Really Annoying Problem

Keyzer

Got some new kit for my rig recently, 7800GT, AMD 64 CPU, A8N-SLI Deluxe Mobo and 1GB Dual Channel DDR RAM.

So, I did a fresh reinstall of WINXP after putting these new parts in.
Everything works fine. Then I try to upgrade to Service Pack 2 and I get STOP errors after installing it.

STOP - 0X100008E

So it looked like it was a RAM issue so I swapped out the RAM for some old RAM I had, not joy there, same thing happened.

Tried loads of things to fix it but at this moment in time im scratching my head...

I only have a 280 Watt PSU, could that be causing the problem, that my parts aren't getting the juice they need?

snappieT

Did you install anything before SP2?

Try getting your hands on a copy of XP with SP2 included, your licence key will work on it also.

unkel

Keyzer wrote:

I only have a 280 Watt PSU, could that be causing the problem, that my parts aren't getting the juice they need?

Yes it could. With a high end graphics card and an SLI motherboard, you should upgrade the PSU. Make sure you get a decent one, the PSU is the last part in a rig one should try to save money on

Mr. Presentable

unkel wrote:

Yes it could. With a high end graphics card and an SLI motherboard, you should upgrade the PSU. Make sure you get a decent one, the PSU is the last part in a rig one should try to save money on

Agreed. I would go with at least 480, 550 if you intend ever to have a second gfx card

gamer

could u just try reinstalling win xp from scratch,service pack 2 has known conflicts with certain progs ,maybe u,have loads of utilitys like antspyware antivirus etc,,and dont, reinstall service pack 2.try going into safe mode,with onboard grahics from mobo,see what happens.

zuma

Keyzer wrote:

I only have a 280 Watt PSU, could that be causing the problem, that my parts aren't getting the juice they need?

You spend all that money on a 7800 and dont upgrade your PSU?????

For your system a 400W PSU would be barely enough!!!

Spend ~€100 on a half decent PSU and tell us if it makes a difference.

I have a 300W PSU's system and its used ONLY for word processing/internet.
My other system has a 400W PSU and powers nowhere near as powerfull a system as your 280W is powering.

P.S.
I hope your not trying to overclock it...hahaha.

P.P.S.
PSU's are, in my opinion, the most important part of a system to get right as there are stories out there that will scare the crap out of you....computer spontaneously going up in flames due to ineffecient PSU's!

Keyzer

gamer wrote:

could u just try reinstalling win xp from scratch,service pack 2 has known conflicts with certain progs ,maybe u,have loads of utilitys like antspyware antivirus etc,,and dont, reinstall service pack 2.try going into safe mode,with onboard grahics from mobo,see what happens.

Everything works fine up until SP2, WINXP installs no probs, games run etc.
And I tried installing SP2 str8 after the WINXP installation completed and the same thing happened
Just got a 535W psu, gonna hockey it in now...

I know I'm a bit of a silly billy not getting a good PSU for this, but my budget was tight and over ran in the end so I didn't have the cash staright off for new PSU.

Will let you know what happens...

Keyzer

Well, the new 550 watt psu made now difference to my sp2 installtion problem.

This really is a pain in the scrotum...

All drivers up to date...

I'm looking at a fresh install now...

Keyzer

Right, I sorted this out.
After doing a format of my drive and then a re-install of XP, I installed all my drivers and then installed Service Pack 2. And to my amazement it went on and windows opened...

Put on AVG antivirus, still working...
Put on System Mechanic, still working...

Put on Zone Alarm, and bada-bleedin-bing, blue screen error....
It was a conflict with the security features in SP2 and my existing security software and nothing to do with hardware.

What a sh1tty little problem which was so hard to pin point....

ShiverinEskimo

In future do this before you install XP. Installing SP1 then applying SP2 on top of it creates problems.

Integrating SP2 with your existing cd and burning a new cd with SP2 in-built is highly recommended before any reformat/reinstall.

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html

(There's plenty other sites about this just search for "XP Pro CD SP2 Integration" or similar.)

Keyzer

ShiverinEskimo wrote:

In future do this before you install XP. Installing SP1 then applying SP2 on top of it creates problems.

Integrating SP2 with your existing cd and burning a new cd with SP2 in-built is highly recommended before any reformat/reinstall.

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html

(There's plenty other sites about this just search for "XP Pro CD SP2 Integration" or similar.)

