I've replaced everything, but RAM!!! Help!!!!

[kvndeluna]

This is my first build. I ordered all of my parts at once and everything came in fine. I installed all hardware without a problem and the PC booted just fine. I installed the OS (XP Pro Slipstream) and installed all the drivers for the motherboard off the CD. All hardware has been functioning perfectly. I can surf the internet, play videos, play complex games (Flight Sim X). However, I cannot download and install simple Windows updates. I first noticed the problem in Internet Explorer by clicking the "Windows Update" and it had an error before it could install all of the updates. I tried downloading and installing Internet Explorer 8 for the tabbed browsing. It will not let me install and says "File is corrupt". I tried installing my Garmin GPS software off the DVD and it also said corrupt file. There are multiple instances of these installation errors, and all seem to be linked to a .cab file in one way or another. We replaced my 500Gb HD with my old 80Gb and re-installed the OS to no avail. I then switched to a new DVD-ROM and the issue still remained. I thought maybe I had a bad XP disc but I got a new one and that wasn't the problem either. I realized I had other hardware issues at that time. I went ahead and bought a new motherboard and installed it along with the OS on a wiped 500Gb hard drive; I still have the same exact problems. Is it possible that the RAM has something to do with this?? That is the only thing I have not replaced on the whole PC.

Specs:
2.40GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2x 1Gb sticks of RAM DDR2
Micro-Star International G41M motherboard (used to be Bio-Star G31-M7 OC)
500Gb SATA Hard drive
NVIDIA GeForce 512MB Graphics Card

Let me know if you have any ideas or need any further information from me. Thank you!!

[starfireone]

You just don't have the lastest Windows updates installed. You need to download XPsp3 and run install.

[MSgherzi]

RAM has nothing to do with it. This is strictly a software issue. Like star said, install the latest Windows updates (like SP3) from here (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=68C48DAD-BC34-40BE-8D85-6BB4F56F5110&displaylang=en). You can also order a SP3 CD for $3.99 from here (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389).

[kvndeluna]

I followed the link to Windows Update and it finally downloaded and installed the "genuine validation tool" and then requested I install SP3. It starts to download, but a third of the way through it fails. Error code 0x80246002. I can order the CD from microsaoft but I have had issues installing software from the Internet, my hard drive, and from CDs and DVDs before. This is the same sequence of failures I have had in the past 4 attempts (wipedrive, install OS...) to get this system working properly. Thank you for your help.

[frostbyte5014]

Are you installing Anti-virus and popup blockers before you update? If so turn them off or uninstall them and try again. You might also read KB892130. Good luck.

I bet it was Norton's or Symantec!

[MSgherzi]

Use the Norton or McAfee removal tools. They can be found online or in the computer repair utility kit found on TechNibble.

Also, if you have something like a VPN, allow "microsoft.com" to bypass it.

[purple_minion]

Why not simply run memtest on your ram. I've had issues where I could install things and os's but it would hiccup every so often. Also check your bios to make sure you aren't overvolting anything. My last board defaulted to .1 volts more then my ram called for, which slowly cooked it. I went from 4gb, to 3gb, to 2 gb, and then just the lowly stick. Every time I traced weird errors back to my ram as it died. It is worth a shot, and doesn't cost anything. Could also check your PS, heard that they can cause some really weird issues if it's faulty.

Otherwise go and download SP3, get a download manager to make sure it doesn't crap out on you, I like freedownload manager... it sounds like a cheap product but it actually works very well.

Then get SP3 using your manager as I've had IE or firefox crap out sometimes on downloads and it pisses me off.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en

[kvndeluna]

I do not have any antivirus progams installed yet, I was hoping to get windows updated first. I did disable the Internet Explorer pop-up blocker. The problem is still there. Thank you.

[kvndeluna]

I downloaded SP3 to my hard drive and tried installing it that way... and again, "file is corrupt" appears. It is a self extracting cabnet file which is the same type of file that gives me troubles updating Internet Explorer and installing programs off of CD. I have run a mem test on the RAM and it didn't return any findings. I'm going to double check everything in BIOS and get back to you. Thanks!

[frostbyte5014]

Don't forget to check the hard drive. Try a CHKDSK /f.

[purple_minion]

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/itproxpsp/thread/aa08c4c0-1553-4438-866e-eb88f264d0a6/
http://help.wugnet.com/windows/Corrupt-File-SP3-Install-ftopict623807.html

You could try resetting permissions in the registery,
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/reset-the-registry-and-the-file-permissions-in-windows-xp/
but if it's a new install I'm not sure that would do much. You might have a dirty or corrupt cd. Have you checked to make sure everything is tight, reseating the cables, ram, cards, etc. Are you using 80 pin cables for dvd-rom? You mentioned SATA, is it a quality cable, cable too long? Have you run multiple hard drive diagnostic cd's? Any errors in the event logs? Any specific errors when you run the sp3 file?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

Also I downloaded the sp3 english file and ran an md5sum on it.
bb25707c919dd835a9d9706b5725af58 *WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe

See if yours matches. Here is one such utility. http://www.md5summer.org/

Also here is the sha1sum
c81472f7eeea2eca421e116cd4c03e2300ebfde4 *WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe

[kvndeluna]

Somthing really strange happened. While I was fighting with trying to get SP3 to download I was thinking about how my Wii system will not update either. Wierd coincedence, not a big deal. The only thing linking my computer to my wii would be the wireless router. I took out the router and restarted my computer hooked directly to my cable box, tried the Microsoft Update ...... WOW, IT WORKS!! I have not put the router back on yet to try anything out, but everything I was having problems with has installed with it not in there. Why???? Any ideas??

