Another problem

[slitherjef]

PC just BSed again and when it popped back up it ran check disk, it found a few errors, fixed them and a reboot and now, I get:

Application or DLL C:\windows\system32\DCIMAN32.dll is not a valid windows image. Please check against installation diskette

WTF!?

I am waiting for my itunes files and the rest of my stuff to come up missing. I wish I could get my CPU quicker. Guess I will just shut this POS down since all windows is doing is doing nothing but causing problems

[Moppie]

Its a corupt file, not windows fault.

Heres a possible fix: http://forums.techguy.org/windows-xp/457326-error-msg-dciman32-dll.html



Chances are something is failing in your computer, Hard Drive, chip set, RAM etc, which is causing the file corruption.

[basroil]

PC just BSed again and when it popped back up it ran check disk, it found a few errors, fixed them and a reboot and now, I get:

Application or DLL C:\windows\system32\DCIMAN32.dll is not a valid windows image. Please check against installation diskette

WTF!?

I am waiting for my itunes files and the rest of my stuff to come up missing. I wish I could get my CPU quicker. Guess I will just shut this POS down since all windows is doing is doing nothing but causing problems

I have to agree with moppie on this one, sounds like a failing HDD. Run the install disk and do a repair install. Then back up everything and plan for a new disk.

OS doesn't matter with hardware failure, try installing ubuntu and you'll see crashes as well.

[slitherjef]

Yeah. I was just bent out of shape. Right now I am going to assume my HDD is going out, which would be the worst case since all my data is on it. I hope perhaps a SATA cable is the problem or chipset. Perhaps I will remove the drive and try it as a second on my sisters PC and try to transfer files, At least the raws. Hope I can get something recovered.

I can also test my PSU and make sure its okay. If so, I can open the 500gig drive and play around with that. I hope next week I will have a new CPU so I can start my build.

Go figure... today is my birthday

[basroil]

Yeah. I was just bent out of shape. Right now I am going to assume my HDD is going out, which would be the worst case since all my data is on it. I hope perhaps a SATA cable is the problem or chipset. Perhaps I will remove the drive and try it as a second on my sisters PC and try to transfer files, At least the raws. Hope I can get something recovered.

I can also test my PSU and make sure its okay. If so, I can open the 500gig drive and play around with that. I hope next week I will have a new CPU so I can start my build.

Go figure... today is my birthday

PSU doesn't randomly delete files. And if your computer hasn't been randomly restarting when you push the cpu to 100%, then probably a disk thing.

[MaxxuM]

PSU doesn't randomly delete files. And if your computer hasn't been randomly restarting when you push the cpu to 100%, then probably a disk thing.

Poorly grounded computers on a heavily loaded circuit can have detrimental effects on a hard drive. Power is extremely important and is considered one of the biggest reasons for hardware failure right behind heat. And a PSU does not have to 'delete' files per say, only randomly spike or fail while the HD is writing/reading files. I'm not saying that the PSU is the culprit, just that it could have been the beginning of this problem.

[basroil]

Poorly grounded computers on a heavily loaded circuit can have detrimental effects on a hard drive. Power is extremely important and is considered one of the biggest reasons for hardware failure right behind heat. And a PSU does not have to 'delete' files per say, only randomly spike or fail while the HD is writing/reading files. I'm not saying that the PSU is the culprit, just that it could have been the beginning of this problem.

Yea, the psu may be the cause of everything, but the only thing that can delete files is the hdd ;)

[MaxxuM]

Yea, the psu may be the cause of everything, but the only thing that can delete files is the hdd ;)

Evidently you've never had an electrical problem on a ground. There's a reason computers should be on an isolated ground (orange outlet). I've seen more than a few files get mangled by reversed polarity lines and bad grounded lines.

[basroil]

Evidently you've never had an electrical problem on a ground. There's a reason computers should be on an isolated ground (orange outlet). I've seen more than a few files get mangled by reversed polarity lines and bad grounded lines.

I always use a UPS, so probably that's why I've never had issues with any of my computers.


EDIT: In case it's any help, this is the model I use for both my core 2 quad and i7 systems: http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BX1300LCD&tab=models

[MaxxuM]

I always use a UPS, so probably that's why I've never had issues with any of my computers.


Unless your UPS is one of the more expensive ones that always draw directly from the batteries, your power can still be very dirty. Cheaper (under $300 say) UPSes from Best Buy or CompUSA will only detect a ground, not its quality. You probably are one of the lucky ones that has good power. My power sux (5-10 power outages a year with dozens of brownouts) so an isolated ground, UPS and power cleaners for high priced electronics are essential. Computers these days are very hardy, but after 2-3 years or a spike at the wrong time and you'll spend hours trying to diagnose a problem.

Removing the drive and putting in a good computer is a good idea as is doing a chkdsk and virus scan while it's there.

[slitherjef]

Running chkdsk right now. Its taking a long time

[slitherjef]

More problems. My IE screen is now "twitching", typing or scrolling, very noticable on pages that use flash. chkdsk did not seam to help the other problems. The info went away way too fast for me to read.

This suggest a video card problem. Driver issue or could my 8800gts be going out? Or perhaps my mobo is on the fritz?



This is driving me crazy :-|

EDIT: I just clicked the link Moppie provided. Perhaps I should pop in the XP disc and do a repair install. How do I back up my photos of the computer crashes almost every time I transfer files via USB?

[Moppie]

I've had a faulty MB cause file corruption and video issues.

How old is the computer?

[slitherjef]

I've had a faulty MB cause file corruption and video issues.

How old is the computer?

3 years. AMD athlon 64 x2. I got a M2N SLI Deluxe board. My PSU is 700 watt OCZ.

I am thinking I should shut this puppy down and shove the drive in my sisters PC and HOPE I can get my files off.

I think next time I will invest in some back up software

[Moppie]

You can never have enough back ups.

I would try recovering what you can, then it might be time to look at investing in a new system.

You could easily take your RAM, PSU, Graphics card etc, and replace the current mother board and CPU with an Intel Q8200 or Q8300 on an ASUS P5k board. That would be very cheap, only a couple of Hundred Dollars.
Then fill it with a couple of hundred dollars worth of hard drives and a couple of externals.

This would rule out the most likely causes of the problem, and give you really nice performance increase.

But, there is a risk it might be one of the other components that is failing, and perhaps causing other parts to fail as well.
The only way to find out would be to run lots of tests on each piece in isolation.

[slitherjef]

You can never have enough back ups.

I would try recovering what you can, then it might be time to look at investing in a new system.

You could easily take your RAM, PSU, Graphics card etc, and replace the current mother board and CPU with an Intel Q8200 or Q8300 on an ASUS P5k board. That would be very cheap, only a couple of Hundred Dollars.
Then fill it with a couple of hundred dollars worth of hard drives and a couple of externals.

This would rule out the most likely causes of the problem, and give you really nice performance increase.

But, there is a risk it might be one of the other components that is failing, and perhaps causing other parts to fail as well.
The only way to find out would be to run lots of tests on each piece in isolation.

I actualy am replacing the system. I am waiting for newegg to replace the open core i7 they sent to me. I sent the CPU out this afternoon for replacement.

I plan on putting the OS's and programs on the 500gig drive I have and store my files on the 1tb drive, not only that I have an external 1.5tb drive to back up to. I also have a 320gig eternal I can use too.
I figure a video card and new PSU should not cost too much if I need to replace either.