Rid o' my riG

[Art Blade]

I really have nothing to shoot with, here :-D

[Binnatics]

 :-X

About Vista vs. 7: I think Windows is F*ed up anyway. No matter what type, prequel or sequel we're talking about. The difference between Vista and 7 is a fact, and 7 will be better in a way, because in the root of the program they handle things differently. But they still update win Vista and go on developing it, so besides that basic difference, there's not much else. I bet if you re-install your version of 7, you will have to download tons and tons of mb's on hundreds and hundreds of updates as well, just like me. That's my biggest complaint to the whole windows system. Why the H* don't they offer one entire up(-to-)date so that I won't have to wait for days for the system to get all these tiny 'critical updates' in the exact order they released them originally?

As the perceptive reader might have concluded allready: I'm doing an entire new install of windows AGAIN, to solve the problem this treat is about. I'm pretty sure something in windows was conflicting, and it had to do with some sort of software causing conflicts during start-up. That is all so deep into root computing that I don't understand it. Thought a clean install would be easier, and next time I could try to learn about the event viewer from scratch.
Since it's a lot of w@&k, and I ALSO have to donwload my complete Steam library again (numerous gigabytes of game-content) it will take quite a while until I know if this action solved my problems. I really hope so. Because if not I will have to renew my entire system: mobo, processor, ram, that's a big scratch through the idea of buying a new monitor for x-mas :-D

Anyway, I want to have a descent antivirus program this time, just in case... Any ideas for a great freeware antivirus? I used to have AVG, which always served me well, but some Microsoft guy said that this program was crap. I don't know, but here I will certainly get a good, independent idea ;)

[Art Blade]

Good luck, probably the best you can do (new fresh windows installation) and yes, they should be tarred and feathered and set alight alive on a massive stack for that barefaced impertinence of a so-called "update" policy forcing you to download in chronological order the last 100 something "critical" updates rather than having ONE single update.

Anti-virus programs: There is not a single perfect program. All major AV progs are quite alright, if you liked AVG, keep it.  :)

[Fiach]

I use Avast for no other reason than I used to have Norton (years ago), I uninstalled it and tried Avast, it found a ton of crap on my PC, that Norton had missed, so I trust it because of this.

[PZ]

I agree that AVG is relatively weak when it comes to antivirus in my opinion.  I've used both Avast and Avira, both of which performed admirably

The best prevention is to never go to objectionable sites, and if you surf into places that are unfamiliar, it is best to do so with Firefox with the NoScript mod installed.  It prevents unwanted script from running on your PC - just the ones that any flavor of IE is glad to let through.

As to the event viewer - it is OK for some things, but many of the messages are not useful, and you have to wade through pages of them.  The biggest problem I have seen happen the longer you are using an old install of Windows is the registry.  The longer you use Windows, the larger the registry becomes - even uninstalled programs often leave quite a legacy on your computer - dlls, drivers, and other things that just simply slow down your PC.  There is a management tool for many unwanted files on your computer - called CCleaner (crap cleaner), it allows you to clear many kinds of useless files.  However, this is only a method to increase the current life of your install.  Inevitably you will need to reinstall in order to have the fastest performance possible.

[Art Blade]

The registry remark above is only true when and if you keep installing and uninstalling "crap"  :-() If you never install demos or trial versions (hence never need to uninstall those) your registry should only contain what is needed. My windows boots faster than most of what I've seen anywhere else and my windows is nearly 3 years old (XP). Same goes for W7, never needed to reinstall or "clean" it, fast as always.

[Binnatics]

I usually reinstall because of unsolvable problems. Well, unsolvable for me that is. I'm no Einstein with pc's.

This time a clean install seamed inevitable and I just did. Result: nothing. I use to think that when a clean install plus newest drivers isn't bringing solutions it's hardware related. Simple: you renew everything software-matic there is, so 'it' (the problem) would find its origin in the hardware.

Weird thing is: Re-installing nvidia driver always is the solution; temporarily though.
I contacted windows customer support and they say the problem must be driver-related. So I contacted ASUS hoping that they will help me out. I think this problem is caused by the combination of my motherboard and my gfx card. Somehow these two don't go along too nice with eachother.

