Computer Hell - Help Please!!

HelpfulConsumer

Hi, please can someone help with an ongoing problem, one which many problem branches have grown from.

Years ago I built a machine which at the time was great. It worked for a couple of years with XP home edition. Just last year I wanted to format everything and use XP professional as it is more stable, or so I was led to believe.
I am aware that it may be a hardware issue I have but I am not experienced enough to spot what or where!

The first install was fine, I installed all relivant drivers, anti virus, firewall. Nothing more than that. I then needed to link an old printer to it, so again got the relivant driver from the internet using XP, all fine. Only I noticed the clock/date was later wrong. When I used it next the computer went straight to BIOS and asked me to select the CPU speed? after booting up system seems fine. Restarting it is not asked for again. Another day it does. I then tried installing an old program, AUTOCAD 97, this was probably a mistake and not compatible? the system then went a little strange, I could not access things in the control panel, I got a message ''you do not have permission to access this'' or similar. I could not uninstall so I decided to start over.

Today I re-installed XP, connected the wireless, installed antivirus, firewall, validated windows, Updated windows - this is where it all went wrong. Service Pack 3 at first would not download, then would not install, on the third attempt it got stuck after 10 minutes and 'failed' the machine then went to a FATAL ERROR blue screen. I rebooted and sent the report, no cause found so I did as windows suggested, update windows again, check disk for errors... nothing. On next reboot I could not open Internet Explorer without a 'send error report' message appearing. I then attempted to uninstall Service Pack 3 as it had not installed properly, it did this. On rebooting the screen now hangs after the 'starting windows' on the cursor just before windows loads, it then goes to a blue screen FATAL ERROR.

I am completely confused now, what should or shouldn't I be doing? I have run out of ideas and really need to get to the bottom of this, I can't afford a new machine.

Any ideas??!? ... Thanks!

5bellies_2

Firstly, XP Home = XP Pro Lite. The basics are the same, Pro has more features.

On the date/time problem and the CPU settings problem - both can be put down to a dead CMOS battery. A CR2032 from any electronics/watch shop for a couple of pound should cure it. Since you built the machine I'm sure you can work out how to replace it.

But...

The failed downloads, blue screens etc suggest a faulty memory stick. If you have two - remove one. If the problem doesn't disappear, remove the other and replace with the first. If it still doesn't go - you probably have a duff motherboard.

Ice_2

HelpfulConsumer wrote: »

Hi, please can someone help with an ongoing problem, one which many problem branches have grown from.

Years ago I built a machine which at the time was great. It worked for a couple of years with XP home edition. Just last year I wanted to format everything and use XP professional as it is more stable, or so I was led to believe.
I am aware that it may be a hardware issue I have but I am not experienced enough to spot what or where!

The first install was fine, I installed all relivant drivers, anti virus, firewall. Nothing more than that. I then needed to link an old printer to it, so again got the relivant driver from the internet using XP, all fine. Only I noticed the clock/date was later wrong. When I used it next the computer went straight to BIOS and asked me to select the CPU speed? after booting up system seems fine. Restarting it is not asked for again. Another day it does. I then tried installing an old program, AUTOCAD 97, this was probably a mistake and not compatible? the system then went a little strange, I could not access things in the control panel, I got a message ''you do not have permission to access this'' or similar. I could not uninstall so I decided to start over.

Today I re-installed XP, connected the wireless, installed antivirus, firewall, validated windows, Updated windows - this is where it all went wrong. Service Pack 3 at first would not download, then would not install, on the third attempt it got stuck after 10 minutes and 'failed' the machine then went to a FATAL ERROR blue screen. I rebooted and sent the report, no cause found so I did as windows suggested, update windows again, check disk for errors... nothing. On next reboot I could not open Internet Explorer without a 'send error report' message appearing. I then attempted to uninstall Service Pack 3 as it had not installed properly, it did this. On rebooting the screen now hangs after the 'starting windows' on the cursor just before windows loads, it then goes to a blue screen FATAL ERROR.

I am completely confused now, what should or shouldn't I be doing? I have run out of ideas and really need to get to the bottom of this, I can't afford a new machine.

Any ideas??!? ... Thanks!

sounds like you could just need a new hard drive to me, HDD's only last a couple of year's any more than 2 years and your lucky, so best bet is to start with a new one around £30 at ebuyer, depends on how much you want to pay, then re-install xp and see what happens, if it still happens then try your memory, as thats usually the next thing that goes and sets the BSOD coming, BlueScreenOfDeath that is, HDD's IDE or Sata and memory have come right down in price so are quite cheap now to get your hands on, so I would start there,
hths

HelpfulConsumer

Thanks guys! I will get a new battery tomorrow and test out the memory, I have 2 x 512mb SD RAM installed, so i'll fault find those. I have two 80gb seagate IDE hard drives too, one primary one slave, so if the memory doesn't do it should I do the same with these?

Many thanks again!

Ice_2

HelpfulConsumer wrote: »

Thanks guys! I will get a new battery tomorrow and test out the memory, I have 2 x 512mb SD RAM installed, so i'll fault find those. I have two 80gb seagate IDE hard drives too, one primary one slave, so if the memory doesn't do it should I do the same with these?

Many thanks again!

yep, illiminate the cause, by trying each sets at a time.
I would try the memory first though, then if it still happens try the hard drives.

HelpfulConsumer

just out of curiousity, are there any tests I can do to check out the motherboard?? If its a problem with that I guess I am wasting my time elsewhere

HelpfulConsumer

Great, more wasted hours with a computer.. oh well. Would you guess which it is most likely to be a problem with?

5bellies_2

If you've run disk checks I'd virtually rule out the drives themselves, hence my original answer.

Considering you've said 512Mb SD Ram, I'd say the system is elderly to the point of being obsolete in terms of replacing just the motherboard unless you go for a used board from Ebay.

In terms of testing motherboards, it's not a scientific thing. Because everything else plugs into them, they're not easily tested 'individually'. However, if you've done two clean installs, tested the drives, and both have fallen over quickly then if it isn't the memory it's 99.99% the motherboard.

HelpfulConsumer

Can you run checkdisk on a slave drive?

The machine is pretty old now in techy years but I only need it to run an old giant of a laser printer and one program as a stand alone. So I'm not wanting to buy new just for that.

I'll try a clean install without one half of the memory and see what happens, fingers crossed!

thanks for all the advice!

HelpfulConsumer

or should I try the same install without the memory first?

5bellies_2

HelpfulConsumer wrote: »

or should I try the same install without the memory first?

Try the memory first, it's so much quicker than a reinstall!