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Hardware Problems



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 13th 04, 03:36 AM
Pat
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hardware Problems

I have upgraded my computer to:
P4 2.8E GHZ
512 MB ram
P4P800 Asus Motherboard
Geforce 2 MX400 (From old computer)
DVD & Cd Burner (From old computer)
Maxtor 40Gb 2Mb cache 7200 RPM 100ATA (From old computer)
IBM 12 Gb 2mb cache 7200 RPM 66ATA (From old computer)
O/S Win ME

My computer is choppy in everything and very slow. My CPU
temperature never goes over 49C / 120F. I have no
hardware conflict and have all up to date Drivers.

I have run the PCpitstop benchmark and some others and
obtained those results:

-My harddrives score very low at 0.36 MB/sec
(I had run scandisk and Defrag before testing session)
-My CPU load is alway at 100%
(I had disable CPU cooling software)

This new computer run slower than my PIII 500 MHz. I had
to disable HT tech because ME doesn't support it.

What can I do to get some speed:
Is my video card slowing everything down?
Should I update to Windows XP?
Any solutions out there....

Thanks

Pat
  #2  
Old May 13th 04, 09:45 AM
Rick T
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hardware Problems

Well, you can upgrade to XP if you want (though does the MX400 have XP
drivers? better check), and it will possibly cure your problems, simply
because you're installing fresh, but reinstalling ME would have the same
effect (if any).

Your HD and CPU benchmarks are ridiculous though. I suspect some sort of
pest and/or incredibly crappy system settings.

But first things, first:

Did you disable HT properly ?

Is it still slow in SafeMode?


Rick


Pat wrote:
I have upgraded my computer to:
P4 2.8E GHZ
512 MB ram
P4P800 Asus Motherboard
Geforce 2 MX400 (From old computer)
DVD & Cd Burner (From old computer)
Maxtor 40Gb 2Mb cache 7200 RPM 100ATA (From old computer)
IBM 12 Gb 2mb cache 7200 RPM 66ATA (From old computer)
O/S Win ME

My computer is choppy in everything and very slow. My CPU
temperature never goes over 49C / 120F. I have no
hardware conflict and have all up to date Drivers.

I have run the PCpitstop benchmark and some others and
obtained those results:

-My harddrives score very low at 0.36 MB/sec
(I had run scandisk and Defrag before testing session)
-My CPU load is alway at 100%
(I had disable CPU cooling software)

This new computer run slower than my PIII 500 MHz. I had
to disable HT tech because ME doesn't support it.

What can I do to get some speed:
Is my video card slowing everything down?
Should I update to Windows XP?
Any solutions out there....

Thanks

Pat

  #3  
Old May 13th 04, 01:56 PM
Jack E Martinelli
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hardware Problems

1) your "Kernel Processor Usage" issue.
MS System Monitor is known to utilize a faulty algorithm
to measure "cpu usage", or "load".

Obtain the free MS "process viewer" tool, Wintop, at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/d...oy/default.asp

or the free "Process Explorer" www.sysinternals.com


2) Troubleshooting MS-DOS Compatibility Mode on Hard Disks:
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../Q130/1/79.asp

MS-DOS Compatibility Mode Problems with PCI IDE Controllers
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q151/9/11.asp

Look for a copy of the free HD test program, HDTach, to evaluate disk
I/O.


3) New M/B installation

You will likely need to reinstall Windows over itself after swapping
motherboards, especially if this is a major change in hardware (P3 to
Athlon, Celeron to P4, etc) due to a special driver file named
"VMM32.VXD".
This file is custom-built when you install Windows, has the CPU and
motherboard-level drivers in it, and can only be rebuilt by reinstalling
Windows.

Your previously-installed software and documents should survive the
reinstall OK but you'll need to reinstall all Windows updates again.
Also,
if you have installed Windows Media Player Beta 9, you'll need to take
some
special precautions before reinstalling - let me know if that's the
case.

--
Richard G. Harper (MVP Win9x 1/07/2003
------

Before you reinstall, assuming you have a retail Windows (9X) disc, do
this:

1. Make a bootable floppy disk and make sure you can boot from it and
see
your Windows CD-ROM disc with it.

2. Before you shut down Windows to replace your hardware, use
SCANREGW.EXE
to make a backup copy of the Registry, then delete the key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum branch of the Registry. This removes all
hardware
data from the Registry.

3. Restart in MS-DOS Mode, find the file VMM32.VXD in the
\Windows\System
directory and rename it to VMM32.OLD

4. Finally, shut down, boot with the floppy, reinstall Windows.

--
Richard G. Harper (MVP MPS-D)
----

Repost with additional information after reviewing the above
suggestions.

