Posts by Chaky

That's standard Nvidia customer care. I know this by my own expiriance with Nvidia products. (chipset and VGA)
I've sent them a request for the F6 drivers that would work with Windows XP and this was thier response:

NVIDIA does NOT build graphics cards, motherboards or PCs. While our partners and customers all choose NVIDIA's technology as a core component for their solutions and they do implement them differently.

In fact, the pricing is not Microsoft’s fault at all, so they insist.
“It's up to our partners to set the pricing. We're not allowed to fix prices - that would be illegal."

How innocent....
They must be wondering where did 50% of the wealth they collected came from.

Somebody else's fault.... that's a good one.

This reminds me of DEC story.

Here's why (wikipedia copy/paste):

Closing DEC's business

In June of 1992, Ken Olsen was replaced by Robert Palmer as the company's CEO. Palmer had joined DEC in 1985 to run Semiconductor Engineering and Manufacturing. His relentless campaign to be CEO and success with the Alpha microprocessor family made him a candidate to succeed Olsen. However, Palmer was unable to stem the tide of red ink. More rounds of layoffs ensued and many of DEC's assets were spun off:

• Worldwide training was spun off to form an independent/new company called Global Knowledge Network [2].
• Their database product, Rdb, was sold to Oracle.
• The TK-series tape technology was sold to Quantum Corporation as the basis for today's DLT and SuperDLT technology.
• Text terminal business (VT100 and its successors) was sold in August 1995 to Boundless Technologies.
• In May 1997, DEC sued Intel for allegedly infringing on its Alpha patents in designing the Pentium chips. As part of a settlement, DEC's chip business was sold to Intel. This included DEC's StrongARM implementation of the ARM computer architecture, which Intel sold as the XScale processors commonly used in Pocket PCs.
• In 1997, the printer business was sold to GENICOM (now TallyGenicom), which then produced models bearing the Digital logo.
• At about the …

It's a start in a good direction.
It's either that or tree-growing-log-slicing-paper-bleaching-page-cutting printer add-on.:mrgreen:

The nature of black holes is still pretty much unknown to man.
There is a liable theory of how the black hole becomes one, and that theory says that the black hole has it's life spawn. Some say that it is a "bubble" in space-time continuum, and therefore the passage of time is non-existent inside black holes (plain English: time stands still inside black hole). If that is true, then how can someone define "the end of black hole' life" if there is no time passage?

Tesla has made attempts to harvest vacuum energy, ("energy of the space" as he labeled it) but he was prevented to complete his studies by his sponsor (some Energy magnate, can't remember the name). That was before the accelerating expansion of the universe was even considered to be a theory. If that energy could be harvested, then the problem of energy source would be thing of the past.

I've watched documentaries on this topic, and the forecast is this:

Galaxies will drift away from each other due to vacuum energy.
The stars will die-out, or become black holes.
All of the matter will be collected by black holes.
Leftovers will be sucked in by super-massive black hole in the galaxy center.
Eventually, the smaller black holes will be sucked in by super-massive black hole.
There won't be anything left except super-massive black holes that will eventually die at the end and all that …

Definitely update the drivers...

Now, my 2 c:

Sound does not disappear by it self for no reason.

You should check the Event Viewer and look for logs regarding audio hardware. (if the problem is of hardware or driver nature)

Also, if you have several codec packs, you should keep in mind that they are probably in conflict. Try uninstalling them all, and keeping only one.

You might need to install some 3rd party software/drivers for modem or some custom-made protocol (ppp over ethernet protocol maybe?) that is usually included on modem CD or ISP CD that came with modem.

Mind telling us some specs?

Area 51 is also for sponsors, people who donate $5 to keep the site running. In exchange, one of the benefits is that you get firsthand information to what goes on behind the scenes before everyone else.

.. and then you will have to be killed. Preferably by a choking on a ninja-pretzel.

Just kidding..:D
Everyone knows that there is no Area 51.

That too...

I'm marking this as solved. It is obviously not a server glitch.

In such case there usually would be at least "last edited" or something record visible.. and moderators usually leave some note when they move (or split) the thread.

Here, there is nothing that would suggest that this post was from the thread I am subscribed to.

Edit:

...except for first sentence that says "Help! I have a similar problem.", which is a clear clue... and makes you right.

