Programs Stopping

Welcome to Bleeping Computer, a free community where people like yourself come together to discuss and learn how to use their computers. Using the site is easy and fun. As a guest, you can browse and view the various discussions in the forums, but can not create a new topic or reply to an existing one unless you are logged in. Other benefits of registering an account are subscribing to topics and forums, creating a blog, and having no ads shown anywhere on the site.
Click here to Register a free account now! or read our Welcome Guide to learn how to use this site.

Important Announcement: The winners of the BC Million Post contest have been announced. You can read who the winners are at this post.

- BleepingComputer Management

BleepingComputer.com > Operating Systems > Windows XP Home and Professional

2 Pages

< 1 2

Programs Stopping, randomly

Options

Enthusiast View Member Profile	Nov 12 2006, 11:43 PM Post #16
Forum Addict Group: Members Posts: 5,898 Joined: 10-March 05 From: Florida, USA Member No.: 14,085	No- not necessarilly, at least not yet. You need to strip the system down to its most basic configuration and troubleshoot adding one item at a time. Strip the system down to as basic as you can get it - to one ram stick, on-board video if the mb has that capability or just vga drivers if you have to use the ATI card, no printer, no external usb devices, no sound card, no expansion cards of any kind, etc.

usasma View Member Profile	Nov 14 2006, 07:08 AM Post #17
Visually handicapped, hence the avatar :0) Group: Moderator Posts: 14,526 Joined: 2-October 05 From: Southeastern CT, USA Member No.: 35,824	Here's an extract that may help with the stripdown and testing: QUOTE [/list]Instructions Test your memory with this free utility: MemTest86 Let it run for at least 2 hours (overnight is better). This will ensure that your memory is error free and isn't the source of the problem. If Windows is still running, run this free, online test: Windows Live Scanner This will ensure that you're malware free, will clean your registry, will delete your Temp files, and will defragment your hard drive. Then check the SMART status of your hard drive using this free utility: SpeedFan This will ensure that your hard drive isn't the source of the problem (due to an impending failure). If Windows isn't running, you'll still need it - so download it anyway. Unplug the system from the wall, and ensure that you remain grounded to the metal chassis throughout the procedure. Then, remove everything from the system leaving only these components: Case (and remove it if you've got a non-conductive mat you can use for testing (and no kids or cats to get into it). PSU (Power Supply Unit) CPU, cooler and fan 1 stick of RAM (presumed to be good since you ran the MemTest86 utility in Step 1) Video card monitor keyboard floppy drive OR CD drive (not both) On the very first boot, disable any onboard devices (like the USB ports) in the system BIOS. At some point (if this is a hardware failure) you'll find the error is caused by a particular piece of hardware. While this is most likely the cause of your problems - please remember that it can be a combination of things that have caused this. As such, a single device replacement won't necessarily fix the problem. So, on to the troubleshooting! Just follow these steps until you get the error. Then do it again to double check. Then replace the device that caused it and all should be well with the system (see caveats above). - Try and boot from a DOS floppy. - If it works, then add the mouse and try again. - If that works, then add the hard drive and try again. - If that works, then start trying to get Windows to load. Once Windows is up, use this free utility to check the SMART status of your hard drive: http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php Generally, this sequence should at least allow your system to boot up. If not, post what you've done on the forums and someone will be able to help you isolate the problem. Once that's done, start by enabling the onboard devices (one at a time). Check for the error and then enable the next one. After all the onboard devices are done, then start with the devices that plug into the mobo inside of the case. Do these one at a time also. Then start plugging in the external devices, one by one, until they're all in. So, you've found the bad device and have replaced it. Either this makes the problem go away or it doesn't. If it fixed it, great! If not, let's start the troubleshooting all over and try it again. Since the case is stripped, the easiest thing is to run through this hardware troubleshooter again. -------------------- - John If you need a more detailed explanation, please ask for it. I have the Knack.

« Next Oldest · Windows XP Home and Professional · Next Newest »

2 Pages

< 1 2

1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)

0 Members:

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

Lo-Fi Version

Time is now: 22nd November 2008 - 05:21 AM

Advertise \| About Us \| Terms of Use \| Privacy Policy \| Contact Us \| Site Map \| Chat \| Tutorials \| Uninstall List
Discussion Forums \| The Computer Glossary \| Resources \| RSS Feeds \| Startups \| The File Database \| Malware Removal Guides