Posts by Catweazle

Your motherboard may require a BIOS update in order for it to properly identify the processor.

That's correct, cargenius. Deleting the partitions and then creating new ones in their place is probably the simplest and surest way to wipe a system and the procedure I'd recommend every time! If the 120Gb drive is an IDE one on the primary IDE channel, Windows will try to install there by default anyway.

But remember to back up the data first!
(You sound like you know what you're doing. That bit was for anyone else reading :))

Try uninstalling the game, deleting any residual program folders and files related to the game, then reinstalling the game and ensuring that all game patches are installed. If that doesn't work try reinstalling motherboard chipset drivers and display card drivers.

Follow the instructions in this article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314060

The error occurs as a result of registry corruption caused by quite a range of software.

'Good code' is clean, concise, and secure. 'Bad code' is not.

Microsoft products most certainly contain 'bad code'. Pretty much all of the cpmaritive analyses I've seen, however, suggest that Microsoft products actually contain a lower percentage of lines of 'bad code' than most other software products.

Is it realistic to expect that ANY software product is going to be completely free of this? Is it fair and reasonable to expect Microsoft to do so when the demand is not being made of other software developers also?

As you suggested, it's simply 'Microsoft bashing'.

Interesting maybe. Silly certainly!

If a company such as Microsoft WASN'T developing software which had future developments in computer hardware in mind, they'd be criticised for that.

Microsoft Windows actually contains considerably LESS 'bad code' than other major software products. This is a nonsense claim, and hopefully the courts will see it as such!

The original Sims game requires administrator rights in order to run. Are you using a restricted user account on that system? If so, the game will not run within that environment. It has to be installed and run from an account with full administrator provileges.

Moving this to the Windows software section. Tech questions in the Tech sections please!

And yes, I agree. Internet accelerators are best avoided. If someone wants faster transfer speeds, then a better (and probably more expensive) connection plan is the ONLY really suitable alternative.

People should be free to say whatever they like so long as what they say does not hurt or offend others.

With rights come responsibilities. Where that does not occur you have a truly sick society!

Hi, and welcome.

Your question would attract the best response if you posted it as a new topic in the appropriate 'Hardware' section in the TechTalk area of the forum.

Hiya Jeremy, and welcome.

You keep on reading rather than commenting for as long as you like mate, and we'll be happy to see your contributions when you feel ready to make them. We value all our members and are very happy to see you here!

:D

I would think that in the absence of a decision about which programming language to use you could probably be best choosing between the:

Web Technologies and Trends
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/forum5.html

Software Design, Schema and Implementation
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/forum60.html

sections as appropriate. Those sections most likely have more specialised aims in mind, but they are the only non language specific ones where you could post your initial queries so I guess they'd have to do. After you've discussed your concept and made a decision about what language to use for it, you could then continue your discussion in the more specific forum section for that language.

That's just a fancy name for a Flash drive.

Was that the full text of the error message? Other text in the message would help identify the problem.

0x000000D1 DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

is an error which can relate to many issues, including software ones. I've even seen suggestions that if such a problem is consistently encountered and recurs even after a hard drive format and fresh install, the use of a 'Zero Fill' utility to remove all traces of previous data from the hard drive can be useful.

But most commonly, this error relates to memory modules which are in the wrong slots or which are incomapatible either with each other or the motherboard (cheap, generic RAM modules are notorious for this) or to a power supply unit which is delivering poor or fluctuating voltage levels (again, cheap, generic units are notorious for problems.)

If it's a sotware cause, look to drivers first. If you have drivers which are not WHQL certified, uninsyall them and use Certified versions instead. If you have software which uses software drivers to act as virtual devices (Antivirus and other security software often does this) disable it and see if the problem is corrected. Some of the Symantec auto updating software can cause such poblems under certain circumstances, for example. (Replace any such software of course)

Reinstall the motherboard chipset drivers, check to ensure that Windows updates are loaded, then reinstall any necessary USB 2.0 drivers or patches from the motherboard website.

It sounds like a problem which relates to their installation withing Windows rather than a hardware problem.

If they are front panel connectors, however, it would be well to ensure the cables are firmly connected to the motherboard header, and haven't worked loose.

No comment on this for a couple of days, I see.

This is not a new feature, by the way. The monthly and annual sponsorship has been in place for as long as I've been a member here and before. In fact, at one stage I can recall a drive for more funds because the amount of money comong in simply wasn't covering costs!

People can ask for and recieve assistance here free of charge. If people want to make a donation in appreciation I can see no harm. Plenty of freeware software available also which is 'donation' supported, and I see no complaint about that.

The word 'donate' doesn't necessarily mean a charitable organisation to me.

Hiya rhari_81, and welcome to Daniweb. If you want technical questions answered you'll find lots of forum section which cover most aspects of computing. Placing your question in the most appropriate section will ensure that you get the best answer our members here can provide.

Upgrading to an XP 3200+ would not give enough improvement to be worth the expense and effort.

512Mb of RAM is barely adequate for a title such as Battlefield 2. 1Gb or more of RAM is far preferable.

