Fix for XP crashes valid? (Works in Safe Mode)

[Chet]

My pc is crashing in normal mode. It works fine in SAFE mode all day
long. Can't find a stop code using the event logger that tells me
anything useful, using msconfig to limit what apps start hasn't helped.


My theory is that if I remove every program one by one that this will
tell me which app is causing the crash problem. Is this a valid logic
OR is it possible that it's not an installed program causing the
crashes and it's really something inherent to XP that's causing the
crash? (Even though SAFE mode works fine.)

In my (not expert) mind if SAFE mode works then the problem may not be
with XP itself but in one of the programs. Is my theory valid?

I'm mostly concerned because I don't know what caused this problem so
it could well just happen again! (After I possibly reinstall
everything.) Errr..!

Thanks,
Chet

 

[Danny Sanders]

My theory is that if I remove every program one by one that this will

tell me which app is causing the crash problem. Is this a valid logic

It could be hardware related. A driver might need updating.

hth
DDS W 2k MVP MCSE

 

[Chet]

Understood but I didn't add any new hardware and the computer was
working fine. Then suddenly a problem. So does that mean a hardware
driver still could be needing to be updated?

Thanks,
Chet

 

[Danny Sanders]

Understood but I didn't add any new hardware and the computer was

working fine. Then suddenly a problem. So does that mean a hardware
driver still could be needing to be updated?

Maybe not but you shouldn't rule out hardware going bad.

hth
DDS W 2k MVP MCSE

 

[Talahasee]

Understood but I didn't add any new hardware and the computer was
working fine. Then suddenly a problem. So does that mean a hardware
driver still could be needing to be updated?

Thanks,
Chet

What you are describing sounds like POSSIBLY a driver that
has croaked for some reason ????

I have been amazed over 20 + years how many drivers have
gone belly up for no apparent reason.


I'd delete/ reinstall the drivers, one-at-a time.

"Can't hurt".

If that doesn't do it, you might swap out hardware, starting
with the least expensive first, and working your way up.

I have had this problem and one time it was a bad monitor,
one time a bad keyboard.

But I'd begin with being sure your drivers are intact.

And it NEVER hurts to update your drivers.

For that purpose (driver updating), I recently discovered a
JEWEL called

Driver Genius

on

www.download.com

You get a freeware version that is good for like 2 weeks,
then you have to buy it for like $25.

Logically, if you haven't installed any new h/w recently,
you can simply run it, select "all drivers" to update the
entire system (everything you have).

It will download all available drivers (it can search/find
them on its own), and then you can choose for yourself which
you wish to install.

One at a time, delete your current drivers, and then, when
Windows tries (if it does) to reinstall the driver, stop it,
and get your new one... I should say, redirect the Windows
install routine to the one you just downloaded.

Be sure unzip your drivers after downloading. Awhile back,
I downloaded about 6 drivers, but I couldn't get the 0000000
things to install!

I finally figured out, Windows won't unzip them!

I unzipped them to my C:\Unzipped\Drivers

directory, as in

c:\Unzipped\Drivers\vga
c:\Unzipped\drivers\keyboard


and then when I ran the Windows install routine, I referred
to the Unzipped directory for each driver.

Smooth as tapioca!


Good luck!


Tallahassee

 

[Talahasee]

Maybe not but you shouldn't rule out hardware going bad.

Absotively.

But I'd start with replacing / updating the drivers. It's
easier, faster, and typically free.


Good luck!


Tallahassee