Built own comp - ME error?

[cpt]

I built my computer a few months ago (my first attempt!) and in the interest of budgeting used Win ME.

Whenever the computer went into hibernation mode it would shut down, restart and have a new shortcut on the desktop, an unrecognised file named ~

That was easily solved by disabling hibernation, but now the computer will occassionally shut down and restart itself. There seems to be no pattern - generally its after a couple of hours but sometimes within half an hour. I still get the ~ file.

Is this an ME thing or a hardware problem? Any ideas greatly appreciated!!

Cheers,
Gemma.

[GaryRouth]

Hi cpt

The links below explain the tilde problem pretty well. Basically, if you have Outlook Express & downloaded a Security Patch first released in April 2003, this is a known problem. If you usually use an different email program other than Outlook Express, you can simply uninstall Outlook Express, and the tilde problem should disappear along with it. If you like or need Outlook Express, try a visit to Windows Update to see if a patch or update has been issued for OE.

http://filext.com/faq/idx/0/002/article
http://www.pchell.com/support/tildefile.shtml

Now, about your other problem:
The computer should not be shutting down & restarting itself. You might want to visit the Troubleshooter at aumha.org http://www.aumha.org/win4/a/shtdwnme.php

But 1st make sure that it's not something simple as your hardware overheating. If it's the system in your sig, an Athlon 2400+ is probably a Tbird core, right? Generates some serious heat at those higher speeds. Make sure your heatsink is up to the task, and make sure you have at least one good case fan [for hotter boxes & areas, Amd recommends two]

Another source of random reboots is an underpowered (or faulty) power supply. For an Athlon 2400+, you probably need a good name-brand 300wt or better supply [you could borrow a different supply from a friend & see if the reboots disappear]

Also, make sure that it's not a software error that you are encountering but not seeing the message for. Right click on My Computer, and go to the System settings, and look for an item something like "restart on error" and change it from enabled to disabled. This way if it's a software error, instead of a blind restart, you'll see an error that you can use to troubleshoot & find the source of the problem.

See if this gets things back on track
. . . Gary

[cpt]

That certainly sorted the tilde problem - fab!

I have 300wt PSU and if noise is anything to go by it works well!

I am replacing my CPU fan (with a quieter model), so I'll see what that does.

I have no Case fans at all - I take it I should fit one?

Lastly I think I'm going to upgrade to 512mb RAM - I just tried a RAM optimiser programme and it looks like I keep running rather low! Could that affect it?

Oh, and unfortunately I just can't find anything like "restart on error" in ME, but I'll see if the above sorts it out!

Cheers - wish me luck!

[Cricket]

Originally posted by cpt I have 300wt PSU and if noise is anything to go by it works well!

No, noise alone doesn't mean the power supply is working properly. What brand is it? Random reboots is a symptom of an under-powered or poor quality power supply.

Originally posted by cpt I have no Case fans at all - I take it I should fit one?

Yes, if the case has a fan port on the back, install a fan that fits and have it blow out so heat is removed from the case. Having no case fans with a modern processor isn't a good idea. And an overheating system can shutdown if it gets too hot.

Originally posted by cpt Lastly I think I'm going to upgrade to 512mb RAM - I just tried a RAM optimiser programme and it looks like I keep running rather low! Could that affect it?

256MB of RAM is okay for WinME. But if you can add another 256MB, that would help system performance. I would avoid using any RAM optimizer program though, some aren't very good at all. But the amount of RAM would have nothing to do with random reboots and shutdowns...but a defective stick of RAM can cause those symptoms. A faulty video card can also cause those symptoms.

Originally posted by cpt Oh, and unfortunately I just can't find anything like "restart on error" in ME, but I'll see if the above sorts it out!

I don't think WinME has the restart on error option...I know it's in WinXP and Win2000 though.

Cricket

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

I guess you can tell I don't see many WinMe systems - I just took a look over at the MS site, and didn't see the "restart on error" option mentioned in the descriptions (another case for my own memory fogging up again!). Unfortunately, the systems I built years ago with WinMe on them keep working Ok, so I don't get to fix them! (and refresh my WinMe memory) --- Thank You, Cricket, for clearing up my mistake

Re: the restart situation --->
Heat: while you wait to have the new cpu hs/fan arrive & get installed, and for new case fan(s) to get installed, run with the case open & see if your restarts disappear. . . . And make sure the new cpu hs/fan is rated for your model Athlon (it should say on the box). [p.s. --- if you are looking for truly quiet case fans, be sure to check out the Panaflo low noise models over at http://www.casecooler.com]

Memory: when in doubt, test it! http://www.simmtester.com I like DocMemory: it's so easy to use and works well. It really helps to know if your memory modules are working OK. [I'm hoping for a DocMemory version someday that will work on my noggin]

Power Supply: we had a thread in another forum where a member had built a new computer, but forgot to plug in the newer 4-pin power connector on his Asus board. If your motherboard has a square 4-pin power connector, and you didn't connect the power connector to it, by all means hook it up. The board won't get enough power if that extra little 4-pin square connector isn't plugged in. That member, by the way, was experiencing random reboots as well.
. . . and - do you know the brand of your power supply? If you've got it handy, post it here & we can help figure if it might not be a reliable brand.

One last little note - in your sig, you mention an Asus board for the Athlon 2400+ . . . but I don't find a matching model anywhere. Probably just a typo. I'm a little curious what model the motherboard is, since the setup on each one can have it's own quirks. . .

Best of luck ( & thanks again! Cricket)
. . . Gary

[cpt]

Right... you'll have to give me a bit of time to work on those ideas!!

But your right about my moother board - where did I get that info from?? Must have been dreaming! It is actually A7N266-VM.

My PSU is a Premier LC B350ATX. It actually says various wattages on it - 200, 330, and finally 350 MAX.

BTW the case is now open, so we'll see how that runs.

Cheers for all this guys.

[Cricket]

Originally posted by cpt My PSU is a Premier LC B350ATX. It actually says various wattages on it - 200, 330, and finally 350 MAX.

Whoa...that power supply brand is known to be low quality and can be troublesome. I'd change it out with something better.

Cricket

[GaryRouth]

Hi again -

Can't hurt to try the power supply angle . . . and make sure to plug in the extra 4-pin power connector.

Other things: the Athlon 2400+ is a lot of cpu for WinMe. Since it's running at 1.93ghz, it can start to give it PCI timing issues. This may have been the origin of your initial trouble with hibernation. See the MS Knowledge Base article: http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winme

For the Asus A7N266-VM, you need at least PCB version 1.05 and Bios version 1006 to run a Thorton core 2400+ reliably. For a Thoroughbred core 2400+, you need at least PCB version 1.03 and Bios version 1004 to run that. The PCB versions refer to the version of your motherboard = it's silkscreened onto your motherboard, usually near the model number. The Bios version is displayed on your monitor when the computer first starts up - some computers boot so fast that the monitor doesn't warm up in time to see it. If this is the case, you can press the Pause button on your keyboard, and the POST (Power On Self Test) will pause until you push another key to start things again - this gives you a chance to read the Bios version number, which displays fairly early on in the POST sequence.

You can get bios updates at the asus website.

And one more, mostly hearsay, thing: early in those first-time-round nForce chipset boards, some support forums had a fair number of folks having troubles with the Win9x nForce drivers. The XP drivers, though, sailed along smoothly. All this might be ancient history by now, but it's worth remembering later on if you encounter trouble even after taking care of all other issues.
. . . Gary