Computer unstable with Win XP Pro

Following an OS upgrade from Win NT4 to XP Pro my machine refuses to boot up correctly.

It gets as far as the desktop display and as soon as Explorer.exe starts it does not complete it's run up and locks up the computer. If Task Manager is used to stop and restart explorer a number of times I can eventually get the desktop icons to display. I can get onto the internet but the computer keeps crashing.

What is causing this problem?

System details:
Intel Pentium 3 600 MHz
Chaintech AGP CT-6BTA3 motherboard
Matrox G4+MDH4A32G MK05390 dual head graphics card
System RAM: 512 Mb
Other cards removed except for Adaptec SCSI hard disc controller

 

Sounds to me like your upgrade got currupted. I've seen this in to many cases. This sometimes happens when you have a newer version of something than you were installing.
Such as you may have had IE 6 SP1 with NT4, then you installed XP Pro which comes with IE 6 no SP.
Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't.

I think you are at the point where you should consider backing up and starting over with a fresh install.

 

Compter unstable - XP Pro

Eric,

Many thanks for you suggestion.

Unfortunately you were correct in your assessment of my situation. I have had to reinstall XP from scratch and all is now OK I just don’t understand what happened! I tried my utmost to make a backup before reloading but the machine was too unstable to allow it. So it’s back to reinstalling my software and reinstalling my network and video capture card.

Many thanks again for your help.

Regards etc.

PS: I am now off to the golf course before starting re-installation which is going to take a long time!

 

Nargh

When overlaying an existing OS to upgrade there are many pitfalls!

No one ever even has a problem installing to an empty disk do they! RIGHT!!!!

But to increase your chances do the following!

BACKUP! BACKUP! BACKUP! BACKUP! BACKUP! BACKUP!

Clean all temps both OS and TIFs!

Remove all useless or unnessesary programs using add/remove then perform a search for leftovers!

Relate programs in add/remove to those in program files and start menu or installed in other places. Remove these orphans!

Deep virus scan!

Run Aaware and Spybot to remove all spy/adware!

Use some good utilities such as System mechanic Easycleaner, Regcleaner and regclean to clean remaining junk and the registery! I use all of these and more before doing something like this!

Clear the startup folder by using say msconfig so that nothing is running except the OS at time of upgrade!

Unplug printers cameras external usb devices! Do not uninstall them but just disconnect them!

I usually unplug cable, DSL, phone, printer and network cables!

Finally full scandisk with surface! Very last thing - GET RID OF SWAP OR PAGE FILE!!!

Then do it!


Mike

 

XP upgrade

Mike,

Many thanks for the information. I have completed upgrades in the past with no problems and I must admit I just bashed on and did it. I got away with it then but not this time.

I am now faced with re-installing most of my software - argh!

I have re-installed Win XP again but on a different drive and I now figuring out where to go from here.

Wish me luck!

 

I have never upgraded a version of Windows from a previous version without somthing being corrupted. Its a bad idea alltogether IMO. I would always backup my data and do a fresh install. Of course I would backup my important data periodically even if not doing an OS upgrade.

But I would like to note that upgrading a Linux OS has never ever given me a problem. In fact, it runs cleanly after upgrade even without a reboot (Except a Kernel upgrade which does require a reboot)! Linux can run for years on end cleanly without ever corrupting, being rebooted or doing down...not even once.

XP is outright an unstable OS. If you must stay with Windows, go back to Win2K.

BDBD

 

BuckDeath - LOL. At least you are very consistent.

 

 
 
Having done an upgrade only once from 98 to ME, I don't have a lot of experience with this. But, I won't upgrade again due to that one experience.

All upgrades introduce the possibility of many problems, but changing to a different "family" entirely, like from 98 to XP, is something where I would expect problems. Not to mention those inscrutable files that are saved and unnecessary any longer.

Though it is a definite pain to reinstall freshly, it has its advantages, too. Things I changed the first time may have been better left alone.

Back things up. Get a burner. Make a backup partition. Whatever.

Think of it as a rebirth of sorts, another chance, the refreshment I feel when I take my yearly shower!

 

XP upgrade saga continues.....

Hi all,

The story so far.

At last I have fixed my computer. I reloaded XP on a different drive and all was OK. I then loaded up the software for my video editing, plugged in my DC1000 card, re-run the software and all is now working just fine. Test of machine complete. Fortunately for me I have managed to retrieve my video projects.

So far so good but I am now going to reload windows again! This time back to its original drive (the original corrupt folders have been deleted) as in video editing computers it is not advised to run windows on the same drive as your editing software. Speed of operation etc.

I hope all goes well!

Regards to all
Nargh.

 

Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike

 

XP rules OK!

Yes! all is well now!

I forgot to mention my original reason for upgrade. Win NT did not support USB and the only why I have of connecting to the internet with this machine was to go to XP which does support it.

This enables me to use my ADSL broadband connection.

Yes! I agree if it is not broke don't touch it! Unless of course you want some improvements.

Regards to all
Nargh.