A socket 939 platform (Athlon64) would be the the best choice to make at present for upgrading, but as Coconut Monkey has stated, a more capable display card would gives the best improvement for games. PCI Express is the current standard in display card slots, however, and anything other than a full system upgrade would be a partial solution for you which wouldn't prepare you for future improvements.

I'd suggest adding another 512Mb of RAM, cleaning up your Windows installation and 'tweaking' your system for best performance, and then saving for a full system upgrade.

Hi,

I'll move your topic to the appropriate sectionon TechTalk for hardware questions of this type.

Welcome to Daniweb :)

Hi,

If you have a virus, spyware or other malware problem, please feel free to post a thread in out Viruses and Nasties forum section to get help with it :D

Hi,

Glad to have you here :D

The average wieight of rice grains can be increased by the use of ridge farming and rice-fish cultivation, where 'crops' complement each other side by side.

Experiments carried out in 1986 by the Aquatic Products Station of Chishui County revealed that ridge-rice cultivation could improve rice tillering and increase average grain weight. In these experiments, the average number of grains per ear in the ridge fields was 140–155 compared with only 105–110 in flat fields. The average weight of 1000 grains in the ridge fields was 27.5–28.4 g, compared with 26.5–27.0 g for flat fields. The empty grain rate was 26.5–28% in the ridge fields and 39–41% in the flat fields.

Additional evidence of the benefits come from farmer experiments. A farmer, Jiang Chengxu in Suiyang County, conducted a comparison trial in an area of 0.05 ha (0.025 ha for each of the two methods). In each area, he stocked 200 7-cm fingerlings. The flat field yielded 170 kg rice and 12.6 kg fish. The ridge field yielded 200 kg rice and 34 kg fish, or an increase of 18% for rice and 172% for fish. In the Southeast Guizhou Prefecture, ridge-field cultivation required 6-8 more farmer-days of labour, but the value of production increased by 50%

http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-27637-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

:D

Hiya and welcome. Hope we can help you :D

I've tried being nice. I've tried being quite clear almost to the point of bluntness. It's not going to make any difference, is it?

Please go to one of those hundreds of thousands of places 'U' seem to know of ;)

Topic closed.

hkhan45, I popped into this topic an an effort to nicely try to defuse what seemed possible to turn into flaming. Yes I do think the initial request was an effort to point things out in a friendly manner. I now think that belligerence is being displayed.

It is extremely common on most tech sites that I've encountered for people to be asked to make the effort to type their posts in the best grammar/spelling they are able, and to avoid such things as '133t speak' and IM abbreviations. It is not considered 'impolite' to make such a request.

If I was confronted with a question looking like that inthe Tech section, for example, I'd quite probably respond with:

"Do you mind trying to type that out in English? Trying to read it makes my eyes bleed!"

Now could we leave this sidetrack go please? These comments have not been personally directed. They are simply an accurate depiction of how things work on tech message boards. You can choose to continue posting as you are of course, and it's quite probable that people will be reluctant to offer advice as a result. It's probably also inevitable that others will also ask that you use english rather than some 'home brew' of abbreviations.

heh heh.......

Don't know what you tried to do just then, but copy/paste would probably be good :D

then Wikipedia has it wrong, in the form of being too narrowly restrictive. The word 'donate' means:

to give as to a charitable organisation

It does not mean:

to give, only to a charitable organisation.

The word 'donation' has two meanings. It means either the act of giving or it means a gift.

I can donate toys to my local (commercial) child care facility. People can donate funds to DaniWeb. Those of us who help to keep the place going donate our time.

Then you need to spend the $30 and acquire those disks ;)

(I don't believe that sales arrangement would be legal here in Australia, by the way. I'm not sure if it would be anywhere else either.)

I've read this and consider that jwenting has actually made effort to be polite in communicating what might be a tad off topic but nevertheless a very valid point. In any professional circle (and by professional I mean workplace, not simply trained and qualified people) the use of SMS or IM style abbreviated language is very much frowned upon.

It portrays a quite negative impression of you, and jwenting is only seeking to help you avoid that happening.

Not until you let us know what make and model:

Your computer
Your motherboard
Other components
Windows Service packs

and any other relevent information.

Download, install and run Everest Home Edition if you do not know identification details of relevent components. Most important information we need to know is make and model if a 'brand name' computer or motherboard make and model if not.

Installed Windows service packs and updates are also important for things like USB and wireless.

Agreed. I relish 'back to nature' vacations, and also the several weeks each year I spend up at my lakeside hut, with only a laptop and no internet connectivity, writing when I'm not fishing :)

Twebty four some days. None at all others. But on average, my main work system runs 24/7 and I'll be at the console on and off over a 12 to 16 hour period. I write IT tech professionally, research and interact with my workplaces online, and spend time at the PC actually writing the stuff I get paid for. Working hours are flexible for people such as me, and everyday life is fitted into it when necessary :D

I've just taken a break, for example, to chat socially with you, and I'm about to head off to pick up a washing machine that's been in for repairs. But the system stays running, and I'll return to a new set of alerts that have popped up for me to deal with :)

Glad to hear that it's sorted. I'd be curious, though, as to how the Registry key went 'missing'?

