My Little Upgrading Project

MausMaus Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 5599Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">assistance needed</div> My mother is throwing away her old computer, and so I figured I'd canibalise it for parts to upgrade my secondary computer. However, I'm not much for the tech knowledge and I could do with a wee bit of assistance.

What I have:

<u>System A:</u>

celeron 400
128Mb RAM
2x hard disks (2Gb and 20Gb - call them drives 1 and 2)
Broken CD-ROM drive
Working CD writer

<u>System B:</u>

AMD K7 750
64Mb RAM
1x hard disk (20Gb - call it drive 3)
DVD-ROM drive
Broken CD writer

<u>What I want:</u>

AMD K7 750
128 Mb RAM
Hard drives #1 and #2
DVD-ROM Drive
Working CD writer

<u>How I'm planning to get that:</u>

(1) Use System B as a base
(2) Add a 64Mb RAM stick from Systam A (actually, I'll take both as I know they're compatable)
(3) Pop the CD writer from System A into System B
(4) Get drives 1 and 2 into System B

<u>Where I'm up to:</u>

I've got the RAM in there, and the first time I booted afterwards everything worked fine (though bizarrely Windows insisted on autodetecting <i>everything</i> - COM ports, internal speaker, the works). However, now it gives me the following error message while booting:<!--c1--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>CODE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='CODE'><!--ec1-->While initializing device CONFIGMG:
Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer<!--c2--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--ec2-->And of course no amount of restarting can get me past this point. The operating system of all computers here is Win98. Any suggestions?

I'm pretty sure I know how to swap the broken CD writer for the working one, but I could <b>really</b> do with some advice getting my two HDs across, to avoid as much reinstallation as I can.
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Comments

  • ZiGGYZiGGY Join Date: 2003-01-19 Member: 12479Members
    Well if its booted once, try restoring that registry backup.
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  • chis1chis1 Join Date: 2004-01-13 Member: 25281Members
    Are the boot disks in at the time your restarting?

    hmm and im doing the same, my dad is getting an upgrade, and giving me all his bits, so im gonna upgrade my nto so good box <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
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  • MoquiaoMoquiao Join Date: 2003-05-09 Member: 16168Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Maus+Jan 18 2004, 12:39 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Maus @ Jan 18 2004, 12:39 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
    2x hard disks (2Gb and 20Gb - call them drives 1 and 2)



    1x hard disk (20Gb - call it drive 3)

    <u>What I want:</u>


    Hard drives #1 and #2


    <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    u want the 2gb one?

    dont you want the 2x 20 gig ones?
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  • OttoDestructOttoDestruct Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7790Members
    Probably going to have to boot off a boot disk with fdisk on it, erase all partitions, go through windows setup, create your partitions, and uh... yeh.. have fun.
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  • esunaesuna Rock Bottom Join Date: 2003-04-03 Member: 15175Members, Constellation
    I presume you're using the same install from your previous machine with the new hybrid machine. Basically, windows will flip out if you change the motherboard without reinstalling so, i'm afraid, if you've not already, do a reinstall of windows and all should be well.
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  • XodlikeXodlike Join Date: 2003-06-03 Member: 16985Members
    Otto:Ever heard of WinPE?
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  • MausMaus Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 5599Members
    New and bizarre problem. I decided to just go ahead and keep the 20Gb in the new system (instead of the 2Gb). A reinstall of windows didn't go too smoothly. In the final parts of the install (where it's setting things up - all the system config &c where it likes to restart your computer a few times) it was giving me a few BSODs I had to do a hard reset from, and times when it didn't BSOD me it locked up at the "Windows is shutting down" screen.

    Whether this is related to how when I start Windows now my keyboard stops working (it's fine until I get to Windows) and I have a conflict on my gfx card, I don't know. I was thinking I'd try reformatting then reinstalling windows, but of course I can't type "format c:" in a Windows DOS box, nor will it let me restart in DOS mode as it just freezes on a partially shut-down Windows.
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  • pantspants Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11188Members
    Doesn't the Win98 start-up floppy take you to dos?
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  • MausMaus Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 5599Members
    It takes me to a DOS prompt, yes, but one that doesn't recognise any DOS commands.
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  • pantspants Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11188Members
    Wierd, it worked for me.
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  • SpoogeSpooge Thunderbolt missile in your cheerios Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 67Members
    I'd start by taking out everything that's unnecessary. Which ever CD drive you're not using for install, the secondary HD, and maybe even the 64mb RAM stick. You can always put this stuff back in after the install is complete.

    I'll assume you have the MASTER and SLAVE jumpers set properly on your drives and are using the proper IDE cable connections?
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