Posts by Catweazle

Did you try it? Internet Explorer affects the whole system, because Internet Explorer is part of the Windows Explorer shell!

It might help you to make use of our 'Security' forum section to track down and remove any remaining traces of unwanted intruders on your system, and then perform a 'Refresh install' afterwards.

Considering that 128Mb 6800GTs can be purchased for $AUD600 and 256Mb 6800GTs for under $AUD700, if that $600 is US currency I think you're looking in the wrong place for a bargain. It seems excessively high to me ;)

I get it all right, young'un. The price just seemed wrong to me, is all, and I was wondering where the hell you lived! ;)

Dude, I'm in Australia, so any pricing I give you probably wouldn't be relevent. Shop around and check lots of online stores to judge what prices are available for you location.

Didn't you read that bit?

Your font setting has probably been altered for Internet Explorer. That change affects web pages and other documents which do not have a specified font setting.

Start up Internet Explorer and choose Tools -> Internet options. On the 'General' tab you'll find a button for Fonts. Click on it and change the font back to its defaults:

Language Script - Latin based
Web Page Font - Times New Roman
Plain text font - Courier New

Let us know if that works, please, because that was a guess ;)

Just remember that nothing whatsoever can take images of higher quality than the source coming into the system. Your games image quality is limited to the output of the PS2, and that's probably TV quality not PC monitor quality.

Dude, I'm in Australia, so any pricing I give you probably wouldn't be relevent. Shop around and check lots of online stores to judge what prices are available for you location. Online shopping is usually much cheaper than purchasing from your local computer shop.

A Radeon 9800 Pro is a good performance/price display card. I would personally consider it to be a base level of performance to aim at for a games system. Upgrading it later on to an NVidia 6800GT or an ATi X800XT would give you a games system which will be good enough to use for a long time to come yet.

Care to explain HOW you fixed it, so that others reading who have a similar problem may benefit from your experience?

Daniweb is an INFORMATION SHARING community ;)

Try burning your CDs at a lower speed. The slower the burn speed, the less chance of errors and the more chance of them being readable in other drives. Also try burning your CDs onto higher quality, more expensive blank media. ;)

Your point is, rcrevolution?

Young Teck 06, cutting corners too far in relation to a processor isn't really a good idea for a Games system. A games system is a high performance system, or should be. You shouldn't plan on the need to upgrade a processor later on, because realistically technology changes too fast, a processor upgrade doesn't really give much benefit to Games performance, and by the time the next upgrade is needed almost everybody will need to upgrade their motherboard as well. So plan your system around a decent motherboard and processor from the start!

At present, for those people who need to be conscious of cost, there are two choices available which would make the basis of a good games system

AMD Athlon64 3000+ (or 3200+ is better if the budget allows) for socket 754 motherboards.

The Socket 754 standard is being phased out for future processors, but for now it's the affordable best performance platform. The processor should be coupled with a motherboard which uses the NVidia NForce3 250 chipset. This is the highest performing 'budget-level' option currently available for a games system.

Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHz 'Northwood' for Socket 478 motherboards.

Not quite as good as the Athlon64 but still a very good performance processor/motherboard combination when coupled with an Intel i865PE or i875P chipset. Do NOT purchase an Intel brand motherboard, as it will have the performance features disabled. Third party motherboards using …

I'd consider it's definitely an inadequate power supply unit. When you try to obtain a replacement, consider a 400Watt unit as a minimum, and purchase for quality of brand rather than extra wattage. Cheaper power supply units do NOT deliver stable voltage levels.

No. Never has been, never will be. The technologies and internal architecture of the processors are entirely different.

A motherboard which did that would really be TWO motherboards!

Not sure what you're suggesting there, rcrevolution. Are you perhaps suggesting that because a term with 'hyper' in it has been associated with an Intel product, then no AMD product should use anything which also has 'hyper' in it's name?

Hyperthreading is the parrallel processing of 'streams' of data, in a way which simulates dual processors rather than a single one. Even when the feature is enabled on the processor, it hardly ever gets used, because hardly any programs can make use of it.