[frostbyte5014]

Weird! I'd torture that router with a sledge hammer. Glad you figured it out.

[rusty.nells]

Just curious...what brand and model is the router?

[kvndeluna]

It's a cheap Netgear Wireless G Router WGR614 v9. It worked fine till now and it still works, but if it is corrupting files then I am not going to use it. I will update this post when I buy a new router. Thanks to all who helped me out.

Just curious, has anyone else had some wierd situation like this at all???

[rusty.nells]

Google found similar situations, here's one posted on the Netgear forums

http://forum1.netgear.com/showthread.php?p=168396

Perhaps a firmware upgrade is needed, as suggested in the post.

[starfireone]

Did you by chance installed any download accelerators or download managers? If so, disable them or un-install them. You might also try running disk defrag to clean up any disk fragmentation issues. You may have a virus and need to run a full anti virus system scan.
You might also try downloading the SP3 file directly to a USB flash drive instead of your hard drive. And run install from your flash drive.

[purple_minion]

Did you by chance installed any download accelerators or download managers? If so, disable them or un-install them. You might also try running disk defrag to clean up any disk fragmentation issues. You may have a virus and need to run a full anti virus system scan.
You might also try downloading the SP3 file directly to a USB flash drive instead of your hard drive. And run install from your flash drive.

Did you even read the thread?

[ICEinLAVA]

I installed the OS (XP Pro Slipstream) and installed all the drivers for the motherboard off the CD.

Is the original software from "OS (XP Pro Slipstream)" you installed, a pressed disk from microsoft or is it a downloaded copy?

RAM has nothing to do with it. This is strictly a software issue. Like star said, install the latest Windows updates (like SP3).

I agree that is sounds more like a software issue more than a hardware issue. I would suggest installing the OS from a valid non slipstream disk. And then perform the windows updates. Installation will take longer but at least it should work.

[purple_minion]

Is the original software from "OS (XP Pro Slipstream)" you installed, a pressed disk from microsoft or is it a downloaded copy?



I agree that is sounds more like a software issue more than a hardware issue. I would suggest installing the OS from a valid non slipstream disk. And then perform the windows updates. Installation will take longer but at least it should work.

Do people read the thread at all or just the first post? His router was mangling his downloads and hence the files really were corrupt, end of story, nothing to do with his disc, his os, his hard drive or alibaba and the 7 dwarfs. If he has something new to add like it was not the router or he found a solution, great, but read the thread people!

[kvndeluna]

It has been a few months and i still have not put that router back on, but the pc is going strong. I mentioned the wii not upgrading either and with a new router it updated fine yesterday basically confirming it was the router. I wonder if anyone from Netgear has read this?

[hondablaster]

I tried installing my Garmin GPS software off the DVD and it also said corrupt file.

I read this entire thread. Including the link with the similar issue on another forum. I really enjoyed reading it. But I'm confused at the beginning statement. The DVD install had issues because of a corrupted router??

Is that possible?

[thor999]

I can see your confusion, but yes unless he ran CTupdate or something similar the system will still need to acquire updates via Al's internet. I wonder if a firmware upgrade would fix that problem w/ the router (sorry I don't have time to peruse the links provided) that sucks 'cuz I think I'm sitting on one of those right now, gonna have to test it before I sell it I guess. Hey Purple I can understand the aggressiveness but at least commend him on a viable suggestion, that could have eliminated alot of guesswork. In the future, if you have problems completing windows updates, may I suggest CTUpdate? Absolutely wonderful prog that will dl all the updates for the bigger OS's (XP home, pro, Vista I believe), package them in an ISO and you can tailor them so they will fit on a CD as well, given that it still exists, I'm sure MS is hatin' on it.

[kvndeluna]

Im still not sure why the GPS DVD didnt install, but i have confirmed the router was the issue. I have since moved on to another GPS so i do not have the software but it may have needed SP2 or more in order to install. I would like to thank all who have replied, this has actually been kind of fun!

[Methical]

Are you at any time goin' to re-connect the router; and upgrade the firmware like what was suggested ?

[Luis]

I must say, I Laughed at some of the posts in this thread. Glad you got your issue worked out, lol.

I second that. Especially the part about reading the thread. It made me chuckle. :D