Sound Stutters

The sound on this pc have always been unstable but tolerable. I recently
decided to try and sort it out (!) and installed the extra memory
(2x512mb in DIMM 2 & 4) to try and cure it, but this didn't make any
difference. I have now taken these boards out.

I then uninstalled the SB PCI512 soundcard (originally installed because
the AC97 wouldn't work well, but didn't really make much difference) and
installed a Trust 714DX on the grounds that the AC97 and SB chips didn't
work well, so try a different chip. That made things considerably worse
and I've not been able to get back since. (I am nervous about using
System Restore as I don't understand what it does).

I don't know when the CD Audio went wrong as I very rarely play CDs. I
only found this out when trying to pin down the current problem.

The relevant restore point would be around 10th February, nearly two
weeks ago.

The spare disk I referred to is attached as drive G.

I now realise that I have not previously given you this particular
detail which is probably a big mistake on my part. My initial view was
that the current problem was simply a manifestation of the longer term
instability. I do apologise if this has misled you.

This may not be of any relevance, but the current installation dates
from an upgrade from Win 95b, not a clean install of ME. Since then I
have changed the Mobo twice, always with Intel chipsets, and each time
with a more up to date Pentium CPU.
Start up and shut down sometimes lock up and occasionally the resultant
automatic scandisc also freezes. I just take this as par for the course.

I scandisc and defrag all drives around once a week.

Stephen

Noel Paton wrote:
Hold on - I'll have a go....
1) This is possible - what did you install/remove at around the time the
problem first surfaced?

2) I get a 'server busy' response - with no codes - so I guess that they
have server problems..... I suggest emailing their support lines and asking
for a copy by email ( or getting their download FTP site fixed!g).

3) - the references are probably within the registry - and the
C:\Windows\INF and C:\Windows\System folder. The files involved don't need
to have 'ch' in the names.

4) How old is the SR point? - if it's more than a week old, then the risks
of using it are possibly greater than the current problems.

5)Assuming the 'spare;' disk isn't currently attached to the system (and so
not seen by it), then it's easy enough to replace the current one, and
install ME to the spare - It would act as a test of the hardware, but I'm
not sure that would get us any further, as we've already established that
this almost has to be a software problem. - If the disk is currently
attached to the system and seen by it, then you'll have to be careful using
it, as System Restore will almost certainly reset when you replace the
original configuration, due to changing Disk ID's (unless you are VERY
careful - and even then, it's not guaranteed!).

Ah - thanks for the info on the upgrade history!
This makes it almost certain that your best option would be a clean install
of ME and your applications - Win 95b was an improvement on vanilla, but not
much of one, and successive upgrades through different motherboards and OS's
would explain the mess we found in your Device Manager. It would also mean
that we're likely to see a similar mess throughout the rest of the registry
(and possibly in the filesystem, also).
Do you have the Install disks for your applications - particularly Office? -
and the Product Keys involved (for ME and for Office - and any other beasts
that need them?).
If you don't have the product keys to hand - try using Belarc Advisor to see
what it can find.


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
"Stephen" wrote in message
...
The sound on this pc have always been unstable but tolerable. I recently
decided to try and sort it out (!) and installed the extra memory (2x512mb
in DIMM 2 & 4) to try and cure it, but this didn't make any difference. I
have now taken these boards out.

I then uninstalled the SB PCI512 soundcard (originally installed because
the AC97 wouldn't work well, but didn't really make much difference) and
installed a Trust 714DX on the grounds that the AC97 and SB chips didn't
work well, so try a different chip. That made things considerably worse
and I've not been able to get back since. (I am nervous about using System
Restore as I don't understand what it does).

I don't know when the CD Audio went wrong as I very rarely play CDs. I
only found this out when trying to pin down the current problem.

The relevant restore point would be around 10th February, nearly two weeks
ago.

The spare disk I referred to is attached as drive G.

