Freezing when playing games - mobo issue??

[Brighter Hell]

I just got the new video card. I uninstalled the old driver, took out the old card, put in the new one, and installed the drivers. Looks like that wasn't the problem because it still randomly freezes. For a while I was running it mostly in safe mode with networking. It was better, but still froze every once in a while (not nearly as often though). I put my other network card in to see if that was the problem, but no it isn't.

So, to recap, it isn't the video card, it isn't the sound card drivers, it isn't the PSU, memory and disk tests haven't come up with anything, it isn't the network card, and it isn't overheating. My original suspicion was that it's the motherboard. Any thoughts on that?

 

[Akio]

If you're also looking for Kazaa Lite just download it off of one of the other Kazaa's. It works believe me!

 

[Brighter Hell]

Things just got bad. I was told by a friend who knows a bit more about this stuff than me that since I've put in new hardware, drivers and a new OS, I should update the BIOS. Made sense to me, so I downloaded the appropriate BIOS from asus.com and printed out the instructions. It told me to make a bootable disk, which I haven't figured out how to do with Windows 2000. The 4 startup disks don't take you to any sort of prompt and didn't seem to be any help. So, going by advice I found with a search on this very forum, I downloaded the ASUS Update utility. I saved the existing BIOS to the hard drive and tried to flash the BIOS using ASUS Update. It gave me the message "Fail to verify EEPROM with new BIOS image." So I exited.

Then I decided that since Windows didn't seem to want to boot from my Windows 98 boot disk, maybe I should reinstall Windows (update, not clean install). I pop the disc in, hit Update Windows, it does its thing, restarts... and does absolutely nothing. Now when I turn on the computer, the CD drive whirs a little but nothing else happens. No signal to the monitor, no booting from the A drive. I think (but I'm not sure) that I might have the booting set to the CD before the A drive, but it should still be able to boot from a boot disk, shouldn't it? How do I fix this?????

 

[Arris]

Sounds like the falled bios flash could have corrupted the existing bios. Basically this results in the computer not knowing how to boot.

If you haven't already cleared the CMOS (either a jumper on the motherboard needs moved to clear it or you can remove the watch type battery for 5 minutes or so with no power connected for both methods) try that. I had a similar experience with the bios on my old A7M266 motherboard. Dead to the world apart. I ordered a new bios chip from www.badflash.com but something else was wrong with this board since it still didn't work with the replaced chip. Your 1 letter away from me being able to post you a replacement BIOS chip for nothing A7A266 vs A7M266 :S

Try the CMOS reset and then try booting again.

 

[Brighter Hell]

Thanks for the (almost) offer, Arris! I tried to clear the CMOS. I tried to short the two pins marked CLRTC (there's no jumper), didn't work. I took out the battery overnight and tried to start it up this morning, same thing. Just like yours, dead.

 

[Arris]

You could try ordering a new bios chip from badflash

Please DO NOT order hoping that a new bios chip is a fix all. We have found by long experience that it is likely to help you only under certain conditions:

1. Your computer is working and you would like to upgrade the BIOS without the risk of a failed update and being without your computer for a week or so.

2. Your computer no longer boots as a result of ONE of the following conditions:

A. Failed bios update
B. Confirmed Virus attack and you have replaced the hard drive or had it professionally cleaned. The attack will resume if you don't.
C. After installing new Hardware, such as a memory module, CPU, Video Card, Network Card, etc. and all parts have been verified to be good.
D. Overclocking the CPU or FSB and the CPU, video, and memory are verified to work properly.
E. After "tweaking" the CMOS settings

BEFORE you order you MUST:

A. Have an AMI or AWARD bios or have previously confirmed that we can support you. Please note that PHOENIX has purchased AWARD and is putting their name on AWARD bios. If there is a file called platform.bin in the update package YOU MUST CONTACT US BEFORE ORDERING.
B. You know with 100% assurance which motherboard, version and rev that you have.
C. You can provide a copy of the required BIOS image or can provide us with the URL for download.
E. IF yours is a LAPTOP COMPUTER you removed the boot-up password before the computer died.

Although for $24.99 for the new programmed bios your almost halfway towards the price of a new cheap motherboard. Chaintech nForce2 board for $55

 

[tobasco]

THis sounds exactly like the problems I had with my old Gateway AMD 1102 and MS motherboard. Over heating is always a problem and I thought that the SB 5.1 card identical to yours was also a possible conflict, sis every thing you have done and mines still act's like yours, every is right about Norton being a Hog and it want's to dominate your system, I use Panda now, very satisfied with that, the only thing left for you to do is check your Memory sticks, right sticks for the right board and matched identically, that will be my next step when I get back to the old system. good luck, I can sure empathize with your problems. If you have any luck I'd sure like to hear bout it---

 

[Brighter Hell]

I ended up getting a new board. I got an MSI K7N Delta-L. Stable board, cheap price. I put it all together a couple days ago and it's been solid since then. My SB 5.1 card is conflicting, it's telling me that the BIOS isn't fully compliant with the ACPI specifications. I haven't installed the USB controller driver yet either. I think the BIOS was the problem, but when I tried to flash it in ASUS Update it didn't work and then I went and restarted. Never restart until it works!!!! Anyway the original problem is fixed and I've got a new board. Now I just have to resist the urge to ugrade the CPU and RAM!

 

[Shorty7598]

Here is few of my opinions....Don't use Norton Anti-virus it has messed up a few of my computers in the past. My personal favs would be MacAfee or AVG. For spyware removal I use Adaware and Spybot, both these can be found at download.com. For Trojan Horse removel I like TrojanHunter, it can be found at snapfiles.com. It's a trial though, with an option to buy. I would recommend people to buy it. For P2P don't use Kazzaa, that has given me more trouble in the past than the thing was ever worth. I use to use Morpheus or Limewire and loved it. These can be found at morpheus.com and Limewire.com. Good luck!

Also if anyone can help me out that would be great. My recent computer build keeps rebooting mostly when playing new games. It is annoying the heck out of me. Here is my computer specs:

Self bulit PC
Windows XP Home service pack 2
AMD Atholon XP2600 over clocked to 2.29 GHz
1 GB PC3200 RAM
MSI K7N2 Delta Mobo
NVidia GeForce 5900 XLT grapics card
Seagate Serial ATA 120 GB hard drive
onboard sound
CD burner and DVD double layer burner

Here is list of things I have already tried:

Replaced my RAM, my Power supply, my video card, even switched brands of video cards, I have added thermal paste to the processor, replaced my monitor, went from XP Pro to XP home, forammted and reinstalled windows, ram memtest on my ram, removed all spyware once a week, virus scan once a week, defraged my pc as needed, got all the windows updates, got the latest vido card drivers (even the one that just came out like Nov 14th), got all new drivers for the BIOS, Got new sound drivers, Got the new DirectX9.0C , I keep my Virus scan and spyware software updated regularly. My computer temp run about 45-50 C idle. Thanks in advance for any help!
Shorty7598