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Hi I hope you can give me some idea as to what is wrong with my
computer.
First of all my specs. Jetway motherboard, AMD 64bit processor, 200mb
sata Maxtor drive, DVD drive and CD drive, 1 GB of ram. On board ATI
Radeon Xpress 200. Using Windows XP Pro 64bit.
I have been using the computer for at least 18 months with no problems
have a virus program running al the time (Avast). Then a week ago the
computer just shut down well viewing pictures and then went in to a
constant re-boot. Tried all ways of trying to cure the problem by
looking on the internet for solutions using my laptop. After days of
trying decided to re-install windows. It would not let me do even
though I tried 3 times but it was no good. So I then used Active Kill
and completely wiped the hard drive. Put the windows cd in and it
started to load. Used F6 to load the sata drivers and was able to
install windows to completion. I then installed only a small amount of
programs to enable me to download mail. Went to bed a happy bunny.
Next morning switched th computer on and guess what it started it's
same problem, would not load properly cam up with various errors to
many to mention and this time another interesting thing happened the
cd woul not inithialise properly it just kept on trying to go through
it start process. It did boot eventuly but it was not long before the
same thing happened again. Went through the whole procedure again of
kill, format and re-install but only to get the same problems. I have
know idea if it is the hard drive, power supply, motherboard memory or
the operating system. Does anybody have any idea what might be causing
me all this hassle?
Regards
Tony
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Unfortunately it's not easy to say what is causing your
problems. It could be a virus, corrupted system files,
defective memory, hard drive going bad, power supply, a
defective component on the motherboard, CPU overheating, etc.
It's just not a simple solution and requires some trouble
shooting.
Tony wrote:
[Quoted Text] > Hi I hope you can give me some idea as to what is wrong with my
> computer.
> First of all my specs. Jetway motherboard, AMD 64bit processor, 200mb
> sata Maxtor drive, DVD drive and CD drive, 1 GB of ram. On board ATI
> Radeon Xpress 200. Using Windows XP Pro 64bit.
> I have been using the computer for at least 18 months with no problems
> have a virus program running all the time (Avast). Then a week ago the
> computer just shut down while viewing pictures and then went in to a
> constant re-boot. Tried all ways of trying to cure the problem by
> looking on the internet for solutions using my laptop. After days of
> trying decided to re-install windows. It would not let me do even
> though I tried 3 times but it was no good. So I then used Active Kill
> and completely wiped the hard drive. Put the windows cd in and it
> started to load. Used F6 to load the sata drivers and was able to
> install windows to completion. I then installed only a small amount of
> programs to enable me to download mail. Went to bed a happy bunny.
> Next morning switched th computer on and guess what it started it's
> same problem, would not load properly cam up with various errors to
> many to mention and this time another interesting thing happened the
> cd would not initialize properly it just kept on trying to go through
> it start process. It did boot eventually but it was not long before the
> same thing happened again. Went through the whole procedure again of
> kill, format and re-install but only to get the same problems. I have
> no idea if it is the hard drive, power supply, motherboard memory or
> the operating system. Does anybody have any idea what might be causing
> me all this hassle?
> Regards
> Tony
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Theo is right, there's no easy way to resolve this. It could be a million
things - but, Theo mentions only the worst-case scenario's - particularily
with the rough age of your machine, it could be something trivial, but it
may not be trivial to find.
The smart thing to do will be to look for the cheap and easy solutions
first, a couple of posts down 'Diron' posted a cry for help - the recipy in
your situation is the same as I lined out there, disconnect everything
inside and have it re-seated. Try and swap your IDE Flat- Cables for new
ones, and try to boot with only one stick of memory, if that's what you're
having try and borrow another stick of the same kind somewhere.
If that fails, think about heat and if you added devices to the system
lately think about power. And do copy the messages and look in 'Event
Viewer' for errors and warnings that seems to be duplications, some of those
will likely be searchable on the KB (MS Knowledge Base!)
Oh, and good luck!
Tony. . .
"Tony" <hamsatuk[ at ]hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:l5q863pdq5bf8q8dpt6kv859g3osaf95m4[ at ]4ax.com...
