You ever get that urge to rip someone's throat out, if you could only figure out who?
I buy a scanner: it's defective
I buy a laptop: the guy rips me off
I buy a cd burner: it self-destructs
Next thing I know, my PDA will mysteriously develop a leak in its LCD.
I can see no conceivable reason why my Philips CD-RW drive would spontaneously die on me after two weeks of perfect functioning, short of a random transistor death. The computer simply refuses to recognize that the drive contains a disk. The drive also does not read a disk at the time it's placed in the drive, as it usually does.
Anyone got any ideas? 'Cause I'm just THIS close to snapping...
Help.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Does the disc load? I've had problems with mine, in that I've actually got to hold the CD into place while loading it into the drive.
But that's a physical thing.
(And at least these people are no where near Omega ... altho he probably has their addresses ... and easy access to guns ... )
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Remember, my problem is that I can't figure out WHO to kill.
Does the disc load?
How do you mean, does the disk load? I put it in the tray, and the computer eats it, but it won't read it. If I load the tray empty, the light flashes for a second, and I hear a click. If there IS a disk, it does that several times, with an interval between of a few seconds. This is illogical.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
That's what mine does. Then I hit 'eject' and I see its because the disk isn't in the tray exactly. So I have to hold it in. Real pain.
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
I sympathize with your predicament.
The question I have is who did you buy these things from?
When it comes to interent type purchases, or just a schmoe from some other state, Caveat Emptor should be tatooed to your forehead.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Got the Visioneer scanner from Sam's. Returned it.
Got the laptop from an online classified. Searching for my target now. I would nuke all of NJ, but I wouldn't get my computer that way.
Got the PDA from another online classified, and it's worked perfectly for all of... 36 hours.
Got the CD burner mail-order from a Staples retail store in Kentucky. As I say, a Philips. Good quality.
No pattern to what works and what doesn't.
As for whether it's in the tray or not, that's not applicable. It's either in the tray or it's not, no middle ground with this drive.
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
Well, in the case of the stores, the general policy is return and YELL very loudly at the poor customer service kid and most other store workers you run into. They love that kind of thing....it is after all the biggest reason why young people get jobs at Staples in the first place.
At the very least yell at the store manager.
And write a letter to corporate headquarters.
And send a letter to Colin Powell just to be complete.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Or just make sure you have your receipt.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Well, in the case of the stores, the general policy is return and YELL very loudly at the poor customer service kid and most other store workers you run into. They love that kind of thing....it is after all the biggest reason why young people get jobs at Staples in the first place.
As I said, if I knew the person at whom I should direct my ire, I would be significantly less frustrated...
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
quote:I buy a cd burner: it self-destructs
quote:Got the CD burner mail-order from a Staples retail store in Kentucky. As I say, a Philips. Good quality.
Ignoring the contradiction of those two statements, here's what you do:
Take yourself, your receipt, and your CD burner to the local Staples, find the customer service counter and speak to the high schooler behind said counter. When he or she is confused by your long and complex story, demand to see the store manager, forget the long and complex story and just demand:
A) a refund B) a replacement C) store credit D) all the above
Then write a letter to Staples Corporate Headquarters Customer Service, the address of which you will ring out of the store manager, and demand satisfaction becasue of the poor quality of CD Burners sold to you (how could Staples sell such inferior equipment) and demand in the letter:
A) a refund B) a replacement C) store credit D) all the above
Unless your online classified people are part of a business, you are rather out of luck.
Stay away from online classified ads in the future.
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
Install any new hardware/software lately? I just 'fixed' my grandpa's floppy drive which for some reason had stopped working. Turns out he must've jostled the drive's power cable when he dropped some new memory in there. It should always be this easy...
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
Omega this my sound like a stupid question but have you tried more than one disk in your drive, or a disks from another batch of disks. I have noticed that sometimes you get a bad disk and instead of the software saying it's bad or already written on it just says nothing.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Yup. NO disk, CD-R, CD-RW, or commercial game, that I put in that drive will read.
And I think I'll wait until I get some tech support before I actually return the thing, Jay. That's what I'm looking for here. Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
You know the warranty: 5 Minutes, 5 seconds, or 5 paces, whichever comes first.
Geez Omega, is someone out to get you or something?
