How to spend ~9 hours goofing off

[Epsilon 5]

My oh my, system upgrades, always good eh? not so sure.

Yesterday I got what was missing of my new hardware, and was ready to upgrade. I upgraded my mobo / cpu / memory on my main computer, and the "old" stuff went in the second computer.

How it looks like?

Main computer :

CPU : tbird 950 ==> xp2000

MEM : 256mb sdram (1x256) ==> 512mb sdram (2x256)

MOBO : Tyan S2390b KT-A (via) ==> ECS K5A5A (SiS 735)

VDO : R8500LE (previously upgraded from a gf2 mx400)

SND : SB Ensoniq oem? ==> onboard C-media AC97 audio device (have nothing spare yet)

LAN : 1 10/100 asound, 1 10/100 d-link == > 1 10/100 onboard SiS 900, 1 10/100 d-link

Secondary computer (family computer + server)

CPU : k6-2 400mhz ==> tbird 950

MEM : 192mb sdram (1x128, 1x64) ==> 320mb sdram (2x128, 1x64)

MOBO : SOYO 5SSM (sockect 7!) ==> Tyan s2390b

VDO : Onboard SiS 530? (doesn't matter) ==> gf2 mx400

SND : Onboard ESS audio ==> SB cheap Ensoniq

LAN : 1 10/100 asound, 1 10/100 Lynksys (stays the same)

Both are under win2k pro

The upgrade itself is all ok, and I have good help from a friend (I don't like messing with cpus)

Now I plug back all that stuff. Start the computer. Fiddle with a few simple bios options, then let it boot. Passes the bios ... passes the initial windows loading bar... then the led on my monitor turns orange, it reboots ...

We repeat several times, the result is always the same. Damn! Go back in bios, and play with options. Disable quite a few things, such as PnP, onboard stuff, etc. We boot the computer. Loading bar .... oh something new! A win2k BSOD! It says something about being unable to find the OS and stuff like that.

After fiddling with the computer (and noticing it does the same thing on the second one), we finally deduce that windows doesn't like you to change hardware without his permission. So I go and get my windows CD, and boot up with it. i try to repair my hard drive, but the results are the same. Now I'm thinking about reinstalling windows ... but i have important stuff on my drive C, and no way to backup it .... unless ... unless I put it in my secondary computer, which got my "old" mobo and cpu. I change the hard drive, and tada! it works. I proceed to boot up, backup important files on the drive E, then put the hard drive back in the right computer. I boot with the cd, and do a windows reinstall / don't touch contents (no reformat). It takes a little while and then it works. great! i do the same to the other computer while I reinstall my drivers.

Problem right there : the program on the cd that came with the mbo says "The motherboard not support" (sic) just great! I an able to manually install the onboard lancard, which connects me to the internet. Then I proceed to install my connection software. Can't run it in 16 colors .. uh? Then I try to install video drivers ... can't install, need directx 8.1. Try to get directx ... the installer is on the other computer ... don't have drivers for that lancard installed, and the second computer, which holds all drivers, has not finished windows install! Urgh! So there I am, stuck in 800x600x16, no sound, no nothing. by fiddling with system properties, I am able to install sound, and start to play some mp3s with windows media player, then winamp (thanks god not ALL of them are on the second computer )

Here's a picture I made to describe how my network works : http://epsilon5.ath.cx/network.jpg It's a small pic (14k) which I quicly made in paint and then converted to jpg.

Now, the secondary computer is done with windows install. I enter stuff such as regional parameters and all that crap, then end up on the desktop. Good! since this computer has all the drivers, it isn't hard to reinstall the 2 lancards, directx 8.1, the video drivers.. but then comes the connection software.

I load up the cd and proceeed to install. I install it, then reboot, only to nitce it didn't installed the PPPoE drivr for the internet. I unistall then ... I end up on 3 errors about a process that cannot be created ... or something like that. Doesn't matter. I finish the unistall, then reboot. Reinstall, reboot. SAME thing! I uninstall, same error! I reboot ... then only then I remember that I have on my hard drive a more recent version of the connection software, thank god! So I go, intall it, reboot. Problem again, won't connect. I unistall (must be the original version's remnants I think), reboot, and then reinstall. reboot. Try to start it, YES! it does. Now, in a hurry to get my server back online, I reinstall apache (while keeping my conf files backuped), reboot. Well that's fine for now. I put mIRC back in the start menu, only then I rmemeber that I should put back my old start menu (like I did on the main computer), but I can't find the old start menu anywhere in the folder "document and settings" (arhg!). Oh well, will have to redo from start. So mIRC is then back in the startup folder, working and logging. I update my stats, and go see them .... can't find server.... now what.

While apache is running well, I forgot to reinstall DeeEnEs which updates my ip to the dyndns server (my ip is dynamic). I find where I was hiding it after 5 mins, and then reboot. stuff runs fine (a relief!), and I can access any part of my server. Then I get a floppy out to transfer the missing drivers on the main computer, only to remember that I can do file transfer even by the 10mbps hub. Slow, but who cares? (in this case anyway). So not only I transfer the drivers (and install them) but I get directx, the working version of the connection software and a few programs deemed essential (such as the multimedia key software ) I proceed to install all that stuff (with a bunch of reboot in between) while I reinstall my anti-virus back on the server machine.

