Strange computer problems

[DIFference]

Hi,

If i sit in windows my computer sometimes starts to search on my CD-RW even if there ainät no CD in it. The computer sometimes locks itself after this, and i have to restart it.

Almost every time (not every time) i get some errors in the Event Viewer thats says:

source: atapi
description: The device, \Device\Ide\IdePort2, did not respond within the timeout period.

source: atapi
description: The device, \Device\Ide\IdePort1, did not respond within the timeout period.

Some times when the computer locks itself and i restart it it beeps in the boot and says something like "you need to connect you power cable to you radeon 9800xt graphics card" on the screen. I shut down the compouter and wait som e time and then the computer usually starts again. Sometimes it hels to take out the Gfx and out it back.

The Gfx works fine in every game and other stuff and as far as i know there aint any problem with that one. The memory pass the MEMTEST tests, and my hard drive pass every test in the POWERMAX diagnostic software. BUT a strange thing is that the fist time i ran the BURN IN TEST in POWERMAX, the test stopped after half the test and said that the disk failed. I restarted the computer and ran the same test and the disk passed, and it also passed the Advanced test.

I know ask you because no one can help me. Have you ever met this kind of problems? Some friends of mine thinks that it sounds like the motherboard may be the reason.

My system:
P4 3.2 GHz Prescott, Asus P4P800-E Deluxe, 2x512 mb Twinmos PC3200 Dual, Club 3d Ati Radeon 9800xt, 200 gb Maxtor SATA Diamondmax 9 plus, Antec Truepower 380w

Windows Xp SP2 all updates.

If the strange problem after reboot with the power and the GFX wasnät there i would have thought about SOFTWARE problems, but it doesnät seem like that....


I really need help :(

/Micke

[mickwish]

Welcome to XPC! :D

What version of windows is it, with what service pack level. Is it updated regularly with windows update??

I do recall seeing a problem like this once before, but can't remember what caused it. I think it's a bit like the accessing the floppy problem, but not sure right now.

Tell us what version of windows, and I'll do a search. :)

Cheers
Mick

[DIFference]

Sorry, forgot that.
Win Xp Sp2, updated as much as possible.

If the problem with the power to the Gfx wasnt there i would have thought it was a SOFTWARE problem, but it can'n be?

Added some info to my original post...

[mickwish]

I doubt your problems are caused by the lack of aux power to the vid card. That warning would come up in any case before the software of windows loads, from the BIOS of the video card. I take it your vid card has no etxra power cable going to it?? If it does, this could be an indicator that the power supply is not supplying enough power to the card on boot. But that wouldn't make the access CD error, I don't think.

I'll have a quick look and see if I can find any mentions of the accessing CD problems anywhere.

Cheers
Mick

[DIFference]

I do ha an extra power cable for the Gfx. And ive tried switching and everything. The computer just starts after a couple of tries, sometimes a lto sometimes a few. But i still think its more the MB that is broken. I logg the voltage from the PSU with MBM5 and after every lock i check it, and the voglates don't change any strange.

I know that MBs can give strange problems, and i THINK i will borrow a PSU from a friend and see if it the problems remains, if they do, I'll RMA the MB.

[mickwish]

Ok, this specific error (the atapi one) seems to have lots of possible causes, including a bad hard drive, bad power supply, and corrupt files in windows. :o So, how to work out which it is??

I'd suspect corrupt windows files first, as it happens when no real action is happening on the computer, right?

If you have your original winXP CD handy, run System file checker by typing sfc /scannow in the run box from the start menu, after reading through this tutorial (http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html) on it's use. If that comes up clean, try checking the hard drive with the manufacturers utility again and see if it still passes. If it does, then consider trying another power supply in your computer. even the Antec Truepower ones can sometimes go wrong. :)

Hope some of this helps.

Cheers
Mick