Good diagnostic software?

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 11:52 am

I would like to know if there's a program that can help diagnose intermittant crashing problems. I've now tryed MANY things, MANY ideas from various peoples advice here (in various threads) with my new AMD 64 3500+ system yet the problem(s) still exists.

Short of replacing more parts, trying MORE drivers, trying this, trying that, perhaps there's a program that can help to properly diagnose the cause(s)?

I was at BestBuy yesterday and thought that I heard a guy telling someone else about a program that could do just that but I failed to stop and interrupt.

Google finds a butt-load of programs too but what works, what's best? Anyone here have experience with one that works well?

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=n ... c+software

As for registry errors, I'm using a new SATA HDD with a fresh XP Pro SP2 install SO I'd have to think that my registry's still OK. Run NAV, Spysweeper, and ZA Pro too so I highly doubt I've been hit hit with anything that'd alter any basic windows settings

BillyGoat · Post by **BillyGoat** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 12:22 pm

sp2, have you tryed a sp1 install?

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 1:01 pm

Can one go back, uninstall SP2? How would I know if my probs are related to SP2?

wvjohn · Post by **wvjohn** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 2:25 pm

in the windows section of add remove you should be able to find an entry to uninstall.....but problems are usually when you are upgrading and have a bunch of stuff already installed - i still can't get sp2 on my main rig....if not search for a thread i started on sp2 - there's a commnad line command in that thread

nitro237 · Post by **nitro237** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 2:34 pm

I know this is not the answer you're looking for , but do you have a spare hard drive you could do a clean install on and try ?

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 3:10 pm

Yes and I could try that. I'm not presently using my 2 SCSI HDDs SO that's not a bad idea. Couldn't hurt.

I also have another copy of XP Pro with SP1 and I could easily do a fresh OS install using that, then try my luck.

I know now that to switch the HDDs, I need to jump the CMOS and switch as few things back in the bios but that only takes a minute.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 9:43 pm

I doubt it's an SP2 issue. SP2 only causes problems during upgrades on existing installs, not new ones in my experience.

I agree with the spare drive idea. Set all your BIOS settings for safe (non-high performance) defaults, pull all cards except the video card, pull all ram except one stick and do a clean install on another drive. Then install the VIA 4-in-1 drivers, then your video drivers.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 1:54 pm

I'll try a bios upgrade first. I found this review:
http://www.dealtime.com/xPR-K8T_NEO_FSR~RD-172065918596

I ran a program called Memtest 86 which tests memory, ran 8 hours last night with no errors.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 9:34 pm

Yep.....seems FIXED!!!!

I upgraded the bios from v3.0 to v3.3 in Windows and THAT fixed the beast. It plays HL2 and Doom3 for a while now (tryed much longer than it was going before) and had no probs.

PCA Forums

Good diagnostic software?

Good diagnostic software?

Bios upgrade.....success!!!!