Posted by Veers (Member # 661) on :
Take up arms and shoot up Best Buy. However, leave any mention of me out of your rampage...
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
The Goddess of Entropy like fucking with the Jesusites. No, seriously.
Using "High Fidelity" logic (e.g, "She's in the fuckign PHONE BOOK!!") I had a friend in Montclair look in the phone book for your laptop d00d, but there was no listing in Paramus for the guy.
The next things you couls do are (a) contact the server/webmaster of the online classified site & (B) if you sent him anything by US Post, snag him for mail fraud.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
Ah! Nice to see that someone else in the world is having a terrible Christmas with technology!
My parents got me a Logitech cordless mouse and keyboard. So I proceeded to install them - note the stupid instructions: "remove old keyboard and mouse, plug in signal device, install software." - how stupid! Now I have no control over anything! So I plug the old keyboard in and have some control of my PC as I install the stuff. But it don't work! And I have problems with my files too!. So I uninstall the stuff, correct the problems and try again. Same result but this time I've lost my sound card!!!!!! GRRRRRRRR!
So we return the stupid cordless mouse and keyboard and I have the money for books. Sigh. All this wonderful technology and NOTHING BLOODY WORKS!!!!!!!!!!! GET ME A SLEDGEHAMMER!!! I'LL FIX IT ALL!!! MUHAHAHAHAHA!
Needless to say, I am royaly pissed off.
But I do like your thinking about the a) b) c) & d) stuff. Pity it wouldn't really work over in the UK . . . otherwise I'd try it!
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Well, Shik, I'm touched. Thanks for that.
BTW, Jay, I can get a refund, store credit, AND a replacement? That's a 200% profit! Coolness!
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
If you feel that's moral Omgea, the go for it. Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
quote:You ever get that urge to rip someone's throat out, if you could only figure out who?
You have no idea.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
OK, in case anyone still cares...
You know that when you put a CD in the drive, some little doohickey grabs it and spins it around real fast while the laser reads it? Well, that's my problem: that little doohickey broke. It was apparently off-center when I got it, which is why it always made so much noise while it was reading. It eventually couldn't take the centrifugal force, and snapped. My dad's returning it to Staples now for a replacement.
In other news, my CanoScan N670U came today. Works perfectly, amazingly enough.
So at the moment, I'm 2 for four, with a third almost guarenteed. Now if I can just get my frelling laptop...
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
quote:Originally posted by Omega: OK, in case anyone still cares...
I do!
quote:In other news, my CanoScan N670U came today. Works perfectly, amazingly enough.
Works does it? Good for you! (But for how long?) CanoScan N670U - am I right is saying that this is a scanner?
quote:So at the moment, I'm 2 for four, with a third almost guarenteed. Now if I can just get my frelling laptop...
Oh! Oh! Can I have a laptop too! Pleeeeeeeeeease!?
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
*FOREHEAD SMACK*
I LEFT BROOD WAR IN THAT DRIVE!
Nice guy down at Staples is holding it at the Customer Service desk for me. Still, there can be but one word for this:
D'OH!
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
OK, never mind being royaly pissed off, now I am SERIOUSLY PISSED OFF!
Not only have I lost my sound card, but now my printer won't work! I don't understand! The hardward is there for both of them (my Dad & I confirmed that the SC was secure in its slot - printer was well . . . next to my monitor - easy to check the cables). Anyways, the software is there - the computer just won't recognise the sound card as being there and says there is "spooler (something) error", whenever I try to print.
Can someone please give me a solution to this problem that does not require drastic action (i.e. sledgehammer or reformatting the hard drive for the 30-something time!)
Oh yeah, Norton Systemworks is bloody useless - says that everything is fine. Fine! In a pig's eye!
I really miss my sound card, and my trusty old printer and would very much like them back.
Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
Dammit, just when I get things together to crush your skull like a puny Tin Can in SCBW, you LOSE IT.
Admit it, it's just an excuse to spare yourself from humiliation, right?
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
The soundcard: At the risk of sounding boring, reinstall the drivers. Or go to Add/remove programs and delete everything to do with your soundcard, take the card out, reload windows, and then turn it off and plug it back in.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Glad you're ready, Tahna, because I just got the CD back.
