Strange HDD occurances

  • Thread starter Thread starter Alex Chapin
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A

Alex Chapin

I recently upgraded, installing some of my old hardware
onto a new Intell 865g motherboard and a intel p4 2.8
ghz. I bought a Serial ATA HDD to install Windows XP on
and was finally able to reconfigure the Bios so I could
boot Windows from the SATA.

My first question is, can anybody tell me the bios
configuration that make windows load faster? currently I
get about 10 seconds of the intel screen, 12-25 seconds
of a black screen and 12-15 seconds of the windows load
screen before the welcome screen shows up...

My next question is, is it normal for three folders with
labels
like "aeaec889b75043b7ecf5471b84961", "e441083c4187c188da9
192a081", and "fde" to appear in the system root
directory, each containing folders labeled "SP1"
with "update" in that and then a setup file and
a "spcustom.dll" file in them...can I delete these? Are
these a sign of a some secutiry threat?

Finally, After getting windows relatively well setup I
restarted my computer and windows decided it need to
check the file system of drive D, a 200 gig Hdd(ide) that
I had just reformatted, so naturally there should be
nothing wrong with it...

I'm getting really pissed off here, since Microsoft
refuses to help me, because My windows came with my dell,
and dell refuses to help me, because I'm no longer under
warranty...
 
My first question is, can anybody tell me the bios
configuration that make windows load faster? currently I
get about 10 seconds of the intel screen, 12-25 seconds
of a black screen and 12-15 seconds of the windows load
screen before the welcome screen shows up...


check your bios options...there is typically one for fast boot
My next question is, is it normal for three folders with
labels
like "aeaec889b75043b7ecf5471b84961", "e441083c4187c188da9
192a081", and "fde" to appear in the system root
directory, each containing folders labeled "SP1"
with "update" in that and then a setup file and
a "spcustom.dll" file in them...can I delete these? Are
these a sign of a some secutiry threat?


those look like temp folders that should have been deleted after
the updates were installed...
they are prob ok to delete
Finally, After getting windows relatively well setup I
restarted my computer and windows decided it need to
check the file system of drive D, a 200 gig Hdd(ide) that
I had just reformatted, so naturally there should be
nothing wrong with it...

possibly because it was just reformatted...
if you shut the machine down normally
and it happens again...there is probably a problem!
otherwise i would not worry about it
 
You might want to take a look here.. it is just a short piece..

http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/2004/BootProcess.asp

The more processes that have to be initialized, the longer it will all
take.. while a lengthy boot process can be indicative of conflicts within
the system, one also has to be aware that if a computer is having to start a
multitude of services, this will take time.. the idea is not necessarily to
have a computer that boots in record time, but to have one that cleanly
boots to the point where all services that one requires have started without
problems along the way..

Some SP1 hotfixes were uninstallable.. when you update to SP2, these folders
will most likely disappear.. if they are causing no harm, leave them be..
they are not a security threat..

Reformatting a drive does just that.. no more, no less.. the process does
NOT check or verify the drive as ok.. if the OS chose to do this, then it
must have seen a need for it.. assuming that it has not done it again, one
can presume that XP has passed it as being within the operational parameters
required..

OEM software has never been directly supported my MS.. it is part of the
agreement with computer manufacturers that they themselves offer support for
the OS.. very often, the only support given is advice to re-install.. there
is plenty of help available through websites and these newsgroups, so don't
panic.. stay calm, and use common sense, and all will be well..
 
Well, My problem with the hard drive continues. After
about four times of asking to check the file system I
decided to reformat again, this time, just after it
reached 100% it said "an error occured while formatting"
so I tried one more time and the same error came up.

Luckily I think that the drive is still under warranty
from seagate, so that will hopefully take care of the
problem...


Also, I thought that programs and services loaded AFTER
the welcome screen came up, or at least suring that
Windows XP loading screen, not during a black screen. I
ussually associate a blank screen with hang ups and
delays.
 
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