memory problem? 2

[XofCDe3rd]

Workin on an old HP omnibook 4150 cannot load operating system(winme) keeps givin a divide overflow error

specs for the laptop:
64MB ram
10GB hdd
pentium II processor(sorry, not too sure of clock speed)

I have always thought that a divide overflow error occured because of bad memory, I am not too sure now cause I read somewhere that the pentium II processor had a architectural botch which causes problems with calculations.

anybody got any ideas to throw at this problem loosin sleep over it

 

[cdogg]

Divide Overflow" errors can usually point to anything. In my experience, it has been with missing system files or corrupted application installs. In your case, it could still be a hardware issue though.

Have you tried re-installing ME from CD?

Have you tried booting into Safe Mode?

Also see if System Restore can get you back to a restore point before the problem started occurring.

~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[XofCDe3rd]

booting into safe mode also gives the same problem or it hangs at the point where it is loading files to start windows

Now this is what makes this problem real rich...the flippin thing still gives the same error when I boot using a boot floppy. maybe because I used a 98 boot floppy on it, but that has never given me problems before.

it seems that even just using command gives the error
eg. a command like

dir c:\windows\options\setup

gives the divide overflow error

would this give any strength to my little thoery that this is a hardware problem. Or should I still try to kill the whole HDD and start again.

Note: I checked cmos settings with an identical machine that is working fine and hells bells they are identical option for option.

 

[cdogg]

No, that's a good way to narrow it down - using a 98 boot floppy.

At this point, I would suspect either a BIOS/CMOS corruption or of course, faulty hardware. Definitely start with the cheapest options and work your way up (i.e. Memory -> CPU -> Motherboard)

~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[XofCDe3rd]

Thanks for your help cdogg

just one more question say the rest of the machines components are okay...would would a corrupt hard disk be possible cause.

cause what I relized while working with identical laptops was that it was unusually slow even when in command line via boot floppy

 

[cdogg]

Good point. Actually it is. Even though you boot from a floppy, a virtual drive is created. The question is whether the virtual drive is in RAM or on the hard drive. I don't know off hand, but if it's the latter, then it makes sense that the hard drive might be a possibility.

 

[XofCDe3rd]

thanks again cdogg

it creates the virtual drive in memory, but I guess that still does not rule out faulty memory does it or other h/ware peripherals????

Just to be sure I want to test the memory with a utility called documem, would you have any other suggestions about any other memory utilities that I could use.....

 

[cdogg]

Docmem is decent but average. A couple other recommendations I often hear about:

Memtest86

http://www.memtest86.com/

Gold Memory Tester

http://www.goldmemory.cz/

(shareware, but the unregistered version comes with a 30-day trial that is not crippled in any way)


Helpful information:

http://www.simmtester.com/page/memory/testerfaq.asp

~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[Freestone]

Microsoft also has a memory tester, similar to MemTest86:

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

 

[XofCDe3rd]

thanks alot cdogg n freestone think this problems been licked.