Bring it.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
*drumroll*
My printer has just died! Won't print with blue ink, using a NEW cartridge.
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
Jeez, Omega who did you piss off? I suggest sacrificing a small animal to the computer gods.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
PsyLiam - Yeah tried that, but it didn't work Other options?
Omega - Not funny! It is not an ink problem but a printer port error! Geez, you know how to piss people off don't ya?
Anyone else got any helpful suggestions/solutions?
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Yes, cut back on your smiley-dosage
Your problem sounds suspiciously much like an IRQ conflict to me, BTW. Look in Device Manager for any large, yellow exclamation marks.
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
quote:...note the stupid instructions: "remove old keyboard and mouse, plug in signal device, install software." - how stupid! Now I have no control over anything! So I plug the old keyboard in and have some control of my PC as I install the stuff...
Sigh. Read carefully:
1). Unplug old keyboard/mouse 2). Inplug new keyboard/mouse 3). RESTART 4). Install software 5). Remove leftovers from previous KB/M
The magical trick here is that your KB/M will be recognised as "generic types" (without their respective drivers) so there's no NEED to hang on to your old stuff.
[ December 30, 2001: Message edited by: Cartman ]
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Inplug?
Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :
quote: Got the laptop from an online classified. Searching for my target now. I would nuke all of NJ, but I wouldn't get my computer that way.
Got the PDA from another online classified, and it's worked perfectly for all of... 36 hours.
Never buy from someone who you can't return the thing to, without it involving mail. If I were to buy something from a personal add, it would have to be someone local, who I could throtle, if needed. I have considered buying a Dell, and may yet, and that involves mailing, but at least it is a big company, with a good service record.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
See, the funny thing about my printer is that it's doing the exact same thing from both my PC and my Mac...
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
Sounds like you might have a clogged jet.
Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
Your Inkjet printer should have a "Clean Printer Heads" option that should be able to clean that clogged jet. Otherwise, the only other reason why this (and all other problems) may be happening is that Bill and Hilary are out to get you.......
[ December 31, 2001: Message edited by: Tahna Los ]
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
quote:Originally posted by Cartman:
Sigh. Read carefully:
1). Unplug old keyboard/mouse 2). Inplug new keyboard/mouse 3). RESTART 4). Install software 5). Remove leftovers from previous KB/M
The magical trick here is that your KB/M will be recognised as "generic types" (without their respective drivers) so there's no NEED to hang on to your old stuff.
[ December 30, 2001: Message edited by: Cartman ]
Yeah, we thought so too but it didn't work like that. We unpluged the old mouse & keyboard and then plugged in the radar/infrared device and rebooted. Sod all happened and I had no control over anything as the device was not recognised and the computer couldn't find a keyboard or mouse! We needed something to activate the "NEXT" button. Grrrrr!
What's wrong with my dosage of smilies?
Oh and no big yellow exclamation marks. Even I know to look for that! Come on, give me a chance and some respect for my basic knowledge of my comuter. HEHE!
Oh yeah, the printer is now throwing "Spooler" error at me - but my Dad & I can't find anything wrong with it or any of the files.
Say, would re-installing Windows wipe my data from "My Documents"? I'd like to avoid a lengthy back-up and re-formatting session.
Next suggestion please folks! I like this, soooo many good people coming to my aid. Makes me feel as though there is hope for the world after all.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
If you re-install Windows on top of your existing installation, then "My Documents" would be find. As would your start menu, wallpaper, and everything else. If you did a more complete installion (by deleting your System Directories before trying to run the install program), then "My Documents" would still be fine. You'd have to delete the actual "My Documents" directory to get rid of it.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
OK, have re-installed Windows - bugger all happened. I still have no sound or printer! Grr!
OK, so we took the case off and found something interesting. The sound card is not actually a sound card. Where the speaker cable plugs into at the back is just a big plug for the sound, microphone and joystick. A grey cable then connects it to the motherboard.
Question 1: Could the motherboard be faulty? Question 2: Could someone have hacked into my system while I've been on the Net and not bothered to tell me? Question 3: What the fuck is wrong with my machine!?
Please help!
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
You have an integrated soundcard. It is done my motherboard manufacturers to save money. It's also often done with graphics cards, and when it's done with graphic cards, they often don't put an AGP slot on the board. This is very, very annoying.