Finally! My eyes don't hurt anymore! Back in 1280x1024x32, I reinstall the secondary stuff on both computers (such as winzip/rar/ace) and, of course, 3dmarkSE I will list my result history later. Then I proceed to play some game, Aces High it is. Got my bf109g-10 on the carrier's deck, start the engine, start moving forward ... and then I notice I forgot to reinstall my joystick drivers, let alone plug it back! So I go on the Saitek website (ehich makes me thinkg that i have yet to upgrade ie), get the SGE, install it, reboot, calibrate. I take a quick peek in Aces high, fly for a little while, and notice this onboard sound card is actually BETTER than my old one, and that it uses hardware sound in Aces High, and the first thing I notice is the doppler effect on sounds, and with the help of jaxfox, I run a few "test", and see that it's WAYYYY more realisitc (and cooooool) that way. I felt a little hopeless with him in a junker 88 and me in a m-8 with only a single m2 gun as AA defense (and considering I have a custom sound pack, it's even cooler)

A little later, I go back to work on a few setting in windows, network settings. Since windows have that tendency to use the slower network connection available (we're talking about windows, eh), I disable netBEUI, IPX/SPX and netBIOS, leaving on the services and tcp-ip on the lancard that should be for the internet only. I transfer a few files for other stuff I forgot, all is fine. Then I go back to play Aces High for a few hours.

Later, a little before bedtime, I want to transfer something .. but clearly there's a problem. My d-link doesn't work anymore. I mean, it was working, and then a few hours later, it doesn't. Unistall drivers, and reinstall. Rebot. Does't work. Go on the d-link website and get the latest drivers. Still doesn't work. Now I'm stuckk without my lan ... at least I think so, only to remmeber later (!) that i just have to re-enable ipx / netBEUI/BIOS to get my network back. After many tries the problem is still not solved. I'm stuck on my 10mbps network, and it sucks. I go back to play some more Aces High. I go to bed, this morning I open the computer, and the lancard still doesn't work (have the yellow (!) on it).

And well, here I am, with a missing lancard (if only I had a 100mbps hub), and 2 computers which look a little crippled. I think I might be forced do do a real reinstall, with reformat... And i don't like that.

Sigh ...

(disclaimer : some of the event might not be described as being at the right time it actually happened (relatively to other events), but who cares?)

Oh and about those 3dmardse results, here thye are, with the 3 last CPU / VDO combos I got on this computer.

t950 - gf2 : 2976

t950 - r8500 : ~4500

xp2000 - r8500 : 6789

[ 09-13-2002, 03:38 PM: Message edited by: Epsilon 5 ]

[Kevin Trotter]

Was there screaming and gnashing of teeth involved? My condolences EPS.

[CommanderJohnson]

I've had some Internet Connection problems under Win XP PRO with ping times to games.

They start off OK but they spike up a lot and get up to around 500-800 ms when they used to be 120-160 under WIN 98 and maybe even XP home. I have a direct phone line connect with an internal DSL modem to the internet. Any idea how to get the pings stable and low under XP Pro?

[Epsilon 5]

ARRRGH!

I was reformating the hard drive on my main computer when it went out. I mean, nothing, just a metaphorical poof. Nothing, nada, and it won't boot back! i think something is broken, but I have no idea what

I'll try to bring the computer to the store tomorrow.

[Pedro Pablo Laracuente]

That's why i don't like messing with naking home pc's. I'm happy with gateway doing the job for me... their prices are very low for what they give. Compare the prices of the area 51 with a 500xl(upgraded to area 51 standards) if you want to see what i mean

[IceCold]

Upgrades are easy to install but hard to get working. 99% of the job is just working out the bugs. Epsilon 5, you need to clean install Windows. Use the boot disk to back up needed files on the system drive and format it. Then re-install windows.

[Epsilon 5]

no, i think I need a new power supply.

[Charles Lindsey]

I know exactly what it is. You forgot to sacrifice a dead chicken, wear underwear backwards on your head, and hook up a Barbie doll to a 9 volt battery.

[Epsilon 5]

quote:

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Originally posted by Charles Lindsey:

I know exactly what it is. You forgot to sacrifice a dead chicken, wear underwear backwards on your head, and hook up a Barbie doll to a 9 volt battery.

---

about the chicken, can AOL cds do the job instead?

[CommanderJohnson]

No ideas how to help me out with XP?

[Epsilon 5]

Whoohoo! got my new psu, a Enermax 350W whisper, man it has twice as many plugs and wires

Strange. The PSU blew halfway thru a hard drive reformat, yes I just booted up fine, like if I bever reformated. Oh well. It's better than a screwed hard drive.

Dredd - do you have the latest connection software?

It may be the ISP having trouble (had bad pings between last november and january because they had a large influx of new members, which choked the network), see if their website says anything.

[Emmett.hendrick]

quote:

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Originally posted by Dredd:

No ideas how to help me out with XP?

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Dredd are you using XP's personal firewall it can play havoc with your internet ping times!!

HA HA I'm back!!!

[CommanderJohnson]

XP's personal firewall is off, I have the latest connection software, and the website says nothing about some huge increase in members. Any other ideas? Please?

[Emmett.hendrick]

quote:

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Originally posted by Dredd:

XP's personal firewall is off, I have the latest connection software, and the website says nothing about some huge increase in members. Any other ideas? Please?

---

here try this:

XP TCP/IP troubleshooting

hope it helps

[Epsilon 5]

Whoohoo! reformating the computer does change alot! I mean, look at the end of my first post, there are my 3dmark results over time. I just reran the test today and got 7280