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Weird problems after my vacation...

alnen

n00b
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
42
Starting 1 week ago, I returned from my vacation to a messed up PC. I turned on the monitor, and the message "AVG file is corrupt" was displayed. AVG is my antivirus. Anyway, I couldn't open AVG or Ad-aware, so at first I thought it was a virus. The thing was I hadn't used my computer in a week, so I didn't understand it. Anyway, I rebooted, and it started acting weird. I checked my Asus probe and I saw some voltage blinking at .5. After one more reboot, I get a bluescreen. It says something like it was missing the "atiMtag.sys" driver, or something to that effect. So at first I thought it was my vid card. Well, the next time I rebooted, I got a new message on my bluescreen about some other driver. Then again about another driver.

Since I have 2 HDs, we tried to installed Windows on my other HD. Every file it tried to install would fail, and we would have to click retry a bunch of times for each one, and some we eventually had to skip. We gave up on that because it showed us that the problem was not my HD.

My dad thinks it is either my mobo or my power supply. What do you guys think?
 
wow that could be anything. try reseating everything. Processor, ram, hd, power connections. could just be a loose connection that is working sometimes but not all the time. Got to go for now but i'll come back a post some more latter on....
 
it could be your memory, i had a problem like that once. try with another stick of memory, or run memtest with the memory currenty inside of your computer.
 
I have taken your suggestions. The RAM is fine and after reseating everything, I am getting the same problem. I guess now I have to start replacing things? I will start with the PS, then do the mobo, then CPU. Any other ideas or suggestions? Thanks!
 
If you have another computer handy [1], try swapping in parts to isolate the problem.
(I susupect your motherboard, but, well, it could be a lot of things.)


[1] It might be worth the trouble if you can talk someone into borrowing theirs, if neccesary.
 
ok, that's a good idea. A bit of a pain, but still a good idea. Thanks.
 
Sounds like a PS problem. Might be a good idea to post your system specs since they maybe be useful for others. Any chance on swapping to a PS that you know that works from another machine?
 
ok cool...

Chieftec case (w/400 watt PS)
Asus A7N8X DLX Ver. 2 mobo
Athlon 2500+ Barton CPU
Thermalright SLK-800U HS
80mm Fan
2x Corsair XMS 3200 RAM
80 GB WD HD
20 GB WD HD
ATI Radeon Vid Card (old, can't remember specs)

I'll have to buy a new PS because I have no ATX compatible PS's around. I'm going to get an Antec or Enermax. Thanks!
 
I agree about the power supply. That's definitely a RAM problem, but ram without enough power would obviously cause some serious problems. I doubt ram would be damaged by LOW power however. Anyway, I've seen some interesting things happen to power supplies (including one that melted half the board simply because of too much dust -- don't ask...) It definitely sounds like it's not impossible for something funky to happen to it. Especially if the computer was plugged in (or even turned on) during that time. Even with the PC off the power supply is drawing electricity and using it to power a few things like the USB (depending on power saving settings mind.)
 
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