You don't have that problem.
"Question 1: Could the motherboard be faulty?"
Yes. It could.
"Question 2: Could someone have hacked into my system while I've been on the Net and not bothered to tell me?"
Possibly. But almost certainly not. Unless you're on a permanent dial-up connection (which I doubt, since you're in the UK), it's quite hard to hack other computers. Especially if you're not an idiot when it comes to downloading weird files and opening strange e-mails.
Even if they did, I'm not sure how they'd manage to muck up your sound and printer to the point where a driver reinstallation does nothing.
"Question 3: What the fuck is wrong with my machine!?"
I have no idea. Of course, if you just want your sound back. you could buy a new soundcard. You should almost certainly have a spare PCI slot. You could pick up a cheap SB 128 for a tenner, and put that in. It wouldn't help your printer though.
It's also possible that you're somehow turned off the integrated soundcard in the BIOS. Load it up and select "Load BIOS defaults", and see if that does anything?
And finally, did you have a habit of regularly pluging and unpluging the printer lead while the computer was on?
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
I fixed the printer. Just took the cartridge out and sucked on the print head (let the oral sex jokes commence...) until all three colors of ink were flowing out. Works fine.
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
So how does ink taste anyway? Better hope it was non-toxic.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
I avoided actually contacting the head. Just need a tight seel around the edges.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
OK. After a week of stress, I am back. So what happened? I shall tell you.
1) Backed up my files 2) Reformatted HDD 3) Re-installed files 4) Jumped up and down with joy as got sound card & printer back 5) Cursed when found that mouse is still buggered. However . . . 6) My Dad dug up an old serial mouse and we plugged that in - works! But only with its lid off exposing the innards. (His mates at work are baffled by this as it shouldn't work this way - but I'm not complaining! - Much). 7) Based on all available information we think that the motherbaord is buggered & I'm considering replacing it. So far it looks like it'll cost me between �500 (for a P3) and �800 (for a P4). Almost the price of a new system I know, but at least I keep the HDD, CD-Rom, CD-RW, Zip drive, monitor, speakers . . . might be able to keep the sound card - will take something off the cost.
Ah! The joys of fucked up technology!
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Buy a new system and sell the components of the old one on eBay. Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Where the hell are you spending �500 for a P3? Mattelles (or a name like that) is selling a motherboard and 1.2gig Athalon for �150. Even if you insist on Intel, a 1 gig P3 is about �80 now, and a motherboard to take it is only another �100. What does the �500 include? Are you having a four week round the world tour to celebrate?
Posted by CaptainMike (Member # 709) on :
i don't know how much a � is worth.. my computer was a great deal though
Posted by EdipisReks (Member # 510) on :
yowsers that's expensive! my 1.0 gHz t-bird at 1.55 gHz, geforce3 ti-200 at past ti-500 speeds, 384 MB of PC2100 RAM, shuttle ak31A kt266a MOBO, 40 GB 7200 RPM Maxtor hard drive, soundblaster audigy, 8x DVD, globalwin aluminum case with 420 Watt power supply, swiftech mc-370 heatsink with 6000 rpm Papst fan (gonna get rid of that sucker and get an alpha 8045 as soon as i modify my motherboard so the damn alpha behemoth will fit), and about 7 80 to 90 mm fans cost me (AT MOST) $500, but i shopped around a lot and called in favors from people (the heatsink and DVD player were free, i got the case for half price from a friend and the geforce3 was $99 bucks after a 50$ instant and $50 mail-in rebate from best buy). if i had bought the components at online stores (buying OEM stuff) the whole system would have been like $750, maybe. i couldn't even imagine buying a motherboard for 500 pounds.
glad i don't live in the UK, and long live newegg and mwave!
--jacob
p.s. sorry, but i don't get to show of my system much, since a lot of people on the anandtech forums and the [H]ard Forum have sytems equal or better than mine (lots of people, in fact).
p.p.s. Liam, (do you mind if i call you Liam?) it's Athlon, not Athalon
[ January 13, 2002: Message edited by: EdipisReks ]
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"...do you mind if i call you Liam?..."
I do. I demand that you call him by something other than his name. Names weren't invented for the purpose of identification, y'know...
