Windows XP Dead

[Crash999]

My relatively new Windows XP system seems to have died a fitful death. What's unusual about this is that it's a very new system (less than a month) and I haven't installed much software on it.

The first time I had a problem I booted up my PC and noticed that programs would seem to run but would freeze. I could shut down their startup process and try to run other programs but most other programs just wouldn't work.

I guessed something had crashed on startup (norton antivirus kept freezing but it wasn't the only program so I couldn't pin it down) as if I rebooted I had exactly the same problem, before running anything. So I went into msconfig and got rid of all the programs that load on startup.

But no improvement- programs still crashed when I run them. It's so odd that I wonder if I don't have some sort of virus? I had recently installed MS Office just before the computer crashed but it ran fine during the day when I was using it.

Not really sure what to do here. The only thing I could think of is to use the dreaded rescue disk but that's going to wipe everything off my PC and it'll take me many many hours to put my stuff back on.

Any last-resort suggestions? Thanks!

 

[debonairOne]

What was the last program you installed before the fitful woe syndrome began...? Start uninstalling and work your way back... Also, was all of the software installed using original media?

You can also try the system restore option... that works well... you don't lose any data, just faulty drivers and such... debonairOne

"I look in the mirror and what do I see..."

 

[linney]

To check out your concern with a Virus visit this link for a list of several online virus scans and other helpful ideas.

http://forums.zdnet.com/group/zd.Se.../@article@mark@34126?EXP=ALL&VWM=&ROS=&OC=300

Reading two of your posts about problems I wonder if it might be a good idea to infact use that Recsue Disk and get your machine back to its original factory setup, and fully working.

Then before you load any software, set the machine up how you want it to be, and get that running correctly.

When your happy with your machine load your software one at a time and check for problems before loading more software.

Answering your question about what loads at startup these are how programs are started.

Windows XP Professional starts logon scripts, startup programs, and services referenced in these registry subkeys and folder locations:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Runonce
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
%systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
%systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

 

[Crash999]

Debonair,

The last program installed before fitful woe syndrome began was MS Office. I must admit that the copy I installed is a bit 'dodgy' as I live in Thailand and most of the software here is that way.

Problem is I can't uninstall it... It freezes when I try to do so. I'll try to use system restore but I've got a feeling that it'll freeze as well.

Cheers!

 

[Crash999]

Thanks Linney, that's helpful- especially the list of various starts for Windows.

Cheers!

 

[debonairOne]

Well,
There is another option, but I hesitate to mention it... It is extremely drastic and not to be taken by the faint of heart... If we cannot resolve this issue, the best option may be to reinstall the OS... I will save it for later, after all else has failed...
We have been looking at this as if it is software related... Do you have more than one memory chip installed? Is your machine a P4? If the memory is DIMM based, then you can remove one chip at a time and see if faulty memory is the culprit, if your memory is RAMbus, then we can't use that kind of a test... I remember seeing on another post in this forum a software memory analyzer... I will see if I can locate the post and send you a link... debonairOne

"I look in the mirror and what do I see..."

 

[CBradshaw]

In my opinion (Used XP extensively) it could be either S/ware of H/ware, however Software is the mroe likely cause. Even though it may be a bit of a hassle for some people (and I have over 160gb of stuff to reinstall) I have found that sometimes Formats are just damn essential. Format the hard drive and re-install a fresh XP install.

Either way this will/should sort it out. If not, as Debonair said....the other possibility is RAM fault, which is fairly common.

cheers

 

[crwpulsar]

Two of my friends had the same problem with XP,everything was SSOOOO slow and when it wasnt slow it was unstable, even the day they both got there P.C's. One was a AMD and the other an INTEL. Both had that new Xp config where the backup OS is "hidden" on the hard-drive and to reinstall you just put in a recovery/restore disk.
We done a format and reinstall of XP and all is good now.
It may be easier to just get it out of the way.