Hypertransport, a feature found on newer AMD processors, is a memory management technology, not a processing technology. With AMD Athlon64 and AthlonFX processors, the memory management unit of the system is located on the processor, rather than being left as a function of the motherboard chipset's northbridge chip. The feature is constantly in use, enabling the motherboard chipset to be less complex, and enabling the computer system to operate without a traditional 'front side bus' arrangement being in place and acting as a 'bottleneck'.

If you pop a data disk in the drive and wait a little bit, does the dialogue box pop up asking what you want to do, or explorer open up showing you a list of the disk contents?

If you pop a music CD in, does it pop up a dialogue box asking what you want to do or else the disk start playing music for you?

Should either or both of these conditions be the case, then you have system corruption and need to fix up your Windows installation.

If it's simply the Sims2 CD which won't work for you and everything else does, then you have one of two problems:

* The Sims CD itself is a dud or...
* Your CD drive is either a brand which has trouble with the Sims2 game's copy protection system or is faulty and in need of replacement.

If you are a Windows XP user, have you downloaded Windows Moviemaker 2 from the Windows Update site? (It's an upgrade to the version originally included in Windows XP).

That program does exactly what you describe, and you should find it on your programs menu under Accessories -> Entertainment.

Young Teck, you've created a topic about your Sims problem. Please continue discussing it in that, rather than mentioning it multiple times.

http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread12302.html

Answers there please!

Does any other CD autorun? You might have autostart disabled, either through setting or through system corruption.

I'll move this to the appropriate section as soon as the problem becomes evident.

You've probably got a corrupted normal.dot file.

Close down all instances of Word (and any other programs which use Word plugins, such as Internet Explorer and Outlook). Then use 'Search' on the Start menu to locate the file normal.dot

Rename it to normal.old then start up Word. A new normal.dot file will be created, with default settings.

Just post the log back in this topic if you wish. I'm moving this topic to the Security section where it belongs anyway. This is definitely a browser hijack issue.

Fraps

http://www.fraps.com/

Best of the lot ;)

I'm sorry, but this post looks like a request for financial assistance, not a Tech problem. If you have hardware questions about your upgrade please put them in your existing upgrade topic, so we can follow what's happening and what's already been suggested.

Topic closed.

AMD Sempron is the budget processor. It gives better performance than a Celeron.

Athlon XP is the soon to be discontinued competitor for Pentium 4. It performs slightly under the corresponding Pentium 4 level

Athlon64 (until 64-bit computing comes in anyway) is the new competitor for the higher rated models of the Pentium 4. It performs slightly better than the equivalent Pentium 4 model.

AthlonFX is a higher performance processor of a similar type as an Athlon64. It outperforms the Pentium 4 EE

AMD Opteron is a server processor, not a desktop processor. Its direct 'competitor is the Xeon, but it absolutely wipes the floor with the Xeon, I'm afraid ;)

Thinking of processors in terms of 'gigahertz' is a false way to judge competitiveness and performance. Even Intel has dropped the measure for its newer processors and now uses 'Model numbers'. Just look at the 'performance rating' model number for the AMD chip and assess it according to the general guidelines above.

Also, could you please continue your upgrade discussion in your existing upgrade topic, instead of creating even more topics about it?

Further discussion in this topic only about the comparitive standings of different processors please.

Antec, OCZ, Thermaltake and Zalman are the units I'd consider as first choices.

What processor you got there, ReDux, considering there's no such thing as a 2GHz Barton?

It's all the same chip. The quality varies when they come off the production line, just like any other processor. The 'best' ones get clocked higher on XT cards, the 'worst' ones get clocked lowest on SE cards!

Especially when their performance doesn't really exceed that of their much cheaper Athlon64 conterparts ;)

I'd think it's different manufacturer implementation as well. Windows utilities need to be able to detect the information to report what a card is, and if a different format has been used to record the information in the card's BIOS then it'll be reported differently. Windows doesn't actually scan the physical component itself to determine what it is, Windows simply ASKS it ;)

By the way, Coconut Monkey, I dug down through some of the links on ATi's site and actually found mention of the 9600SE a bit deeper down. The site clearly demonstrates that the processors themselves for all the 9600 products are the same, and the only differences between the various standards are the speeds at which the processor and video memory are clocked, and the size of the memory interface implemenrted on the card, as can be seen on this comparison chart:

http://www.ati.com/products/radeon9600/radeon9600pro/compare.html

That's your problem. You're simply copying the program files into your 'Desktop' folder, rather than creating a shortcut.

