I'm betting the 109 is your CPU temp and Aida isn't sure which sensor is which. Have you used Aida or WinMark to test your RAM? I'm interested to see what happens. Those tests are very thourough and if there is something wrong with the RAM, you'll know it.

Oh, and that Mobo information is exactly what I need. I'll do some research and see what I can find out. Let me know what you find when you uninstall the Defender Pro. Also, while you are at it, check your user profile and make sure it is the administrator.

Steve,

I forgot to mention this>>>

-------Now I know to get PC2700 ram

Actually, you could go with PC3200 in your system from what I understand. It is backwards compatibible. For your system you need at least PCC2700 but the PC3200 would be even more stable in your system according to other forums I'm following.

Thanks!

Uninstalling Defender Pro didn't do much. The error messages are still the same...one thing tho: the games SEEM to be crashing a little less. Now they occasionally crash to desktop during play but guaranteed crash anytime a level is loaded.

I didn't see a memory test tab in Aida, but I'm sure i'm just missing it. Where exactly is it? I'll get WinMark too and see if that says anything different than Aida.

This weekend hopefully I'll go to best buy and get some high quality RAM thats on that list of tested RAM. (I don't want to bother you too much but if you've got the link somewhere handy I'd REALLY appreciate it. I'd probably spend all day and never find it. ) If it solves the problem, GREAT. If not, then I'll make sure I can return it before I buy anything. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS KEY. I'm willing to spend what it takes to get this machine in working order, I just don't want to waste any more money. (Already spent $200 on my RADEON to replace the GEFORCE cuz I thot that was the problem. At least now I've got a decent vid card)

I only have one user profile which is set to Admin. Strange. I also have Norton Antivirus, would that cause the problem? If you even suspect it might then that program is GONE.

It would have cost me over $200 by now to get the info you've given me for free. THANK YOU!!! TY!!! TY!!!

Steve

You say u have 2 stiks of ram

did u try removing one and run a game

if one has a error it will crash your system

try using one at a time and put them in diferent slots

but try them both

Max and Steve,

Max,
I think I had him try removing one stick of RAM, trying, then trying with just the other stick. I didn't think to try different slots, though. That's a good idea.

Steve,

-----but guaranteed crash anytime a level is loaded.

Interesting. Does it load the new levels from CD? Do all these games that crash require you to have the CD in the drive to run them?

You know what, maybe I was wrong about Winmark...maybe it was WinBench. I don't quite remember. Any good memory tester should work fine. Got to http://www.downloads.com and do a search in downloads for Diagnostics programs.

Far as the link to the AMD recommendations, I couldn't find it. I was looking at it a couple of weeks ago. Either they've removed it or I'm blind, or both. The only mention I found about recommended RAM was to check with the mobo manufacturer.


------I only have one user profile which is set to Admin. Strange. I also have Norton Antivirus, would that cause the problem? If you even suspect it might then that program is GONE.

Are you logged in with that profile? If not, that may be why you aren't getting proper error messages. Also, it is possible for Norton Antivirus to cuase this problem. You could temporarily deinstall it if you want to try. Just make sure you reinstall it after you you've tried. It's too important to get rid of entirely.

You aren't the only person having this problem. I've been reading threads of others that are having the exact same problem you are...Getting dumped back to a desktop with those "remote" error messages. I haven't been able to find an answer....yet.

Heres an update on my situation:

I downloaded Windows Memory Diagnostic or something like that. I let it have three passes at the RAM, no errors found. (Then again it was from microsoft so who knows?)

The game I'm using to see if a fix worked is Mafia. It requires the disk to be in the drive while playing, but no cd activity when a level loads, er, crashes.

I will say this: uninstalling defender pro firewall (I got that from WalMarc for $15 to replace ZoneAlarm so no wonder it was causing problems) and changing the settings under advanced display seems to be having a good effect on the system. I haven't had a CTD in a while for Mafia (but maybe I've just been lucky.) Sometimes even a level will load correctly. Looks like we're getting somewhere. THANKS ALOT!!!

I don't have to choose a profile at the XP welcome screen. Under User Accounts it says guest is 'off' and my profile is highlighted.

I can get rid of Norton if you recommend it but I don't have the disk for it, it came with my system. I do have that cheap defender firewall/antivirus I could use...

WHY DO COMPANIES MOVE LINKS!!! TO CONFUSE PEOPLE!!! NO CUSTOMER SUPPORT!!!

Sorry for the outburst. I've looked around ALOT on shuttle's site and can't find any recommended RAM lists, much less ANY information on the AK39n except for the general specs and a BUY NOW!!! key (how surprising!)

Seems like when a company releases a better product they just forget about the older ones and focus/support only the new product. But even my mobo isn't that old, it was released late last year.

THANKS ALOT Todd we're getting closer to the bottom of this I think

Hi everyone,

I have to say now that having seen the length of this thread I am scared: is there a solution to this problem.


I've just completed a fresh build of which these are the main specs

Via KT400 Motherboard with Athlon 2000
256Mb RAM
Geforce 4 Ti4200-8x (64Mb)
Win XP

I have a problem which I'm sure will sound familiar.

Everything works fine with the computer until I try to run a game but as soon as I start one up it crashes within a second of loading the main menu (so far I've tried GTA 3 and Battlefield with identical results). There's no problem before that, intro videos work fine, sound seems not to be a problem but as soon as the main menu appears my monitor turns black and remains so until reset.

I'm sure it's not overheating, all seems far too regular for that and the temperatures in the bios seem normal.

I've tried 3 different versions of directx (8.1, 9 and 9.0b) and each time the problem's the same.

I've tried getting the latest drivers from Nvidia, and again no joy.