Yes, format/fresh install is the 'easy way out' and yes, it should be seen as a 'last resort'.

Sometimes, however, it is also the best course of action. People should refrain from trotting out that piece of advice with careless abandon, but also should not hesitate to give it when warranted.

If that missing regisrey key, for example, has occurrred after some rather ill-advised tinkering on the system, one problem fixed might well be followed by several more soon cropping up. If there is underlying system corruption which a refresh install doesn't adequately correct, then a fresh install is certainly a preferred oiption over fiddling around tracvking down numerous problems one by one.

Horses for courses ;)

What motherboard?

Checked the monitor cable and connections?

Checked for screws that may have accidentally been lodged under the motherboard or other possible causes of shorting?

Hiya Jeff, and welcome. Hope you decide to hang around and hope you enjoy your time here should you do so :D

Hi and welcome.

We love everybody but we especially love experienced people who are happy to help us help others :D

Hi tkjohnson, and welcome to Daniweb :D

If that was intended to be a request for assistance, then you'd be best to click on the 'Software development' tab at top of page and post a thread in the VB section asking for help with it.

It's always best to post questions in the appropriate forum section, so that people interested and knowledgeable in that activity or area of knowledge can see and attend to them.

Doesn't sound good. Check out the Pinned sticky in 'Troubleshooting Dead Machines' section for the 'bare bones' problem checking method, and if you get no joy have the system checked by a technician.

I'll move this topic to that section for you, because that's where it belongs.

Need to know make and model of the computer please.

What Windows versions on the computers?

Do they have network (LAN) cards or onboard LAN?

Thanks Asif. That's about the only post in this topic so far that's worth looking at.

If someone needs a 'quick 'n' easy' to put a website together and hasn't the time to learn how to construct one in a text editor, I'm damned if I see the point in telling them to do so.

I'll move this to 'Windows Software', where it might attract other useful suggestions rather than elitist posturings :P

You can't switch an XP installed hard drive to a different system/motherboard. It won't boot properly ;)

You are referring to the link in your sig, aren't you. I'm only seeing a quite plain and basic site, with a 3 link navigation panel, the selected link highlighted, and a Yahoo ad box to the right.

Nothing fancy whatsoever, and all works as it should.

I'm still of the strong belief that it's machine specific problems being encountered here. I've checked the site on quite a number of systems here, which include a range of OS's, hardware and browser options, and it works perfectly on all of them. Point is, I know damn well that all the systems I have here are in perfect condition as regards OS and software installation, free from any system or software corruption or conflicts.

Simple problem. simple solution.

You've fitted a hard drive which has Windows XP installed on it to a new motherboard and tried to start it up and run it. You can't do that because XP is not designed to work that way.

Boot from your Windows CD, use the setup routine to delete the existing drive partition(s) and create a new one instead, then proceed to install Windows cleanly again on the hard drive. It'll work then ;)

Just a query here. Have you ever actually wiped the hard drive clean on that system and installed Windows and your device drivers again fresh and clean to check that it actually IS a hardware problem causing it to lock up after several minutes of use?

It could well be system corruption that's causing it to crash and lock up. Windows Me was a didgy bit of gear from the get-go, and I'm damned if I'd pull a system apart without first checking to see if a fresh install corrected the problems ;)

That heatsink should be tightly fitted, by the way. You should not be able to get any sideways or rotational movement from the heatsink after it is fitted, and if you are using a thermal pad and screw down attachment then I'd check to see that it's still tight after running it for a while at operating temperature. The wax in those pads melts to leave a tight seal of only the thermal compound carried by the wax, so the actual contact will end up being of next to no thickness!

Given that your problem ralates to use of drives, before reinstalling I'd suggest you check and double check that drives are correctly configured in BIOS, that optical drive device ID jumpers are correctly configured as required, and that all connections are securely attached. Your drives should be jumpered as Master or Slave accordingly, with Master drive attached to the end cable connector and Slave drive attached to middle cable connector. Also check to see if you are using an 80 wire drive data cable. If you are using an older 40 wire data cable I'd advise you to replace it.

If your format/fresh install included loading all the same software and drivers in one go, then you may have replicated the problem rather than corrected it.

Best procedure is to load windows -> test
load updates -> test
load drivers -> test
load software bit by bit -> test

If your problem crops up pretty much straight after you load windows, then perhaps look at the drive configuration in BIOS for a problem.

If the problem crops up after loading certain software program(s) then perhaps the problem is there.

Are you sure that you've loaded all device drivers appropriately, and checked to see if they are the most up to date available from the motherboard website?

I've checked that site in both Firefox and IE, on several machines, and it works as it should for me ;)

I suspect the problem may lie with the PC you are using.

Hi fareed. Have you an older nVidia display card? If so it may have been better NOT to upgrade to the very latest driver revision. What Nvidia card do you have?