Posted by G.K Nimrod (Member # 205) on :
My package, a christmas gift for myself...
Dell Dimension 8200 P-4 1600MHz 256 MB Rambus 40 GB HD Soundblaster Live Geforce-3 Ti-200 64 MB WinXP Home Edition Lexmark Z53 Color-InkJet
for all of 1250$! And the beauty of it was that my company buying back my old computer cut the price down almost 60%.
[ January 14, 2002: Message edited by: G.K Nimrod ]
Posted by CaptainMike (Member # 709) on :
yeah i built my own this summer, and i recycled everything (monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, scanner, printer, cd-rw, cd-rom, 3.5 drive, 2 HDs, video card, 128 mb RAM.. even a 5.25 drive, etc.. so all i bought was a case, a 1.0 ghz athlon chip, a motherboard w integrated sound, additional 128 mb RAM and a power box. I just need a DVD drive and a new video card and my life will be sweet. cost: $375
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
I may have over-estimated the price by �200. Will be getting a quote on Thursday from a local company to see . . . or maybe two companies.
Last I checked �1 = $1.4, but that was before XMAS.
But anyways . . . from one of the companies I'm looking at - Thunderbird 1400Mhz CPU = �139.83 & P4 2000Mhz = �410.08!!!!
I don't trust mail order and so am limited to local businesses as PC World will want to sell me a whole system at a VERY HIGH PRICE. I shall be shopping around though to make sure I get what I want for as little money.
Anyone is SW Nottinghamshire, England know of a good company? So far its just Special Reserce & SB Computers . . .
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
" i couldn't even imagine buying a motherboard for 500 pounds."
Neither could I. That's why I'm wondering what akb is smoking. At worst, computer hardware comes out as �1 = $1, but in his case, �1 is equalling about 5 million pounds.
"from one of the companies I'm looking at - Thunderbird 1400Mhz CPU = �139.83 & P4 2000Mhz = �410.08!!!!"
If you got a slightly slower P4, you'd save a lot. Never get the cutting edge, you pay a premium for it. Get two steps behind. Still, based on those prices, I'd say it's fairly obvious which one to get, before we even get to the sticky point of P4s needing expensive RAMBUS memory (at the moment).
"I don't trust mail order and so am limited to local businesses as PC World will want to sell me a whole system at a VERY HIGH PRICE. I shall be shopping around though to make sure I get what I want for as little money."
Not to criticise, but being paranoid of mail order companies is the same as older people being paranoid of ordering over the phone. It's cheeper, and you save a hell of a lot. As long as you order from a reputable company, you'll be fine. Dabs has been running for years. It's not going to give up it's thousands and thousands of pounds profit just to con you out of a motherboard.
Posted by EdipisReks (Member # 510) on :
um, Liam, the pentium 4 has had DDR platforms for months (though it was a maybe unlicensed but maybe legitimate VIA chipset), and Intel has even released their own DDR platform. there is absolutely no possible need to get a pentium 4 with a rambus platform. the SIS 635 chipset and the via p4X266A perform better than the Intel 845-D chipset (which is Intel's DDR version of the original SDR 845 chipset). the 845-D is a little slower than the 850 rambus chipset, the SIS 635 is about the same speed as the rambus, and the quasi sorta maybe illegal p4X266A is faster than the rambus platform.
--jacob
[ January 14, 2002: Message edited by: EdipisReks ]
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Ah, cheers. I knew there was going to be a DDR P4 motherboard, but I hadn't seen one yet. Of course, I haven't really been looking (except in the general direction of nVidea wishing they'd get off their bloody arses and just release the nForce already).
Posted by EdipisReks (Member # 510) on :
is the UK really behind on computer component releases? i know someone who has had an MSI nForce board for over a month now. in fact, nVidia is on the second revision of the chipset already. personally, though, i like the kt266a chipset by VIA. mine has been perfectly stable, is marginally faster than nForce and is much cheaper. however, VIA is supposed to be realeasing the kt333 chipset which includes AGP 8x and native pc2700 DDR support very soon, so i would wait for that before i bought anything, if i were you. at the very least, the kt333 should push the prices of the kt266a boards even lower.
--jacob
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
It could just be me being really behind on release dates. :)I mainly wanted the nForce because I've only got a TNT 2, and I wanted a new GPU. The built in GeForce 2 MX would tie me over for another year until I could save up enough to get a better one.