I've tried to change various BIOS settings (with the help of a more knowledgable friend) but nothing works. The only thing we think might be useful would be to change the AGP setting to 4x or something but the option where that should be is faded out and locked on AUTO: is there anything we can do about this.

I really don't know what to do and am worried I've just wasted a large sum of money: anything anyone can suggest will be very much appreciated.

Thank you,

Tom

Have you installed the patches released for those games?
GTA3 and BF1942.
I ask because didn't see any note of it in your reply.

Tom,

I'm in the same situation. Same issue, except my games CTD during play (or they used to) Now they only crash during a load (mostly. few exceptions)

Read all my posts, which stretch back about two pages. Todd's a helpful guy who's been helping me.

But before you spend a half an hour reading all that stuff go to microsoft.com and click on windows update. then look specifically for a recommended update that says "games may hang or crash to desktop at end of introductory clip" or something like that. That may be all you need.

But I don't really have a right to talk cause I can't solve my own problems!!!! At least by myself...THANKS AGAIN TODD!!!

Steve

Todd,

Bad news, very bad news:

I guess I was on a lucky streak: my games have resumed their routine of crashing to the desktop during play. Still not as bad as they first were, but almost to the point where they're unplayable. Its amazing how random it is.

Same remote error message. But I'm sure we're getting closer.

--------Sorry for the outburst. I've looked around ALOT on shuttle's site and can't find any recommended RAM lists, much less ANY information on the AK39n except for the general specs and a BUY NOW!!! key (how surprising!)

I went out to shuttle's web site yesterday myself and the links didn't work to their downloads. Their links to buy the products work fine, though. Typical of businesses these days. I'll try again today.

I really wish I knew what that error message is. I've come across several other people having the EXACT same problem as you are, but I can't find a solution and neither can anyone else. Right now, I'm inclined to say we need to go ahead and risk updating the BIOS since nothing else is working, but since we can't get to the downloads page....

Those RAM tests from Microsoft just aren't intensive enough. I will look around today for a decent diag program and post the link here.

Thanks Todd.

I'll be holed up in my computer room all day yelling and cursing at my PC. Its kindof a new hobby these days...

For all the money Shuttle must have made by now and they can't test their website once and a while? Sad, sad, sad...

The only thing on the list now is the BIOS and the RAM, right? No problem. Hopefully Shuttle does have some kind of a BIOS utility so I can't screw anything up. The RAM I could probably get this weekend for around $100 at Best Buy.

Meanwhile my cd player still works on this machine! Hmmmmm...Charlie Daniels, Neil Young, Ralph Stanley, decisions, decisions, decisions.....Or maybe its time to find myself a job!

We're close now I'll bet!

Thanks for all your help, Todd.

It probably doesn't matter now, but I noticed from something, I can't remember what it was now, that my AGP settings are on 8x.

-----Meanwhile my cd player still works on this machine! Hmmmmm...Charlie Daniels, Neil Young, Ralph Stanley, decisions, decisions, decisions.....Or maybe its time to find myself a job!

Between those 3, it would have to be Neil Young. A tougher decision would be Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, or George Harrison. However, if you throw Fleetwood Mac into the equation, they would win it hands down.

As far as a job goes, you've learned enough in the past week to become a computer tech.

i think it's best not to test with games but with 3DMark03

This will rule out the game error

Guys, don't know if this is related or helps but I have just had 3 months of Disaster with my SN41G2. Would not play any games or and 3D apps.

Found the problem to be a incompatability with RAM (KIngston Value Ram) and onboard graphics GeForce 4 MX.

Well Todd,

Given those choices I would have to stick with the Charlie Daniels band, although the others aren't bad. Its just the Charlie Daniels band has that good music.

I can still get RAM this weekend but I'm definately willing to give the BIOS a shot. The BIOS version isn't that old though, 10/17/02. Hopefully Shuttle was became aware of the problem after that and got around to making a patch that comes with the later versions. I've read somewhere that AMD based mobo's have a more complicated way of sending information then Intel, and that because of this complicated commands (3d drawing, etc) occasionally get messed up and that flashing the bios helps. (Fortunately I do have a flash bios).

But like I say I'm just a confused, frustrated, PC problem prone guy holed up in my room.

Thanks,

Steve

This incompatibility problem is a mix of issues;
1. DirectX 9 installed
2. newest Via Hyperion installed (read the "read more"'s there on their site, they know the problem)
3. Having an older version motherboard, probably with sdram, AMD processor and via chipset.

If you feel this constant urge to update everything there is to update, please keep in mind that your machine, or at least some components of it, are build few years back and are used to work with OLDER via drivers. this also goes for directX 9, eventhough they say that it is backwards compatible. there is only need for directX 9 if you want to play games that need it.

The nvidia drivers however, are NOT the problem. That's about the only thing i update whenever there is a new version without problems.

DirectX 9 is, in my opinion, another commercial trick from the microsofties. Gaming just became TOO DAMN IMPORTANT, and now all companies are building with the motive to let the gamer buy and play without probs. (they still didn't succeed b.t.w.)

THANKS EVERYONE.

I bought two sticks of Centon 256mb PC2700(no PC 3200 available) from circuit city today. Plugged em in, had the same problem. HOWEVER. I changed the settings in the BIOS from 166mhz to 133mhz, and VOILA!!!

Running rock solid. Tested for THREE HOURS with not a single crash. INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU EVERYONE!!! ESPECIALLY TODD!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Only cost me $100 too...

Todd,

I tested even more today with all the settings on full. No problems. One question though: the graphics look SLIGHTLY less sharp. Is this because the RAM is kinda medium-low quality (i got the best they had) or because of a setting I changed? I mean, could RAM make graphics look less sharp? Its not a big problem, I'm just glad I can finally get back to gaming. Everything under advanced monitor settings is on maximum quality.

Thanks,
Steve