XP netbook starts but just hangs

Kernel_Sanders

esuhl wrote: »

First thing I'd try is to boot a clean OS to see if it still hangs. Can you install one onto flash memory (USB stick / SD card / whatever) or attach a CD drive and boot into a different OS successfully?

You might want to try downloading a Slax (Linux-based live) image. If that runs okay, you can probably rule out hardware problems. In which case, I'd probably just re-install Windows.

I'm in the library but don't have any memory card with me. I have Damn Small Linux on a 2GB memory card at home, although I never managed to run it on my old desktop. There is other stuff on the card, so does it have to have the rest of the card free?
I really don't have the time to reinstall Windows (doesn't it take hours?) and don't want to risk losing it alltogether!

MrWillyWonka

I'm a but unclear but does or does it not hang in safe mode?

Kernel_Sanders

TakeThis wrote: »

Model number?

It's a 1001PX using an Atom N450 (1.66Ghz) to run XP Home with 1 GB of DDR2. 160GB hard drive has 49.9GB free space on C and 61.9GB on D.

esuhl

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

I'm in the library but don't have any memory card with me.

It might be worth having a look at the Event Log (run the command "mmc" and choose the option to add the Event Log snap-in) to see if there are any errors logged when the netbook hangs.

Otherwise, it's really going to make things easier if you know whether the problem is software- or hardware-related. There's a special version of Slax for USB sticks (including SD cards, etc.) so it's easy to install. You just download it onto the stick/card and run a program (to make it bootable). If Slax boots and shuts down okay, then it's likely to be a problem with Windows.

If the problem appears to be hardware-related, you could try running some diagnostic tools like the ones on the Ultimate Boot CD. There's mention of an experimental feature that allows you to put it on a USB stick, so that might help.

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

I really don't have the time to reinstall Windows (doesn't it take hours?) and don't want to risk losing it alltogether!

I can't remember how long it took to install on my EEE. It was so slow that I quickly replaced it with Linux anyway! But it depends how confident you are that you can identify and fix the problem without re-installing. Obviously it's worth a go, but it can be like looking for a needle in a haystack and you can end up spending more time looking into the issue than it would have taken to re-install the OS.

TakeThis

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

It's a 1001PX using an Atom N450 (1.66Ghz) to run XP Home with 1 GB of DDR2. 160GB hard drive has 49.9GB free space on C and 61.9GB on D.

Have you run chkdsk? Which BIOS version are you running?

TakeThis

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

Yes, safe mode makes no difference, I suspect for the reason stated in my previous post.

I think that we are all of the opinion that you may not have yet entered Safe Mode.
You switch the machine on and immediately begin to tap F8 and when presented, choose Safe Mode.

Does it then load fully into Safe Mode?

Kernel_Sanders

esuhl wrote: »

It might be worth having a look at the Event Log (run the command "mmc" and choose the option to add the Event Log snap-in) to see if there are any errors logged when the netbook hangs.

This came up as 'Console 1' and under it states 'there are no items to show in this view'. Managed to drop down the 'action' tab before it changed to 'not responding', but there was no option to choose 'snap-in'.
I see that flavour of Linux is around 200MB. How much space do I need to clear on my 2GB memory card for it to run?

Kernel_Sanders

MrWillyWonka wrote: »

I'm a but unclear but does or does it not hang in safe mode?

TakeThis wrote: »

I think that we are all of the opinion that you may not have yet entered Safe Mode.
You switch the machine on and immediately begin to tap F8 and when presented, choose Safe Mode.
Does it then load fully into Safe Mode?

Sorry gentlemen, I thought I had started it in safe mode, but I have just followed your instruction and obviously I hadn't (have never seen safe mode before).
OK, so I have proceeded to the control panel to 'check settings' like the dialogue box suggested. So, which settings does it mean?

Kernel_Sanders

TakeThis wrote: »

Have you run chkdsk? Which BIOS version are you running?

No, IDK what chkdsk is. Shall I run it now (am in safe mode).
Do you mean what version of American Megatrends?

TakeThis

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

No, IDK what chkdsk is. Shall I run it now (am in safe mode).
Do you mean what version of American Megatrends?

Yes and yes. If you enter Safe Mode with Networking, you can also update and run anti-malware solutions.