I just got a notification that directed me here. At first I had a good laugh.. (look at the date), but then I've looked at notification, and saw something that doesn't add up:

Dear Chaky,

poobah88 has just replied to a thread you have subscribed to.

Thread: CPU Fan Error! Overclocking Failed! Over Voltage Failed!
Forum: Troubleshooting Dead Machines

Alleged reply from this guy poobah88 wasn't there.

So I've searched the site for poobah88 and found the ONLY POST this guy made here. (notice the thread title)

Server sent me a notification because of the similar thread titles?

A good one? I don't know.

My best advice is: You should start new thread here, if you want some attention to your question.

Officially, it is a screamer.

Socket is a different story.. I wouldn't advise you to try that. You would risk some serious damage (mechanical).

Most likely you are having bad connectivity with AGP slot. If there is some oxidation on the bare metal connectors, best thing to do is to take some fine sandpaper and try to polish them out. Don't push too hard and don't use rough sandpaper. Most VGA cards have gold-plated surface, and you don't want to remove that protective layer.

Which Windows are we talking about?

Are there any yellow exclamation marks in device manager?

Also, make sure that your windows have latest service pack installed.

@ Zazabar
Mixing different sticks of ram is not a good idea. You can expect freezes and BSODs.

@ rumeshkumar
Start a new thread!

Another one with linux suggestions in windows forum... go away before you get scorched.

If the CD isn't too scretched, maybe a different optical drive would manage to read the CD.

Also try running the Windows setup with HD disabled in BIOS (don't ask...).

You can set the HD order in BIOS, making the SATA one first in line. Windows accesses the HDs primarily by drive's/partition's numbers designated by SATA or IDE channels, and not letters. By default, IDE channels come before SATA, but that can be changed in BIOS.

Once the windows are installed on "e:", it will remain as such. You can't change drive letter of system partition.

I have a motherboard that allows me to easily choose from which drive to boot from, if I press F8 during boot-up (when the "press DEL to enter BIOS" is displayed.. before windows boot menu). That way I could boot from my E drive, which would become C for that session.
It is not a multi-boot setup. It is multiple single-boot setups (however confusing and ridiculous that sounds).

Just a thought before this thread is forgotten, did you remove the driver for your old graphics card before installing the new one?

There is no new one yet, and when it comes it should be same model.

Nevertheless, that is a wise thing to do.. remove the video drivers (add-remove programs) before you shut it down one last time before you yank the VGA out and get it replaced.

Yes.

I suggest that you use that money to get more ram and new CPU, although, you'll probably need to chip in more than 200€.

Hopefully, you'll be able to sell that existing CPU to cover the expenses to some extent.

Regarding VGA, RMA it. It will cost you nothing. It won't be upgraded, though. Only replaced by same model (with a crisp-new warranty ;)).

Well, your graphic card certanly needs replacing. If you bought the whole machine as one package, then you'll need to RMA it in order to replace the broken graphic card. Usually, when you buy whole PC as one package, then you get warranty on the whole package.

If you got the components separately, then the graphic card's warranty is what needs to be valid, and you should RMA only the graphic card.

If the warranty expired in either case, you don't need to change everything. Just your graphic card. 8600s are relatively cheap.. and there are allways 2nd hand cards.

To be certain that it IS graphic card that needs replacing, try it in another PC, or try another graphic card with your PC.

If the warrany isn't void, use it.

P4C800-Deluxe is clearly better.

I tried to get a screenshot and then i restarted.The screenshot showed my desktop normally without the flashing lines....

That only prooves that the problem originates within VGA.

I was suspecting GPU core to go over 80, which would explain the artifacts appearing on the screen. Apparently, that is not the case.

Colors changing, artifacts and erratic lines appearing with immediate crash point to VGA gone bad.

And those noises you hear would probably be fan(s) out of balance. Possibly dust buildup or damaged blades.

.. which doesn't guarantee that one of them wouldn't launch sky-high when you put it to the real test.

Strange noise?
could you be more specific?

You can only hear fans, HDs and DVD drives from the case, so which was it?

You shoud stress the machine and then post the temperatures. The idea is to see what (and if) something is overheating. Chipset temp. that was red in Probe 2 wasn't that high.

Try running HWMonitor. Unlike ASUS Probe 2 (I also have ASUS mobo) it will monitor VGA temp too.