I now realise that I have not previously given you this particular detail
which is probably a big mistake on my part. My initial view was that the
current problem was simply a manifestation of the longer term instability.
I do apologise if this has misled you.

This may not be of any relevance, but the current installation dates from
an upgrade from Win 95b, not a clean install of ME. Since then I have
changed the Mobo twice, always with Intel chipsets, and each time with a
more up to date Pentium CPU.
Start up and shut down sometimes lock up and occasionally the resultant
automatic scandisc also freezes. I just take this as par for the course.

I scandisc and defrag all drives around once a week.

Stephen

Noel Paton wrote:
Hold on - I'll have a go....
1) This is possible - what did you install/remove at around the time the
problem first surfaced?

2) I get a 'server busy' response - with no codes - so I guess that they
have server problems..... I suggest emailing their support lines and
asking for a copy by email ( or getting their download FTP site
fixed!g).

3) - the references are probably within the registry - and the
C:\Windows\INF and C:\Windows\System folder. The files involved don't
need to have 'ch' in the names.

4) How old is the SR point? - if it's more than a week old, then the
risks of using it are possibly greater than the current problems.

5)Assuming the 'spare;' disk isn't currently attached to the system (and
so not seen by it), then it's easy enough to replace the current one, and
install ME to the spare - It would act as a test of the hardware, but I'm
not sure that would get us any further, as we've already established that
this almost has to be a software problem. - If the disk is currently
attached to the system and seen by it, then you'll have to be careful
using it, as System Restore will almost certainly reset when you replace
the original configuration, due to changing Disk ID's (unless you are
VERY careful - and even then, it's not guaranteed!).

Oh Dear!

So no real hope then?

Belarc shows Office 97 Professional and a series of characters, but it
doesn't specifically identify a key as it does for some other
programmes. I have a disc, but again it doesn't specifically state a key.

If I have to reinstall, then I will move to WinXP Home - I have an OEM
disc and a 30GB NTFS partition created with that in mind on my big HDD.
My thoughts would be a dual boot so that I can move slowly whilst
continuing to use the existing ME for my everyday work. I have sat on
this for about 6 months, not willing to bite the bullet! (or, to mix
metaphors, get out of my depth).

Is that a realistic solution and what hidden terrors are there in dual
boot systems? If I set one up can I get back to the status quo, or
alternatively if the migration is complete and successful, move to just
an XP setup?
I'm not sure whether Office 97 will run under XP.

Thanks again for your time.

Stephen

Noel Paton wrote:

Ah - thanks for the info on the upgrade history!
This makes it almost certain that your best option would be a clean install
of ME and your applications - Win 95b was an improvement on vanilla, but not
much of one, and successive upgrades through different motherboards and OS's
would explain the mess we found in your Device Manager. It would also mean
that we're likely to see a similar mess throughout the rest of the registry
(and possibly in the filesystem, also).
Do you have the Install disks for your applications - particularly Office? -
and the Product Keys involved (for ME and for Office - and any other beasts
that need them?).
If you don't have the product keys to hand - try using Belarc Advisor to see
what it can find.

Office 97 should run OK in XP (I think!) - just be aware that you may need
to install it for every one of the User profiles that you create in XP.
IIRC, the Office 97 Product Key was a 10-digit one... either way, the
Magical Jelly-bean should work for you....
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

I ran ME and XP in a dual-boot scenario for a long while with no problems -
you've started off right, by choosing to use NTFS for XP, as it will prevent
Wind ME's System Restore messing with the partition. You will need to turn
off XP's SR monitoring of the Win ME partition though (and maybe also any
other partition except the System one). - and also ensure that the Firewall
is turned on before you let it get anywhere near the Internet!!

Dual boot is fairly simple if you follow the above rules (If I can do it
without trouble, then pretty much anyone can! g)

I assume that you've already run the XP compatibility tester from the CD??

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
"Stephen" wrote in message
...
Oh Dear!

So no real hope then?

