PCA Forums

Have just upgraded to shuttle ak31 v3.1, 256 mb kingston ddr, 1.4 tbird...have an IBM 45 gig hd. After playing wizardry 8 and reloading save game (a LOT hehe), got strange clicking noise and an error. Scandisk stated I had bad sector of about 96k or so, in the save game and in 3d benchmark 2001. I repaired it.. now am getting the following stuff:

1)when starting computer, I get the "setup is updating your configuration files, completed, continuing to load windows" message. Only does on initial power up, does not show up in a step-by-step comfirmation boot.

2) Getting a Windows General Protection Fault when powering down system-says press any key to continue-do that and it powers down.

3)Loaded Norton AV and latest definitions, scanned all files, no viruses detected.

Possible solutions:

A) Reload windows
B) Load Windows 2000 or XP-Microsoft says "cha-ching"
C) Load Linux-man, if it could run games....
D) Update Windows 98 using the Update function dealie
E) None of the above as someone here says "oh yeah, all ya gotta do is..." hehe
Thanks in advance, as of now, more annoyance than keeping me from playing...

Clicking noise is NOT good. A drive that clicks is on it's last breath.

My guess is you suffered a disk crash and it damaged a platter. In the process you lost or corrupted some critical system files.

If this is Win98, a re-install into the same folder (a refresh install NOT a clean install) SHOULD put everything right, but you still have a bad drive that's going to be unreliable and could crash again at any moment.

I'd get yourself another drive, ghost the old drive and then send it back for RMA repair.

Some disk manufacturers want you to try using their diagnostic utility before they'll RMA ya.
Maxtor's version saved my drive, and the error didn't happen again.
With 98se my system makes some wierd clicks sometimes, but it's from the speaker not the drives.
Another thing SE likes to do is corrupt it's own systemx.dll. For some reason, I have to use system
file checker every month or so. It's happened on three different computers of mine.

Good call on the reinstall though. I'd do that then get the drive diagnostic from the manufacturer's
website. If it is bad, it gives a code. Write it down, and call them.

thanks fp and digrr, seems to be stable, no clicking sounds-the gp fault has stopped, still getting the setup is config-ing files when i initially boot tho...updated 98se with all the critical updates and stuff...will wait a bit before i rma it, will have to get a new drive if that happens anyway-but...wouldn't hurt to have an extra hd laying around as i'd go into withdrawal without a computer thanx!

I know WD offers an advance RMA service where you give them a CC number and they ship you a drive and you have 30 days to mail ur drive back.

Most companies will do that - it's called a cross-shipment RMA. If you ask, you should be able to arrange it.