All-in-wonder 128 Pro Trouble

Post by **gmattson** » Thu Jan 04, 2001 8:44 pm

After purchasing and installing this wonderful program and card and using it for one video editing job, my system began crashing during use.

Bottom line: Tech people (after $186 in long distance calls) tell me they recommend I reformat my HD and reinstall all my programs!

Scott... I know you are using this program. Any advice? You had some problems with it as well. What did you do to fix it.

Best,
George

Scott Danziger · Post by **Scott Danziger** » Thu Jan 04, 2001 11:01 pm

George,
Actually, I am not using that at all. My older computer has the All in wonder. Not the pro. In fact it is only 4MB video memory. I have an ATI rage in this computer but it is not an All in wonder. I am using the Pinnacle DC10plus for capturing. It works well but the output to tape is not working properly. Long story.

As far as the older All in wonder, it is still working fine.

Did you check with ATI's website for FAQ's, forums, patches, updated drivers, or fixes? $186 in LD for that card... they should pay you back.

I don't about reformatting. Maybe a good defraging instead.

Tony, what do you think?

Post by **gmattson** » Thu Jan 04, 2001 11:14 pm

I think there is something in the registry and basic system that is a problem. I've tried to 'restore' using MS Restore function and was unsuccessful. I've been having some basic problems for a while, like trying to delete startup icons and having them reappearing! Guess I'll be doing a restore.

So if you don't see me for awhile, its not because I want to stay away.

Later....

------------------
GEM

Tony-San · Post by **Tony-San** » Fri Jan 05, 2001 7:21 am

What kind of crashes are they? Fatal Excepton Errors (aka blue screen of death)?

SyNexis · Post by **SyNexis** » Fri Jan 05, 2001 6:19 pm

Hi

If I remember you talking about your system in the past, you recently upgraded to WinMe. Video adapters especially ATI do not work well with proprietary drivers at this time. WinMe must load its own drivers initially and any subsequent driver updates will likely cause the problems you are experiencing. I myself have ATI adapters and cannot take advantage of the capturing features because of the lack of driver support. ATI knew this was a problem way before the retail release of Millennium and therefore I have not recommended ATI advanced adapters for users of "Me"

I hope this helps.

Mark Sherrard

[This message has been edited by SyNexis (edited January 05, 2001).]

Post by **gmattson** » Sat Jan 06, 2001 1:05 am

whewwww. . . I'm now working on my old computer! If my new computer were a horse, I'd have to shoot it!

I reformated windows, thus leaving my hard drive intact. Now nothing works, including the new card.

Wondering.. If I reformat everything, to the state it was in when I initially purchased it, should I remove the new card prior to the reformating? I'm thinking that leaving the new card in may have messed up the partial format.

Any suggestions?

------------------
GEM

SyNexis · Post by **SyNexis** » Sat Jan 06, 2001 3:52 pm

Hi

If you reinstall windows on top of an existing windows configuration Initialization settings are not overwritten, therefore if you had config problems before a reinstall, you will have the same problems after a reinstall.

If you reformat the HD, (clean install) in most typical situations (machine with 1 of each device) the install goes smoothly and all the working drivers are installed.

Once that is done, you may have to install up-to-date drivers for each device installed. 8 of 10 machines today require additional driver support, goes to show that technology today advances quite quickly.

Having said all that, it is still possible that some new or old drivers may still show incompatibilities with other devices. Each machine has a "personality" depending on the manufacturer of all the internals. Having been in the business for over 20 years Nothing surprises me or seems strange anymore.

Cheers;
Mark Sherrard

Post by **gmattson** » Sat Jan 06, 2001 6:11 pm

Thanks Mark:
I didn't see your first post when I sent my last message.

My computer was bundled with WinMe. . . It was one of the first computers to use ME.

Sounds like you are recommending a complete reformating of the hard drive. Should I remove the All-in-one Wonder pro card and use the one that came with the computer when reformating?

Thanks
George

Post by **gmattson** » Sat Jan 06, 2001 6:17 pm

Oh yes, WinMe has a feature regarding reformating.

1. you must go into setup and check "boot from cd".

2. When the "restore" cd boots up, it asks how you wish to reformat. The 3rd option is a pretty complete reformat, except it doesn't disturb anything on the hard drive except Windows. Naturally all the programs must be reinstalled, but at least you don't lose data.

Mark: In your second post, you mentioned reformating 'over windows'. Do you think the 3rd option is leaving some critical configuration options intact which is causing my problems?

------------------
GEM

Tony-San · Post by **Tony-San** » Sat Jan 06, 2001 6:49 pm

George,

You can run two video cards in your machine. AGP will be activated but you can use your monitor from your old computer. If your having problems with one, you *should* be able to use the other video card and monitor while you fix the busted one. ATI has special software that appears to be use-at-your-own-risk type stuff. Maybe you should give it a shot before you put the card up for sale on ebay

http://support.atitech.ca/products/pc/rage128pro/win2k/aiw128pro_win2k_drivers.html

Post by **gmattson** » Sat Jan 06, 2001 8:55 pm

Well... I ended up reformating the whole harddrive. . . with the new card.

It worked! I'm using the computer now. It will probably take a week to restore all my data and programs, but at least I have a shot at getting the card working. (Haven't installed Media Studio Pro yet; that will be the real test.

Later... and thanks for all the advice.

------------------
GEM

Post by **gmattson** » Sun Jan 07, 2001 1:00 am

Hours and hours later... Everything is working well. Thank goodness for reformating disks!

SyNexis · Post by **SyNexis** » Sun Jan 07, 2001 1:12 am

Just a note on your option #3, you are definitely leaving config options in place, this option from an OEM standpoint is to replace corrupt system .dll files or executables.

It looks like you have completed the not so friendly task of reformatting (clean) and reinstall with all your devices in place. Like I mentioned in a earlier post, this should get your system in a basic working condition. From here you may wish to install up-to-date drivers. Then program files.

"Me" has a neat Restore feature and you may wish to use this a few times during your reinstall - Just in case one of your programs loads an errand .dll file that puts you back at square one again

Cheers;

Mark Sherrard

Post by **gmattson** » Sun Jan 07, 2001 2:15 am

Thanks Mark:

I noticed that the 'restore' option was turned off by default in the Setup. I turned it back on so I will be able to restore from time to time if necessary.

------------------
GEM

Tony-San · Post by **Tony-San** » Fri Jan 12, 2001 2:41 am

when you reply to a thread the icons get built back into the html file.

wierd stuff.

[This message has been edited by Tony-San (edited January 11, 2001).]