Posted by EdipisReks (Member # 510) on :
yeah, the geforce2MX would be a nice step up. the only problem with buying right now is the fact that ddr ram prices are high again, relatively speaking. of course the prices are still low historically, but it wasn't that long ago that i got a 256 MB stick of pc2100 for $35.00 US from crucial.com.
--jacob
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
One quote:
1 K7S5A 1 Athlon 1600 XP 1 Athlon XP Fan 1 Full Tower ATX Case (grey) 2 256Mb PC133 System Memory 1 64Mb Hercules Geforce Ultra 1 soundblaster live 5.1 oem 1 Invoice & Warranty Terms Total Price (inc. VAT & Delivery to mainland �673.64
Might cut the Ram down, but this appears to be far more expensive than I had thought and more so than another company that I'm looking at! Can things get any worse?
Posted by EdipisReks (Member # 510) on :
good god! that would cost like $500 bucks in the states from a place like newegg.com or mwave.com (neither of which ships internationally, unfortunately). if you can get it, i would suggest a readeon 7500 over the geforce2 Ultra. the 7500 radeon is about as fast, has better image quality, and is cheaper to boot (at least in north america).
--jacob
Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
quote:Originally posted by akb1979: One quote:
1 K7S5A 1 Athlon 1600 XP 1 Athlon XP Fan 2 256Mb PC133 System Memory 1 64Mb Hercules Geforce Ultra 1 soundblaster live 5.1 oem 1 Invoice & Warranty Terms Total Price (inc. VAT & Delivery to mainland �673.64
The K7S5A is perhaps the best budget board out there. The chipset that it has is one of the fastest out there. This board allows for the use of both SDRAM and DDR SDRAM. Invest in perhaps just 256 MB of DDR SDRAM instead of 512 of regular SDRAM as your motherboard supports both, but not simultaneously. DDR SDRAM is twice as fast so therefore, it is better. The Video card is a good choice, that is if you are an avid gamer. Otherwise go for a 32MB with a cheaper GPU (but not too cheap) which would probably suit you just fine. As for sound, your board comes integrated with it, so unless you are a sound maniac, a sound card isn't that necessary. Your motherboard should have an AMR card included which will act as your modem. You also don't need an extra LAN card as the mobo again comes integrated with it.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
Oh brother! Now I'm even more confused!
So should I keep my existing sound card and just plug it onto my new motherboard? Which memory type should I go for? HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!
Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
Personally?
Toss the sound card. Useless, unless you want ultra-surround-sound which is what most sound cards are designed for. But be sure to ask the computer guy to make sure that the mobo already has sound, some versions of a particular mobo come without it. Use DDR SDRAM. Even 128 MB will do the trick. Downgrade your video card, unless you plan to play a lot of games with it.
That's about it.
[ January 15, 2002: Message edited by: Tahna Los ]
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
I went from ob sound to a soundblaster live value, I found that this freed up my processor for some games but on the whole did not change that much except the programmes that came with it allowed me to have better control of my speakers. Definately go with the ddrram if you can. Do it quickly cause ram is going up again, it's been at a great low price but this has caused consolidation in the market forcing the price up. Oh, one other thing Sound Blaster does not support Windows ME, so depending on your system the programmes that came with it won't work. XP, 98SE are ok though.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
Another quote:
Upgrade to a P4 1800MHz Soltek DDR P4 Board ATX Tower Case 256MB DDR Ram 64MB Ge Force Video Card
All fitted and configured
Price �546 + vat. Less 10% �491.40 + vat (until 31st Jan when sale ends)
= �577.39 inc vat
PS unless you have at least a 10 GB Hard Drive then I would recommend upgrading that, we could always take your parts as part exchange towards the price of a hard drive.
Considering the other quote was for a P3 equivalent, I think that I'll go for this as it's nearer to home. Plus is I go for the bigger HDD, it'll only cost me about �60 more which ain't bad. But I was hoping to keep my 6.4 GB HDD as nothing is wrong with it.
What do you think? I ask beacuse you all appear to know more about this sort of stuff than I do, and I value your expert and informed opinions.
Posted by EdipisReks (Member # 510) on :
double post.