Or, as Art would say, my rig is cursed.  :-\\
I've been thinking about flashing the bios, but I have my doubts since that seems to have to do with CPU treatment. When I check the new features of the various newer bios it all handles about newer versions of CPU's or better CPU handling. So, don't know if it's worth the effort.

[mandru]

A reinstall is a bit beyond my entry level.  When a problem arises I tend to bang on the keys or turn it on and off until I've intimidated my computer enough that it gives in and cooperates.  If that fails then it's time for a new computer.

As for flashing we get arrested for that where I live.   ????

I tend to think that my system speed slowdowns that have popped up over the few years I've had this rig can mostly be blamed on Windows updates.  When I first got this computer I could go from a cold start up to opening Firefox and browsing in under 20 seconds and now it takes a minute or two.  :D

I put the blame on something I've heard referred to as Creeping Functionality.  Processes and Applications added through updates after the initial install that are launched on start up especially those hidden in the back ground that don't necessarily enhance my Windows experience.  I've not been able to find a comprehensive list of Applications, Processes and Services that actually breaks down what each of them are, how essential each of them are for my usage requirements and whether I can silver bullet something I won't ever need that's freeloading in the background hogging my CPU's resources.

My initial exposure to Vista was the first time I started this computer.  Right off the bat I killed all the animations along with the Gadgets and reverted to Classic view.  If I'd wanted an Apple I would have bought one.

I don't need 10 seconds of start up time wasted for MS Word (and who knows what else) to be hot loaded and then sitting idle while burning CPU cycles in the background when I can fire it up in 3 seconds if and when I actually need it.   >:((

[Binnatics]

When a problem arises I tend to bang on the keys or turn it on and off until I've intimidated my computer enough that it gives in and cooperates.  If that fails then it's time for a new computer.

:-X From now on that's the way I'll treat my system :-X

As for flashing we get arrested for that where I live.   ????

???? ????

Anyway, I think I agree fully on the way you blame these updates to be the cause of the system to get snailed with blubber and mud.
Speaking of Apple (I switch to classic view as well, first thing to do as soon as I enter control panel) Why the H*** can Apple run a good and stable operating system without tons of updates and other crap that 'needs to be' in the periphericals of the operational environment?
Well, the answer is simple. Because they deliver a good, well thought out product. But how is it possible that Microsoft keeps fooling around with that crappy update system? They stole the whole 'windows' idea from Apple, why not steal their brilliant performance as well? They can even afford to pay for it, so why bother????

According to my buggy system:
The "Mandru manner" seems very satisfying, and who knows even more effective. >:D Glad I have an old, wasted keyboard, and it occasionally happens to have the word "Microsoft" written on it >:D >:D



And yes I am looking for an entire new system allready

[Fiach]

Have you tried staring at the PC, I mean REALLY HARD, I find snarling helps a bit as well :)

[Art Blade]

hmmhhmhmhmhhmuahahahaha!! 

[Binnatics]

 

[nexor]

I agree with Fiach concerning Avast, been using it for the best part of eight years, and what I like about it it's easy to install, run and maintain, and it checks for updates all the time, my pc is on the net about 20 hours a day and Avast updates it self four to five times a day.

[Binnatics]

I got Avast yesterday, and so far I'm happy with it. There was one thing strange about it. I wanted to stop Avast from working, because I was testing something and wanted to have the system run vanilla, but I couldn't. I googled it and found out that Avast has a special feature that prevents attackers from shutting Avast down. Unfortunately you can't shut it down yourself either. But there's a w@&k around. You can stop that special feature, somewhere in the menu, so you are still able to shut it down after that.

And well, no viral attacks since installment ^-^

[Fiach]

You can also make it gamer friendly with Silent Gaming, its not much but its a nice addition.

