PLEASE HELP - Crash

[Guest]

Hey thanks for reading this
I need help badly

i run Windowes XP PRO
Every now and then i have a random CRASH

The desktop (including all icons, wallpaper, etc) along with the start
menu, quick launch bar and taskbar (and system tray) all disappear and crash
at the same time.

What is left remaininng is everything else (including all internet connected
programs, task manager works fine, mouse and keyboard are fine, i can launch
new programs but EXPLORER seems to crash).

Also when i minimize the reminaning programs, they disappear as well. If i
minimize everything all that remains is a black screen (no nothing)

Then i reboot and its all fine again - only to happen again.

it seems to trigger itself when the computer gets busy

Please help
Here is my email
(e-mail address removed)

Here is my MSN
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Do you see any error messages either before or after the crashes? Have a
look in the Event Viewer for any entries that may point towards the problem.
Are you using any particular program when the crashes occur?

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Guest]

Hi

No specific error messages
No specific programs
The crash occurs randomly and without warning

 

[Bob Harris]

You might start by trying to eliminate potential hardware problems. For
exmaple, do a memory test, run from a DOS floppy. See this link for a free
tester:

http://www.memtest.org/

In general, it might be a good idea to power off the PC and re-seat all PCI
boards and firm-up all connections to disks and other internal devices.

Does your PC have software to monitor the motherboard? Most modern PCs do.
If so, use it to watch the temperatures and voltages. If the temperatures
are high or the voltages are low, you will have a clue. In particular, heat
can cause a PC to shutdown and/or act oddly. If any question about
temperature, add more cooling.

Do you have a lot of things attached to the PC, that did not come with it,
and/or did you add several things inisde the box and/or replace anything?
Some PCs come with a power supply that is adeqaute for the original
configuration, but will not support unlimited upgrades. For example, a new
video card could be sucking a lot more power than the video chip on the
motherboard. Also, self-powered USB and self-powered firewire devices get
their power from the PC's power supply.

If hardware can be ruled out, then be sure to do a virus scan, with updated
antivirus definitions. Seemingly random failures can be virus related.
Scanning for non-virus malware (spyware, adware) is also a good idea, but
probably has nothing to do with your problem.

Finally, if no hardware and no virus, try some software testing/fixes:

1. Run CHKDSK C: /R form a command prompt, accept the offer to do it next
reboot, reboot. This may take an hour or so. If errors are found, run a
plain CHKDSK C: to see whether they were fixed. If not run CHKDSK with /R a
second time.

2. Try SCF /SCANNOW. This may prompt you for an XP CD. Note that this CD
must be the same service pack as the installation on the PC. If not, you
need to borrow one or make one via a process called slipstreaming.

3. Try a repair installion of XP. This can be done from the full retail
version CD (or retail upgrade), but usually not from an OEM CD. Here are
some links to repairing XP:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341



http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm



http://www.extremetech.com/print_article/0,3998,a=23979,00.asp