You might not like hearing this, but the problems you describe are typical of software errors--your hardware seems to be working just fine. That's a really good thing, though, because software errors can be removed in one way or another.
You do not tell us what Dell Tech Support had you do to solve your problems, so looking at your post, I will tell you what I would do, were it my system. I would start by going to Denny Denham's Resource Management website and finding out what I could safely remove from the startup group of programs loading into your background at bootup (called TSR's). You will want a list of that which you have loading right now, so go to Start | Run | enter msconfig in the field and OK the run. Choose the Startup tab, and make a list of all the checked boxes. Get online and go here. Work with your list, and reach a compromise between your need for resources free for the system to use to run your software and the convenience of these programs being available for you in the quicklaunch tray. Where you are getting the errors you are, you would like to see your resources free at bootup be in the high 80's to even the low 90's. It removes resource and memory errors from the mix.
Next, possibly consider reinstalling your mouse drivers, in the event that that is not a memory/resource issue as well--the behavior described can be either damaged drivers/software or memory/resource related.
Screensaver: For right now, consider using no screensaver whatsoever--you do not need one with a modern monitor. Burn-in is not an issue with these monitors. Once you get the errors solved, then you can consider adding one back in, but start with a simple, non-3D one. The high-end 3D ones can use your resources free and your memory up, due to memory leaks in their programming. Memory leaks are software errors in the program that can only be fixed with a patch for the program involved. If you keep the screensaver simple and standard, it will provide a good test of your screensaver function.
Power Management: Set the Standby option to Never, and use the powerdown settings to control the monitor and the hard drive.
Display: For now, I expect you are running your display at 1024 x 768 resolution and the highest color depth your system allows, plus full acceleration. I would, just for now, cut the acceleration back to 3/4 and see if that helps. Consider, just consider choosing either the color depth or the resolution to keep at the highest setting, and reduce the other one by one level.
Next, for the error messages you are getting, could you supply the specific messages? Only the words are needed, and the module. The memory registers (series of numbers in groups) are not needed. This helps us track down any specific software or driver issues you have.
Finally, once you have the startup group cleared, then I would recommend that you give yourself a fresh boot, then end task on everything but SysTray (if installed on your system) and Explorer. Disable your screensaver (if enabled) and disable all power management for the moment, then run ScanDisk and Defrag, just to arrange your software installation efficiently and repair any file damage that ScanDisk can handle. Once finished, restart the system to regain the TSR's you want, and restore your screensaver and power management settings (if used).
It's a real mess, but we really might be able to straighten it out if we work at it, OK?
I was under the impression that Dell tested the computers before they were shipped to the customers. This must not be the case, as they sent us a replacement for the tower, and it was just as bad.
Dell had me do all sorts of things. I had to go through the MSCONFIG and do the selective startup and what not. They had me format the hard drive two times. I uninstalled almost all the software that they sent to us (Norton anti-virus, attune, etc.). This is a Gigaherz computer, I thought it would be able to handle at least the same things my 333mhz can.
I went throught last night and used the ZZTOP program. Imediately I uninstalled Attune and a few other things. Oddly enought it hasnt given me any problems at all, well there is one but that can go for another post.
Thanx for the help. If anyone else is going through this, dont bother with emailing Dell Tech Support because it was useless and produced no results. I tried them for just over a month. If you have a computer with similar problems and its within the 30 days, RETURN IT!!
The best thing you could possibly have done for yourself, after optimizing your startup group, is to uninstall Attune. Nasty, nasty program to try and work with, and is of minimal value to you on top of that. Other quick and easy fixes: disable Fast Find in msconfig | Startup (if you have it), and consider disabling Fast Shutdown in msconfig | General | Advanced button.
Please post back with any further problems you have--we'd like to see you happy with this dream of a system you have, OK?
Just a word to Kay. You are really very generous with the time and energy that you expend trying to fix problems that other poeple post. Thanks for being out there.
KayH
1.1K Posts
0
June 28th, 2000 15:00
Hi,
You might not like hearing this, but the problems you describe are typical of software errors--your hardware seems to be working just fine. That's a really good thing, though, because software errors can be removed in one way or another.
