Crashing on boot-up / driver updates

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Guest

hello everyone,

My pc using Windows XP always crashes when I boot up; On rebooting I am then
often presented with a menu including the options 'start normally' or 'use
last known good configuration'. Using either then seems to work and make no
difference to the same problems on the next boot up.

Thing is though, as well as replacing the CMOS battery, in earlier attempts
to update my pc I have tried to dig around the internet and find/load updates
to BIOS and other hardware drivers.
Even though my pc was showing some problems beforehand, I am not sure if
things are now worse. I don't even know for sure if I actually managed to
properly install the driver updates.

So, even though my details above are rather generic and arguably worsened by
my own actions, I am wondering if there is a 'standard procedure' I should
follow for trying to debug my issues?

Thanks a lot,
Lee
 
lee said:
hello everyone,

My pc using Windows XP always crashes when I boot up; On rebooting I am then
often presented with a menu including the options 'start normally' or 'use
last known good configuration'. Using either then seems to work and make no
difference to the same problems on the next boot up.

Thing is though, as well as replacing the CMOS battery, in earlier attempts
to update my pc I have tried to dig around the internet and find/load updates
to BIOS and other hardware drivers.
Even though my pc was showing some problems beforehand, I am not sure if
things are now worse. I don't even know for sure if I actually managed to
properly install the driver updates.

So, even though my details above are rather generic and arguably worsened by
my own actions, I am wondering if there is a 'standard procedure' I should
follow for trying to debug my issues?

Thanks a lot,
Lee
Click to expand...

What do you mean by crashing on boot up? Be more specific. Does it go
to a blue screen and give an error message? If so post the message. If
not next time it boots ok, right click on My Computer | Properties |
Advanced | Settings under Startup and Recovery. Untic the Automatically
restart box. Ok out. Next time it crashes it should go to a blue
screen. Post the message here.
 
Rock said:
What do you mean by crashing on boot up? Be more specific. Does it go
to a blue screen and give an error message? If so post the message. If
not next time it boots ok, right click on My Computer | Properties |
Advanced | Settings under Startup and Recovery. Untic the Automatically
restart box. Ok out. Next time it crashes it should go to a blue
screen. Post the message here.
Click to expand...
hello Rock,

I tried to follow your instructions, but Windows prompted me saying I had to
first turn on the Alerter service.
I followed its directions to Computer Management, Tools, Services, but there
doesn't seem to be an Alerter option for me to turn on.
The closest thing shown there is an alerter manager for my AVG anti virus
program.
 
lee said:
hello Rock,

I tried to follow your instructions, but Windows prompted me saying I
had to first turn on the Alerter service.
I followed its directions to Computer Management, Tools, Services, but
there doesn't seem to be an Alerter option for me to turn on.
The closest thing shown there is an alerter manager for my AVG anti
virus program.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but this doesn't make sense. Since we don't know what you've
done and you can't give us more exact information about the errors,
take the machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local
version of BigStoreUSA). This is not said to hurt your feelings, but
someone skilled who can see the machine and work with it directly will
be able to diagnose and fix it fairly quickly.

Malke
 
Malke said:
I'm sorry, but this doesn't make sense. Since we don't know what you've
done and you can't give us more exact information about the errors,
take the machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local
version of BigStoreUSA). This is not said to hurt your feelings, but
someone skilled who can see the machine and work with it directly will
be able to diagnose and fix it fairly quickly.

Malke
Click to expand...

I understand;
it probably is the only way to effectively check my pc for this and any
other faults.

lee
 
lee said:
hello everyone,

My pc using Windows XP always crashes when I boot up; On rebooting I am then
often presented with a menu including the options 'start normally' or 'use
last known good configuration'. Using either then seems to work and make no
difference to the same problems on the next boot up.
Click to expand...

hello,

Just to revisit the above;

I decided to reformat my C drive using the FAT file system, and reinstall XP
from the original cd.
At first, I felt my pc was booting up fine without jamming / freezing, as
well as working very swiftly. I seem to recall 3 or 4 totally successful
shutdown / startup procedures.
However, having brought my pc totally up to date via Windows Update, we are
now back to the problems I had before. I only loaded any hardware and
software updates offered by Windows Update, ie I didn't look for or try to
install any new drivers from anywhere else.