To do it correctly, right-click on the program and choose 'Send to..." then 'Desktop'. That will create a valid shortcut for you.

Hi Craig,

I'd suggest you have a good look through the "Helping Yourself...." topic in out 'Security' section. It contains suggestions and links to tools which would be helpful. You've clearly got intruders on your system and the tool you're currently using isn't doing the job for you!

You don't need to dowload it. osa9.exe is the Office Shortcut for MS Office 2000. Simply repairing or reinstalling the program will restore it for you if you've disabled or deleted it.

This article leads to the MS Office 2000 Resource Kit 'readme', which contains all the information you need to know, I think.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;210875

Moved to 'Windows Software' section.

Get your system cleaned of intruders first. Then boot into 'Safe mode', use CTRL-ALT-DEL and 'end task' everything except systray and explorer, and run defrag after that. That method is the best and quickest way to defrag in Windows 9x.

But DO NOT bother with Defrag until AFTER you've cleaned the system!

ATi is the brand of the graphics processor. That's what the 'manufacturer' reference is in relation to. Many different display card manufacturers use ATi graphics processors to build display cards from, just as many different manufacturers use NVidia graphics processors to build display cards from. The brand name of the actual card itself does not show up in DXDiag, only the brand name of the graphics processor.

For example, I just ran through the price list of one online store and found 'ATi Radeon' cards manufactured by:

ABit
Asus
Elsa
GeCube
Gigabyte
Hightech
MSI
Powercolour
Sapphire

There are many others as well.

Check in BIOS Setup on the 'PC Health' menu. 'CPU warning temperature' might be set to too low a level. Motherboard alarms generally mean only either a heat warning or a 'case open' warning.

The other problem, the system crashing (I don't think the two are necessarily related) could well be a RAM problem. I haven't come across OCR RAM, only OCZ RAM, but generic modules often have incompatibilities with motherboards, and cause the sort of system crashes you're experiencing. I'd try running the system with a single module of RAM borrowed from somewhere else. If it runs stable you can suspect your own RAM as the source of the problem.

I think his is a different brand to yours, and that you're both using different device driver versions.

I also think that if that 9600SE is meeting your needs, all is well and good, and you have no need to worry about it until such time as you find yourself unable to play the games you wish to run.

best maybe for games, p4 with HT is the beter one for multi-tasking.

Not quite right. More RAM is the thing which improves multi-tasking, not really the processor at all.

The hyper-threading (simulation of dual-processors) of the more recent Pentium 4 processors is of benefit only to those types of software application which are written to make use of it. Very demanding tasks like real-time video editing and the serving of huge amounts of data from a database for example. The type of computing tasks most commonly associated with Workstation computers rather than desktop computers. Everyday computing applications and PC games make no use of the feature at all.

I seem to have changed language some of the buttons are in greek! the folders and icons are ok the keyboard is ok just buttons e.g. when I shut down or right click a folder I can't read all the buttons? anyone have an idea how to get it right (win98)
I have just had to delete and replace shell32.dll due to a not being able to get on the net problem, as well as the language change I lost all program icons in the programs menu on the start menu. not a great problem just meens I have to make some copies and put them back.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks Dave

I'd reckon you downloaded that file from the wrong place, friend! It's not Greek, by the way, it's a Scandinavian language by the looks of things. You should have simply run Setup off your Windows CD to install Windows over the top of itself. Might still work - try it ;)

You're a rather rude Young Teck, I think. :confused:

Do you actually know the difference between an Athlon XP processor and an Athlon64 processor?

You're living in the past with that idea that Intel Pentium is better for gaming. the Athlon64 processors beat their Pentium equivalents in games performance hands down ;)

OK, on topic, eh?

That's a tad light on for a modern gaming rig. Matter of fact, looking at the display card chosen it's a LOT light on!