[Quoted Text] > Hi I hope you can give me some idea as to what is wrong with my
> computer.
> First of all my specs. Jetway motherboard, AMD 64bit processor, 200mb
> sata Maxtor drive, DVD drive and CD drive, 1 GB of ram. On board ATI
> Radeon Xpress 200. Using Windows XP Pro 64bit.
> I have been using the computer for at least 18 months with no problems
> have a virus program running al the time (Avast). Then a week ago the
> computer just shut down well viewing pictures and then went in to a
> constant re-boot. Tried all ways of trying to cure the problem by
> looking on the internet for solutions using my laptop. After days of
> trying decided to re-install windows. It would not let me do even
> though I tried 3 times but it was no good. So I then used Active Kill
> and completely wiped the hard drive. Put the windows cd in and it
> started to load. Used F6 to load the sata drivers and was able to
> install windows to completion. I then installed only a small amount of
> programs to enable me to download mail. Went to bed a happy bunny.
> Next morning switched th computer on and guess what it started it's
> same problem, would not load properly cam up with various errors to
> many to mention and this time another interesting thing happened the
> cd woul not inithialise properly it just kept on trying to go through
> it start process. It did boot eventuly but it was not long before the
> same thing happened again. Went through the whole procedure again of
> kill, format and re-install but only to get the same problems. I have
> know idea if it is the hard drive, power supply, motherboard memory or
> the operating system. Does anybody have any idea what might be causing
> me all this hassle?
> Regards
> Tony
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Good thing you did not reload windows. That could complicate
everything AND destroy important information. Step through the
problem using principles even from CSI: "follow the evidence". That
means change nothing. Collect facts until a suspect is identified.
For example, Windows works around problems, keeps working, and
stores that event in a system (event) log. Did you review that log at
any time? Can you boot in safe mode (or do you know what safe mode
and other booting options are)? Did you also review Device Manager?
Important information that would be destroyed if Windows was reloaded.
Again, don't try to replace or swap anything. Simply break the
problem down into parts, and then only study that subsystem. One
subsystem that can make everything look defective is a power supply
'system'. Notice I said 'system'; not just a power supply. A two
minute procedure, that will accuse or exonerate 'system' components,
is "When your computer dies without warning....." starting 6 Feb 2007
in the newsgroup alt.windows-xp at:
http://tinyurl.com/yvf9vh
Everything accomplished must result in numbers. No way to repair a
system without a screwdriver, that 3.5 digit multimeter, and numbers.
Multimeter is so 'complicated' as to be sold even in K-mart. Even an
Ipod is far more complex. Multimeters for $20 or less are found in
Wal-mart, Lowes, Radio Shack, Tru-value Hardware, .... where ever
screw drivers are sold. The tool is that ubiquitous.
Not only must voltages exceed numbers in that procedure. Also post
them here so that better educated posters will reply. Your replies
will only be as useful as information posted. That means numbers.
If the power supply system is exonerated, only then are we ready to
move on to other suspects. IOW your entire computer is 'unknown'.
Every part must become either 'definitively good' or 'definitely
bad'. If everything is unknown, then all work previously performed
was wasted - including trying to reload windows. We accomplish by
working throught the problem - convert everything from unknown to
'definitively good or bad'.
Again, if fixing anything without very good reason to do so, then
you may exponentially complicate the problem. One fear - reloading of
Windows may have done just that.
After a power supply 'system', then next we will move to
comprehensive hardware diagnostics. Responsible computer
manufacturers provide comprehensive diagnostics just for this reason.
If your manufacturer is not responsible, then start downloading
diagnostics from the idividual component manufacturers or third party
sources. Hardware that can cause system to crash - video processor,
memory, CPU, power supply 'system', sound card, and motherboard.
Things that will not create crashes include keyboard, monitor, disk
and CD drives, and NIC.
