AverTV Stereo has killed my computer!

[8mmOverdose]

first off let me say that although i regularly back up my session files, i regret never installing a program like "go back" or the like for my system files.

i have been running my pt system trouble free for almost 2 years (with win98se). a few days ago i bought an AverTV Stereo PCI card. its a video capture card and the install was real rough. 3 out of the 4 included drivers eventually loaded, but #4 would not so i emailed Aver tech support.

tech support told me "try moving the card to a different PCI slot. Also, try downloading a new driver and application from our website." i had pulled and disabled my 2 other pci cards before installing the new card and had already tried all the slots. so i downloaded the new driver and app as suggested.

after unzipping the files, i read the directions that stated- "remove the old version of the program and run the app to remove the old drivers for the card". then re-boot and re-install the drivers and program. sounds simple, right? so i removed the program and ran the app to remove the old drivers, then re-booted.

that app removed ALL the old drivers all right. every single driver on my computer was removed. no more video, no more mouse, no more keyboard, no more promise controller, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.

i thought i had done something wrong so after getting the basic drivers going, i ran the app again (just to see if that was what had caused the problem) and sure enough it did the exact same thing. no more drivers after re-boot.

i build my own systems and do basic maintenance on them, but i am not a tech and i am now stuck with a really f@cked up computer. the hard drives are running in dos compatible mode, i cant get my promise controller or cdr going, blah, blah. i have been screwing with it all day to no avail. the only way i know how to fix it is to start over again from scratch.

the only good news is i wont lose any of my music, but we all know how long it takes to get things all going again from scratch. BUT I AM PISSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

is it politically incorrect to email a computer virus to the Aver corporation?

well before i erase my drive, i will leave this up and hope one of you guys may have some tips as to how i can save my system files. and that the end of a crappy day!

[da BaSsTaRd!]

Originally posted by 8mmOverdose:
is it politically incorrect to email a computer virus to the Aver corporation?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">is it politically correct to score a soundtrack for a porn movie? i say go for it!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

hehehe...

forget about your system files. wipe it clean and start from scratch. then make a ghost copy of your system drive in case this happens again...

[Dr. Watson]

Given that your system is 2 years old (or more) is an even stronger case to start over from scratch and GHOST IT ASAP. That way you will have a safe backup if the hard-drive, installs or anything else craps out.

Ide drives typically are only warranted for a year and I have had many burn-up after 2 years of use, GHOST is the way to go.

[8mmOverdose]

yeah well, maybe its the gods telling me its time to re-do, then ghost my system.

but Aver Media f@kin sucks as far as i am concerned. . . i will pay the 15% re-stock fee to Comp USA if i have to just so i dont own their product anymore. I will be spending a bit of time getting everything working again and i DO NOT want to load another "aver bomb" onto the system again.

[8mmOverdose]

sorry, i am on a rampage now. this is the latest chat i had with tdk tech support. you can see how helpful that was. . . i will try some of the suggestions, but i really dont think it will help. who knows, maybe i will be pleasantly surprised. . .

Eric says:
Hello, my name is Eric, How can I help you today?


robb says:
i type slowly, hold on. . .


Eric says:
okay.


robb says:
i own 2 internal ide velocd's. one is a 24/10/40b the other is the same but a 40x. .


robb says:
i bought one at costco, the other at comp usa, but i dont remember which came from where


Eric says:
okay...


robb says:
from the start i was having problems with the 40b drive. the tray ejected slow, compared to the 40x. it sounded like it was struggling to open


Eric says:
okay...


robb says:
i called hatever store i bought it from and they said they could not just replace it with a new one so i just kept it since i needed it asap


robb says:
i mean "whatevetever store"


Eric says:
uh huh...


robb says:
ok i'll get to the point. . .


Eric says:
k.


robb says:
the drive has worked that way since i owned it. but now i have another problem. it is failing to read my cdrw discs when i try to add to them.


robb says:
it will struggle, but i can add to a regular cdr, but the cdrw's aint working


Eric says:
Hmmm...


robb says:
i downloaded the latest firmware but it didnt help


robb says:
the 40x drive is working fine


Eric says:
What happens when you try to add to a CD-RW


robb says:
i can hear it trying to read the cdrw. . .


robb says:
iow hear it trying to spin up


Eric says:
uh huh...


robb says:
sometimes nero will show what is on the disk, but when i try to add to it, the program stops responding


Eric says:
when you first burned to the CD-RW, what program did you use?


robb says:
nero


robb says:
its not just one with cdrw, its all of them i try


robb says:
and it used to work no problem


Eric says:
Does Windows still read the contents of the CD-RW?


robb says:
yes


Eric says:
And what brand are you CD-RW disks?


robb says:
TDK BABY! THE ONES THAT CAME with the drive (sorry caps)


Eric says:
Have you installed anything recently?


robb says:
and they work with fine the 40x drive, just not the 40b


robb says:
nope


Eric says:
both burners are in the same computer?


robb says:
no


Eric says:
two different computers?


robb says:
yes


Eric says:
what brand is the computer that the B drive is on?


robb says:
p3 400mhz, no brand


robb says:
as i said, this just started happening and i havent added or loaded anything new


Eric says:
Okay, couple suggestions for you...


robb says:
k


Eric says:
first of all, you could try downloading the new version of Nero from our website and see if that helps.


