08-19-2008

My HTPC Build Experience

I just recently built a htpc (home theater PC) and boy did I have some problems. So I am going to tell you my problems and how I got around them. Hopefully you wont need to spend two days like me for something simple. :)

Was using:

GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H
AMD|A64 X2 4050E 2.1G AM2

The other specs don’t really matter for this.

Problem 1: System freeze at Verifying DMI Pool

When I first booted, a screen asked if I wanted to use ACHI instead of SATA IDE and I told it yes. Well, this was a mistake because doing so caused me to have the freese error. Of course I didn’t know this until AFTER 4 hours of testing, searching and then guessing.

The way I fixed the error, by guessing, was to reset my CMOS to “safe default” and then click N when asked on the ACHI screen.

Problem 2: Playing a DVD would freeze my system

Well, the obvious thing to do is update the video drivers BUT this set my system into a constant blue screen, reboot sequence.

I searched, called ATI, deleted, uninstalled, reinstalled, tried different versions and all gave the same results or would just freeze then reboot my system.

Then finally, in an act of desperation, reinstalled the original drives and in my CMOS, I decided to try reseting my BIOS again to default setting but this time I used “default optimised” settings.

And that did the trick.

Garrie

PS For you marketers reading, you could write a report on HTPC telling all the different software and hardware options. You could even use affiliate links for the recommendations.

Posted by Garrie in General, Non Marketing

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