If your finances permit, I strongly urge you to replace the ATA66 HD
with a ATA100 or 133 and to replace the now ancient MX400 video card.
Create a 2.1 GB primary partition, using 4 KB cluster size, at the start
of the second drive and move the swapfile to it, leaving only a 50 MB
swapfile on the first drive for backward compatibility. This will
increase disk performance.

A nVidia 5200 or ATI 9200 should be your minimal consideration --- ca.
$US 50-70 at many internet vendors. Whichever you choose, confirm that
it will support most DX 9.b features in hardware.
--
Jack E. Martinelli 2002-04 MVP for Win9X / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
Your cooperation is very appreciated.
____
"Rick T" wrote in message
...
Well, you can upgrade to XP if you want (though does the MX400 have XP
drivers? better check), and it will possibly cure your problems,

simply
because you're installing fresh, but reinstalling ME would have the

same
effect (if any).

Your HD and CPU benchmarks are ridiculous though. I suspect some sort

of
pest and/or incredibly crappy system settings.

But first things, first:

Did you disable HT properly ?

Is it still slow in SafeMode?


Rick


Pat wrote:
I have upgraded my computer to:
P4 2.8E GHZ
512 MB ram
P4P800 Asus Motherboard
Geforce 2 MX400 (From old computer)
DVD & Cd Burner (From old computer)
Maxtor 40Gb 2Mb cache 7200 RPM 100ATA (From old computer)
IBM 12 Gb 2mb cache 7200 RPM 66ATA (From old computer)
O/S Win ME

My computer is choppy in everything and very slow. My CPU
temperature never goes over 49C / 120F. I have no
hardware conflict and have all up to date Drivers.

I have run the PCpitstop benchmark and some others and
obtained those results:

-My harddrives score very low at 0.36 MB/sec
(I had run scandisk and Defrag before testing session)
-My CPU load is alway at 100%
(I had disable CPU cooling software)

This new computer run slower than my PIII 500 MHz. I had
to disable HT tech because ME doesn't support it.

What can I do to get some speed:
Is my video card slowing everything down?
Should I update to Windows XP?
Any solutions out there....

Thanks

Pat


  #4  
Old May 14th 04, 09:02 PM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hardware Problems

Thank you very much for all you sugeestion.
I have downloaded Process Explorer and realized that one
signle program was causing errors and holding my CPU load
between 95% to 99%...

Since I have removed it (not really useful anyway) and my
CPU load at idle is running at 3% to 5%. I have use
Pcpitstop again and got a very good score this time.

My temperatur of my CPU is running now between 37C to 41C
a difference of 10C

I will change my Video card next month for a ATI 9600 XT
and also probably upgrade to Windows XP

Thank you veru much.

Pat
-----Original Message-----
1) your "Kernel Processor Usage" issue.
MS System Monitor is known to utilize a faulty algorithm
to measure "cpu usage", or "load".

Obtain the free MS "process viewer" tool, Wintop, at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/d.../contents/wuto

ys/w95kerneltoy/default.asp

or the free "Process Explorer" www.sysinternals.com


2) Troubleshooting MS-DOS Compatibility Mode on Hard

Disks:
http://support.microsoft.com/support...cles/Q130/1/79

..asp

MS-DOS Compatibility Mode Problems with PCI IDE

Controllers
http://support.microsoft.com/support...cles/q151/9/11

..asp

Look for a copy of the free HD test program, HDTach, to

evaluate disk
I/O.


3) New M/B installation

You will likely need to reinstall Windows over itself

after swapping
motherboards, especially if this is a major change in

hardware (P3 to
Athlon, Celeron to P4, etc) due to a special driver file

named
"VMM32.VXD".
This file is custom-built when you install Windows, has

the CPU and
motherboard-level drivers in it, and can only be rebuilt

by reinstalling
Windows.

Your previously-installed software and documents should

survive the
reinstall OK but you'll need to reinstall all Windows

updates again.
Also,
if you have installed Windows Media Player Beta 9, you'll

need to take
some
special precautions before reinstalling - let me know if

that's the
case.

--
Richard G. Harper (MVP Win9x 1/07/2003
------

Before you reinstall, assuming you have a retail Windows

(9X) disc, do
this:

1. Make a bootable floppy disk and make sure you can

boot from it and
see
your Windows CD-ROM disc with it.

2. Before you shut down Windows to replace your

hardware, use
SCANREGW.EXE
to make a backup copy of the Registry, then delete the key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum branch of the Registry. This

removes all
hardware
data from the Registry.

