Hi, Guest
01-06-2006, 12:04 AM
ugh... troubleshooting Windows ME is like trying to figure out what's wrong with your DPFE sensor... you're better to just replace it.
On that note, NOS and the boys have given good advice, and if none of that worked, it's very likely a software problem... but I have to ask...
When you re-installed windows, did you do a complete format and re-install? If not, and you just re-installed over your current installation, chances are good it would have no effect if it's a software issue.
If you and your brother have EXACTLY the same machines, why not see if it's a software issue and take your harddrive next door for a test in his machine. swap his for yours and yours for his, and see if the DVD burner comes up with a harddrive you know is good... but only attempt this if both machines are EXACTLY the same.. don't want to inadvertently bastardize your brother's install.
Another thing.. you mentioned your brother has less memory in his machine? you might want to go and set your windows paging file to a static size. If your brother has less memory, windows is already constantly using the paging file.. it's probably large enough. However, because you have more memory, and you go to burn a DVD, windows wants to cache the information, finds it's just running out of physical RAM, so it turns to the paging file and starts resizing it. That can cause enough delay for the DVD to time out, and die on you, hanging your system. If you set the paging file to a static size (make it 512MB or so), windows won't try resizing it at an inopportune time.
But to summarize:
- Make sure your DVD drive is on it's own IDE channel. Make sure no other drives share the same ribbon cable as it, and even see if it's sharing a power cable... also may want to try using a fresh ribbon cable... they can be finicky and cause grief sometimes.
- use the latest drivers
- Set a static paging file size
- check for spyware
- disable MSN search bar if you have it
- defrag your HDD
- disable antivirus live protection if you have it
- stop all other programs and processes, don't even go on the internet
- burn at 2x or even 1x .. then slowly work up to see if that's the issue
- upgrade to WinXP
optional - swap HDD with your brother and give it a whirl to determine if it's really a software issue.
other than that, I have to see the machine in person to get a proper feel for the issue. .. it may be a good time to upgrade.
On that note, NOS and the boys have given good advice, and if none of that worked, it's very likely a software problem... but I have to ask...
When you re-installed windows, did you do a complete format and re-install? If not, and you just re-installed over your current installation, chances are good it would have no effect if it's a software issue.
If you and your brother have EXACTLY the same machines, why not see if it's a software issue and take your harddrive next door for a test in his machine. swap his for yours and yours for his, and see if the DVD burner comes up with a harddrive you know is good... but only attempt this if both machines are EXACTLY the same.. don't want to inadvertently bastardize your brother's install.
Another thing.. you mentioned your brother has less memory in his machine? you might want to go and set your windows paging file to a static size. If your brother has less memory, windows is already constantly using the paging file.. it's probably large enough. However, because you have more memory, and you go to burn a DVD, windows wants to cache the information, finds it's just running out of physical RAM, so it turns to the paging file and starts resizing it. That can cause enough delay for the DVD to time out, and die on you, hanging your system. If you set the paging file to a static size (make it 512MB or so), windows won't try resizing it at an inopportune time.
But to summarize:
- Make sure your DVD drive is on it's own IDE channel. Make sure no other drives share the same ribbon cable as it, and even see if it's sharing a power cable... also may want to try using a fresh ribbon cable... they can be finicky and cause grief sometimes.
- use the latest drivers
- Set a static paging file size
- check for spyware
- disable MSN search bar if you have it
- defrag your HDD
- disable antivirus live protection if you have it
- stop all other programs and processes, don't even go on the internet
- burn at 2x or even 1x .. then slowly work up to see if that's the issue
- upgrade to WinXP
optional - swap HDD with your brother and give it a whirl to determine if it's really a software issue.
other than that, I have to see the machine in person to get a proper feel for the issue. .. it may be a good time to upgrade.
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