Posts by Catweazle

The simple answer is 'yes', even though that's not technically correct.

If you have two RAM modules, in identical systems, and both modules set to operate at a clockspeed of, for example, 400MHz, then the system with its RAM timing set to cas latency 2 will outperform the system with its cas latency set to 3. The difference between the two RAM modules is quality, rather than speed. Both operate at the same clockspeed, remember.

But the but the higher quality module, which is capable of operating at the improved RAM timings, will work with stability in a system capable of using the faster timings. The RAM is still operating at the same speed, but the system is taking less time to communicate with it.

It's sorta like how some people are better than others at picking up everything a Rap singer is saying!

If that happens, it probably indicates a fan that's working its way forward on the bearing. If that's the case, the fan should be replaced anyway, because it'll fail sooner rather than later.

Remove or disconnect everything in the system case except processor and fan, RAM, and display card. That means all drives etc disconnected! Hook up to your monitor and power up. See if you get to the POST screens, and report back with the results please.

There are too many possible causes to troubleshoot without cutting back to a 'bare-bones' system.

Clean it!

I use a soft bristled, clean paint brush to dust off, then a plunger type camp mattress inflater to blow the dust out of the case. If the fan is still loud, try carefully peeling back the sticker, and applying a single drop of sewing machine oil to the tiny hole you'll see above the spindle. If that doesn't help - replace the fan as a matter of urgency.

Cas Latency will not effect compatibility at all. It will only effect the response rate of the memory chips themselves. If you have a motherboard which can't cater to the full reponse speed of a particular RAM module, the module will work at an accordingly reduced response timing.

That happens, I'm afraid, because Windows XP isn't designed to handle a motherboard upgrade. The Product activation checking is kicking in, failing to recognise the hardware in place (a motherboard change is equivalent to quite a number of component changes) and stopping your Windows installation from being able to Boot up.

There are ways to get around it, but now that you've allowed the system to attempt booting into Windows, it's likely to be a difficult and perhaps impossible job.

The best answer to your dilemma, by far, is to Boot from your Windows CD, and install again fresh and new. A repair install may correct it, and is worth trying, but there's no guarantees.

heh heh...

This one should be in the Security section, so I'll move it there.

And you should read this article:

http://www.pcuser.com.au/pcuser/hs2.nsf/web/75E344E0612A1FAFCA256E6D003D65E1

which deals with the issue you've mentioned.

Please do NOT leave your email details in this topic expecting a driver to be sent to you.

The offer to send a driver was made once, quite some time back. Leaving your email address in public view on a website is not a wise paractice.

If you scroll back to member caperjack's comment, you'll find a link to a website from where you can download a suitable driver for the purpose.

Using a Tool such as GoBack would certainly disable access to recently added programs etc.

A point to consider, that hasn't been mentioned before, is that perhaps you should consider backing up all your data, and performing a clean install of your system. It's an unpopular suggestion to make, but when someone wishes to maintain peak performance for games, particularly with a budget range display card such as the one you have, regular format/installs can be a wise procedure to follow.

Simply deleting things does not necessarily remove trace of them. Trojans generally make other system changes once they've gotten onto your system. For full removal information about Trojan.popdis, follow the instructions in this article:

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/trojan.popdis.html

Moved to 'Security' section

I haven't found a freeware tool, but you can download a 14 day evaluation of FME Suite from http://www10.giscafe.com/goto.php?http://www.safe.com

If Windows XP was an 'Upgrade' install over an existing Windows 98, then you might be better to try a fresh, clean install of it first. Upgrade installs are the devil, and never work fully efficiently.

Windows XP on an NTFS partition is the best OS to use.

That said, if XP has used NTFS then you may need to delete the partition, and create a new one, using FDisk. then install.

Best way to install is probably from your Recovery CD, or whatever you get with that Dell. If you do a 'Clean' install, you need to ensure you load all the device drivers as well.

Roghto then. Here's the hardware issues I can think of:

Has a change been made that's reset the clockspeed of your processor's front side bus? The setting should be 133MHz, to give a 266MHz fsb speed. If it's been reset to 100MHz, then yout processor will be performing nearly as bad as a Duron.

Did you set your RAM to run at a suitable speed? Ideally, you should have all RAM running at 266MHz, to match your front side bus speed, and have things running 'in sync'. If you have your RAM set faster, it can actually slow your system down.

Is the slowdown continual and permanent? If your system starts fine, then slows down and cradhes after a bit of use, that could indicate an overheating problem.

There are no other issues than these, for hardware, that I can think of which would cause a permanent and pervasive system slowdown. As I've said, I believe your problem is software related, and you should look at what you have installed, remove anything you dan't need or use, and attend to adequate system maintenance (as you've said you've done). Make sure you don't have multiple 'system tweaking' and 'troubleshooting' software programs installed. Apart from having a couple of utilities for spyware/malware detection and removal, having multiple instaces of system utilities is one of the worst things you can do to your system.

If you've eliminated all the stuff in that outline as potential causes, …

I still think your problem is software related, but please post your system specifications so we have a measure to judge by.