You do not tell us what Dell Tech Support had you do to solve your problems, so looking at your post, I will tell you what I would do, were it my system. I would start by going to Denny Denham's Resource Management website and finding out what I could safely remove from the startup group of programs loading into your background at bootup (called TSR's). You will want a list of that which you have loading right now, so go to Start | Run | enter msconfig in the field and OK the run. Choose the Startup tab, and make a list of all the checked boxes. Get online and go here. Work with your list, and reach a compromise between your need for resources free for the system to use to run your software and the convenience of these programs being available for you in the quicklaunch tray. Where you are getting the errors you are, you would like to see your resources free at bootup be in the high 80's to even the low 90's. It removes resource and memory errors from the mix.
Next, possibly consider reinstalling your mouse drivers, in the event that that is not a memory/resource issue as well--the behavior described can be either damaged drivers/software or memory/resource related.
Screensaver: For right now, consider using no screensaver whatsoever--you do not need one with a modern monitor. Burn-in is not an issue with these monitors. Once you get the errors solved, then you can consider adding one back in, but start with a simple, non-3D one. The high-end 3D ones can use your resources free and your memory up, due to memory leaks in their programming. Memory leaks are software errors in the program that can only be fixed with a patch for the program involved. If you keep the screensaver simple and standard, it will provide a good test of your screensaver function.
Power Management: Set the Standby option to Never, and use the powerdown settings to control the monitor and the hard drive.
Display: For now, I expect you are running your display at 1024 x 768 resolution and the highest color depth your system allows, plus full acceleration. I would, just for now, cut the acceleration back to 3/4 and see if that helps. Consider, just consider choosing either the color depth or the resolution to keep at the highest setting, and reduce the other one by one level.
Next, for the error messages you are getting, could you supply the specific messages? Only the words are needed, and the module. The memory registers (series of numbers in groups) are not needed. This helps us track down any specific software or driver issues you have.
Finally, once you have the startup group cleared, then I would recommend that you give yourself a fresh boot, then end task on everything but SysTray (if installed on your system) and Explorer. Disable your screensaver (if enabled) and disable all power management for the moment, then run ScanDisk and Defrag, just to arrange your software installation efficiently and repair any file damage that ScanDisk can handle. Once finished, restart the system to regain the TSR's you want, and restore your screensaver and power management settings (if used).
It's a real mess, but we really might be able to straighten it out if we work at it, OK?
Good luck,
Kay
APugwash
5 Posts
0
June 28th, 2000 17:00
Dell had me do all sorts of things. I had to go through the MSCONFIG and do the selective startup and what not. They had me format the hard drive two times. I uninstalled almost all the software that they sent to us (Norton anti-virus, attune, etc.). This is a Gigaherz computer, I thought it would be able to handle at least the same things my 333mhz can.
I went throught last night and used the ZZTOP program. Imediately I uninstalled Attune and a few other things. Oddly enought it hasnt given me any problems at all, well there is one but that can go for another post.
Thanx for the help. If anyone else is going through this, dont bother with emailing Dell Tech Support because it was useless and produced no results. I tried them for just over a month. If you have a computer with similar problems and its within the 30 days, RETURN IT!!
KayH
1.1K Posts
0
June 28th, 2000 18:00
Hi,
The best thing you could possibly have done for yourself, after optimizing your startup group, is to uninstall Attune. Nasty, nasty program to try and work with, and is of minimal value to you on top of that. Other quick and easy fixes: disable Fast Find in msconfig | Startup (if you have it), and consider disabling Fast Shutdown in msconfig | General | Advanced button.
Please post back with any further problems you have--we'd like to see you happy with this dream of a system you have, OK?
Good luck with it,
Kay
Pat Cusick
48 Posts
0
June 28th, 2000 22:00
Pat Cusick
KayH
1.1K Posts
0
June 28th, 2000 23:00
Hi Pat,
Thanks so much for the kind words :) I really appreciate it, and enjoy the time I spend here very much :)
Have a good one,
Kay
Pat Cusick
48 Posts
0
June 29th, 2000 09:00
Pat Cusick