Having Computer Problems or Upgrade Questions?? Ask me here.

[Sephiroth]

Hey everyone, I see everyone has been posting with constant problems and also wants to know things about upgrading. Well I've been repairing and upgrading computer for a little over 5 years now.

*Was in the Army as a Communications and Computer Specialist. *

If you have any specific questions ask them here and I will gladly help you as soon as I read it.:laugh:

 

[xxthebeastxx]

I recently bought a computer with a fresh version of XP on it. When I boot my computer it appears as if I'm dual booting, asking me to choose between "Windows XP Professional" and "Windows XP Professional". It's not much of a problem, but it's pretty annoying, and if I try to boot into the 2nd option it just black screens and reboots.

 

[xwinx]

I recently bought a computer with a fresh version of XP on it. When I boot my computer it appears as if I'm dual booting, asking me to choose between "Windows XP Professional" and "Windows XP Professional". It's not much of a problem, but it's pretty annoying, and if I try to boot into the 2nd option it just black screens and reboots.

I think what happened was when the person sold you their computer, they didn't do a fresh install of xp. There was already a copy of xp on there from before, and they just selected the "repair" option of the installation instead of doing a fresh one. It's most likely an used computer, btw, because that was what happens if you don't do a fresh xp install and attempt to repair an existing one.

 

[xxthebeastxx]

Problem solved, I had to format yesterday anyway so I just did a fresh install of XP.

 

[Sephiroth]

Problem solved, I had to format yesterday anyway so I just did a fresh install of XP.

If you EVER run into this again you will find a MUCH simpler way of solving this lol....

Go to your C drive, click TOOLS>Folder Options>VIEW and make sure that THESE are enabled.

A- Show Hidden Files and Folders
B- UNCHECK Hide protected operating system files

Then open BOOT.INI

IT SHOULD SHOW THIS:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /noexecute=alwaysoff


anything else in there will show you a dual boot screen. So if youre NOT dual booting make sure that there is nothing else in there.



If anyone else needs help with something post it HERE!!

 

[Feren Silver]

Will I end up losing everything I've installed on my computer upgrading from Vista to Windows 7? (I have it backed, but I'm wondering if I actually need to have it backed up).

 

[Sephiroth]

You can install Windows 7 as an upgrade to an existing installation of Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 using the Upgrade option during installation. To maintain settings when installing Windows 7 on a computer running Windows XP, you must migrate files and settings using a tool such as Windows 7 Easy Transfer and then reinstall your software programs. (Windows Easy Transfer (Migwiz.exe) is installed with Windows 7 and is available on the Windows 7 DVD in the Support\Migwiz directory.) Additionally, if you are installing Windows 7 on a new computer, you can transfer settings and files from any other computer running Windows Vista or Windows XP.

 

[DrDeath]

I bought a new hard drive but I am currently using it as the slave and my old one as the master. How do I get service pack3 on the new one? I installed all the CDs and things for Windows XP.

Hope you still read this :/

 

[Sephiroth]

Are you booting off the new one?? if s o you just need to install the updates from Microsoft Upate to get it =]

 

[DrDeath]

Are you booting off the new one?? if s o you just need to install the updates from Microsoft Upate to get it =]

I think I tried that the first time I tried to get SP3 on it, but I got some kind of error. I will try it again. Thanks

 

[Crayola Oblongata]

If I upgrade from 32bit windows vista to 64 bit windows 7 I will need to do a complete reinstall and my files will need backing up externally?
Would I be right to believe this

 

[cowseatcows]

Do you have any expertise with upgrading to Windows 7?

 

[Sephiroth]

YEs ive done several upgrade to Windows 7 =] BUT i would advise to wait until a current RETAIL comes out and youre not using a BETA version, as thats what Windows 7 RC is at the moment. as far as the 64x issue, you will probably have to. They are all built on different systems and most DRIVERS have to be 64x on a 64 sytem anyways

 

[Zupski]

Hey, not sure if this is the right place to ask :< But I've been having some problems with my screen going nuts during games lately. Strange colors, stripes, dots, massive fps lag etc. The thing is that it doesn't crash or anything if I play f.ex Battlefield 2, but it goes nuts now and then when I play a game called Heroes of Newerth which I'm pretty sure requires a bit more power from my video card. But if it first goes nuts when I played Heroes of Newerth, I need to reboot my computer, or it will keep flimmering and stuff in other games usually too. I downloaded something called "Video Memory Stress Test" and apparently I got VRAM error. I've been trying to figure what to do by googeling and stuff. As far as I understand I need to buy a new video card.

What confuses me though is that some places they say that VRAM error is related to the motherboard, and that I should change that instead of the video card. This seems to be mostly with mac, but I just want to be sure if the problem is the motherboard or video card. I don't know that much about hardware myself, if there is any difference between mac and PC and so on. I currently got a NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512, it's about two years old I think.

And last, if I need to change my video card, I'm not really sure which one to pick. If there is any specific things it needs to fit in my computer

Edit: Forgot to ask, but should I not use my computer untill it's fixed? I mean, can it make other stuff broke too?

Sorry for all the silly questions, my bf helped me out last time, but he's long gone now.

Thanks alot !

 

[Sephiroth]

Short for video RAM. VRAM is special-purpose memory used by video adapters. Unlike conventional RAM, VRAM can be accessed by two different devices simultaneously. This enables theRAMDAC to access the VRAM for screen updates at the same time that the video processor provides new data. VRAM yields better graphics performance but is more expensive than normal RAM.

It is your GFX card and not your m other board. Your best bet is just get another GFX card in the same family of Cards to ensure that it will work. (e.x SLI Xpress, Etc..) Like the Geforce 8800 GTX (which is even better than your original one) FLickering on the screen is usually failure of video memory just like the stress test told you. you can surely solve the problem for NOW by simply your monitor to the onboard GFX card and booting up, making sure to completely remove your failing GFX card first.


And to make it easier for you to rest well about the mobo you should run Motherboard Stress Tests as well.
http://xbench.com/

Does benchmarking for you and your INSTALLATION cd will have stress tests on it (called Full Hardware Check)

Also, check here:
http://mac.softpedia.com/get/System-Utilities/CPUTest.shtml

If you truely believe after al that that it IS your mobo, let me know and we will take further steps.

 

[Sephiroth]

If Anyone Else Has Any Issues Feel Free To Ask Me Here, As this HAS been Stickied. (Thank you Murphy.)

 

[Zupski]

I switched my video card with an old one lent by a friend, and haven't had any problems with this one. So I guess I'll just wish santa gives me a new video card for christmas Thanks alot for all your help!

 

[Sephiroth]

Zupski its no problem at all. Make sure if you know anyone else has problems sen them my way. =]

 

[Alex k]

Want to build me an awesome computer that's $2300-

I'm looking for a 2.8GHz+ processor with 8GB+ of RAM =]

I was thinking about the new iMac, but if there's a cheaper alternative option on which I could just torrent the Mac OS that would be great.

 

[DrDeath]

So I tried making the HD i am currently using as a slave master, but when it got pass the windows Xp loading screen I got a blue screen error. The blue screen says something about the System shutting down then it just restarts and gets stuck in that cycle.

Why does it do this? I am able to save stuff to it as a slave but why wont it let me use it as a master?