While it is running, start WoW and play for a 10 minutes. HWMonitor will record lowest and highest temps and voltages.

You can post the results here.

He must enter BIOS and disable advanced power management.

The usual way is to press "del" key during boot-up. On some machines it is one if the "f" keys (f1-12)

If the BIOS is password-protected, then clearing the CMOS would reset the BIOS password. (either remove the CMOS battery for a minute or two, or flip the jumper for clearing the CMOS)

After the CMOS is cleared, all the settings would revert to defaults, that doesn't necessarily have to be correct.

Setting PSU in 230V mode is VERY no-no on 110V grid. (Truth be told, switching to 110V mode on 220V grid is much bigger no-no)

Obviously, your PSU got damaged during that storm. Power surges tend to do that.
PSU is relatively cheap replacement, but switching the input voltage might've done, but not necessarily, some further damage to the board circuitry.

my PC turned off suddenly

You don't really expect some help with this much input?

Seems like you're having hardware problem there. Nothing to do with C++. My suspect is bad RAM. Second in line is CPU.

I couldn't have been overheated if it wasn't running... (this goes for scorpio's and mine case)

For his case, there is one thing that's called (roughly translated to English) "cold soldering":
- some of the soldering actually works only until it's heat reaches certain temperature. It is usually cracked. With the heat causing material expansion, yadayadayada, it looses contact.
Can be the opposite too (working only if heated).

God will. People won't.

@ puk

Try booting with Windows (edit) Setup Disk and running the chkdsk from recovery console.

@ Silviubogan

That's like saying "I turned off the PC and the problem was gone"

... and, saying the L word in THIS forum?

You're holding a fire extinguisher, aren't you?
If not, you should be, 'coz you're looking for flames...

I'm thinking that this is PSU issue.

Depends how you decide what is better than the other.

If it is a performance/price ratio, there are free anti-virus software..

If you want maximum security.. there is no such thing.
Example:
If you upload a file to virustotal.com, (a site that scans files online), you'll see that it scans with 40-something AV programs and STILL claims that even if the file passes the scans, it is NOT 100% virus-proof.

If you want some security, I say start with your surfing habits. Most of the shady sites (porn, warez...) that make phishy offers are either after your email or your identity.

Pop-ups and pop-unders.. never click on them, unless it is the "x" you're aiming at. Pop-ups will often take you to those sites, so pup-up blocker would be a good asset in security. So will the ads on those sites. Some ads are made to look like they are part of the site to trick you into clicking them.
Here's one example how you can be tricked into clicking on the link:
Read a little of this post:
http://www.int13h.com/index.php?whipple=3&fish=8&grunties=217
The link is safe and not a porn, don't worry. No tricks like that there. (nor here :) )

The "trick" on that page is this: The blurry text is not a text, but a picture which easily could've been a link, so if you were to select (highlight) the text to make the reading a …

I had case or two like that..

Turned out to be bad contacts between VGA and motherboard.

Off course, I didn't leave it for couple of days like you did, but poked around, twisted and reseated stuff until I got to the cause.

.. but that was some 10-15 years ago on my old 486 and Trident 9440 VLB VGA (pre-PCI slot)

.. and it's "brainiac".

I also had the opposite:

- Works fine
- I turn it off, unplugg it and store it somewhere
- week or two later I plugg it in and - nothing.. mobo dead. (dead floppy controller)

If it was, it would be the longest ongoing problem ever... since 2003.

No way you'll get a blueprints for contemporary mobo.. especially not from Sony. At least not with their consent.

.. but they'll be happy to sell you another mobo.

It will bloat alittle...

.. and they charge for replacement recovery disks.

"Customer supprot" means "supported by customers" there.

Nevertheless, it could help.

Is HD being detected in BIOS?
If not, that would most likely be dead hard drive.

If you see it in BIOS, then it could be that the MBR or boot sector got corrupt. You should try to using XP Setup CD and use rcovery console there. From there may be able to remedy the situation by using FIXBOOT or FIXMBR commands, but that is a long shot..

Other choice would be burning ERD bootable image to CD and trying to fix the drive from there.

Check this list, Zazabar. It's direct link for your mobo RAM aproved list, by Gigabyte.

Edit:
Hmmm.. there is no DDR2 at 1066 FSB

There is one that is overclocked to 1200.. Maybe you should try that trick?