Problem reinstalling Mach 3 Please need help

[foamcutter]

Been using Mach 3 awhile. This week started having problems when running long or complicated programs. Had a couple power outages last week when computer was on thought maybe Mach 3 became curropt during an unexpected power outage. Tried to reinstall got the blue screen of death. Uninstalled everything I could. Deleted all files and folders I could. Deleted driver in device manager. Now when I try to install I get an error "A decompression error has occured (#5). Now I can't seem to get past this. Any ideas what I screwed up and how to fix? Thanks Ron

[LeeWay]

I would run a check disk on your hard drive first.

Then I would download a new copy of Mach 3 and go from there.

[foamcutter]

Lee,
Thanks for your reply Did a check disk. It said on level 2 of 3 that was correcting error in index $130 for file 14473. When done tried reinstall from new download of Mach, no go. went back to chkdsk and everytime I run it I get the same "correcting error in index $130 for file 14473. I'm guessing maybe I have a hard drive going south? Is that what it's trying to tell me? Thanks Ron

[LeeWay]

That is kinda what it sounds like, although I never had one go south due to errors. I have run some HD with bad sectors and they did okay, once it knew not to try and write to those.
You might try to defrag it.

[foamcutter]

Lee,
Tried Defrag. No errors show up with it but it didn't help any either. Still same errors and still same correcting error in index if I do a chkdsk again. I'm stumped. Guess next week I'll have to go used computer shopping, can't justify a new one to go down in the dusty nasty shop enviroment. Thanks for your help. Ron

[ger21]

I'd try to reinstall the OS before you buy a PC. If the drive is failing, the OS probably won't install either.

[coalstove]

It sound like a bad sector on the disk or a bad head, time for a HD replacement? Depending on the hard manuf. you can format, but it has to be to level 0 of the drive, Seagate an WD have these utilities. Repartition the drive and install OS. But the time you fart around will all this, just buy a new drive if the PC is worth it.. On another note, blue screen of death in Windows is usually a memory R/W problem or bus conflict, you said your in a dirty place, pop out the memory and processor, clean connections, blow off motherboard and power supply and give it a try. Otherwise, best of luck, Tiger Direct alway has some decent deals.

[foamcutter]

Thanks for the input guys. Would try to reinstall the OS but don't have any disks to do it with. Was used computer when I bought it. Will try the blow out and clean connections in morning to see if that helps. Would try to put in a new HD, that would be quick and they're cheap except no OS disks to get her up and running again. Ron

[coalstove]

I assume you are using XP, you can buy an OEM version online fairly cheap, if using an older OS, then I assume old hardware, junk it and buy another PC, you can still buy systems that are downgrade to XP, being that Vista does not play well with most CAM packages

[Mike 1948]

Originally Posted by foamcutter Been using Mach 3 awhile. This week started having problems when running long or complicated programs. Had a couple power outages last week when computer was on thought maybe Mach 3 became curropt during an unexpected power outage. Tried to reinstall got the blue screen of death. Uninstalled everything I could. Deleted all files and folders I could. Deleted driver in device manager. Now when I try to install I get an error "A decompression error has occured (#5). Now I can't seem to get past this. Any ideas what I screwed up and how to fix? Thanks Ron

After reinstalling Mach did you reboot before trying to "run" Mach? This is a "must do".
You maybe could uninstall Mach , driver, folders, do a "registry edit" and delete all references to Mach. Reinstall, reboot, run Mach. Beware "regedit" could FUBAR everything if you screw up.

Good luck

[foamcutter]

Hello again,
Yep using XP. Will look online for OEM to see if that will work. Yep did the big reboot when I did the reinstall. Have not tried the regedit yet but probably will since I have nothing to loose. It's broke already making it FUBAR broke won't really hurt anything. Thanks again for the ideas, all your help has been appreciated. Ron