Eric says:
another possibility is to power the computer off, disconnect the IDE and power connector from the computer and leave it unplugged for about 30 minutes and that will help clean the memory buffers on the drive.


robb says:
well awhile back i upgraded through nero . i paid the $20 for the full version. will this affect that upgraded version?


Eric says:
maybe... you could try the latest version from Nero and see if that helps... might also help if you contact Nero regarding the issue.


robb says:
i will try shutting down the computer as well.


robb says:
but the upgraded version and the 40x drive together work fine so i dont think its a nero issue


Eric says:
And another option is to boot into Safe Mode, delete any entries under the CD-ROM drive category and reboot. That sometimes help.


robb says:
so you are saying its a software problem?


Eric says:
possibly... obviously we're trying to narrow the problem down.


robb says:
what about the tray ejecting slowly? hardware problem?


Eric says:
possibly... but it may also depend on factors like your power supply being good or not.


Eric says:
you might want to dust out your power supply... if nothing else, try swapping the drives between computers. If you still have the same problem on a different computer with the same drive, it may be a hardware issue.


robb says:
it did it in both computers. i have a 430w enermax nice p/s in my 2nd system.


Eric says:
What's the spec on your other system?


robb says:
hold on


Eric says:
K.


robb says:
its an athlon xp1700/ga7dxr mobo/512 pc2100 (crucial), 3 40 gig 7200 rpm h/d , koolance case, need more?


Eric says:
Nope... two computers... no overclocking on the XP, right?


robb says:
it also did it on my athlon 1.2 system, they tray problem, that is.


Eric says:
and the read/write problem?


robb says:
i am o/c the xp 1700. my bad in the explinantion. i hade the velocd drive installed in my athon system when it was just an xp 1800, not o/c'd


robb says:
the read/write was only tested on the p3 system with the 40b drive. the 40x drive works fine with r/w on the athlon system


robb says:
i bought the 40b for the athlon, but switched it to the pentium system because of the bad tray.


Eric says:
okay, my suggestion at te moment is to try in the Athlon box. If it's got the same read/write problems, then it's most likely a hardware issue.


robb says:
i knew you would eventually say that, i had a bet going here with my girlfriend and i just won


Eric says:
~LOL~


Eric says:
Well, you gotta admit, it's a reasonable suggestion.


robb says:
are you making a report of this so i can just bring up a case # if the issue is not resolved by switching computers?


Eric says:
Yeah, the chat log can be referenced.


robb says:
reference session # ********?


Eric says:
If it still has the same problem, call us at 1-800-835-8326 and see if you can get additional suggestions from a tech over the phone or request an RMA.


Eric says:
Yeah, Chat session # ********


robb says:
i doubt its still under warranty, whats that gonna cost me?


Eric says:
When did you purchase the drive?


robb says:
i'm guessing 1-1/2 years ago?


Eric says:
Probably around $100-150


robb says:
yeah, i can just get a new one for less than $80- sucks for me. . . hell the new tdk dvdr's are only 2 bills.


Eric says:
yeah, I know.


Eric says:
Anything else I can help you with?


robb says:
well in that case i just wont use the cdrw disks and toss it when it completely dies, its really not even worth switching it to the other system and testing sice i have that problem with the tray anyway

[8mmOverdose]

well then, Aver Media phone tech support was a big waste of 20 minutes. thats 15 on hold, and 5 actually talking to someone. the best answer i could get was "maybe the drivers are in the recycle bin?"

apparently they havent really tried the "remove driver" app that they tell you to download and run.

although it specifically states in the instructions - "You need to removed (yes, this is how the word "remove" actually written!)previous driver installed. The uninstall driver is included with this download", the phone tech guy said- "i always just tell people to load the new drivers and they will overwrite the old ones"

so i got NOTHING from tech support, and will now go format and re-install my system. i even told the tech guy "you seem like a nice person, but you havent helped me at all". his response was. . . "UH-HUH".

wow, what a great company and such excellent service [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]