posted
Since I got my DSL internet here and installed the 3Com DSL card (not just a regular network card) I've been havin problems with crashes and my windows registry gettin written over every time I reboot the machine..
So tonight, after being booted offline and outta the letterville chat by a BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH (yeah that's the technical computer geek name for it) I got sick of it and just wiped the system clean.
Now things are smooth sailing again, the system is fully restored (data files and all the software too) and.. AND... I dont have to use SAFEWEB to access this BB anymore, which I had to do because the "connection" was lousy..
Looks like the fresh format cleared up the slow BB issue for the DSL customers.. or maybe I just happened to get a good connect to the BB server..
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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I had the same problem when I got dsl. Had to reisntall a lot of things. Went cable, not the first ptoblem.
For me it crashed almost everythime I hit the enter key. (in chat that is) My start bar hasn't been the same since, didn't want to format the whole drive. Maybe I should.
Glad yours is working fine!
------------------ PEACE SIGNS Big on Murals and Tight on Camera Ready!
"With every breath, we have a choice." --Linda Silver Eagle Georgia, USA
posted
Expanding on Rick’s post. The /S switch (or option) in the Format command installs system files; i.e. the files required to have an active drive or partition recognized as a bootable drive (or device).
It’s only been a few years removed from the DOS world, but how quickly one can forget commands, switches, and options. Ah yes, the good ole days. NOT!
From a DOS prompt (it hurts to type that anymore ) type any command followed by a space and then “/?” this will list the proper line syntax and published variables.
C:\Format /?
Then there are those Mr. Gates hidden or unpublished switches. I can’t currently locate my list of these to share at this time. Last I remember, there were at least three hidden options just for the Format command. The one I remember the most, or at least think I remember, is the /MBR switch. This wipes out the Master Boot Record, which may be required to do a complete “virus clean” from a system. There are bunches for the Install command and numerous others as well. Mike, or anybody else, can you confirm that these hidden switches do exist and possibly name some of them?
Some of these hidden switches can really do some major, unrecoverable, damage very, very quickly. So they are not for the faint of heart!
posted
Glenn, the /s is short for SYSTEM.. that puts a boot sector on the drive so when you start the machine from that disk (whether it's a floppy disc, CDROM, or hard drive) it actually gets you to a means of installing the operating system. Ever recall seeing a message like "Non-system Disk Error. Insert a system disk and hit Enter to continue" (as many times as I've seen it, I still dont remember the exact wording.. hahahaha) when you accidentally leave a floppy in the drive while rebooting? Well you get the same message on a freshly formatted hard drive if you dont use the /s switch. /S puts the boot sector on the drive so the machine recognizes it as the drive it's supposed to boot from. It doesnt load up anything relating to the operating system though, it just tries to find the operating system. This is why Operating systems usually come with a floppy disk or a bootable CDROM, the hard drive doesnt contain any means of loading the operating system.
Bob, as with all Microsoft products there are non-published features.. or quirks.. depending how ya look at 'em... hehe Yes, in DOS there were some switches that werent published so the average schmuck couldnt really mess up his system... I know they're there, but I dont know any cause I've never needed to use them. My SCSI card actually has the power to perform any surgeries on drives that are connected to it.
Dammit dammit DAMMIT!
Looks like I spoke too soon... I had a hiccup last night while trying to burn a CD, not long after posting my previous message, and had to reboot..
Now, it's.. umm.. excuse my math, seems I cant count but maybe 5 hours later.. I havent even gone to sleep since I woke up yesterday... I'm in the same boat I was before, 'cept this boat now has a hole in it where there used to be a 3com DSL card jammed in there..
Yep... I'm back on Dial-Up..
Anyone that's even considering goin with DSL, I urge you to go with the option with the NIC (network interface card) and External DSL/Cable modem/router..
3Com's DSL card is a piece of CRAP!!! Or maybe it's just the drivers.. or maybe I just got ahold of a cranky card (it happens) but when I call tech support on Monday one of two things is gonna happen.
They're either gonna send me a NIC and Router (preferrably wireless.. hehe) at no charge to me, or I'm gonna send them a bill for $8,000 which is the amount of PC troubleshooting labor I've got into this damn thing because of that lousy card.
I even packed up the card into its original box with CD's and manuals, went into my ISP's office this morning and got turned away when I just asked for a replacement.
Wheeeeewwwwww booooooooy..... that is just not something you do to a 280lb chunk of fat-ass computer geek that's spent the past 12 hours hyped up on caffiene trying to smooth out a crabby computer... especially when you consider he's been locked out of his internet access most of that time!
Maybe the ISP will get an $8,000 bill too.
Anyone else want one?
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
Mike....When I got DSL I bought an extra NIC card. The one mu ISP recommended was a D-Link 10/100 card. I think it cost me about $25 Cdn. ($17 US). The ISP supplies the actual modem fer free. So far I haven't experienced any problems related to the card.
As far as the Bullboard slowness is copncerned...That problem only lasted for me for about 2 days and then things went back to normal.
------------------ Dave Grundy AKA "applicator" on mIRC "stickin' sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles!" in Granton, Ontario, Canada 1-519-225-2634 dave.grundy@quadro.net www.quadro.net/~shirley
Yer startin to sound like me when my dsl was in charge. I spent countless hours on the phone with the phone co/isp and they got talk, but they're short on the guys in the little trucks.
WHen I get that upset, I just take a deep breath...and reload! Hehehehe!
Good luck Stickie.
(I'll refrain from slappin a smilie face on here for the moment.)
------------------ PEACE SIGNS Big on Murals and Tight on Camera Ready!
"With every breath, we have a choice." --Linda Silver Eagle Georgia, USA
posted
Yeah..my phone co has been hasseling me to switch to DSL......I think I will stay with my Road Runner....Shep'
------------------ Arvil Shep' Shepherd Art by Shep Oak Island, NC shep@ec.rr.com http://artbyshep.homestead.com/index.html " As long as they say your name, you will live forever"
The ISP wont take the card back cause it's over 30 days old so I gotta deal with 3com..
3com's warrany is 5 years and they say they will honor it but they say on their site since they discontinued the DSL products, they wont take any in for repair or offer refunds.. The only way to honor the warranty is to replace it in this case, since they arent making anymore I dont know how that's supposed to work.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
Slightly off topic, but I think 3Com is a company to beware of buying from. I had a technical question with a 3Com product, went to their website, and the technical support looked like a scanned copy of the booklet that was in the box. Whoopee!
On topic however, if you have windows 2000, they pacbell give you a box that runs off a lan card, which in my estimation is the way to go. We have three DSL locations and they mostly work, but quirky from time to time. Vic G
Yeah I was checkin out 3com's tech support pages.. nothing helpful there.
I have to say though, when I received the package from my ISP I was relieved to see they went with 3com instead of some cheap no-name brand.. then when I opened it and saw it was a "DSL Modem" and not a NIC/LAN card I was a bit disappointed. I was hoping it would have been a NIC with a special adapter to fit an ethernet cable into the phoneline jack.
Now I'm completely disappointed with 3com..
I'm starting to think the reason they discontinued all their DSL products is because they couldnt build the stuff right and keep the cost at a consumer level.. Now they can go back to building their overpriced corporate equipment.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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) type any command followed by a space and then “/?” this will list the proper line syntax and published variables.
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