Solving computer problems is really quite simple. Problem is that
many never learned how to step through problems - don't even
understand a concept in CSI: 'follow the evidence'. Too many want to
fix this and fix that only on speculation. That exponentially
complicates problems. The foundation of every computer system is its
power supply. That subsystem must be converted to 'definitively good'
before anything else can be analyzed or even suspected. Get the
meter. It is the best way you have of collecting numbers. Numbers
are also essential to making your posts useful; to attract useful
replies.
On Jun 4, 3:36 pm, Tony <hamsa...[ at ]hotmail.com> wrote:
[Quoted Text] > Hi I hope you can give me some idea as to what is wrong with my
> computer.
> First of all my specs. Jetway motherboard, AMD 64bit processor, 200mb
> sata Maxtor drive, DVD drive and CD drive, 1 GB of ram. On board ATI
> Radeon Xpress 200. Using Windows XP Pro 64bit.
> I have been using the computer for at least 18 months with no problems
> have a virus program running al the time (Avast). Then a week ago the
> computer just shut down well viewing pictures and then went in to a
> constant re-boot. Tried all ways of trying to cure the problem by
> looking on the internet for solutions using my laptop. After days of
> trying decided to re-install windows. It would not let me do even
> though I tried 3 times but it was no good. So I then used Active Kill
> and completely wiped the hard drive. Put the windows cd in and it
> started to load. Used F6 to load the sata drivers and was able to
> install windows to completion. I then installed only a small amount of
> programs to enable me to download mail. Went to bed a happy bunny.
> Next morning switched th computer on and guess what it started it's
> same problem, would not load properly cam up with various errors to
> many to mention and this time another interesting thing happened the
> cd woul not inithialise properly it just kept on trying to go through
> it start process. It did boot eventuly but it was not long before the
> same thing happened again. Went through the whole procedure again of
> kill, format and re-install but only to get the same problems. I have
> know idea if it is the hard drive,power supply, motherboard memory or
> the operating system. Does anybody have any idea what might be causing
> me all this hassle?
> Regards
> Tony
On Jun 4, 3:36 pm, Tony <hamsa...[ at ]hotmail.com> wrote:
> Hi I hope you can give me some idea as to what is wrong with my
> computer.
> First of all my specs. Jetway motherboard, AMD 64bit processor, 200mb
> sata Maxtor drive, DVD drive and CD drive, 1 GB of ram. On board ATI
> Radeon Xpress 200. Using Windows XP Pro 64bit.
> I have been using the computer for at least 18 months with no problems
> have a virus program running al the time (Avast). Then a week ago the
> computer just shut down well viewing pictures and then went in to a
> constant re-boot. Tried all ways of trying to cure the problem by
> looking on the internet for solutions using my laptop. After days of
> trying decided to re-install windows. It would not let me do even
> though I tried 3 times but it was no good. So I then used Active Kill
> and completely wiped the hard drive. Put the windows cd in and it
> started to load. Used F6 to load the sata drivers and was able to
> install windows to completion. I then installed only a small amount of
> programs to enable me to download mail. Went to bed a happy bunny.
> Next morning switched th computer on and guess what it started it's
> same problem, would not load properly cam up with various errors to
> many to mention and this time another interesting thing happened the
> cd woul not inithialise properly it just kept on trying to go through
> it start process. It did boot eventuly but it was not long before the
> same thing happened again. Went through the whole procedure again of
> kill, format and re-install but only to get the same problems. I have
> know idea if it is the hard drive,power supply, motherboard memory or
> the operating system. Does anybody have any idea what might be causing
> me all this hassle?
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Honestly, Tom. I think we all know your method will be the correct way to go
about resolving such an issue, but if I come to you with these symptoms and
you know you have to hand me the bill - could you fix it for less than a
completely new machine? I seriously doubt it. What you would do, is you
would start re-seating, and that failing you would go on to swapping, and
that failing you would bill me a new motherboard and two hours. Am I right,
or am I right?
Beyond that, I think that asking someone you don't know to poke around
inside with a meter is not the best advice. A good education and
professional pride in the bagage, it must be hurting to see such un-informed
drivel as ours, but I assure you, my method is educating too, and it saves
us a good deal of time and money, while most of the time we end up not
knowing what really was the matter. The profusion of exchangeable devices at
low cost doesn't warrant putting valuable man-hours into a true and
revealing fail-search.
