http://www.bootdisk.com/ 0033 August 2008
HouseCall
Welcome to the 33rd Edition of HouseCall
INDEX
1) Graphics Card "Operating Normally?
2) Cable vs. Patch Cable
3) Third Party Auto-Update
4) XP Access/Install Niggle
5) CMOS Checksum Error
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1) Graphics Card "Operating Normally?
Glory asked - I had a new motherboard installed after my original one got fried. Video playback on it is now horrible. Everything is choppy. I know the files played smoothly on my original motherboard, so it isn't their fault.
I bought a graphics card but even that didn't help all that much (256mb memory) and now it has gone belly-up and I have to revert back to the on board graphics.
Well, the device manager is reporting that my "VIA/S3G Unichrome Pro IGP" is operating normally, so that sounds like it has all the drivers it needs. Right?
*** Wrong. "Operating normally" is a MS OS message that says Windows is "seeing" and "using" the card. It does NOT mean the card is _operating normally_. Install the proper drivers for your card.
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2) Cable vs. Patch Cable
BobDay posted - What is the difference between a cable and a patch cable (i.e. Cat 6 cable vs Cat 6 Patch cable)? I think it is just terminology, or is there a difference?
Leythos responded:
Patch cables are almost always stranded conductors and short. non-Patch cables are almost always solid conductor cables.
You use Stranded when you're going to be moving the cable.
You use Solid when the cable will remain fixed in position.
There is a LOT of difference between CAT5, 5e, 6, but on a quality cable and connection system it all supports 1GBPS connections - the difference is noise, or the ability to not have as much.
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3) Third Party Auto-Update
steve9465 questioned - I keep getting a message that says- updater module has encountered a problem and may have to close Would you like to report the problem? I would like to get rid of it if anyone may have a solution.
*** Almost all software these days wants you to install updating ware. Do NOT use/install those options when installing new ware. Make sure you have a firewall where you can block unwanted outgoing traffic.
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4) XP Access/Install Niggle
Jyoti wrote - I am not able to access my Windows XP. When I start Windows XP (during booting), for a 'flash' of a moment a blue screen comes on which something is written, but I am not able to see what is written there. After this the system restarts. I wanted to repair Windows XP ( assuming that some system file might have gone missing which was causing this behavior ), but the setup fails every time stating that some file is missing or corrupted and asks me to press enter to continue. When I press enter it says setup failed press enter to restart. And then I have to restart again. I used lens cleaner assuming that probably dirt and dust might be prohibiting the dvd-writer to read properly. But this did not work either. So I have two problems. The first I am not able to boot Windows XP and second, I am not able to run the installation cd of Windows XP?
Malke responded: Run hard drive diagnostics. Use a utility which you will download from the drive mftr.'s website. You will create a bootable cd with the file you download - burn as an image, not as data - and boot with it. I always do the quick test first because if it fails, you don't need to go further. However, even if the drive passes the quick test do the full thorough test. If the drive fails any physical tests, replace it.
***
Well I agree with your advice. My experience however is that it is usually NOT the HDD, but the CDrom drive if "setup" is failing. Just my experience. Yes of course if Jyoti has just been getting a XP boot problem then of course, yes, that may be due to a corrupt windows or bad sectors on the hard drive which haven't yet been marked bad.
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5) CMOS Checksum Error
Markkk emailed - What is a CMOS checksum error? Why it would occur during bootup and what problems it might cause, especially in terms of the monitor remaining dark?
*** 99% of the time it means you have to replace your motherboard battery.
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Kindest regards, Ed
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