Help Needed: PC maybe trashed [long]

pete_bogg · 07-28-2007, 09:08 PM

Slackers, I really need your help.

My PC has really been acting up lately (see my recent posts). I have been inundated with Signal6 errors in just about everything I do in Linux. It happens when using Slackware 12, Slax live, and even Kubuntu. My WindowsXP installation messed up so many times that it is ridiculous (even more than what is expected).

edit: I just had WindowXP install crash on me twice. The second time I got the BSOD. I am trying to re-install Linux and WindowsXP on two different hard drives, so the problem is not the drives. Either I got a bad drive controller, or my BIOS is set up incorrectly.

I tried to re-install Slackware 12 and the install froze up several times. I tried to install Kubuntu, and it froze up also.

I am including some information on my system and my BIOS. I do not know if my BIOS system is the cause of the problem, but hopefully someone can determine if it is, or not.

Code:

SYSTEM

ASUS A7V133 Motherboard with VIA Apollo KT133A Chipset
Athlon 1.0 GHz Processor

512MB PC133 SDRAM in DIMM Socket 1
128MB PC133 SDRAM in DIMM Socket 2 

Imation CD Burn-R 12x10x32
IBM 20GB Hard Drive (hde for WindowsXP)
Western Digital 80GB Hard Drive (hdg for Linux)
No Floppy Drive

ATI Radeon 9600Pro Video Card
ADI Microscan 4GP Monitor


BIOS

Key: [Bios Default]
     {Bios Self-Determined}
     *User Changed from Default*


Ultra100 (tm) BIOS Version 2.01 (Build 35)
(c) 1999-2000 Promise Technologies

MAIN
  System Time
  System Date
  Legacy Diskette A		[None]		<- Default is [1.44M, 3.5 in]
  Legacy Diskette B		[None]
  Floppy Mode Support		[Disabled]

  Primary Master		[Auto]
  Primary Slave			[Auto]
  Secondary Master		{IMW12032IAB}	<- Default is [Auto]
    PIO Mode			{4}
    Ultra DMA Mode		{2}		<- Default is [Disabled]
  Secondary Slave		[Auto]
  Keyboard Features
    Bootup Numlock Status	[On]
    Keyboard Auto-Repeat Rate	[12/Sec]
    Keyboard Auto-Repeat Delay	[1/4 Sec]

  Language			[English]
  Supervisor Password		[Disabled]
  User Password			[Disabled]
  Halt On			[All Errors]
  Installed Memory		{384 MB}

ADVANCED
  Operating Frequency Setting	{By Jumper}	<- Default is [User Defined]
  DRAM Frequency		{133MHz}
  System Performance Setting	[Optimal]
  CPU Level 1 Cache		[Enabled]
  CPU Level 2 Cache		[Enabled]
  CPU Level 2 Cache ECC Check	[Disabled]
  BIOS Update			[Enabled]
  PS/2 Mouse Function Control   [Auto]
  USB Legacy Support		[Auto]
  OS/2 Onboard Memory >64M	[Disabled]

  Chip Configuration
    Onboard PCI IDE Enable	[Both]
    Spread Spectrum Control	[Enabled]
    S2K Strength Setting	*Disabled*	<- Manual does not have this
    AGP 4X Drive Strength	[Auto]
    AGP 4X Mode			*4X*		<- Manual does not have this
    AGP Fast Write		[Disabled]
    SDRAM Configuration		[By SPD]
    SDRAM CAS Latency		{3T}
    SDRAM RAS Precharge Time	{3T}
    SDRAM RAS to CAS Delay	{3T}
    PCI Master Read Caching	[Enabled]	<-Default for Athlon - Defaults to [Disabled] for Duron
    Delayed Transaction		[Enabled]	<-Default for Athlon - Defaults to [Disabled] for Duron
    PCI to DRAM Prefetch	[Enabled]
    Byte Merge			[Enabled]
    DRAM Read Latch Delay	[Auto]
    Memory Early/Delay Write	[Auto]
    CAS Drive			[Auto]
    Memory Data Drive Ext	*Disabled*	<- Manual does not have this
    SDRAM Com Drive Ext		*Disabled*	<- Manual does not have this
    DIMM Interleave Setting	[Auto]
    I/O Recovery Time		[Disabled]
    Graphics Aperture Size	[64MB]
    Video Memory Cache Mode	[UC]