Beyond all that, I fully agree, power is the foundation!
Tony. . .
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Task as posted takes about two minutes. Long part is learning basic
debug techniques.
It is routine to see shotgunning result in condeming perfectly good
parts - taking much longer time - and even complicatng he problem. Do
you remember computers even in the 1960s? I do. What did then still
applies today. Yes computers back then were that simple.
Again, that long post means two minutes of labor. Even swapping a
power supply takes significantly longer.
On Jun 5, 9:22 pm, "Tony Sperling" <tony.sperl...[ at ]dbREMOVEmail.dk>
wrote:
[Quoted Text] > Honestly, Tom. I think we all know your method will be the correct way to go
> about resolving such an issue, but if I come to you with these symptoms and
> you know you have to hand me the bill - could you fix it for less than a
> completely new machine? I seriously doubt it. What you would do, is you
> would start re-seating, and that failing you would go on to swapping, and
> that failing you would bill me a new motherboard and two hours. Am I right,
> or am I right?
>
> Beyond that, I think that asking someone you don't know to poke around
> inside with a meter is not the best advice. A good education and
> professional pride in the bagage, it must be hurting to see such un-informed
> drivel as ours, but I assure you, my method is educating too, and it saves
> us a good deal of time and money, while most of the time we end up not
> knowing what really was the matter. The profusion of exchangeable devices at
> low cost doesn't warrant putting valuable man-hours into a true and
> revealing fail-search.
>
> Beyond all that, I fully agree, power is the foundation!
What was posted takes about two minutes. Long part is learning
basic debug techniques.
It is routine to see shotgunning result in condeming perfectly good
parts - taking much longer time - and even complicatng he problem. Do
you remember computers even in the 1960s? I do. What we learned then
still applies today. Yes they really were that simple then. Again,
that long post means two minutes of labor. Even swapping a power
supply takes significantly longer.
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But he did reload windows. From his post below:
"Put the windows cd in and it started to load. Used F6 to
load the sata drivers and was able to install windows to
completion."
w_tom wrote:
[Quoted Text] > Good thing you did not reload windows. That could complicate
> everything AND destroy important information. Step through the
> problem using principles even from CSI: "follow the evidence". That
> means change nothing. Collect facts until a suspect is identified.
>
>
> On Jun 4, 3:36 pm, Tony <hamsa...[ at ]hotmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi I hope you can give me some idea as to what is wrong with my
>> computer.
>> First of all my specs. Jetway motherboard, AMD 64bit processor, 200mb
>> sata Maxtor drive, DVD drive and CD drive, 1 GB of ram. On board ATI
>> Radeon Xpress 200. Using Windows XP Pro 64bit.
>> I have been using the computer for at least 18 months with no problems
>> have a virus program running al the time (Avast). Then a week ago the
>> computer just shut down well viewing pictures and then went in to a
>> constant re-boot. Tried all ways of trying to cure the problem by
>> looking on the internet for solutions using my laptop. After days of
>> trying decided to re-install windows. It would not let me do even
>> though I tried 3 times but it was no good. So I then used Active Kill
>> and completely wiped the hard drive.
************************************************************************
Put the windows cd
in and it
>> started to load. Used F6 to load the sata drivers and was able to
>> install windows to completion. I then installed only a small amount of
>> programs to enable me to download mail. Went to bed a happy bunny.
*************************************************************************
>> Next morning switched th computer on and guess what it started it's
>> same problem, would not load properly cam up with various errors to
>> many to mention and this time another interesting thing happened the
>> cd woul not inithialise properly it just kept on trying to go through
>> it start process. It did boot eventuly but it was not long before the
>> same thing happened again. Went through the whole procedure again of
>> kill, format and re-install but only to get the same problems. I have
>> know idea if it is the hard drive,power supply, motherboard memory or
>> the operating system. Does anybody have any idea what might be causing
>> me all this hassle?
>> Regards
>> Tony
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