new iinstall problems

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Hi I had windows ME on an older system and just did a full install of XP PRO.
The system worked for a while then got a blue screen with a red square in the
center and random compputer like type across the top and down a few lines.
This has happened now twice. I am usiing the NTFS and did a regular format
not wuick. Does this sound like a bios incompat. or is it possible there
could still be a virus on the drive?
 
traumajohn said:
Hi I had windows ME on an older system and just did a full install of
XP PRO. The system worked for a while then got a blue screen with a
red square in the
center and random compputer like type across the top and down a few
lines. This has happened now twice. I am usiing the NTFS and did a
regular format not wuick. Does this sound like a bios incompat. or is
it possible there could still be a virus on the drive?
Click to expand...

Actually it sounds like hardware failure, but it really is impossible to
tell from the information (lack of) you provided.

Did you remember to install drivers for your new operating system for
all the hardware in the computer?

Never get drivers from Windows Update. Get them from:

1. The device mftr.'s website; OR
2. The motherboard mftr.'s website if hardware is onboard; OR
3. The OEM's website for your specific machine if you have an OEM
computer (HP, Dell, Sony, etc.).

Read the installation instructions on the website where you get the
drivers.

To find out what hardware is in your computer:

1. Read any documentation you got when you bought the computer.
2. If the computer is OEM, go to the OEM's website for your specific
model machine and look at the specs (you'll be there to get the drivers
anyway)
3. Download, install and run a free system inventory program like Belarc
Advisor. The older Aida32 is good for this, too.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html - Belarc Advisor
http://www.aumha.org/free.htm - Aida32 (hosted on Jim Eshelman's site)

If drivers are correct and updated, try hardware troubleshooting:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Troubleshooting

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigStoreUSA).

Malke
 
traumajohn wrote:
| Hi I had windows ME on an older system and just did a full install of XP
| PRO. The system worked for a while then got a blue screen with a red
| square in the center and random compputer like type across the top and
| down a few lines. This has happened now twice. I am usiing the NTFS and
| did a regular format not wuick. Does this sound like a bios incompat. or
| is it possible there could still be a virus on the drive?

Still be? It depends on the virus. It is possible there is some sneaky thing
burrowed deep into the file format of the drive. If you really suspect that
is the case, you might try a "zero-fill" utility that zeros out the
harddrive erasing any and all viruses on the harddrive. You can get a
zero-fill utility from Maxtor among other sources:

MaxBlast 4:
http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/M...oftware Downloads/Top Downloads&downloadID=57

The tinyurl to the same webpage:
http://tinyurl.com/7kk3j

Create a bootable diskette (instructions on the Maxtor webpage) and perform
a full zero-fill. The zero-fill utility is found in the utility section -
you may have to snoop around a bit once you've booted from the Maxtor
diskette. You will have to repartition and reformat the drive and then
install Windows after doing a zero-fill. The zero-fill will completely wipe
the drive and leave it in a "like new" state.

Of course, you should check the motherboard manufacturer's website and see
if there are any issues with the older BIOS and Windows XP. If there is,
flash the BIOS to a newer version if there is one.
 
=?Utf-8?B?dHJhdW1ham9obg==?= said:
not wuick. Does this sound like a bios incompat. or is it possible there
could still be a virus on the drive?
Click to expand...

Hard to tell. What 2 anti-virus programs have you tested your hard drive
with?
 
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