3. Restart in MS-DOS Mode, find the file VMM32.VXD in the
\Windows\System
directory and rename it to VMM32.OLD

4. Finally, shut down, boot with the floppy, reinstall

Windows.

--
Richard G. Harper (MVP MPS-D)
----

Repost with additional information after reviewing the

above
suggestions.

If your finances permit, I strongly urge you to replace

the ATA66 HD
with a ATA100 or 133 and to replace the now ancient MX400

video card.
Create a 2.1 GB primary partition, using 4 KB cluster

size, at the start
of the second drive and move the swapfile to it, leaving

only a 50 MB
swapfile on the first drive for backward compatibility.

This will
increase disk performance.

A nVidia 5200 or ATI 9200 should be your minimal

consideration --- ca.
$US 50-70 at many internet vendors. Whichever you

choose, confirm that
it will support most DX 9.b features in hardware.
--
Jack E. Martinelli 2002-04 MVP for Win9X / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
Your cooperation is very appreciated.
____
"Rick T" wrote in message
...
Well, you can upgrade to XP if you want (though does

the MX400 have XP
drivers? better check), and it will possibly cure your

problems,
simply
because you're installing fresh, but reinstalling ME

would have the
same
effect (if any).

Your HD and CPU benchmarks are ridiculous though. I

suspect some sort
of
pest and/or incredibly crappy system settings.

But first things, first:

Did you disable HT properly ?

Is it still slow in SafeMode?


Rick


Pat wrote:
I have upgraded my computer to:
P4 2.8E GHZ
512 MB ram
P4P800 Asus Motherboard
Geforce 2 MX400 (From old computer)
DVD & Cd Burner (From old computer)
Maxtor 40Gb 2Mb cache 7200 RPM 100ATA (From old

computer)
IBM 12 Gb 2mb cache 7200 RPM 66ATA (From old computer)
O/S Win ME

My computer is choppy in everything and very slow.

My CPU
temperature never goes over 49C / 120F. I have no
hardware conflict and have all up to date Drivers.

I have run the PCpitstop benchmark and some others and
obtained those results:

-My harddrives score very low at 0.36 MB/sec
(I had run scandisk and Defrag before testing session)
-My CPU load is alway at 100%
(I had disable CPU cooling software)

This new computer run slower than my PIII 500 MHz. I

had
to disable HT tech because ME doesn't support it.

What can I do to get some speed:
Is my video card slowing everything down?
Should I update to Windows XP?
Any solutions out there....

Thanks

Pat


.

  #6  
Old May 15th 04, 03:33 AM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hardware Problems

Sorry I did forgot to say who was the villain...

It was a file name: TCAUDIAG.EXE

It is a diagnostic for my 3COM ethernet port. I did try to
use it before removing it and it keep crashing my system.
I never use it before so I just kicked out....

Thanks

Pat
-----Original Message-----
wrote:

Thank you very much for all you sugeestion.
I have downloaded Process Explorer and realized that

one
signle program was causing errors and holding my CPU

load
between 95% to 99%...


and the villain was ... ?


Rick
.

  #8  
Old May 18th 04, 09:16 AM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hardware Problems


-----Original Message-----
Thank you very much for all you sugeestion.
I have downloaded Process Explorer and realized that one
signle program was causing errors and holding my CPU load
between 95% to 99%...

Since I have removed it (not really useful anyway) and my
CPU load at idle is running at 3% to 5%. I have use
Pcpitstop again and got a very good score this time.

My temperatur of my CPU is running now between 37C to 41C
a difference of 10C

I will change my Video card next month for a ATI 9600 XT
and also probably upgrade to Windows XP

Thank you veru much.

Pat
-----Original Message-----
1) your "Kernel Processor Usage" issue.
MS System Monitor is known to utilize a faulty algorithm
to measure "cpu usage", or "load".

Obtain the free MS "process viewer" tool, Wintop, at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/d...s/contents/wut

o
ys/w95kerneltoy/default.asp

or the free "Process Explorer" www.sysinternals.com


2) Troubleshooting MS-DOS Compatibility Mode on Hard

Disks:
http://support.microsoft.com/support...icles/Q130/1/7

9
..asp

MS-DOS Compatibility Mode Problems with PCI IDE

Controllers
http://support.microsoft.com/support...icles/q151/9/1

1
..asp

Look for a copy of the free HD test program, HDTach, to

evaluate disk
I/O.


