Woohoo! Mostly fixed (was Got a new computer and need help...)

[trancejeremy]

After 6 months of scrimping and saving up for a new computer, I ordered one and it finally arrived. Only, I can't get it to work. That is, install an OS on it.

It's an AMD Athlon 64 XP 3400, with an Epox motherboard.

I format the hard drive, and seemingly install the OS okay (windows 98), but in the final stage, when it boots to Windows for the first time, I get a "Can't write to drive C error".

Twice I've done this, and twice I get the error. It's a serial ATA drive. Can Windows 98 handle that? (edit: Apparently not. It can handle the new fangled 64 bit processors, but no the new fangled hard drives)

As a last resort, I took out the hard drive of my normal PC and put it in the new one. It's a E-IDE drive. That booted to windows, but goes haywire with the new hardware detection sequence. Also, even though it's an Ultra-DMA 133 drive, when the computer boots, it says it (and all the other IDE devices are at AT-33. And are very very very slow. (edit: The cd-roms are still slow, but the hard drive is up to 100)

(I'm still writing this on an very old, Pentium 300, as my old modem doesn't fit into the new computer. The modem is weird, like a mini-slot, not a full PCI)

 

[GlassJaw]

First off, using Win98 is bad. Extremely bad.

Win98 is going to have problems using most new hardware. It also has problems installing on very large HDD's. What's the size of your drive?

But in all seriousness, you are throwing away the money you spent on new hardware by installing Win98.

 

[DM]

I agree with Chris

If you want or need to use Win98, try partitioning your had drive into 4 gig sections, or at least the section you put the operating system on.

In the long run, you'd be better off gettin' a copy of Win XP Prof. to take advantage of your new machine's performance.

 

[trancejeremy]

I know Win 98 is less than ideal, but is that definitely causing the problems?

I did try partitioning the hard drive - the one it came with was 160 GB, and I partitioned it into 128 GB (the limit is 137 GB, though I wasn't sure if having more caused a problem or would just be ignored).

I would like XP, but I really can't afford it. I could barely afford the computer. Guess I'll have to send it back and hopefully get most of my money back.

 

[Mercule]

I'm assuming the "Athlon 64" means Thats one o' them newfangled 64 bit processors. My first thought is whether Win98 is capable of recognizing your processor correctly.

My advice: get a $300 cheaper computer and get a copy of XP Pro.

 

[Krieg]

I would like XP, but I really can't afford it. I could barely afford the computer. Guess I'll have to send it back and hopefully get most of my money back.

Microsoft's 64bit version of XP is currently in beta testing. Microsoft will send you a free trial version that is good for 360 days. That should get you over the hump...

Windows XP Professional x64

Or if you would want to try Linux I have an extra copy of the Ubuntu AMD64 version. If you'd like to try it I will be happy to send it to you.

Ubuntu

 

[trancejeremy]

Yeah, I saw that Win XP 64, but unfortunately, it's only available as a download (the cd version is coming late Febuary), and I don't have broadband. Or a cd burner on the computer that still works (after downloading you have to burn it to a cd).

And thanks for the offer, but the only reason I bought the computer was to play the Sims 2, and unfortunately, there is no Linux version of that.

 

[trancejeremy]

Anyway, I finally realized I should check the site for the hard drive maker, and it says thati their serial ATA drive (which is what the computer has) only works with Win XP and 2000.

So, guess I need to hock some stuff.

 

[trancejeremy]

Actually, all I had to do was unplug the new hard drive that came with it (the S-ATA) and the hard drive from my old computer stopped freaking out.

Still some weirdness, my new video card (a lowly FX5200) seems to be installed twice, once as a 250 megabyte card and once as a .5 megabyte card. And Neverwinter Nights doesn't seem to like the onboard soundcard (Realtek something or other). And oddly, the hard drive only connects at a rate of 100 as opposed to 133 like in my old PC, so it's slower. But it works, and the Sims 2 looks much better. They actually now have fingers, instead of mitten like clumps. And cast reflections in mirrors.

 

[GlassJaw]

If you don't mind me asking, how much did you spend on your new comp/components? IMO, your priority should be the latest OS and perhaps broadband. If you are just playing the Sims and browsing the web and stuff, you don't need an insane comp. You might have been better off with a pre-built. I mean you can get a good Dell for around $700 (inclduing monitor).