The Singapore Forum

Wonder if anyone can suggest the solution.

I was reinstalling (clean install) windows XP on my PC. So I disconnected all the usb peripherals and did the installation and patched up from the original disk to service pack 3 an .NET 3.5. Stuck the video driver on etc.

Anyway, I got there and had a look at the hardware and noticed that the card in PCI slot 4 wasn't recognised and a hardware component of the video card hadn't got a driver. So I hunted these down and fixed them. Restarted and all going swimmingly.

However, the firewire card in PCI slot 5 wsn't appearing in the device manager list. I thought, OK I'll move it to slot 3. So I switched off and moved it and fired up the computer again, and it failed to start. So istarted it in safe mode and had a look and everything seemed ok. So I thought, I'll move the firewire card back to slot 5. Computer failed to boot. So I tok the firewire card out altogether. Computer still failed to boot.

Anyone know what the problem was?

I solved this by the way, the answer came to me ont the 12th hole on Sunday. But see if you can guess what it was.

For me, as an ex-IT professional, 'interesting PC problem' is dangerously close to being an oxymoron.

What do you think the problem was then?

The power was disconnected after you put the card back in slot 5?

Nope. Was the first thing I checked though, that I hadn't dislodged any power connectors.

Corrupt CMOS?

Snaffled is right though, no PC problems are interesting

Nope, not CMOS.

Burbage wrote: I solved this by the way, the answer came to me ont the 12th hole on Sunday. But see if you can guess what it was.

Get a Mac?

A mac is not a solution in this case, since the purpose of the PC is to run the programs that I can't run on the mac.

why do you guys keep reinstalling windows? No newly painted walls or lawns available to watch?

I'm reinstalling it to get rid of all the spyware, malware and other crap that PCs seem to be incapable of keeping out if used to surf the Internet. The PC will now only connect to the Internet for on line games through a very strict firewall.

BoD wrote:why do you guys keep reinstalling windows? No newly painted walls or lawns available to watch?

because we can.

ok.. fair enough

Your mains lead had been stolen by Somali pirates?

Spike wrote:Your mains lead had been stolen by Somali pirates?

No. I thought of that, but I was able to start in safe mode, so it clearly didn't happen.

As you were on the 12th hole, there was something wrong with your drivers?

y'all need to get out more

Fat Bob wrote:As you were on the 12th hole, there was something wrong with your drivers?

Very good guess, but no.

I haven't got the firewire card working by the way. the solution revolves around what what stopping Windows starting normally.

Did the problem sit somewhere between the keyboard and the chair?

The case cover was in that position, it appeared not to have been involved.

But the problem was caused by the movement of the non-working firewire card from slot 5 to slot 3. It was not resolved by moving it back from slot 3 to slot 5.

physical problem like a bit of something was left behind each time so you didn't have a whole bit by the time you put it back in slot 5? or the card itself is simply broken.

Tas is warm!

You bent a pin

No.

you forgot which slot was 5 and which slot was 3. Therefore, when you thought you had taken the firewire card out of slot 5 and put it in 3, you actually hadn't. therefore, Tas's warm was "a bit left behind", mine is a "the whole lot left in the wrong place".

Or is the firewire card not meant to go in slot 3/5?