  I/O Device Configuration
    Onboard FDC Swap A & B	[No Swap]
    Onboard Serial Port 1	[3F8H/IRQ4]
    Onboard Serial Port 2	[2F8H/IRQ3]
    UART2 Use Infrared		[Disabled]

    Onboard Parallel Port	[Disabled]	<- Default is [378H/IRQ7]
    Parallel Port Mode		[ECP+EPP]
    ELP DMA Select		[3]

    Onboard Peripheral Resource Control
      Onboard AC97 Modem Controller	[Disabled]	<- Default is [Auto]
      Onboard AC97 Audio Controller	[Auto]
      Game Port Function		[Disabled]
      Onboard Legacy Audio Support	[Disabled]

  PCI Configuration
    Slot 1 IRQ			[Auto]
    Slot 2 IRQ			[Auto]
    Slot 3 IRQ			[Auto]
    Slot 4/5 IRQ		[Auto]

    PCI/VGA Palette Snoop	[Disabled]
    PCI Latency Timer		[32]
    USB Function		[Enabled]

    PCI/PNP IRQ Resource Exclusion
      IRQ  3 Reserved for Legacy Device	[No/ICU]
      IRQ  4 Reserved for Legacy Device	[No/ICU]
      IRQ  5 Reserved for Legacy Device	[No/ICU]
      IRQ  7 Reserved for Legacy Device	[No/ICU]
      IRQ  9 Reserved for Legacy Device	[No/ICU]
      IRQ 10 Reserved for Legacy Device	[No/ICU]
      IRQ 11 Reserved for Legacy Device	[No/ICU]
      IRQ 12 Reserved for Legacy Device	[No/ICU]
      IRQ 14 Reserved for Legacy Device	[No/ICU]
      IRQ 15 Reserved for Legacy Device	[No/ICU]

    PCI/PNP DMA Resource Exclusion
      DMA  1 Reserved for Legacy Device	[No/ICU]
      DMA  3 Reserved for Legacy Device	[No/ICU]
      DMA  5 Reserved for Legacy Device	[No/ICU]

    PCI/PNP UMB Resource Exclusion
      Reserved Mem Block Base		[No/ICU]

  Shadow Configuration
    Video ROM BIOS Shadow	[Enabled]
    C8000-CBFFF			[Disabled]
    CC000-CFFFF			[Disabled]
    D0000-D3FFF			[Disabled]
    D4000-D7FFF			[Disabled]
    D8000-D8FFF			[Disabled]
    DC000-DFFFF			[Disabled]

POWER
  Power Management		[User Defined]
  Video Off Option:		[Suspend->Off]
  Video Off Method:		[DPMS Off]
  HDD Power Down:		[Disabled]
  Suspend-to-RAM Capability	[Disabled]
  CPU Fan in Standby Mode	[On]

  Suspend Mode:			[Disabled]
  PWR Button <4 Secs:		[Soft Off]

  Power Up Control
    AC PWR Loss Restart:		[Disabled]
    PWR Up On External Modem Act:	[Enabled]
    Wake on LAN or PCI Modem:		[Disabled]

    Automatic Power Up:			[Disabled]

  Hardware Monitor
    MB Temperature:		{37 C/98.5 F}
    CPU Temperature:		{53.5 C/128 F}
    JTPWR Temperature		{N/A}