Cheers...

BTW - Your rig is pretty close to mine, Do you play Battlefield 2 and if so what kind of graphics settings do you have it at?

ShiverinEskimo

I do and I run 1600x1200 with no AA but with high settings across the board.

Another indicator is FEAR which is a good game to gauge your system - I have to run fear at 1280x1024 with no AA and no Soft Shadows but everything else on high and it runs grand. Switch on AA and it drops but is still playable, switch on Soft Shadows and it crawls. SLi only for softshadows me's thinks.

TerrorFirmer

Battlefield 2 is no way to test that card. I only have a 256mb x800 and run BF2 at 1280x1024 with 6x aa and all the works, no probs.

Now FEAR, thats a different ball gane. Apparently not even a 7800 can handle that game with full AA and softshadows on. Talk about crazy! FEAR will give your PC a beating to within an inch of its life - which I find rather strange, as although it is lovely looking, its not overly amazing - I think Doom 3 and COD2 on full look almost as good and they run on anything really.

Also, running that rig on a 280 watt psu - thats the most disgraceful thing I've ever heard!! I'm surprised your computer didn't combust during the night and burn your house down.

a 280 psu would barely power a 9800pro....!

Anyway, nice rig though......you bastard :v:

K.O.Kiki

FEAR's "Soft Shadows" is just badly implemented (unlike in, say, Splinter Cell). Even top-end 512mb cards can't use it; the coding's just not there!
Just forget about it, and enjoy AA & AF quality;)

Keyzer

I have performance issues with everything maxed on BF2 with my rig..
Special forces goes to the dogs with max everything..
I'm think of getting another gig of RAM, should solve the problem me thinks...

How about overclocking?

I have AI probe on my machine, my gfx is way over the nvidia baseline, my memory is below it and my hard drive is marginally below the baseline. So thats why I'm think another GB of RAM.After I get a flat screen though...

Keyzer

bump

Dcully

Is your new cpu dual core?
If not that could be limiting you,also how much ram you got overall?
Below is my spec and BF2 runs between 70-120 fps all max settings,FSAAx4,AAx16.
Plays as smooth as silk,looks amazing.
FEAR also runs superb fully maxed out,never drops below 60 fps.
Best game out there imo to test your hardware is COD2 in dx 9 mode.
As has been said dont base your rigs performance on one game only.


Asus A8N SLI So939
AMD Athlon64 X2 Dual Processor 4200+ + So939
Seagate Barracuda 250GB HD
Maxtor 40GB HD
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-110D [CD 40x Rd, 40x Wr] [DVD 5x Rd, 5x Wr]
Asus DVD-E616P3 [CD 16x Rd] [DVD 2x Rd]
Geforce 7800GTX PCIExpress 256MB
2GB DDR
Creative Soundblaster live sound card
XBlade Tower Case

ShiverinEskimo

Dcully wrote:

Geforce 7800GTX PCIExpress 256MB

There's your answer - the X in GTX makes a helluva difference with the high end effects and textures. He prob has soft shadows on aswell.

Out of interest Dcully, what score are you gettin with 3Dmark05?

The best I've got is 7156.

Dcully

Ill be honest ,i havent tried 3Dmark05.

edit : Just tried it and got 7640

BopNiblets

ShiverinEskimo wrote:

Integrating SP2 with your existing cd and burning a new cd with SP2 in-built is highly recommended before any reformat/reinstall.

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html

(There's plenty other sites about this just search for "XP Pro CD SP2 Integration" or similar.)

AutoStreamer
Give it a drive with a SP1 WinXP CD in it and a SP2 file and it creates a CD image of them together.

zuma

BopNiblets wrote:

AutoStreamer
Give it a drive with a SP1 WinXP CD in it and a SP2 file and it creates a CD image of them together.

nLite is almost completely automated and is simple to use for SP2 Integration.
http://www.nlite.jbsys.org/files/nlite1.0rc4i.exe

CyberGhost

Thanks guys!(for the integration links)

ShiverinEskimo

Dcully wrote:

Just tried it and got 7640

This made me go and overclock some more.

Managed 7277 today. Thats after nearly 2 days work overclocking and I got nothing out of my graphics card. All CPU.

Graphics card went from 425/1.05 to 435/1.06 CPU went from 2.2 to 2.5

That got me a measly 100 3Dmarks. haha. Can't beat the X in GTX...fair play Dcully.