computers, and I happened to have brought an XP CD. I was even able to use the same keycode that was used on the preinstalled XP that came with the computer. Didn't mind not having to buy another copy. Then we installed all of the drivers that came with the motherboard. So I got it home, and everything was fine, EXCEPT... No sound. Little yellow exclamation point in device manager. I did a web search, and lots of people have had problems with this particular onboard audio after an XP install or reinstall. Unfortunately, none of the fixes I found online worked for me. It's a C-Media AC97. The drivers I found on C-Media's site didn't fix it. So I'm hoping some knowledgeable person here will be able to assist. It's an ECS "Elite Group" motherboard model P4M800-M7. Chipset is VIAP4M800&8237R. The processor is an Intel Pentium 4 506, 2.6 GHz, 533 MHz FSB. The box also says Intel EM64T. I have 1 gig of DDR memory in it, if that makes a difference. If other details are necessary, I can provide them. Any takers? Thanks. __________________ "The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money." Margaret Thatcher