looks like my particle code got committed, so i updated the wiki.
also been trying to fix a buggered laptop. right off the bat i found memory errors, so i replace the ram with some good ram i have lying around.
ran memtest again and the memory passed
so i try to instal windows 7
7 hangs while loading the installer, so i try vista.
vista hands while loading the installer
so i start to suspect the dvd drive, i come up with a boot disk using a hard drive from another buggered laptop, it works but same problem as with the cd.
so i tried taking out the hard drive and putting mine in. same problem.
so i try xp32 (machine will only take 2gb)
i actually gets through the installer
so the computer starts up and behaves perfectly fine
it works finally. so i install the service packs.
i look at the device manager.
i get a whole page of drivers to search for. not one thing in this machine uses a standard piece of hardware
i go to the manufacturer's webpage and spend several hours trying to find any reference to this model of laptop.
i find none at first. but i found them hidden so i download all of them.
i install them one at a time. starting with the video driver. this laptop still has its nvidia sticker but the drivers turn out to be ati drivers

so i get the drivers for the nvidia chipset mentioned on the sticker, they claim that the hardware does not exist
on top of that only about 3 of the other drivers work at all.
at this point the system freezes after running for anywhere between a minute and 5
i suspect overheating so i stick the whole computer in the freezer for a half hour
i start it up and it still crashes, despite being ice cold
so obviously one of the drivers i installed really didnt agree with the system.
DELPART!!!!
i will try again tomorrow.