  MJimLay aka FlexBaud Premium join:2004-10-06 Beach Haven clubs:
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1 edit | reply to BinaryXtreme Re: [Vista] Odd Problems
said by BinaryXtreme :Did you install a new upgrade or a fresh install? Which version of Vista did you buy and what are your computer specs? I have a Dell XPS 420 (I got tired of building my systems) which has a Quad Core Q6600 Processor and 4 GB of Ram and a 750 GB Hard Drive.
Dell preloaded the OS (Vista Ultimate) and I started using that. After having these problems, I decided to do a image restore. I still had the same issues so I called Dell for hardware troubleshooting. The Dell Diag program found no hardware issues but they went ahead and sent a tech out and swapped out pretty much the guts of my computer (Ram, Hard Drive, etc)
The new hard drive also had a image loaded on it. I started off using it but again, same problems. I reloaded the image, same thing. At this point I decided maybe it had something to do with the image and used my Windows Vista DVD and did a complete format of the drive and installed Vista as a clean install. I used the Dell Driver CD. Again, same issues.
I then did ANOTHER format (which is what, 6 now?) using Drivers from the DELL Website hoping they would be more up to date than what's on the CD. Exact same problems.
I have tried SP1 but did not help. I even flashed my BIOS to the current update and still same issue.
I even tried getting drivers directly from Intel, ATI, NVidia, etc instead of Dell. Still, same result.
At this point, I am not sure what the problem is anymore. The only thing I can think is that it's an issue with the operating system.
The only thing I have NOT tried was installing Vista on one of my spare computers and see how it runs on it and see if I have the same issues. Now, I did "build" my mom a "new" computer and I loaded Vista on it. It's a much slower system than mine, it's only a Single Core AMD and only has 1 GB of Ram. She's also had a few odd things happen but not anywhere near my level. Her Internet Explorer works far much better than mine ever has. My internet explorer keeps stalling when loading webpages. |
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  tcharp T C Premium join:2002-10-23 Lubbock, TX
·NTS Communications
·Suddenlink
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| It sounds like you might be having some sort of memory problems. I'm not sure what Dell uses but it's probably crap.
Windows Media player has some known problems in Vista. Mainly that it has been known to not quit when you close the program. Also, you should know that dreamscene is sort of a resource hog and may slow down your system unless you have very good video capabilities.
However, it sounds like you are having a far more general problem than any of the ones I have mentioned. Has Dell swapped the mobo? Can you get them to send you a DVD with the OS only (without all of their "bonus" stuff) on it?
-TC -- "It's hard to leave when you can't find the door." - Joe Walsh |
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  BinaryXtreme
join:2004-04-20 Sparks, NV
·Charter Pipeline
| reply to MJimLay Seems you have done everything I would have advised. Have you heard your hard drive clicking or making any loud noises? Also, have you been able to apply Windows latest updates? Are you running virus protection and checked your logs? I would also try removing a stick of ram and seeing if you can see any difference. You don't happen to have any devices like a DVD player installed and connected to your motherboard with the molex disconnected? Just a few things to throw out there... |
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  MJimLay aka FlexBaud Premium join:2004-10-06 Beach Haven clubs:
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| reply to tcharp said by tcharp :It sounds like you might be having some sort of memory problems. I'm not sure what Dell uses but it's probably crap. Windows Media player has some known problems in Vista. Mainly that it has been known to not quit when you close the program. Also, you should know that dreamscene is sort of a resource hog and may slow down your system unless you have very good video capabilities. However, it sounds like you are having a far more general problem than any of the ones I have mentioned. Has Dell swapped the mobo? Can you get them to send you a DVD with the OS only (without all of their "bonus" stuff) on it? -TC I have the Windows DVD. It came with my system. I have formatted and installed with that DVD. It doesn't include anything extra and doesn't have any drivers. I have another Dell CD with Drivers
They did not swap the motherboard. When they replaced the ram and hard drive, I asked them to replace the motherboard but they refused.
I rarely use Windows Media Player and when I have used it, I never had any problems. As for Dreamscene, I have a pretty decent system and didn't notice any slow down while running Dreamscene, even while gaming. The reason I stopped using it was because it was always crashing. |
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  MJimLay aka FlexBaud Premium join:2004-10-06 Beach Haven clubs:
·Cox HSI
| reply to BinaryXtreme said by BinaryXtreme :Seems you have done everything I would have advised. Have you heard your hard drive clicking or making any loud noises? Also, have you been able to apply Windows latest updates? Are you running virus protection and checked your logs? I would also try removing a stick of ram and seeing if you can see any difference. You don't happen to have any devices like a DVD player installed and connected to your motherboard with the molex disconnected? Just a few things to throw out there... My hard drive doesn't make any odd sounds. However, I sometimes have A LOT of hard drive activity like my SWAP file is being used. It gets rather annoying sometimes because my hard drive will swap for 30+ minutes. I have all current updates installed. I use Norton Internet Security and I haven't been able to run a full scan as the program crashes before the scan is even complete. There is nothing in the logs and I am pretty safe what I do on my computer.
I will try removing a stick of ram, that's a good idea 
I have several devices attached to the motherboard. I have a LCD screen on my tower which is connected to my motherboard (USB I think) and I also have a "Xcellerator" device as well. I have a Blu-Ray Drive and a DVD-RW Drive. |
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