Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (
More info?)
To test memory, try memtest86 from www.memtest86.com - you create a boot
floppy to test the memory using the downloaded program, so read the
instructions on the web site / print them out before you get going. Note
what it says about Test #5.
Many use bench mark programs to exercise other parts of the system.
Windows can be used via the shutdown command and a scheduled task set to run
say 2 minutes after system boot. Give your self enought time to be able to
kill it. open a command window and shutdown /? to see the options. For
testing disc drives many use large file copies / command files to move files
around in circles or ntbackup to continuously backup / write / verify to
other drives. If you have a USB drive then there is a simple test for the
USB interfaces.
Prime95 is used for CPU testing often.
For your USB problems, I would lay bets that the cabling is just not right,
so when you are ready to tackle that post back with details on how its wired
up and someone is bound to help. If 1 port only is stuffed, then you no
doubt have others.... all is not lost?
Instability can be caused by many things - turn off automatic restart in
Control Panel, System, Startup / Recovery and uncheck the automatic restart
option. This way if you get a BSOD crash you will be able to note down the
STOP code which is most important in diagnosing this kind of thing. If you
get random applicaiton crashes and different BSOD's then I would concentrate
first on memory, then check the PSU is large enough for the system.
Resetting cmos (as per the motherboard manual) and checking the settings are
conservative (not peak performance) may help if you have memory issues.
Check bios version with manufacturers web site.
Install either MBM5 (if settings for your motherboard are available) or the
appropriate h/w monitor for your motherboard and keep an eye on CPU temp and
Voltages. Voltages should not move much and should be within 5% all the
time. Sometimes some voltages reported just are not used... Intel chips
should not go over normally 55c idle (including new hot ones - old ones,
about 40 to 45c idle) - depends on the chip and the ambient temp. If you
suspect temparature is an issue, take the side off: does it get better? If
the CPU temp goes over 65 - 70 then check the heatsink mounting is correct &
heatgunk has been used. If any hotter than that, I would turn off straight
away and head straight for the CPU heatsink....
If things are really bad, then strip the system down to a minimum to try and
identify which part of the system is causing the faults - remove excess disc
drives, whatever is not needed to boot.
As a reminder, run sigverif.exe (start, run, sigverif) and any unsigned
drivers should be listed. If it is for say sound, then if you suspect that
this device is causing instability, deinstall the device in Device Manager
(control panel, system, hardware), and reboot, go into bios and disable the
device.
HTH
- Tim
"gmv" <noemail@please.123> wrote in message
news:1fdVc.3029$9d6.2806@attbi_s54...
>I guess I have decided to live with the problems because
> I do not have any way to transport myself around to
> get things done the only way to travel around here
> is by taxi cab and that cost is outragious.
> I can not afford a second CPU or motherboard to
> troubleshoot this instability. What might be of interest
> now is a decent diagnostic program which will fully
> exercise this machine and tell me what the problem is.
> When I worked for DEC we always had known good parts
> we could substitute to help troubleshoot things.
> The only thing I am sure of is the last time I had this kind of trouble
> it was fixed with a new motherboard.
> So I guess the question here is now do you know of a good
> Diagnostic that can be used to test all facets of a PC ?
> This would include USB ports and heavy use of the various IDE drives.
> The one i have is called Tufftest Pro but it will not test everything
> it will not test the CD drives or the USB port and I have difficulty
> selecting memory ranges over 1GB to test.
> A computer is like a car in that it is a complex piece of
> machinery and it should have special laws to insure people
> will get a machine that properly functions in the first place.
> Maybe we need a lemon law for computers.
>
>
> "Tim" <Tim@NoSpam.com> wrote in message
> news:cg3e0l$ocj$1@lust.ihug.co.nz...
>> Small Ma and Pa shop has nothing to do with it.
>> Sounds like you are being exploited.
>>
>> Here - in New Zealand, most shops are "Small". The big ones are no doubt
>> small by overseas standards. If they choose to go into business offering
>> products and services and undertake tasks to perform for payment, then
>> the
>> onus of responsibility is on them to have adequate skills, experience,
>> and
>> resources.
>>
>> There are few small shops here that I would not go to. (I actually do go
> to
>> some small shops here for small parts purchases - EG single disc drive -
> as
>> I can get the product off the shelf on the way to the customer, know 100%
>> where I stand with warrantee, know the price is above wholesale, but also
>> know I would have to wait a day or two wholesale). There are none that I
>> have ever heard of that would attempt to exploit a person in such a
> manner.
>> Such shops would simply go out of business. Many do, and of those I know
> of
>> that have come and gone (a lot), the main reason why they "go" is because
>> either a) that could not chew off a big enough market share quick enough
> to
>> become profitable, or b) they overextended themselves, or c) they dipped
>> into the low quality product realm too far too often and were swamped by
>> returns / service requirements under warrantee. If you have a warrantee
> with
>> a business that is likely to go out of business then you may as well not
>> have a warrantee.
