Ask the IT Tech

[Spaced]

I think it's time I created a thread to provide support for people with IT issues.

I ask anyone else with IT experience to provide assistance as I don't claim to know everything and there may be areas others no more. e.g. Minux and linux and Shaggerz with web support.

My specialisation is Windows XP and desktop hardware. I've worked for the last three years as a tech for govt, corporate and as a contractor.

If your problem relates to a Blue screen of death crash please write down the relavent info e.g. 0x00 blah blah as this will help in a speedy response.

Rules:

Don't ask anything illegal as I will not respond.
Please be patient I work a lot of hours so your response may not be immediate.
Please don't put your opinions in here if someone asks for help, help them with their problem don't try to convert them. It clogs up the thread unnecessarily.
If you want me to do some research on a product please contact me via pm and I will get back to you.
If I post the wrong information let me know but if you have a personal problem with me keep it out of the thread.
If we help fix your problem let us know and thank whoever helped you via the scales above their post.
This advice is free and as such we express no warranty. Any advice is only informative if you perform anything we advise you do it of your own accord. This is our way of giving back to the forum please respect it.


Mod's if you find this thread to be in contrast to the rules of the forums please remove and pm me.

[fabz]

Im a helpdesk tech for AAPT so i know about WIN 98, 2k, ME, NT,XP and now vista. Broadband, dial up and wireless. So if i can help will be glad to and im at work right now!!

Cheers.

[Spaced]

Thanks Fabz keep an eye on the thread I'm sure you'll find someone you can help.

[pendulum]

Ok, I used to work in a computer shop, my area is hardware, more specifically Graphics cards, overclocking and performance stuff, but I know a bit about software, Optical Drives and Windows... So yeah

[Spaced]

Cool thanks pedulum you'll have to check out from time to time I'm sure you'll be able to help

[matty88]

I have my Cert II in IT, mainly doing PC hardware and Windows XP, need a hand just ask...

[fabz]

WEEEEEEEEEEE looks like we should all put our heads together and start a IT business. Think we have most popular angles covered hahahahaha

[Patrio7]

i work for WN as a tech, been doing a fair whack of pc stuff and I've haired in on a little networking with macs

I'm more of a hardware / troubleshooter type tech so i may ( or mat not ) interject with the help here and there

[maginoodle]

Hi, i'll give everyone the first question. I have an optima workpro 7000t. It has a D850EMD2 mobo. I am running xp pro sp2. I bought some new ram. The intel website says i can put this new ram in. The problem is that the fsb speed needs to be 400 and at the moment it is 533. I have been looking all over the net but i cant find how change the speed.
I tried going into the bios and can see the fsb speed set at 533 but that info is in lighter writing and cant get to it to change it.
I thought i mite be able to get a bios update to change the speed but i couldnt see what is in the update to tell what is in the update.
Sorry for rambling on but i think the more info i give the better.
Cheers Shane

[jules]

why doesn't my windows XP recognise any external drives anymore?

CD/DVD drive, or USB memory key? they don't register.

i downloaded an application called ISOBuster and i can access files that way, but not with any Microsoft applications (eg. My Computer etc.)

much appreciated if you can work that one out for me

[Spaced]

Hi, i'll give everyone the first question. I have an optima workpro 7000t. It has a D850EMD2 mobo. I am running xp pro sp2. I bought some new ram. The intel website says i can put this new ram in. The problem is that the fsb speed needs to be 400 and at the moment it is 533. I have been looking all over the net but i cant find how change the speed.
I tried going into the bios and can see the fsb speed set at 533 but that info is in lighter writing and cant get to it to change it.
I thought i mite be able to get a bios update to change the speed but i couldnt see what is in the update to tell what is in the update.
Sorry for rambling on but i think the more info i give the better.
Cheers Shane

Ok I'll have a look on the net tonight but it sounds like you need to change a jumper it's a piece of plastic. What brand is the mother board? Intel?

[Spaced]

why doesn't my windows XP recognise any external drives anymore?

CD/DVD drive, or USB memory key? they don't register.

i downloaded an application called ISOBuster and i can access files that way, but not with any Microsoft applications (eg. My Computer etc.)

much appreciated if you can work that one out for me

Right click on my computer, select manage, under system tools you will find "device manager" check if there is any question marks over the drives and if they appear. If your drive doesn't register it would be most likely a cable these are the most likely to fail but because it's also your memory key then I think it may have something do with an install of software or windows update. What have you changed since this problem started. Updated or installed any new software?

[maginoodle]

Ok I'll have a look on the net tonight but it sounds like you need to change a jumper it's a piece of plastic. What brand is the mother board? Intel?

yes i believe its intel i was getting info from http://support.intel.com/support/mot...md2_compat.htm
cheers shane

[jules]

What have you changed since this problem started. Updated or installed any new software?

heaps of stuff. i agree it could be software related.

device manager has given the CD drive the all clear...

what are my options if it's a software incompatibility? all i can think of is a reinstallation of windows... again.