Since, I have downloaded and installed various software / programs which I
like to use on my pc.

The last time I tried to boot up, the pc partly 'got there' but then froze
on a black screen with the egg timer showing.
I forced a reboot using the button on the front of the pc, and then we
progressed through to a page showing:

cmos checksum error - defaults loaded

The options offered at the bottom of the screen were 'F1 to continue' or
'del to enter setup', of which I chose F1. We then progressed to a successful
startup.

Any ideas of how I can debug what seems to be going wrong, so I don't stay
in the same cycle of boot up problems?
Is it likely to be something XP is doing wrong at shutdown or boot up?
Is it likely to be the fault of any software(s)/ program(s) I have installed?

thanks a lot,
lee
 
The key point of your follow-up is "Hardware" updates offered by
Windows Update. While functional, Drivers from Windows Update
are not the best choices. If you have these ongoing issues, then I
wouldn't expect a clean install using any disk format will help to get
a reliable system. This sounds more like a hardware issue or BIOS
setup/configuration. The scope of the cause could be RAM, PS or
a out-of-date BIOS Firmware. It could also be a lack of "Core"
driver components for the motherboard Chipset. If I was tasked
with getting it to run, I would.
1.) Remove all peripheral cards, except AGP or PCIe
2.) Use only a "Single" stick of memory.
3.) Check BIOS version against latest available, Readme.Txt to find
and issues that track with your problems.
4.) Set BIOS to Default Values, Turn off Peripherals not needed.
5.) Install XP, then Chipset Drivers, Video, Nic & Audio (Obtain the
drivers from the Manufacturer or OEM provider.
6.) Take a System Image
7.) Add Peripherals, One at a time until fully configured
8.) Take another System Image
9.) Add "All" Windows Update Critical
10.) Take another System Image
11.) Install 3rd-Party Applications

Test for reliability at each Image point and use NTFS for format.
 
R. McCarty said:
The key point of your follow-up is "Hardware" updates offered by
Windows Update. While functional, Drivers from Windows Update
are not the best choices. If you have these ongoing issues, then I
wouldn't expect a clean install using any disk format will help to get
a reliable system. This sounds more like a hardware issue or BIOS
setup/configuration. The scope of the cause could be RAM, PS or
a out-of-date BIOS Firmware. It could also be a lack of "Core"
driver components for the motherboard Chipset. If I was tasked
with getting it to run, I would.
1.) Remove all peripheral cards, except AGP or PCIe
2.) Use only a "Single" stick of memory.
3.) Check BIOS version against latest available, Readme.Txt to find
and issues that track with your problems.
4.) Set BIOS to Default Values, Turn off Peripherals not needed.
5.) Install XP, then Chipset Drivers, Video, Nic & Audio (Obtain the
drivers from the Manufacturer or OEM provider.
6.) Take a System Image
7.) Add Peripherals, One at a time until fully configured
8.) Take another System Image
9.) Add "All" Windows Update Critical
10.) Take another System Image
11.) Install 3rd-Party Applications

Test for reliability at each Image point and use NTFS for format.
Click to expand...
Thanks very much for that detailed post of yours.
It sounds very much like a set of tasks for the local pc repair shop, rather
than me hope to do it !

My pc was bought as new in 2003, and the bits and pieces supplied include a
Motherboard Chipset disc and also a 'floppy' disc labelled 'monitor driver'.
I haven't tried to load or use these as yet, for two reasons:
1) They may make things worse ... / out of date?
2) I am not confident or sufficiently knowledgeable to know exactly how to
use them 'properly' or understand what they may actually change.

What I have just remembered and managed to do though, is turn the 'Alerter'
to 'automatic' under 'Computer Management', having tried again to follow the
instructions on how to do it from earlier in this thread. (those of you
reading in newsgroups presumably won't see the old posts in this topic unless
you visit the web ...?)
Previously in this thread, I reported I couldn't find the 'Alerter' to
switch it on, but this time it has appeared as an option in exactly the same
place I looked before.

So, if problems continue, at least now I should be seeing some kind of alert
which I can ask about here. However I don't know where the alert will appear
or be sent to ...

lee
 
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