    CPU Fan Speed		{5152RPM}
    Power Fan Speed		{N/A}
    Chassis Fan Speed		{N/A}

    VCORE Voltage:		{1.75V}
    +3.3V Voltage:		{3.53V}
    +5V Voltage:		{4.97V}
    +12V Voltage:		{12.03V}
    -12V Voltage:		{-12.32V}
    -5V Voltage:		{-4.96V}

BOOT
  1. Atapi CD-ROM		{IMW121032IAB}		<- Was #3
  2. Other Boot Drive		*Onboard ATA100 Boot*	<- Was #4 - Default is [INT18 Device (Network)]
  3. Removable Device		*Disabled*		<- Was #1 - Default is [Legacy Floppy]
  4. IDE Hard Drive		[None]

  Plug & Play O/S		[No]
  Reset Configuration Data	[No]
  Boot Virus Detection		[Enabled]
  Quick Power On Self Test	[Enabled]
  Boot Up Floppy Seek		[Disabled]
  SCSI/ATA100 Boot Sequence	[ATA100/SCSI]
  Load Onboard ATA Bios		[Auto]
  Primary VGA Bios		*AGP Card*		<- Default is [PCI Card]

I forgot to include the following hardware:
Creative ModemBlaster (external-serial port 56k)
Logitech Optical USB Mouse
Memorex MX2500 Keyboard
HP Photosmart C3180 USB Printer
Speakers

Please help me bring life back to this PC that acts like it wants to lay down and expire.

Bob

randomsel · 07-28-2007, 10:25 PM

Have you tried a thorough system boot-up check instead of the quick one (may be available or not, depending on BIOS/MoBo)? Are you overclocking your system?

dennisk · 07-28-2007, 10:37 PM

Bob,

Does sound like a hardware issue; overheating perhaps or a memory issue maybe.

Here are some things to try;

1. Open the case and see if the CPU fan is turning
2. Are things clogged with dust? cat hair?
3. Does pulling the memory and carefully reseating it make a difference?
4. What happens when you run memtest?
5. Did the computer sit through any thunderstorms lately?
6. Have any new PCI cards been added to the computer? What happens when you remove them?
7. Are hard drive ribbon cables 80 "pin" not 40?
8. Are a hard drive and a CDROM on the same cable?
9. Try one hard drive alone, disconnect the other

Dennisk

onebuck · 07-29-2007, 07:34 AM

Hi,

I would like to add to 'dennisk's ' list;

Quote:

...
10. Check the power supply! (that is if you have the means)

A lot of the problems you describe are generally due to a load problem. Especially if you have added equipment without considering the PSU wattage limits of the system. As you add peripheral equipment the load does change for the 'power supply unit' (PSU). The PSU has a load that is published in the specifications on the supply case. Most desktops have at least a 350 Watt PSU but not always.

pete_bogg · 07-29-2007, 10:08 PM

Well I was finally able to get both WindowsXP (/dev/hde) and Slackware 12 (/dev/hdg) re-installed. Instead of using the BIOS manual's defaults, I used the BIOS's build-in defaults. The only thing that I noticed that was different, was the following:

Code:

PCI to DRAM Prefetch          [Disabled] instead of [Enabled]
Byte Merge                    [Disabled] instead of [Enabled]
Graphics Aperture Size        [32MB] instead of [64MB]
PWR Up On External Modem Act  [Disabled] instead of [Enabled]

Everything else is as was listed on the previous post.

As far as additional equipment and dust goes; I had previously removed all cards, blew all the dust out with compressed air, and returned all the cards (except for the internal modem card and floppy drive). I also disconnected the external modem. This should have actually unloaded the power supply somewhat.

Memtest86+ and 'Disk Fitness Test' showed both the memory and hard drives to be Okay. I did pull my two memory strips and re-installed (reverse order). My CDROM and two Hard Drives are each on separate cables.

For some reason, everything is almost working now. I still get Signal 6 errors, but less frequently.

For now I am somewhat happy.

north49er · 07-29-2007, 10:30 PM

Have you ever tried changing the system battery with a new one?