How do you know when XP needs to be replaced?

[Doyle Peterson]

I am having a range of problems with XP, these all started
in the last 3 to 4 weeks, and "may" have been associated
with installation of SP2, but I am not absolutely certain
if they all coincide.

I am trying to decide if the problems are typical of
the "cascading failures" that used to occur frequently
with 98, and I should format the hard drive and start
clean before the whole system is so unstable that it quits
working. I learned that the hard way once with 98 and
never let it get that bad again, it was better to format,
re-install, and re-load than have the laptop crash during
a three week overseas trip.

When do you know if XP has reached that point? I have
searched the knowledgebase and read posts trying to figure
out how sick the machine is. It is a Toshiba P10-s424, it
is 5 months old but gets a workout, and I'm leaving in 10
days for a 2 1/2 month trip overseas where it won't be
easy to recover everything.

Some Examples of What's wrong:
- Can't access my computer
- Can't access my documents (Can access any file with a
program through file open)
- Can't access control panel
- Can't close internet explorer except through task
manager to stop programs not responding
- Can't access windows explorer
- Can't access network connections unless I unplug network
cable or turn-off wireless, when they are turned back on,
the icon comes up in the box, and can access network
connections by clicking on it, but never from the desktop
- The desktop files have all been re-arranged
- Defragmenting, done every ten days, seems to take
forever when it didn't before (even with 50 GB of an 80 GB
disk used)

There are probably others that just don't come to mind
right now.

 

[Guest]

Maybe you need scan your computer for viruses and malware.

 

[CWatters]

I am trying to decide if the problems are typical of
the "cascading failures" that used to occur frequently
with 98, and I should format the hard drive and start
clean before the whole system is so unstable that it quits
working.

My WinXP system was installed two years ago and has never needed
re-installing. It's used every day and has loads of programs installed some
of which wern't designed for XP. Seems loads better than win 98 to me.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I am having a range of problems with XP, these all started
in the last 3 to 4 weeks, and "may" have been associated
with installation of SP2, but I am not absolutely certain
if they all coincide.

I am trying to decide if the problems are typical of
the "cascading failures" that used to occur frequently
with 98, and I should format the hard drive and start
clean before the whole system is so unstable that it quits
working. I learned that the hard way once with 98 and
never let it get that bad again, it was better to format,
re-install, and re-load than have the laptop crash during
a three week overseas trip.

When do you know if XP has reached that point? I have
searched the knowledgebase and read posts trying to figure
out how sick the machine is. It is a Toshiba P10-s424, it
is 5 months old but gets a workout, and I'm leaving in 10
days for a 2 1/2 month trip overseas where it won't be
easy to recover everything.

Some Examples of What's wrong:
- Can't access my computer
- Can't access my documents (Can access any file with a
program through file open)
- Can't access control panel
- Can't close internet explorer except through task
manager to stop programs not responding
- Can't access windows explorer
- Can't access network connections unless I unplug network
cable or turn-off wireless, when they are turned back on,
the icon comes up in the box, and can access network
connections by clicking on it, but never from the desktop
- The desktop files have all been re-arranged
- Defragmenting, done every ten days, seems to take
forever when it didn't before (even with 50 GB of an 80 GB
disk used)

There are probably others that just don't come to mind
right now.

On a properly configured and maintained computer, using fully
compatible hardware, device drivers, and applications, the OS will
*never* need to be replaced. Until it's time to upgrade to the next
OS, at any rate. (This, by the way, was just as true of Win98 as it
is of WinXP. The "cascading failures" phenomenon you mention is
entirely self-inflicted by inattentive or uninformed computer users.)

Without any specific error messages to go, it's virtually
impossible to say whats wrong with that computer. I'd suggest you
exercise the warranty. Contact Toshiba's technical support and learn
how to verify the proper functioning of the cooling fans and how to
thoroughly test the RAM.

As suggested already, based on the wide variety of symptoms you
describe, you also need to scan your computer for malware. What
specific antivirus solution do you use, and are its virus definition
files kept up-to-date? What sort of firewall do you use when
connecting to the Internet?


--

Bruce Chambers

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