I have a computer that someone built to my specs which he did. But it seems that he knows nothing about pc's cause it worked for one week and then started to go crazy in to many ways to list . My question is why cant i put a differant os on my pc , i have windows 98/first edition on it now.I have tryed to fix it along with severl other friends that know lots bout pc's. We all failed to put diff os on it , or find out what the problem is . Also when i use any usb port it freazes windows os cold .My specs for the pc is amd duron 800mhz , 256mb added mem , 20gb harddrive , voodoo3 gravfics card , one cd rom , and one cd rw rom. Any help will be apreciated .
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os why cant i change them
- Thread starter nerm
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Have you Fdisk'd and Fdisk /mbr? Then reformat, Then install OS??
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- #3
Yes i have tryed everthing and i cant get it to take .I have even deleted the partion repartioned reformated and reinstalled a diff os and it would not work i had to put 98 back on . Is it possable for someone to build a pc that can not be fixed or modified .
- Thread starter
- #5
I'm useing 98 because thats what the dude installed on it .I have tryed win 2000 pro and xp i dont have any others but my friend said he tryed a lot of os and none would work . I havent been able to game on this pc or do anything else with it sence I got it which was bout 3yrs ago lol . I have been trying to fix it along with others for that long also lol .
You should make sure you are not using acpi enabled in bios or win98, IT DOES NOT WORK. USE only APM. Also download any servicepaks from Microsoft for win98 and load them. Make sure you run a surface scan on your hard drive to test it's integrity (some operating systems check it and don't load if there is a problem.) ALso make sure you have adequate partition size for the C: partition.
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- #7
I am useing APM and I've downloaded so many service packs its made me crazy lol .The surface scan showed no problems and the integrity is good .I have also upgraded the bios .Should I just gut this pc for parts or shoot the dude who built it or both lol.
vbrock:
I think you had better check out this url...
You CAN upgrade from Win98 to Win2000 and, you have the choice of formatting to FAT32 or NTFS.. Win98SE is FAT32..
Murray
I think you had better check out this url...
You CAN upgrade from Win98 to Win2000 and, you have the choice of formatting to FAT32 or NTFS.. Win98SE is FAT32..
Murray
Hola, let me try to help a bit...
can you tell me what type of error it gives when you try to install W2k or WinXP? that would help finding out where the prob lies...
if it tells you that you have a hardware malfunction (as did mine a while back) then try to lower your FSB speed until it grabs... (had to knock mine down from 1ghz to 866mhz to get XP to function)...
secondly what type of probs are you having, just stating you got probs won't do, cuz there are a million things that can go wrong on a pc from hardware to software...
Ben
PS a little info can go a long way...
can you tell me what type of error it gives when you try to install W2k or WinXP? that would help finding out where the prob lies...
if it tells you that you have a hardware malfunction (as did mine a while back) then try to lower your FSB speed until it grabs... (had to knock mine down from 1ghz to 866mhz to get XP to function)...
secondly what type of probs are you having, just stating you got probs won't do, cuz there are a million things that can go wrong on a pc from hardware to software...
Ben
PS a little info can go a long way...
- Thread starter
- #12
All right what i try to do is delete the partion , repartion (just one) , reformat in fat 32 , and then install the os but it freezes before it has time to give me any errors with any os .After it restarts and gets about half way done is when it freezes up , it shows no error messages and makes no kind of sounds it just freezes . My mouse , and key board also freezes this happened to my friends when they tryed to fix it .At this time i cant think of anything else that it does when it freezes . I'll try to install agian and see what it does to make sure . Thanks for all your help and patience .
After you reformat the hard drive, you'll have to boot from a floppy in order to install any OS. You might have the bios set to boot from a CD but I'd switch it back to boot from a floppy. YOu can make a boot disk from any Windows PC and use it to get started on another. Once you've booted from a floppy (in DOS), the CD drivers will be set up and you can load your OS from the CD.
There's always a better way. The fun is trying to find it!
There's always a better way. The fun is trying to find it!
- Thread starter
- #14
The computer could be locking up because of bad memory, if you have 2 dimms try running the computer with just one installed. Try each one seperately. They could also be the wrong type. Also did you check for any interupt conflicts. And there is a possibility that your power supply is not good. The cpu could also be bad. There are many things that could be wrong. But I have good news for you, Its always the last thing you change that fixes the problem....
Hola,
vbrocks - good'em (last statement LOL)...
But I think you hit the nail right on the head...
bad mem, once it hits operating temp will fail and lock up the darn PC...
first suggestion do as vbrocks says, try with just one module, exchange if first is bad... if the second one is also bad, try to get a hold of another mem (that is functioning - like from a friend) to check that avenue...
second suggestion - go into BIOS load the fail safe settings, exit with F10 and save'em and retry... some ram modules don't like to be pushed (RAS and CAS settings aswell as speed (100 mhz to 133mhz etc))...
Ben
PS - please state your CPU, MoBo, RAM, HD, etc. specs...
vbrocks - good'em (last statement LOL)...
But I think you hit the nail right on the head...
bad mem, once it hits operating temp will fail and lock up the darn PC...
first suggestion do as vbrocks says, try with just one module, exchange if first is bad... if the second one is also bad, try to get a hold of another mem (that is functioning - like from a friend) to check that avenue...
second suggestion - go into BIOS load the fail safe settings, exit with F10 and save'em and retry... some ram modules don't like to be pushed (RAS and CAS settings aswell as speed (100 mhz to 133mhz etc))...
Ben
PS - please state your CPU, MoBo, RAM, HD, etc. specs...
DantheSaxman
Technical User
A lot of good suggestions here. I would add to the list, remove any unnecessary hardware while trying to load your new os. Remove everything except mobo, cpu, ram, graphics, HD, floppy. This way it gives plug and play less to do. You might also want to remove your cpu heatsink-fan to check and see if the system builder bothered to place any heatsink grease between cpu and heatsink.
DantheSaxman
Technical User
Oh, I forgot, you will need your mouse and keyboard attached also.
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