Your processor speed, amount of RAM installed, display card and other hardware info is rather necessary to a hardware discussion.

I'm really curious about that 'Marsupial Moderator' thing too.

you see, I'm from Aus, and his location says he's from CA, so I'm a bit puzzled.

He can't be a possum 'cause he'd have to be an opossum, and that just don't flow off the tongue the right way. Got me beat, for sure! :D
There's also this thing called a 'Super Moderator', but I don't reckon we must have any of those, because if we did we wouldn't have that terrible 'laughing' smilie now, would we? We'd have a better one for sure!

Let me know if the truth of it all ever comes out now, won't you? :lol:

Tip one: Read announcements and 'stickies' before you start putting questions and comments up for view. You can avoid embarassment that way.

Tip two: Use the 'Search' function' after you've finished reading the announcements and stickies. Same reason!

Oh! If it sometimes goes slow and then shuts down you should really get it checked for heat problems first, mate. That's a classic sign of a processor which is getting too hot to function correctly.

Even if your fans are all working fine inside your case, it could be the 'thermal paste' between the processor and heatsink not bonding well and transferring heat inefficiently.

I'm not really sure, to tell the truth. It sounds like some file corruption as well, i'd guess. It wouldn't surprise me , given that the question mentioned "the virus", to find out that some system files have been removed or disabled, in efforts to troubleshoot an earlier issue.

An In-place upgrade' should correct any of that.

There's others here more technically proficient than me as far as the inner workings of Windows is concerned. I just deal with getting 'em going again, mate.

All you should need to do is empty the Internet cache - that's the only thing likely to be corrupted.

Tools -> Internet Options -> General

Then press the 'delete files' button.

That'll clear out the excessive amount of files in there, which are confusing the issue and causing the problem. Try it - it works!

Yes to the first question, none to the second !

Make sure that your spyware and AntiVirus tools are the latest versions and updated.

Have you also used 'Disk Cleanup' to clean out temp files, cache files and so on. If those become 'clogged up' then your system performance will suffer.

Hi Todd,

It sounds to me like your Windows installation is corrupted. That could be virus related or it could be Spyware related or any of a number of other causes.

Uninstall any unecessary programs.
Read the "Helping Yourself" sticky in the Security section of this forum, and work through the suggestions there.

If you still have problems, try an 'In-Place Upgrade' of Windows. For Windows XP you'll find instructions here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341&Product=winxp

(You'll have to reinstall your Windows updates after doing so however.)

It sounds to me like you've not installed the drivers for your system components. If you've simply installed Windows, and not any further device drivers for your motherboard and your display card, do the following:

Visit your motherboard's download page and download the VIA chipset driver, LAN driver and Sound driver

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Downloads/ProductsDetail_Download.aspx?detailid=360&DetailName=Driver&DetailDesc=KT600-A(1.0)

Visit the ATi website and download the latest Radeon family Graphics card driver for your Windows version

http://www.ati.com/support/driver.html

Install them in the order I've listed them.

I think your problem is software related, rather than hardware related. I'd suggest the heart of it lies in your comment:

"There might have been some other installed software because I let my family use my computer too."

You are unaware what's occurred on your system, and in one way or another Spyware or other problems will likely be slowing your system down. Please work through the suggestions made in the "Helping Yourself" sticky in the Security section of the Forum, and then report back here once you've eliminated those software issues.

But it may be a bit hard to find out that way if you've uninstalled the device driver, and your system has reverted to using a 'Standard VGA' driver to operate.

In that event, it will be details about your system we will need to identify it.

If you have a 'Brand name' PC, the make and model number will probably help. If it's an 'add-in' display card, we will need to determine make and model number of that card.

Hi,

I moved your question to it's own topic, as it shouldn't be placed in the discussion of a different problem.

You need to first find out what display driver you need.

Make and model of the PC please? (If it's a brand name PC) Make and model of the display card also.

The fullest details you can provide to start with the better - You've provided no identifying information about your computer at all so far.

Well that's welcome news!

From what I can tell, the card can't be used in the way you want to use it. It needs drivers loaded in Windows to work, and can't operate as a boot device.

It would be a better setup anyway to have Windows 98 installed on your smaller drive, and use the new one for storage. You could even move 'My Documents' and your program folders to it, should you choose to do so.

I'd be splitting your 8.4Gb drive into a 2Gb partition for Windows, and a 6Gb partition for programs, and using the new larger drive for data storage.

The utility program you'll find at the link provided is called MaxBlast3, which is a more recent version of the form of software solution you refer to, which I've not heard such problems reported in relation to.

I'm unsure about your hardware solution. If you disable the onboard IDE channels in BIOS setup does the drive then show up? Windows 98 is certainly intended to reside on drive C:

Have you a model number there for your add-in controller?

Quantum sold their hard drive division to Maxtor some time back, and Maxtor now provide support for the drives.

You've gone to extremes buying that controller to sort out your problem, as all you needed was a downloadable software utility to 'break' the drive size barrier imposed by BIOS. The utility you should use is the one provided by Maxtor, which you'll find at:

http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/Maxtor/?epi_menuItemID=3c67e325e0a6b1f6294198b091346068&epi_menuID=976d37cd478c5826433f226075b46068&epi_baseMenuID=976d37cd478c5826433f226075b46068&channelpath=/en_us/Support/Software%20Downloads/ATA%20Hard%20Drives&downloadID=57

Please read the information on the download page, and all included instructions before you use it.