[Binnatics]

Last thing I spammed here was the idea of flashing the BIOS. Well, I did. No change. Another complete renewal of drivers didn't either. Contacted both ASUS and Microsoft and they all point to the graphics hardware. So I turned my gfx card in thursday. Still waiting for a reply of the test-lab. I wish they tell me the card is not broke. That will mean  my mono is cursed and opens a way to buy a new system right away: Intel's newest CPU's and mob's etc. :-()(and that will cost me). On the other hand I hope it's just the gfx card because then I get a fast replacement and the problem is over, at least I hope 8-X
Problem is... 3 gfx cards in a row broke; couldn't it be my mobo eating my other hardware? Or my PSU maybe? I hope I'll get some answers soon.

[Fiach]

Embrace the suck, get a 360, you know it makes sense  >:D

[Art Blade]

If we can connect a 360 to a PC, he might consider that. :-D

[Fiach]

You can, get a 360 controller .... disclaimer.... doesnt w%&k on console exclusive games...  >:D

[Art Blade]

 :-D

[Binnatics]

I will stick with my rig! Although it takes some time to fix it

[PZ]

Your problem is the first of it's kind I have ever encountered.  Typically parts fail because of heat, but I seem to recall that you mentioned that you had the heat issue under control.

[Binnatics]

I won't step ahead of things as the shop is still working out the test (sigh) but I think either the card has been broke from the start or the combi mobo / vid-card is causing problems. Maybe the mobo chip is broke or can't handle newer nvidia products, which is weird since I have the newest Bios now. Anyway, gotta wait for the testing results. Keep you guys posted  ;)

[Art Blade]

Although I don't have hard evidence / proof, there are superstitions bordering truth or truth bordering superstitions that some parts just don't go along too well. For instance, an ATI (AMD) GPU with an Intel CPU or nVidia GPU with AMD CPU. Or, that pairing particular components works nicely, such as AMD GPU with AMD CPU or nVidia GPU with intel CPU.

I have never mixed those and never had a problem :) The only cursed rig I had was custom-made and the problem was overheating which wouldn't go away. It died with two very sharp bangs. 

[Binnatics]

All my rigs so far were custom made by myself (in fact, only 2 rigs). My first self-made rig was pentium 4 based, with various nvidia GPU's. Worked brilliant, never failed until it was outranged for the newer games.
My second rig was, is AMD based. AM3 mobo with Phenom II X4 CPU. I decided to get an ATI GPU because it seemed to me like a good combi. Like you said; ATI with AMD. Worked brilliant until my GPU (HD4890X2) broke. It lasted 1 year until I started seeing weird artifacts. I could change it for another one, the HD5870, which costed me only 100 euros extra. This next generation ATI GPU worked fine as well, until 1 year after purchase I started getting BSoD's and weird crashes, plus the same artifacts. I turned the card in and after a trial to repair the card I could get a refund and purchase a new one.
Well, this donkey won't hit his toe for the second time (oops, third) so I decided not to buy another ATI card. Everybody told me that combining GPU and mobo/CPU of the concurring brands wouldn't cause any trouble. A lot of mobos promote themselves with having both crossfirex and SLI support.
So if this combo won't w@&k out, what I'll do is change my AMD parts for Intel. And in the mean time upgrade it to quite a powerful rig :-() I've already found out what I'd want: Since the new Sandy Bridge E system will be a bit too expensive (at least with the current available CPU's 500€ or 990€) (phlegm slobber :P) so I keep focussing on the 1155 boards with a decent i7 2600K CPU. I'll make sure it supports SLI so that I can double my current GPU if I have the 'plata' and I also made my choice concerning HD. I definitely want a SSD for my new system. Already found out that the crucial M4 or the OZC Vertex 3 are the best buy for the moment. I focus on 120 Gb, which would be sufficient to have 4 or 5 favorite games on the main system disk. The rest on the HDD's.
I think I will also need a new power supply if I want to be able to upgrade to SLI config, which makes the XFX 750watt black edition quite an appropriate choice. Ooooooh, damn I can't wait to set the new stuff together.

Now help me get down to earth  :-D So far I gotta wait what they say about my GPU test. Is it the 3rd in a row that's broke? And does it make sense to upgrade the rest? I've got dreams.... DREAMS toooo remember... ;D