Marvelous Marv

This is somewhat long and drawn out, but I thought it might amuse some people.

I had managed to get an afternoon away from the office. For almost an hour and a half. Phone call: "The server smells like it's burning and none of the computers work."

Apparent fried motherboard. I had an identical machine, so I took that box, put the server's hard drive in it, and connected it in the server's room. The network came back up without a hiccup, but that meant my office workstation was kaput. No problem, I thought. Bought a motherboard and CPU. Wouldn't power up. Brought in a more knowledgeable friend. No dice.

Second trip to Fry's: Exchange motherboard.

Third trip to Fry's: Ask them to give me the CPU back, which I had left in the motherboard.

Now the new board would power up without the CPU, but when the CPU was inserted, it would cut off after three seconds or so.

Fourth trip to Fry's: Exchange CPU. Talked a tech into testing it for me. Motherboard worked fine with new CPU, wouldn't work at all with the old one. This might have been because the return clerk dropped it on their cement floor, but who cares? Got back to the office, the motherboard wouldn't let me into setup.

Fifth trip to Fry's: Talked to another tech. He ran some tests; said my Mobo was bad. Didn't trust him--waited until the first tech got back from lunch. First thing he said: "That sounds like a memory problem." He tested the memory--one of the two was bad. Bought more (and some cooling fans) and went back to the office. Figured now that I had gone through a bad mobo, a bad CPU, and bad memory, what else could happen? Everything worked, but the computer had come with a restore CD containing WinXP that will only install on one of their computers. So my new Mobo is incompatible with the restore CD.

I have a legal copy of every consumer version from Windows 98 (first edition) to XP Pro. Unfortunately, my Win 2000 (for a new computer) doesn't want to install for some reason. It locks up at the "Installing Windows 2000" stage. Both my XP Home and Pro CDs are upgrades. So I can't put them on a hard drive that doesn't have an operating system installed.

So (I'm not asking for anything illegal) can anyone tell me how I can convince this new computer to run one of the Windows programs that I legally bought?
Or do I have to donate to Bill Gates once again?

Thanks.

__________________
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
Margaret Thatcher

wombatman

Put in the upgrade CD. Mine (XP Pro) asks for a Windows CD. I use an old Win95 CD I have from god knows when. You should be able to use any Windows CD you have for this purpose.

Actually, I'm a bit confused. Are you trying to install Win 2000? Or just any version of Windows you can get on there? The above advice should work for Win XP...probably Home as well.

cyrnel

What happened to the drive from your original office machine? It was the same MB model before, no? I'm missing something between taking out the board as a server spare and replacing it with the new board. If you're installing because of a HAL issue it can be fixed without a fresh install.

The 2K install... it hangs right after you specify all your preferences or some other time? If it fails during HW detection that's often a hardware issue, or a BIOS/setting conflict.

New MB, but did you update the BIOS before getting started? Bring it up to date and load safe defaults. I know, but I have to ask. Those Fry's guys like to put surprises in your dinner.

Did anyone run memtest on the assembled box or are we assuming the new memory is good?

__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

flat5

Fried motherboard. Then fried CPU. I would not trust the power supply until it 's condition is known.

Marvelous Marv

Anything I can get on there, then upgrade to XP. I'll let you know how that works.

Thanks.

__________________
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
Margaret Thatcher

Marvelous Marv

I wasn't clear. Two identical machines, one a server, one a workstation. The server's board fried. I took the workstation, put in the hard drive from the server, and it became the server.

They were e-machines, and out of warranty. So I was replacing the mobo on the one that was to become my workstation. With the new chipset and all, Windows XP was way too confused. Hence, the need for a format and install.


Before I specify anything. Please--no more hardware issues.

The BIOS was dated 8/8/05. He ran through it and from what I could see, had it configured well. Obviously had done it a lot. We did not test the new memory, but everything worked once I got the old memory out.

__________________
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
Margaret Thatcher

Marvelous Marv

I changed it, but you're certainly right.

__________________
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
Margaret Thatcher

Marvelous Marv

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

MikeSty

Congrats on getting things to a good point. Hooray for computer kids like mee

Um, just to make sure, check in the BIOS to make sure sound settings are good to go.

alpha phi

The onboard sound drivers
are on the motherboard manufactures site

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Downloads/ProductsDetail_Download.aspx?CategoryID=1&Typeid=32&detailid=531&DetailName=Driver&DetailDesc=P4M800-M7(1.0)&MenuID=35&LanID=9

well that link wraped around
try THIS

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Marvelous Marv

Thanks. Looks promising, but the website isn't quite cooperating yet.

I'll post how it turns out.

__________________
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
Margaret Thatcher

Marvelous Marv

Worked like a freaking charm!

Thanks. I guess that was simple, but then so am I.

__________________
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
Margaret Thatcher