Very strange problem - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

glophead · 09-06-2003, 08:11 PM

I have had this computer for a while now, and it's not all that bad, but there is a problem. Archived files get corrupted and dont pass a CRC number check. Some programs work while other don't work. Office xp wouldn't install, Tribes 2 won't patch, and there a numerous other smaller and annoying problems, most of which mention CRC errors. I have tried reformating many times and have even done complete hard drive wipes, but the problems still remain. It seems the longer the time after a format, the more problems arise. I did some research on the net, and people mentioned fixing this problem by removing RAM.

Here are my specs:

1.4 GHz AMD T-Bird CPU *266* FSB
PC Chips Mother Board
512 MB DDR 2100 RAM (2x 256MB sticks)
80 GB western digital HD 7200

I have tried removing RAM and it does fix some of the problems, but there are still some problems even with 128MB RAM.

Any help or links with help would be muchly appreciated.

poof · 09-06-2003, 08:19 PM

Instead of removing ram, swap them. You know, try each one on its own.

sakvee · 09-06-2003, 09:07 PM

Try running some stress tests on each component in your pc, that should be able to show you were the problem is coming from. Have a search on google.

It does sound like ram though, try what poof said or maybe borrow some working ram from a friend.

Flippy · 09-06-2003, 09:17 PM

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding something here, but you might also want to check out your hard drive. Hard drive errors can cause files to become corrupted quite easily, and probability of file corruption increases as more data is written to the drive (eg. after formats).

Actually, sorry, now that I think about it, formatting should flag any bad sectors on the hard drive. Check out some Diagnostic utilities, as some are *very* thorough and they may be able to find the problem with your computer.

Good luck!

glophead · 09-06-2003, 09:48 PM

I have tried swapping RAM, and buying new RAM, and none of it works. Thanks anyway.

heyal256 · 09-06-2003, 10:49 PM

Even though you have tried swapping/removing ram, The errors do sound like a ram issue. have you tried testing your ram? you can try this one http://www.simmtester.com/page/products/doc/docinfo.asp
I think that i did need to enter in my e-mail address and some other info, but it was the tester that I used to confirm that i had bad ram. Also note that it might not be bad ram as much as a bad ram socket.

Other things for you to also try is to clean out any dust in your case, because sometimes dust/dirt can cause interference that can cause the crc errors. the only other thing to do is to run scandisk or something better (norton utils?) to check that your hd/partition info isn't a little bit off.

A side note is that all of us could be wrong and some sort of virus/spyware/corrupted program is causing these errors.

09-06-2003, 08:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
glophead Crazy Location: Springfield, VA	Very strange problem I have had this computer for a while now, and it's not all that bad, but there is a problem. Archived files get corrupted and dont pass a CRC number check. Some programs work while other don't work. Office xp wouldn't install, Tribes 2 won't patch, and there a numerous other smaller and annoying problems, most of which mention CRC errors. I have tried reformating many times and have even done complete hard drive wipes, but the problems still remain. It seems the longer the time after a format, the more problems arise. I did some research on the net, and people mentioned fixing this problem by removing RAM. Here are my specs: 1.4 GHz AMD T-Bird CPU 266 FSB PC Chips Mother Board 512 MB DDR 2100 RAM (2x 256MB sticks) 80 GB western digital HD 7200 I have tried removing RAM and it does fix some of the problems, but there are still some problems even with 128MB RAM. Any help or links with help would be muchly appreciated.

09-06-2003, 09:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
sakvee Tilted Location: Behind you	Try running some stress tests on each component in your pc, that should be able to show you were the problem is coming from. Have a search on google. It does sound like ram though, try what poof said or maybe borrow some working ram from a friend. __________________ Better to regret something you did, than something you didn't do.

09-06-2003, 08:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
poof Psycho	Instead of removing ram, swap them. You know, try each one on its own.

09-06-2003, 09:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
Flippy Banned Location: Greater Vancouver	Perhaps I'm misunderstanding something here, but you might also want to check out your hard drive. Hard drive errors can cause files to become corrupted quite easily, and probability of file corruption increases as more data is written to the drive (eg. after formats). Actually, sorry, now that I think about it, formatting should flag any bad sectors on the hard drive. Check out some Diagnostic utilities, as some are very thorough and they may be able to find the problem with your computer. Good luck!

09-06-2003, 09:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
glophead Crazy Location: Springfield, VA	I have tried swapping RAM, and buying new RAM, and none of it works. Thanks anyway.

09-06-2003, 10:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
heyal256 Not so great lurker Location: NY	Even though you have tried swapping/removing ram, The errors do sound like a ram issue. have you tried testing your ram? you can try this one http://www.simmtester.com/page/products/doc/docinfo.asp I think that i did need to enter in my e-mail address and some other info, but it was the tester that I used to confirm that i had bad ram. Also note that it might not be bad ram as much as a bad ram socket. Other things for you to also try is to clean out any dust in your case, because sometimes dust/dirt can cause interference that can cause the crc errors. the only other thing to do is to run scandisk or something better (norton utils?) to check that your hd/partition info isn't a little bit off. A side note is that all of us could be wrong and some sort of virus/spyware/corrupted program is causing these errors.