I think I fixed it...

Well, I fixed my computer. All it took was a tool I purchased awhile back from the hardware store. A little tap here, and a little tap there, and a little more over there, and that 22oz. framing hammer did the job.

No more errors, no more general faults, no illegal application...heck, it has a whole new attitude now. It's a lot more humble now, for sure.







Seriously, I discovered the root problem was that the power supply was simply not enough for the new GeForce2 graphics card. I removed, changed the multiplier on my CPU (so that it is now running at 500mhz) and reloaded my original onboard graphics drivers (SiS530 - hot, baby, hot! ). Oh, and I also applied a tube of $4.50 silver-something-another thermal compound (grease, we call it here) to the CPU and heatsink.

I ran numerous tests and tried to make it crash. I did all the things that messed it up before and it clicked right along just fine. No errors or anything, that is, except for something about something (I think having to do with the nVidia GeForce2 driver) not being found in the rundll32 file. Or something like that. What do I do about that, I wonder?

For now, the machine is running fine. I didn't do anything with the memory, so I am just assuming it's fine as well. I think the basic problems were just not enough power and too much heat.

I'll just have to live without the GeForce2 MX200 for awhile. It sure did spoil me! Maybe in the near future I can find a PSU that will fit on my machine and produce enough "juice" for all my goodies.

I also may go back and try to turn that CPU back up to 550mhz.

My only remaining questions are:

Is this new CPU permanently damaged because of overheating? And, how would I know if it was?

Exactly what should I do about the rundll32 file, or whatever it is?

I want to thank each of you for your responses and your assistance. I am so glad I found this site. It is very invaluable!

Thanks alot!

 

Oh my...I posted this wrong!

Well, I was trying to respond to my other thread (See URGENT! Please Assist! Errors & Faults!), not start a new one!

See, people like me probably shouldn't own a computer....or a hammer, for that matter. We just do ourselves no good.

Sorry!