Computer won't work - Page 3

dsouza123 · 2003-07-13, 22:09

Virtual memory (the swap file) is stored on the hard drive.
When swapped out pages of memory are needed they are retrieved from the swap file on disk.

If the hard drive failed or the swap file became unusable it would crash Windows with either a blue or black screen.

After shutting off the computer and then starting it, if the hard drive is not accessible it would give a message about boot failing and needing a bootable disk.

clowns789 · 2003-07-14, 18:30

It might be virtual memory. I had to disable it for Disk Defragmenter and then I reenabled it. So how do I modify the swap file?

dsouza123 · 2003-07-14, 19:25

Have you confirmed your hard drive is physically working ?

Unless the hard drive is functioning (electronics OK & drive platter spins), has power and uses it, transfers data to the motherboard
it is impossible to fix the operating system problems.

If you have a physically functional hard drive
have you done a DIR C:\ and a DIR C:\WINDOWS ?

Need to be able to do this to determine the OS (operating system) state on the hard drive.

outlnder · 2003-07-14, 22:12

clowns, where doyou live, I will come over and fix it.

clowns789 · 2003-07-15, 00:57

As you say in your location, you do live far, far away (literally). You live in San Francisco, and I live in Houston. So come over and fix it.

clowns789 · 2003-07-17, 21:51

The DIR C:\WINDOWS doesn't work, but everything else does. I'm convinced it's the swap file so how do you alter the swap file???!!!

dsouza123 · 2003-07-18, 00:36

Unfortunately the swap file is in the C:\WINDOWS directory.

Were you able to get a directory of C:\ the base ( root ) directory on the hard drive ( C: ) ?

Or a directory of anything on C: ?

The virtual memory/swapfile settings are changed with Windows running.

In general it is a bad idea to disable virtual memory and even worse if running on a machine with less than 128 MB because windows itself wants quite a bit of memory for itself, the OS, vcache, vfat, etc and when it runs out windows will crash very badly.
Prime95 uses alot of memory during the P-1 factoring stage 1 and even more in stage 2, so virtual memory is needed unless you have an enormous amount of RAM.

cheesehead · 2003-07-18, 05:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsouza123

Prime95 uses alot of memory during the P-1 factoring stage 1 and even more in stage 2, so virtual memory is needed unless you have an enormous amount of RAM.

Only in stage 2.

P-1 stage 1 needs only as much memory as L-L does, because both basically just do a single string of modular multiplications. Not until stage 2 does the P-1 method allocate extra work areas to store computed intermediate results that it will re-use.

clowns789 · 2003-07-18, 18:30

Nothing from C. Can I link it to another computer to give it some memory?

eepiccolo · 2003-07-18, 19:11

This is either a physical issue, or the boot sector on your hard drive failed. A physical issue is always possible; hard drives can break on their own, which is why it is important to make regular backups.

You should do this: Check the power connection and IDE connection to the hard drive. Also make sure the IDE cable is connected properly to the motherboard as well. After making sure the connections are OK, try booting up the computer without the startup disk in the floppy drive.

If it still doesn't boot, you need to get into the BIOS setup to see if the computer is even detecting the hard drive. If the BIOS doesn't see your hard drive, the drive is dead. So, when you boot without the floppy disk, what "F" key does the screen tell you to press to get into the BIOS?

clowns789 · 2003-07-18, 20:32

ESC Boot Messages, F2 BIOS

It automatically goes to boot messages FYI

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2003-07-13, 22:09	#23
dsouza123 Sep 2002 2×331 Posts	Virtual memory (the swap file) is stored on the hard drive. When swapped out pages of memory are needed they are retrieved from the swap file on disk. If the hard drive failed or the swap file became unusable it would crash Windows with either a blue or black screen. After shutting off the computer and then starting it, if the hard drive is not accessible it would give a message about boot failing and needing a bootable disk.

2003-07-14, 18:30	#24
clowns789 Jun 2003 The Computer 401₁₀ Posts	It might be virtual memory. I had to disable it for Disk Defragmenter and then I reenabled it. So how do I modify the swap file?

2003-07-14, 19:25	#25
dsouza123 Sep 2002 1226₈ Posts	Have you confirmed your hard drive is physically working ? Unless the hard drive is functioning (electronics OK & drive platter spins), has power and uses it, transfers data to the motherboard it is impossible to fix the operating system problems. If you have a physically functional hard drive have you done a DIR C:\ and a DIR C:\WINDOWS ? Need to be able to do this to determine the OS (operating system) state on the hard drive.

2003-07-14, 22:12	#26
outlnder Aug 2002 2×3×53 Posts	clowns, where doyou live, I will come over and fix it.

2003-07-15, 00:57	#27
clowns789 Jun 2003 The Computer 401₁₀ Posts	As you say in your location, you do live far, far away (literally). You live in San Francisco, and I live in Houston. So come over and fix it.

2003-07-17, 21:51	#28
clowns789 Jun 2003 The Computer 621₈ Posts	The DIR C:\WINDOWS doesn't work, but everything else does. I'm convinced it's the swap file so how do you alter the swap file???!!!

2003-07-18, 00:36	#29
dsouza123 Sep 2002 296₁₆ Posts	Unfortunately the swap file is in the C:\WINDOWS directory. Were you able to get a directory of C:\ the base ( root ) directory on the hard drive ( C: ) ? Or a directory of anything on C: ? The virtual memory/swapfile settings are changed with Windows running. In general it is a bad idea to disable virtual memory and even worse if running on a machine with less than 128 MB because windows itself wants quite a bit of memory for itself, the OS, vcache, vfat, etc and when it runs out windows will crash very badly. Prime95 uses alot of memory during the P-1 factoring stage 1 and even more in stage 2, so virtual memory is needed unless you have an enormous amount of RAM.

2003-07-18, 18:30	#31
clowns789 Jun 2003 The Computer 401 Posts	Nothing from C. Can I link it to another computer to give it some memory?

2003-07-18, 19:11	#32
eepiccolo Dec 2002 Frederick County, MD 2×5×37 Posts	This is either a physical issue, or the boot sector on your hard drive failed. A physical issue is always possible; hard drives can break on their own, which is why it is important to make regular backups. You should do this: Check the power connection and IDE connection to the hard drive. Also make sure the IDE cable is connected properly to the motherboard as well. After making sure the connections are OK, try booting up the computer without the startup disk in the floppy drive. If it still doesn't boot, you need to get into the BIOS setup to see if the computer is even detecting the hard drive. If the BIOS doesn't see your hard drive, the drive is dead. So, when you boot without the floppy disk, what "F" key does the screen tell you to press to get into the BIOS?

2003-07-18, 20:32	#33
clowns789 Jun 2003 The Computer 401 Posts	ESC Boot Messages, F2 BIOS It automatically goes to boot messages FYI