[ January 16, 2002: Message edited by: EdipisReks ]
Posted by EdipisReks (Member # 510) on :
an AthlonXP system is not a "P3 equivalent". the AthlonXP is much faster than a PentiumIV, clock for clock. for instance: a 1.667 gHz AthlonXP is the approximate equal of a 2.2 gHz Northwood core PentiumIV, and soundly beat a 2.0 gHz Northwood core PentiumIV. however, as the PentiumIV system is considerably cheaper and offers very good performance, i would get that.
--jacob
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
If you go to the athlon make sure you have a good heat sink though, cause those things fry in a second.
Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
The core of the newer Athlons are designed in silicon, compared to the older ones which had a ceramic composition. It is supposed to be a lot less cooler compared to the predecessors. With a good heatsink, it should keep the core temperature to a more manageable 46 degrees celsius.
As for the Socket 478 Pentium 4s, if you look at the bracket that is around the processor, that is how BIG the heatsink for the Pentium 4 is.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
I'm back! (Again!)
Well it cost me �758.23, but it was well worth it. I am now the owner of a Intel P4 1800Mhz PC with 256MB PC2100 DDR Ram, 64MB GeForce 2MX graphics card, 40Gig hard drive, and Windows Millenium operating system. I also have a new internet keyboard and a few free DVD movies converted to MPEGS.
I am well happy. The machine is sooooooooooo fast! It's like someone has led me into the light! HEHE!
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
This Los Angeles Times article made me think of this thread:
quote:A bad EBay auction experience spurs an ad hoc Internet manhunt by ordinary folk, who, like frontier vigilantes, find themselves skirting the law in their quest for justice.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
BUGGER!
I go and install my CDRW drivers and put all my backed up files onto the HDD and now it won't shutdown properly! The guy tells me that I'll have to take my PC in for a replacement HDD - more hastle!!!! I only just got my Internet stuff back up and running - this isn't fair!
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Ahh, my computer wouldn't shut down for a month. It went to a black screen, but never turned off. After a while, it started again. And since I fiddle with stuff all the time, I have no idea what I did.
If it works, don't worry about it.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
quote:Originally posted by PsyLiam: If it works, don't worry about it.
But I do worry about it as it is wrong and shouldn't do that.
I took it to the place where I bought it and had the technician check it out. He said that AOL IM could be interfering with the shut down sequence as well as a number of other things on my taskbar. He stopped them from coming up which means that I need to access them from the startbar (no big hastle). I actually saw the PC shut down properly with my own eyes at the shop. But when I'd got it home and plugged in - it didn't shut down properly!!!!
My Dad and I think that it may be a conflicting cable (sound silly? We don't know or care, we're looking at all angles).
So guys and gals I'd really like your help on this one. I'm thinking of buying Norton System Works 2002 - I had Norton System Works 2.0 on my old system and it kept it runnung smoothly - would that solve the problem?
HELP!!!
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
Oi! You're meant to answer my question and give me some helpful advice!!! I feel so unloved.
Anyway, in addition to my previous question in my previous post, I have (yes you've guessed it) another problem with my new PC.
The problem is: in the last 2-3 days whenever I have rebooted my PC the "New Hardware Device Found" window pops up on the screen. It's finding things like my audio hardware and my printer. It's already installed!!!
Why is this happening and what can I do to solve this problem/error?
HELP ME PLEASE!!!
[ February 06, 2002, 12:53: Message edited by: akb1979 ]
Posted by Tahna Los (Member # 33) on :
1) Find your windows CD. 2) Nuke your Hard Drive. 3) Start again.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
AWWWWWWWWWW SHIT!
(Please don't ban me!)
I don't wanna nuke my hard disk!
The guy I bought it from said that the new device problem happens due to a software conflict and is nothing to worry about. I'm guessing that you disagree, but I will only "nuke" the disk as a last resort.
Say, anyone know what "Challenge handshake authentication protocol" in my Internet connection mean? I've never seen it before?
Posted by CaptainMike (Member # 709) on :
Try stuffing tree bark in the CD drive and meditating with incense. It's Holistic Tech Support
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
quote:Originally posted by CaptainMike: Try stuffing tree bark in the CD drive and meditating with incense. It's Holistic Tech Support
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