can program compatibility create errors?

[Guest]

i bought a new computer (with vista home premium) about 6 months ago but i
have not been really happy with how it has been working throughout this time.
Quite a while ago it came up with an error message when i just put it on for
no apparent reason that i could think of, as i always do antiviral scans with
up to date software so i know it has nothing to do with any threats.
Ive been using my old printer on this machine for a while now although its
not compatible it doesn't seem to incurr any problems as i dont have to open
up the programs from the disc to use it, there are no upgrades but HP don't
say that there would be anything wrong with this when using it on Vista.
It has crashed a few times of late for no apparent reason, and worse of all
it has recently come up with an error message when starting up and windows
recovered itself automatically and seems to work fine now. Since it has
recovered itself it seems to shut down more easily than before again i have
no idea why as it use to freeze for a while before.
I recently installed a program from a windows 2004 cd, but im not sure if
this was the cause either.

I am gobsmacked, and don't have a clue what is wrong with it. Any ideas will
be greatly appreciated. Cheers

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

i bought a new computer (with vista home premium) about 6 months ago but i
have not been really happy with how it has been working throughout this time.
Quite a while ago it came up with an error message when i just put it on for
no apparent reason that i could think of, as i always do antiviral scans with
up to date software so i know it has nothing to do with any threats.
Ive been using my old printer on this machine for a while now although its
not compatible it doesn't seem to incurr any problems as i dont have to open
up the programs from the disc to use it, there are no upgrades but HP don't
say that there would be anything wrong with this when using it on Vista.
It has crashed a few times of late for no apparent reason, and worse of all
it has recently come up with an error message when starting up and windows
recovered itself automatically and seems to work fine now. Since it has
recovered itself it seems to shut down more easily than before again i have
no idea why as it use to freeze for a while before.
I recently installed a program from a windows 2004 cd, but im not sure if
this was the cause either.

I am gobsmacked, and don't have a clue what is wrong with it. Any ideas will
be greatly appreciated. Cheers

Two points:

1. You mention error messages, but you don't tell us what they said.
Nobody can help you without the specifics. Please provide the *exact*
verbatim text.

2. You mention antiviral scans, but you don't say anything about
anti-spyware software. Spyware is an enormous problem these days, and
unless you have good software protection against it, you could very
likely be infected.

Since you are apparently not protected against spyware, I recommend
that you begin troubleshooting by going to MVP Malke's malware removal
site at
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware and
following the instructions there.

 

[Guest]

Well i have Norton Protection Center and Norton Security Online (internet
security 2007) which i pay on a monthly basis for and update regularly. As
well as this i use the Spybot S&D program again updated and scan regularly
but havent found anything. Unfortunately i cannot say the extent of the error
message i got on the 1st month of purchase except that it sais that there was
a file missing or corrupt and windows could not start, i had to resort to
holding in the on/off button and switch it on again, when i did do it started
up with no problems. Since then there has been the rare crash during this 5
month period. But in terms of the recent error message my daughter was using
the computer and shes only 15 years so she was only able to tell me that
there was an error in windows and that an automatic recovery took place and
within 10 mins the system was working fine again.