Multiple Issues for 1 1/2 Year Old

[Guest]

Hi -
Running XP Home on HP a300n - a pre-install, of course!
Have been experiencing the following issues [*some for about
a year now...] -

1. Services: Application Mgmt. and Human I-face Device Access
- Event Viewer - "specified module could not be found / error 126"
or when trying to start either service.

2. BIOS/restarts: "Hardware monitor found an error...press - to continue
or - to edit settings." Within the BIOS h-ware is only the fan speed, which
averages around 92 c / 180 f and no system fan speed is shown.

3. The ASUS CRW-4824 AH CD-ROM drive: that's built-in will no longer read
many of the discs it has burned - if they are CD-R's. [CD-RW's are usually
fine.] Unfortunately, this includes the Recovery Discs made when first
purchased! My last System Recovery was a scary one, as finger-crossing
worked better than the stupid discs...

4. Had to do the last Recovery [a couple of weeks ago] because of
unexpected shutdowns that kept getting worse - esp. when rendering video
output, doing graphic-intensive photo work - or even when online at a complex
flash site. [Am on dial-up.]

--- Am going to begin some of Shenan Stanley's advice now: the virus scan,
re-installing and running my copy of Spybot, doing a disc ck., etc. But if
anyone has advice for any of these issues, I'd be grateful.

Have recently considered purchasing XP Pro upgrade to start over but am not
sure if some of these problems have to do with the system or the OS! Why is
it that only pre-installs are available these days? [Planned Obselecense?]

Thanks,
El

 

[Alan Smith]

Hi -
Running XP Home on HP a300n - a pre-install, of course!
Have been experiencing the following issues [*some for about
a year now...] -

1. Services: Application Mgmt. and Human I-face Device Access
- Event Viewer - "specified module could not be found / error 126"
or when trying to start either service.

2. BIOS/restarts: "Hardware monitor found an error...press - to continue
or - to edit settings." Within the BIOS h-ware is only the fan speed,
which
averages around 92 c / 180 f and no system fan speed is shown.

Seems hot- Aim for under 50C. What processor? The processor maker will have
recommendations for acceptable temperatures. Some AMD's dont have thermal
cutouts and you could fry it. Consider checking that the fan is working
correctly, if so remove the heatsinkand fan (HSF) and clean it and the
processor contact areas. Put some heatsink compound onto the contact area
(sparingly, not bucketfulls) and replace the HSF. Or buy a better one and
use heatsink compound, artic silver is good stuff. Where are you? Computer
shops will sell it, Maplin do in the UK. Real computer shops, not PC World.

3. The ASUS CRW-4824 AH CD-ROM drive: that's built-in will no longer
read
many of the discs it has burned - if they are CD-R's. [CD-RW's are
usually
fine.] Unfortunately, this includes the Recovery Discs made when first
purchased! My last System Recovery was a scary one, as finger-crossing
worked better than the stupid discs...

CD's don't last for ever. Neither do drives.
Do your CD's work in other machines? If the drive is worn out replace it.

4. Had to do the last Recovery [a couple of weeks ago] because of
unexpected shutdowns that kept getting worse - esp. when rendering video
output, doing graphic-intensive photo work - or even when online at a
complex
flash site. [Am on dial-up.]

I'd look at the heat first. Take the cover off the case, that should help
your machine run cooler until you sort the HSF out.

--- Am going to begin some of Shenan Stanley's advice now: the virus
scan,
re-installing and running my copy of Spybot, doing a disc ck., etc. But
if
anyone has advice for any of these issues, I'd be grateful.

Heat.

Have recently considered purchasing XP Pro upgrade to start over but am
not
sure if some of these problems have to do with the system or the OS! Why
is
it that only pre-installs are available these days? [Planned
Obselecense?]

Funny- I just got 3 copies of XP that aren't pre-installs or upgrades to put
onto computers just built (2 Home, 1 Pro). The reason you have preinstall is
the suppliers you use. If you don't like it tell them, get a price for not
pre-installed. If they say No then that tells you about that supplier and
its desire to provide customer service- I'd look for somewhere that does
sell what I want, not what they want to sell. But it is your money, and your
choice.

 

[Guest]

Hi -
Thanks, I will be looking into all of your suggestions.
Still think it's strange to have possible fan issues,
OS problems, or disc drive meltdowns in less than 2 yrs.!

My next box will be bare-boned, and I will have the OS on disc.

El