Belarc shows Office 97 Professional and a series of characters, but it
doesn't specifically identify a key as it does for some other programmes.
I have a disc, but again it doesn't specifically state a key.

If I have to reinstall, then I will move to WinXP Home - I have an OEM
disc and a 30GB NTFS partition created with that in mind on my big HDD. My
thoughts would be a dual boot so that I can move slowly whilst continuing
to use the existing ME for my everyday work. I have sat on this for about
6 months, not willing to bite the bullet! (or, to mix metaphors, get out
of my depth).

Is that a realistic solution and what hidden terrors are there in dual
boot systems? If I set one up can I get back to the status quo, or
alternatively if the migration is complete and successful, move to just an
XP setup?
I'm not sure whether Office 97 will run under XP.

Thanks again for your time.

Stephen

Noel Paton wrote:

Ah - thanks for the info on the upgrade history!
This makes it almost certain that your best option would be a clean
install of ME and your applications - Win 95b was an improvement on
vanilla, but not much of one, and successive upgrades through different
motherboards and OS's would explain the mess we found in your Device
Manager. It would also mean that we're likely to see a similar mess
throughout the rest of the registry (and possibly in the filesystem,
also).
Do you have the Install disks for your applications - particularly
Office? - and the Product Keys involved (for ME and for Office - and any
other beasts that need them?).
If you don't have the product keys to hand - try using Belarc Advisor to
see what it can find.

You will need to turn off XP's SR monitoring of the Win ME
partition though

Better IMO to ensure that each OS partition is hidden from the other. To
do otherwise not only complicates matters but also leads to different
drive letter assignments depending on the OS in use.
--
Mike Maltby



Noel Paton wrote:

Office 97 should run OK in XP (I think!) - just be aware that you may
need to install it for every one of the User profiles that you create
in XP. IIRC, the Office 97 Product Key was a 10-digit one... either
way, the Magical Jelly-bean should work for you....
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

I ran ME and XP in a dual-boot scenario for a long while with no
problems - you've started off right, by choosing to use NTFS for XP,
as it will prevent Wind ME's System Restore messing with the
partition. You will need to turn off XP's SR monitoring of the Win ME
partition though (and maybe also any other partition except the
System one). - and also ensure that the Firewall is turned on before
you let it get anywhere near the Internet!!
Dual boot is fairly simple if you follow the above rules (If I can do
it without trouble, then pretty much anyone can! g)

I assume that you've already run the XP compatibility tester from the
CD??

"Mike M" wrote in message
...
You will need to turn off XP's SR monitoring of the Win ME
partition though

Better IMO to ensure that each OS partition is hidden from the other. To
do otherwise not only complicates matters but also leads to different
drive letter assignments depending on the OS in use.


True - but that's not possible without a third-party boot manager

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

Noel Paton wrote:

True - but that's not possible without a third-party boot manager

And to not use a third party manager is at best reckless although all that
is needed is a partition manager to hide the unwanted system partition and
mark the required partition as active.
--
Mike Maltby

"Mike M" wrote in message
...
Noel Paton wrote:

True - but that's not possible without a third-party boot manager

And to not use a third party manager is at best reckless although all that
is needed is a partition manager to hide the unwanted system partition and
mark the required partition as active.

Yes. I always feel it's a bit of a shame that, given the slightly more
advanced nature of BING, one can't just put the PM DOS application up for
whoever wants it. I mean, just one floppy (OK, two if you count an EBD, but
one should have an EBD anyway, shouldn't one?)!

Shane

MagicJellyBean found my Office CD key. Thanks for the tip, Noel.

I had hoped to avoid the extra complexity of a boot manager, but I
wouldn't want to be reckless. I have Acronis Disk Director which I think
has boot manager. Do you have any experience of this?

Stephen

Mike M wrote:
Noel Paton wrote:

True - but that's not possible without a third-party boot manager


And to not use a third party manager is at best reckless although all
that is needed is a partition manager to hide the unwanted system
partition and mark the required partition as active.