[Spaced]

yes i believe its intel i was getting info from http://support.intel.com/support/mot...md2_compat.htm
cheers shane

Ok see this link below
http://support.intel.com/support/mot.../cs-012734.htm

go there and check the bios jumper settings, you will see there are three options

Configure 2-3 After the POST runs, Setup runs automatically. The maintenance menu is displayed.

try that one.

I'll keep looking though.

It looks from the manual to be a jumper free board, meaning you don't need to set the jumpers up for the FSB you do it via software. See someone else will have to confirm this for me. As I understand it if you put the board into configure bios mode and put the new ram in it should configure it. BUT it may fry your ram if I'm wrong and I would say do something unless I know for sure it wont break and at the moment I can't confirm that.

[Spaced]

heaps of stuff. i agree it could be software related.

device manager has given the CD drive the all clear...

what are my options if it's a software incompatibility? all i can think of is a reinstallation of windows... again.

First try uninstalling the cd drive right click and select uninstall then hit the computer at the top with the magnifying glass to check for new hardware. Also check under disk management under storage. Check what the cd drive's drive letter is set to. Try changing it's drive letter.

[Julie]

Hey there any help you have would be greatly appreciated

My lappy has been getting the dreaded blue screen. We think it may be the hard drive stuffed as its had a hard life being dropped a few times by my toddler. We're running xp, the blue screen says:

A problem has been detected and windows has been shutdown to prevent damage to your computer.

KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer.
If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed.
If this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any windows updates you might need.

If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOSmemory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced startup options, and then select Safe mode.

Technical information:

*** STOP : 0x0000007A (0XC07BA158, 0XC000000E, 0XF742B642, 0X13F47860)

*** ftdisk.sys - Address F742B642 base at F7421000, Datestamp 3b7d8419

Beginning dump of physical memory

[Spaced]

Ok this is the technical information below of what I've found from microsoft. Can you get into windows? If so right click on my computer, select manage, expand the disk drives folder, write down that serial and post it up. If you can do that I can point you to the right support test cd. If that doesn't work tell me what brand your laptop is and what model no.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/130801

If you can fault the hard drive, laptop hard drives are cheap as if it's out of warranty. Let me know how you go.

[Low_VX_Taxi]

Ok ive got a strange one 4 everyone

Im running Xp pro sp2, everytime my computer boots into window it comes up with the "One or more of your drives may contain errors we need to scan blah blah blah" BUT it doesnt find ANYTHING! Ive done a 2 pass format (forget the program) and reinstalled but still comes up! Its a SATA drive (1). Ive also done drive integrity tests and it passed fine....

Its nufin major but juss annoying..... Also i did Cert II in IT and most of Cert III (not that I really remember much of it)

[Spaced]

ok try this

start > run > cmd > "chkdsk C: /F /X"

it will say it cannot dismount while running do you want do this on next reboot then say yes.

also try chckdsk C: /F /V

this is what V means:

/V On FAT/FAT32: Displays the full path and name of every file
on the disk.
On NTFS: Displays cleanup messages if any.

If this doesn't work let me know and I'll look for another solution.

[S Pack]

Hi guys/gals.....

Every now and then my computer does not start up, it freezes (different stages of start up). I am baffled. My computer runs fine and quite fast always once on, and is virus/spyware/malware free. Below is some info if it can help.

IBM Intel (R)
Pentium (R)4 CPU 2.80GHz
2.79GHz, 504MB of RAM

[Spaced]

defrag hard drive.

I'd also check your memory. Download memtest from here: http://www.memtest86.com/download/memtest86-3.3.iso.zip boot to the cd and let it run for 24 hours. If there is anything weird about your ram it will find it.

When was the last time you installed windows?

[S Pack]

You lost me after defrag. I defrage about once a month when there is alot of red. Can you please explain the memtest a little more to me.

Cheers

[Julie]

Ok this is the technical information below of what I've found from microsoft. Can you get into windows? If so right click on my computer, select manage, expand the disk drives folder, write down that serial and post it up. If you can do that I can point you to the right support test cd. If that doesn't work tell me what brand your laptop is and what model no.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/130801

If you can fault the hard drive, laptop hard drives are cheap as if it's out of warranty. Let me know how you go.

Ok so I finally got it going only took half an hr I managed to get into my computer > manage, but I can't see what you mean by disk drives folderr, I can't find it.

[Low_VX_Taxi]

WIKID! i forgot all the nifty little msdos cmdz!! I used to lurrve pinging my classmates in networking