3) New M/B installation

You will likely need to reinstall Windows over itself

after swapping
motherboards, especially if this is a major change in

hardware (P3 to
Athlon, Celeron to P4, etc) due to a special driver file

named
"VMM32.VXD".
This file is custom-built when you install Windows, has

the CPU and
motherboard-level drivers in it, and can only be rebuilt

by reinstalling
Windows.

Your previously-installed software and documents should

survive the
reinstall OK but you'll need to reinstall all Windows

updates again.
Also,
if you have installed Windows Media Player Beta 9,

you'll
need to take
some
special precautions before reinstalling - let me know if

that's the
case.

--
Richard G. Harper (MVP Win9x 1/07/2003
------

Before you reinstall, assuming you have a retail Windows

(9X) disc, do
this:

1. Make a bootable floppy disk and make sure you can

boot from it and
see
your Windows CD-ROM disc with it.

2. Before you shut down Windows to replace your

hardware, use
SCANREGW.EXE
to make a backup copy of the Registry, then delete the

key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Enum branch of the Registry. This

removes all
hardware
data from the Registry.

3. Restart in MS-DOS Mode, find the file VMM32.VXD in

the
\Windows\System
directory and rename it to VMM32.OLD

4. Finally, shut down, boot with the floppy, reinstall

Windows.

--
Richard G. Harper (MVP MPS-D)
----

Repost with additional information after reviewing the

above
suggestions.

If your finances permit, I strongly urge you to replace

the ATA66 HD
with a ATA100 or 133 and to replace the now ancient

MX400
video card.
Create a 2.1 GB primary partition, using 4 KB cluster

size, at the start
of the second drive and move the swapfile to it, leaving

only a 50 MB
swapfile on the first drive for backward compatibility.

This will
increase disk performance.

A nVidia 5200 or ATI 9200 should be your minimal

consideration --- ca.
$US 50-70 at many internet vendors. Whichever you

choose, confirm that
it will support most DX 9.b features in hardware.
--
Jack E. Martinelli 2002-04 MVP for Win9X / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
Your cooperation is very appreciated.
____
"Rick T" wrote in message
...
Well, you can upgrade to XP if you want (though does

the MX400 have XP
drivers? better check), and it will possibly cure your

problems,
simply
because you're installing fresh, but reinstalling ME

would have the
same
effect (if any).

Your HD and CPU benchmarks are ridiculous though. I

suspect some sort
of
pest and/or incredibly crappy system settings.

But first things, first:

Did you disable HT properly ?

Is it still slow in SafeMode?


Rick


Pat wrote:
I have upgraded my computer to:
P4 2.8E GHZ
512 MB ram
P4P800 Asus Motherboard
Geforce 2 MX400 (From old computer)
DVD & Cd Burner (From old computer)
Maxtor 40Gb 2Mb cache 7200 RPM 100ATA (From old

computer)
IBM 12 Gb 2mb cache 7200 RPM 66ATA (From old

computer)
O/S Win ME

My computer is choppy in everything and very slow.

My CPU
temperature never goes over 49C / 120F. I have no
hardware conflict and have all up to date Drivers.

I have run the PCpitstop benchmark and some others

and
obtained those results:

-My harddrives score very low at 0.36 MB/sec
(I had run scandisk and Defrag before testing

session)
-My CPU load is alway at 100%
(I had disable CPU cooling software)

This new computer run slower than my PIII 500 MHz.

I
had
to disable HT tech because ME doesn't support it.

What can I do to get some speed:
Is my video card slowing everything down?
Should I update to Windows XP?
Any solutions out there....

Thanks

Pat


. If your running both hard drives on the same IDE 1

make sure your jumper setting are correct with master
slave and ...even tho they are the same speed..the busing
is different...1's ata100 and the other ata66..which ever
is the slowest hardware on a ribbion or usbline that is
that your transfer rate will be. Also you might want to
check if your SDRAM is compatible with MB chipset and It
might be faulty. cheap or bad mem. makes the system
unstable and slow. hope this helps Ro

.

  #9  
Old May 22nd 04, 09:02 PM
Robert Creasey
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Hardware Problems

Although not directly connected with the original poster's query, I am
interested in the CPU usage anomaly. I have MBM5 which reports consistanly
30 to 50 % CPU usage, also a small program "TClock" which enhances the
Windows clock, this also shows a "high" CPU usage. I also have Wintop and
Process Explorer which shows CPU "idle" at 99% to about 99.5%, I have often
wondered which one is correct. Any thoughts on the matter? I am running
Windows ME with 512Mb Ram and Athlon XP 2600+ if that is any help.
Thanks - Rob


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