Sudden misc failures

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Guest

Hi all, and thanks for any help.

XP Pro; P4@2gig; plenty large HDD, partitioned (see below). All current Windows updates are installed; as are all Norton and Spybot definitions.

Yesterday shortly after updating Spybot files, I clicked another unrelated (to Spybot) file and my system suddenly shut down and re-booted. I then ran "system restore" and used the restore point created immediately before the Spybot download. System started fine -- BUT: (a) the shortcuts which had been right next to the Start button were all gone and I am unable to drag them back down there; (b) when I tried to use Outlook Express to post to this forum, the post never showed up -- it didn't "bounce" back to me, just didn't show up on the list. [it's now been three hours, and a post on another topic DID post fine yesterday]; (c) when I then tried to get online support, I was told that my product ID had already used all the free support to which I was entitled, and I don't recall EVER getting ANY such free online support before.

I've run NAV and Spybot S&R, both with brand spanking new definitions; nada. I apologize for posting more than one issue here, but this seems to all be part of the same problem -- that is, the "spontaneous" re-boot yesterday afternoon.

I am on the verge of reformatting and starting all over again, but that's a huge deal (I have W98 w/ SE upgrade on the C: partition and want to also install Linux on a second partition D:, with XP PRO on a third partition). That will be VERY time-consuming, and I don't really need to Linux setup right now so I'd rather not go through the whole thing again... bales and bales of other software and updates (including Office XP), etc...

Again, thanks in advance for any help.
 
Lloyd said:
Hi all, and thanks for any help.

XP Pro; P4@2gig; plenty large HDD, partitioned (see below). All
current Windows updates are installed; as are all Norton and Spybot
definitions.

Yesterday shortly after updating Spybot files, I clicked another
unrelated (to Spybot) file and my system suddenly shut down and
re-booted. I then ran "system restore" and used the restore point
created immediately before the Spybot download. System started fine
-- BUT: (a) the shortcuts which had been right next to the Start
button were all gone and I am unable to drag them back down there; (b)
when I tried to use Outlook Express to post to this forum, the post
never showed up -- it didn't "bounce" back to me, just didn't show up
on the list. [it's now been three hours, and a post on another topic
DID post fine yesterday]; (c) when I then tried to get online support,
I was told that my product ID had already used all the free support to
which I was entitled, and I don't recall EVER getting ANY such free
online support before.

I've run NAV and Spybot S&R, both with brand spanking new definitions;
nada. I apologize for posting more than one issue here, but this
seems to all be part of the same problem -- that is, the "spontaneous"
re-boot yesterday afternoon.

I am on the verge of reformatting and starting all over again, but
that's a huge deal (I have W98 w/ SE upgrade on the C: partition and
want to also install Linux on a second partition D:, with XP PRO on a
third partition). That will be VERY time-consuming, and I don't
really need to Linux setup right now so I'd rather not go through the
whole thing again... bales and bales of other software and updates
(including Office XP), etc...

Again, thanks in advance for any help.
Click to expand...

Hi, Lloyd. Before you do any reformatting, do some hardware diagnosis.
The problem may not be software-related at all. Here are some generic
hardware troubleshooting steps to take:

1) open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing); 2) test
the RAM - I like Memtest86 from www.memtest86.com - let the test run
for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless errors are
seen immediately; 3) test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from
the mftr.; 4) the power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for
the devices you have in the system; 5) test the motherboard with
something like TuffTest from www.tufftest.com. 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 good local computer repair
shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).

If you need more help, please post back with the results of your
testing. Don't despair! And don't apologize for writing clear,
descriptive posts! ;-)

Malke
 
THANK YOU MALKE!

I'll do what you suggested. I can't buy any software right now but have
mfg.'s testing software for the HDD. I'll run the mem test tonight.

I had suspected some sort of malware (if I'm using that term properly as
generic for "bad stuff") in the file I was opening when the machine
re-booted itself; but I am almost pathological about viruses (et al) and
stay on top of updates for my several scanners.

And yeah, I'm comfortable inside the machine. It could probably use a
cleaning in there in any event, but it's less than a year old so the
hardware is probably OK. Dust-monsters are, always, another question in my
less-than "clean room" conditions . . ., and fans do fail.

Thanks again.
Malke said:
Lloyd said:
Hi all, and thanks for any help.

XP Pro; P4@2gig; plenty large HDD, partitioned (see below). All
current Windows updates are installed; as are all Norton and Spybot
definitions.

Yesterday shortly after updating Spybot files, I clicked another
unrelated (to Spybot) file and my system suddenly shut down and
re-booted. I then ran "system restore" and used the restore point
created immediately before the Spybot download. System started fine
-- BUT: (a) the shortcuts which had been right next to the Start
button were all gone and I am unable to drag them back down there; (b)
when I tried to use Outlook Express to post to this forum, the post
never showed up -- it didn't "bounce" back to me, just didn't show up
on the list. [it's now been three hours, and a post on another topic
DID post fine yesterday]; (c) when I then tried to get online support,
I was told that my product ID had already used all the free support to
which I was entitled, and I don't recall EVER getting ANY such free
online support before.

I've run NAV and Spybot S&R, both with brand spanking new definitions;
nada. I apologize for posting more than one issue here, but this
seems to all be part of the same problem -- that is, the "spontaneous"
re-boot yesterday afternoon.

I am on the verge of reformatting and starting all over again, but
that's a huge deal (I have W98 w/ SE upgrade on the C: partition and
want to also install Linux on a second partition D:, with XP PRO on a
third partition). That will be VERY time-consuming, and I don't
really need to Linux setup right now so I'd rather not go through the
whole thing again... bales and bales of other software and updates
(including Office XP), etc...

Again, thanks in advance for any help.
Click to expand...

Hi, Lloyd. Before you do any reformatting, do some hardware diagnosis.
The problem may not be software-related at all. Here are some generic
hardware troubleshooting steps to take:

1) open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing); 2) test
the RAM - I like Memtest86 from www.memtest86.com - let the test run
for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless errors are
seen immediately; 3) test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from
the mftr.; 4) the power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for
the devices you have in the system; 5) test the motherboard with
something like TuffTest from www.tufftest.com. 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 good local computer repair
shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).

If you need more help, please post back with the results of your
testing. Don't despair! And don't apologize for writing clear,
descriptive posts! ;-)

Malke
Click to expand...
 
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