AMD Athlon64 is currently the best choice for gaming, not Intel. It'll do just as well as the Pentium for Photoshopping as well. Socket 754 is good enough and keeps costs down. Look for a decent and affordable Socket 754 NForce3 250 chipset motherboard, and an Athlon64 3200+ if you can fit it in the budget. Match it with at least 512Mb of PC3200 RAM, and 1Gb is better. Being cooler running than the latest Pentiums, it won't need either water cooling or a 120mm case fan ;)

Display card is the most important factor for games and you shouldn't accept anything less than a Radeon 9600XT or an NVidia FX5900XT bare minimum! A Radeon 9800 Pro is still a decent card and is an affordable option also.

The Athlon64 for socket 754 probably won't go much past 3200+, but the addition of a better display card later on would keep that rig gaming for a long time to come anyway, so it wouldn't matter.

If funds are too tight, you could drop that back to an Athlon64 2800+ and have room for a processor upgrade later as well (although I wouldn't bother personally) and it'd still belt the piss outta that Pentium 2.6GHz ;)

That motherboard alarm makes it sound suspiciously like an overheating problem. Remove the side of your system case and check that:

* The fan and ventilation holes aren't clogged with dust
* The processor fan is actually working
* The processor heatsink/fan hasn't become loose or unclipped. It should be clipped quite firmly, and resist a light twisting motion.

Hi jboy, and welcome. Perhaps the best suggestion I could make to start with is that you bring up the main forum menu and locate the 'Java' forum section. Post a topic in there and I'm sure you'll receive assistance.

You could try working through the suggestions in this article.

I haven't used such a sound card, but here's the general troubleshooting procedure for a problem such as yours:

* Check the Volume control. Ensure on Options->Properties that all devices are being displayed. check to see if a device is Muted. Fix it if that's the explanation.

* Uninstall any driver software from Add/Remove programs and the recently added offending software.

* Locate the soundcard's entrie(s) in Device Manager and remove it.

* Reboot and reinstall soundcard.

* Be more careful about sourcing software from the internet next time ;)

Best thing to do with a scuffed CD is stroll off down to the local Video/DVD rental outlet. It's odds-on they'll have a polishing machine, and will be able to renovate it for you for a small fee. You can get small portable machines to polish them quite cheaply, but they don't do anywhere near as good a job as a professional one.

outdoors51, problems like this, where some unwanted intruder has lodged itself on your system, should be posted in the 'Security' section of our forum.

I'll move this there for you, so you can get some assistance with your problem.

I need to know what to get. I know the basics but i am new to this (considering i own a Dell) and i need som opinions.
I am thinking of either a RADEON X800 PRO 256MB AGP or a RADEON X800 XT PLATINUM 256MB AGP for my video card. :?: what kind of processor, mother board ect. do i need to get.

Dude, scrap that idea. The X800XT PE is a bullshit thing that basically doesn't really exist. Call it the "Press Edition" not the "Platinum Edition". The X800 Pro is a dud because it has less processing pipelines.

The NVidia 6800GT is the best card out at the top end, of those that can actually be OBTAINED.

Match it with a Socket 939 motherboard and the best Athlon64 you can afford for future-proofing. ;)

Don't do defrag from task scheduler for goodness sake! Anything else running can interrupt defrag and stop it from completing.

Start it manually, and before you do use CTRL-ALT-DEL and 'End task' everything except systray and explorer. Defrag for Win 9x is a shit of a thing!

Can you find a manufacturer name and a model number printed on that hard drive please?

I really dislike advising on the basis of what "somebody told me", and would like to check exactly what the unit actually IS.

If you want a step by step guide to setting up your system to use Firefox rather than IE:

Here it is!

Every little step of it explained, and a few extras thrown in for good measure ;)

Enjoy

Edit: Seriously, the change is well worth it, but make sure you clean your system first or format and reinstall before you start. You get more benefit from the change that way. There are a few sites which simply won't work with Firefox or other browsers, but using the little tweak in the article or putting an IE icon in the Quick Launch area soon fixes that.

And tabbed browsing, once you get used to using it, is something you'll never want to be without again.

Yep! Not a lot though.

I use it to give a gong to people who are being really stupid by posting comments that are offensive or abusive. I use it to give kudos to people who contribute something that strikes me as rather special.

But I'm rather sparing with the handing out of either of those.