>>
>> Installing a couple of disc drives into a new computer that is custom
> built
>> is an extra 5 minutes work. If one of the drives is to be the boot drive
> and
>> its running XP then they needed to do a repair install to get the
>> hardware
>> config sorted. Elapsed time for that is about 30 minutes, attention time
> is
>> less than 5 minutes and saves them having to install an OS IE saves 5
>> minutes too.
>>
>> Check your legal rights. Check to see if the is a local community free
> legal
>> advice service. Document everything. Don't open the box if you have not
>> already. Quote our advice.
>>
>> If you decide to severe links with the business and do it yourself then
> post
>> back here.
>>
>> Best of luck.
>>
>> - Tim
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "gmv" <noemail@please.123> wrote in message
>> news:XI2Vc.15693$Fg5.3380@attbi_s53...
>> >
>> > "Mal" <mincer2000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> > news:4124787b$0$20251$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com...
>> >>
>> >> "gmv" <noemail@please.123> wrote in message
>> >> news:EZYUc.14482$Fg5.10677@attbi_s53...
>> >> > Hello,
>> >> >
>> >> > I have just had a new system built with
>> >> > the following motherboard:
>> >> >
>> >> > ga-8s648fx-l
>> >> >
>> >> > I have DDR400 RAM and a pentium 4 3Ghz CPU.
>> >> >
>> >> > I have noticed two seperate problems maybe three
>> >> > since receiving the system and need help in troubleshooting.
>> >> >
>> >> > 1. The main problem is that when doing a CD transfer or
>> >> > a HD transfer of data no matter which drive is active
>> >> > the system will randomly restart after transferring maybe 500MB or
>> >> > 2GB or anywhere actually but the thing is its restart point
>> >> > is seemingly random. This makes doing a multiple disk
>> >> > operation practically impossible.
>> >> >
>> >> > 2. I have also received a Windows XP error saying I have
>> >> > a badly written driver but Win XP can not tell me
>> >> > which driver is bad.
>> >> >
>> >> > 3. I have two USB ports on the front panel and only one
>> >> > will seem to work.
>> >> > There are a total of 6 USB ports available for use.
>> >> >
>> >> > The reason I am seeking help here for a new system
>> >> > is that the people who built it will not guarantee
>> >> > for labor only for parts and at $45/hr I can not afford
>> >> > to put any more money out for this system so i must
>> >> > troubleshoot it myself.
>> >> > I know someone out there must have had a similar problem
>> >> > and can help me troubleshoot this seemingly unstable system.
>> >> > Any help in resolving these troubles is appreciated.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > --
>> >> > Regards;
>> >> > gmv
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >> I agree with Tim ... if you've just bought it and it's not working
>> > properly
>> >> then how can they charge you for fixing it? ... not sure about
>> >> consumer
>> >> rights in US but I'm guessing that it's the same as the UK where the
>> > product
>> >> has to do what it's advertised to do. In your case the ports should
>> >> all
>> >> work, it shouldn't give errors about drivers and you should be able to
>> >> transfer data around without it crashing.
>> >
>> > When I had them build the system they installed
>> > some old IDE drives from my old machine but all those
>> > IDE drives were working fine on my old machine.
>> > I think the fact that old equipment is in the new machine
>> > will effect the warranty but labor was never a part
>> > of the warranty in the first place.
>> > I put my faith in a hard up mom and pop shop
>> > because it was close to where I live because i have
>> > no car to get around...I guess if I was smart I would have gone
>> > to HP or someplace like that which at least has
>> > resources to make good on their equipment.
>> > I have always hated small business people and
>> > this simply serves to reinforce my hatred.
>> > Small buisness lacks the resources necessary to properly
>> > build and test machines of this complexity.
>> > Maybe hate is the wrong word to use here but it most closely
>> > approaches the feelings I have.
>> >
>> >>
>> >> Take it back and make them either fix it (for free) or get a full
> refund.
>> >> Personally I'd skip the fixing thing and get a refund just because of
>> > their
>> >> appaling customer support and because they don't seem to be able to
> build
>> > a
>> >> working machine. Companies like this prey on people who aren't
>> >> comfortable
>> >> about building/working on their own PC. You could be back and forth to
>> > their
>> >> place a number of times paying $45/hour for faults that they may be
>> > putting
>> >> onto or causing on your machine due to their lack of skill.
>> >>
>> >> If you're not happy about building a machine yourself or don't know
>> > someone
>> >> who'd do it for you then I'd buy from a reputable maker such as Dell
>> >> afaik
>> >> they seem to have some good deals ... just make sure it's what you
>> >> want
>> > and
>> >> you're able to upgrade it (video card etc.) if you'll want to in the
>> > future.
>> >>
>> >> Mal
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
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