The simple answer is - not necessarily, no.

You'd not likely strike problems, but take the old one with you for comparison and ID when you buy the new one and there's no problem.

Actually, a lot more people prefer nVidia cards than than there are people who prefer ATi cards, and a lot more people prefer onboard Intel graphics than both of those others put together - that's just the way things are, and the way people buy computers, and you sound like you're basing your judgement on a circle of enthusiast gamers that you're involved with.

But for games performance, ATi Radeon cards (at least the high-end ones,) are better performers speed wise than nVidia high-end cards. Only the nVidia FX5950 Ultra is a truly competitive card with the best available from ATi, although the 5900XT is a 'killer' in the mid-range over the 9600XT

shahidhotline, that is a new, separate issue.

It sounds like you have a virus issue, so I'll move your question to the security section.

Good to hear it's all working well, and thanks for letting us know how the problem was solved. It's always good to hear that, particularly when it turns out to be something unexpected or out of the ordinary, as this has.

I'll mark your question as 'solved'.

Hi Dave,

I think that somewhere during the process you've 'killed' the drivers for the display card, or changed the settings so that a standard VGA display driver is being used.

Use display properties -> settings -> adaptor -> change

See if the correct display card is listed there and change back to it.

Otherwise reinstall the display card driver and all should be well with a bit of luck.

The instructions for that utility include a description of how to load it onto a floppy disk, boot into DOS from floppy, and clean the system from the command prompt.

I've used the utility successfully in that exact fashion.

Amen to that. You've got a spyware/security problem for sure, and it'd be best dealt with by following the suggestions made here:

http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread5690.html

and then posting about any remaining problems in the 'Security' forum section.

That's an Intel i450 chipset motherboard in the system you mention. The manufacturer no longer lists any drivers available for download, but Intel's website should have motherboard chipset drivers available for download which would be suitable to use.

Before giving a link however, does anyone here know if Windows 98 contains native support for the chipset?

(By the way, i hope you don't mind but I edited your report to remove the entry for your Windows 98 Product CD key. You shouldn't really be showing it publically, and I'm sure you weren't aware that it was there.)

Do what I said, then install Windows on the new drive and set it up, then copy your files across from the old drive, then throw the old drive away!

If it's getting bad errors, it's no good!

Forget about that fan just for the minute.

For now, install both hard drives. Ensure that the jumper on the new one is set to 'Master' and the end cable connector is attached to it.

Ensure that the jumper on the old hard drive is set to 'Slave' and the middle connector of the cable is attached to it.

Ensure that all settings for IDE in BIOS setup are set to 'Auto'

Boot up and both drives should be detected and recognised by Windows. Then you'll be able to copy your files across to the new drive, remove the old one and install your fan.

If the old drive has errors which have made it non-functional any more, then I'm afraid your files are lost and you should have backed them up earlier.

I'll close the topic off for you. that way there won't be any more remarks posted in it, and you'll still be able to leave email notification enabled for future topics you post (or post in).

Perhaps the best way to go is to indicate that the matter has been resolved (in the thread concerned) so we know to close it off.

In that case, the next most likely culprits would be having 'AGP Fast Writes' enabled in BIOS Setup, or perhaps a faulty stick of RAM.

You could also try setting the AGP interface to AGP 4X instead of AGP 8X

MacGyver -> hahahaha

Your computer is infected with the Sasser Virus. Here's a removal tool you can put on a floppy disk and run from there:

http://www.sophos.com/support/disinfection/sasser.html

After that you should follow the instructions in this Microsoft article:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/sasser.asp

After that, have a read of the hints in the 'Helping Yourself' stickied topic in the 'Security' section of this forum.

Cheers

heh heh..

I guess i'm a bit 'rough and ready' in my own appraoch. I'd just grab the old one toddle off to an electronics store or other stockist, and tell 'em i want one same size, same voltage. If it fits it's OK!

The voltage is the crucial thing, because it powers CMOS and clock, and you don't want THOSE buggered up or there's gonna be problems!

I believe you may have forgotten to install your motherboard chipset drivers.

love -> passion

Download and install Belarc Advisor:

http://www.belarc.com/download

The report it gives will most likely indicate the make and model of your motherboard, and perhaps other components as well.

It's a bit of a drudge, but you'll find quite a few specific suggestions in this discussion at NibbleGuru, where the issue has been reported by numerous people for different versions of Oracle.

http://www.nibbleguru.com/probs/145/7

In general, however, ensure that your Windows updates are all installed, and any updates available for relevent software that is running on your system. The suggestions in the link above seem to point mostly to configuration problems which mean that the database isn't actually running before you try to connect to it.

Beyond that, I'll leave it to someone more specifically knowledgeable than myself.

A repair install is called an 'In-place-upgrade'. Here's a Microsoft article describing the step by step procedure:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341&Product=winxp