asked on Pc gives tons of errors after Windows XP installation
Hi, I've been having problems with a pc at work. It was an XP sp2 pc infected with the Conficker worm, and started working badly. I formatted and installed Windows XP sp3, but the pc wouldn't even start. Not even in safe mode. It would simply reboot during windows startup, without even reaching the desktop. It was clearly a blue screen error, but since it was the first boot after installation I couldn't see the blue screen.
Anyway, I decided to try with a sp2 re-installation. It seemed to work at first, but after installing a couple of programs it started giving errors. I tried to reinstall several times but with no luck.
The errors are not blue screens, but application or library errors. explorer crashing, internet explorer crashing, the network subsystem crashing and so on. Or the system item in control panel crashing, too.
I tried changing the drive where the os was installed, with no luck. I also changed the ide cable, no luck again.
So I ran some diagnostic software on the memory: memtest and gold memory. Gold memory is more thorough than memtest and in the past it helped me find some errors which memtest didn't find.
But nonetheless, the system ram seems to be okay.
So I was wondering, might this be due to old motherboard drivers? I didn't try downloading new drivers, mostly because the system became mostly unusable before I could do that.
The pc is quite old, I'm at home now so I can't write the specifics but the motherboard is a Via from some years ago.
I don't know what to try anymore: I also tried installing Windows 7 but the installation stopped each time in the same place, saying a file was damaged or not found. The installation dvd works though, I tested it at home.
Anyway, I decided to try with a sp2 re-installation. It seemed to work at first, but after installing a couple of programs it started giving errors. I tried to reinstall several times but with no luck.
The errors are not blue screens, but application or library errors. explorer crashing, internet explorer crashing, the network subsystem crashing and so on. Or the system item in control panel crashing, too.
I tried changing the drive where the os was installed, with no luck. I also changed the ide cable, no luck again.
So I ran some diagnostic software on the memory: memtest and gold memory. Gold memory is more thorough than memtest and in the past it helped me find some errors which memtest didn't find.
But nonetheless, the system ram seems to be okay.
So I was wondering, might this be due to old motherboard drivers? I didn't try downloading new drivers, mostly because the system became mostly unusable before I could do that.
The pc is quite old, I'm at home now so I can't write the specifics but the motherboard is a Via from some years ago.
I don't know what to try anymore: I also tried installing Windows 7 but the installation stopped each time in the same place, saying a file was damaged or not found. The installation dvd works though, I tested it at home.
Microsoft Legacy OSDesktops
Last Comment
Daniele Brunengo
Have you tried using another HDD? Sounds to me like the drive may be at fault here.
Is this a home built system or one provided by a computer manufacturer? Dell has some pretty good tests for the whole system I know of, but they may not work on home grown systems.
It sounds like you have a hardware problem, and the best way to figure out where it may be is to do some trial and error. If you have some spare parts you can try swapping them in and out.
Did you try swapping out the DVD drive or the DVD drive cable? If it's stopping in the same place (may need more discription of where this place may be) this could be the problem.
It sounds like you have a hardware problem, and the best way to figure out where it may be is to do some trial and error. If you have some spare parts you can try swapping them in and out.
Did you try swapping out the DVD drive or the DVD drive cable? If it's stopping in the same place (may need more discription of where this place may be) this could be the problem.
ASKER
I already tried changing the hard disk, as written in the problem's description.
It's a system built by a local reseller. I will see if there are spare parts, but I wouldn't count on it.
I tried swapping out the dvd drive cable, with no luck. I didn't try changing the dvd drive though. But I don't think there is a spare.
I was wondering, could it be the dvd? This would explain the Windows 7 setup hang, but why no Xp setup hang? And most of all, why all those application crashes in Xp? I find that hard to believe that a faulty dvd may cause such crashes.
The place where the Windows 7 setup hangs is not long after you choose the drive where to install: if I'm not mistaken, it's after file decompression and during file copy. You know, when everything gets transferred from the dvd to the hard drive.
It's a system built by a local reseller. I will see if there are spare parts, but I wouldn't count on it.
I tried swapping out the dvd drive cable, with no luck. I didn't try changing the dvd drive though. But I don't think there is a spare.
I was wondering, could it be the dvd? This would explain the Windows 7 setup hang, but why no Xp setup hang? And most of all, why all those application crashes in Xp? I find that hard to believe that a faulty dvd may cause such crashes.
The place where the Windows 7 setup hangs is not long after you choose the drive where to install: if I'm not mistaken, it's after file decompression and during file copy. You know, when everything gets transferred from the dvd to the hard drive.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
THIS SOLUTION ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
View this solution by signing up for a free trial.
Members can start a 7-Day free trial and enjoy unlimited access to the platform.
When you installed Windows XP sp3, did delete the hard drive partition or just format it. There is a difference. If you didn't delete it, I would try it again that way.
ASKER
Yes, I deleted the partition before installing sp3. But I will try out Ubcd and Knoppix, let's see how it goes.
SOLUTION
THIS SOLUTION ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
View this solution by signing up for a free trial.
Members can start a 7-Day free trial and enjoy unlimited access to the platform.
ASKER
No, the hardware is the same as before, with the exception of the new hard drive.
I will make the tests, but I probably won't be able to do so until next Monday or Tuesday, I don't know if work will allow me to go to the lab sooner than that.
I will make the tests, but I probably won't be able to do so until next Monday or Tuesday, I don't know if work will allow me to go to the lab sooner than that.
take your time, and post results !
While you are about it, check that the CPU heatsink is clean and there are no bulging or leaking caps on the board. Tap F8 as it boots, and select disable auto reboot on system failure. Then you will be able to see what the blue screen is all about.
Chris B
Chris B
While you are inside the computer don't forget to inspect any other fans and heat sinks on the motherboard or display adapter.
If there is a bad case fan, that is not likely to be the problem unless it's purpose is to cool the CPU heat sink.
If there is a bad case fan, that is not likely to be the problem unless it's purpose is to cool the CPU heat sink.
ASKER
Ok, I ran all the tests and it looks like the motherboard/controller is the problem, since some drive diagnostics fail with any drive I plug. Only way to go is changing it. Thanks everybody.