Windows XP freezes HELP !!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Spidey
  • Start date Start date
S

Spidey

Hello, I'm trying to help my sister fix her computer because we had a really
bad bad storm about a month back. I'm not sure if she had her computer on or
whatnot but now when you try to start the computer it freezes at the Windows
XP screen, right when the little bar starts moving, the one that looks like
night rider lol THAT'S when it freezes

Before it even gets to that screen, you get the black screen that tells you
that a power surge problem happened and it gives u a countdown where u have
to decide which way to start windows, safe mode, normally, etc.

Her computer is a Dell Dimension 2400 series;Pentium 4 2.80GHz; 512KB; BIOS
version A05.

I've tried to restore XP to a previous working starting point, I've tried to
do a complete re-install of XP all under safe mode, and nothing works, XP
still freezes up once the computer starts and it gets to the XP screen.
When I try to re-install XP with the cd that came with the computer it won't
let me beacuse it says the version installed on the computer is newer than
the one on the cd. I've even tried to boot straight from the CD and things
move well till the computer has to re-boot halfway thru the process to
continue with the setup from the CD.
Now since I did that, it won't let me go into safe move because the setup is
not done.

ANY ideas on how can I fix this problem and get this computer back to
working ok again?

Please let me know, I'll appreciate it alot.

Thanx
 
Spidey said:
Hello, I'm trying to help my sister fix her computer because we had a really
bad bad storm about a month back. I'm not sure if she had her computer on or
whatnot but now when you try to start the computer it freezes at the Windows
XP screen, right when the little bar starts moving, the one that looks like
night rider lol THAT'S when it freezes

Before it even gets to that screen, you get the black screen that tells you
that a power surge problem happened and it gives u a countdown where u have
to decide which way to start windows, safe mode, normally, etc.

Her computer is a Dell Dimension 2400 series;Pentium 4 2.80GHz; 512KB; BIOS
version A05.

I've tried to restore XP to a previous working starting point, I've tried to
do a complete re-install of XP all under safe mode, and nothing works, XP
still freezes up once the computer starts and it gets to the XP screen.
When I try to re-install XP with the cd that came with the computer it won't
let me beacuse it says the version installed on the computer is newer than
the one on the cd. I've even tried to boot straight from the CD and things
move well till the computer has to re-boot halfway thru the process to
continue with the setup from the CD.
Now since I did that, it won't let me go into safe move because the setup is
not done.

ANY ideas on how can I fix this problem and get this computer back to
working ok again?

Please let me know, I'll appreciate it alot.

Thanx
Click to expand...

You will need to Perform a clean install, which mean wiping out all Data on
the Hard Drive, so if you have a Data need to be rescued you can hook this
HDD to another Machine and Copy over the data on Removal Storage like CD/DVD,
USB Drive..etc.
On How to perform a clean Install read the following Info
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm
HTH.
nass
 
Spidey said:
Hello, I'm trying to help my sister fix her computer because we had a really
bad bad storm about a month back. I'm not sure if she had her computer on or
whatnot but now when you try to start the computer it freezes at the Windows
XP screen, right when the little bar starts moving, the one that looks like
night rider lol THAT'S when it freezes

Before it even gets to that screen, you get the black screen that tells you
that a power surge problem happened and it gives u a countdown where u have
to decide which way to start windows, safe mode, normally, etc.

Her computer is a Dell Dimension 2400 series;Pentium 4 2.80GHz; 512KB; BIOS
version A05.

I've tried to restore XP to a previous working starting point, I've tried to
do a complete re-install of XP all under safe mode, and nothing works, XP
still freezes up once the computer starts and it gets to the XP screen.
When I try to re-install XP with the cd that came with the computer it won't
let me beacuse it says the version installed on the computer is newer than
the one on the cd. I've even tried to boot straight from the CD and things
move well till the computer has to re-boot halfway thru the process to
continue with the setup from the CD.
Now since I did that, it won't let me go into safe move because the setup is
not done.

ANY ideas on how can I fix this problem and get this computer back to
working ok again?

Please let me know, I'll appreciate it alot.

Thanx
Click to expand...


I'd bet on this being a hardware problem. The hard drive, RAM, or power supply
unit would be my first suspects. If it's the PSU, things could get complicated.
Many Dell systems use a non-standard PSU. That means you may not find a
replacement available at a local store. The only option would be to order one
from a web retailer.

Take a look at the back of the computer for a series of 4 lights. They should
all be green when the computer is on. If they're not, consult the manual for the
system to see what problem they're indicating. The manual for the system can be
obtained from the Dell support web site. Look on the back of your sister's
computer for a sticker with a bar code and a seven character alphanumeric code.
This is the system's service tag. Go to this web site, enter the service tag,
and download the manual.

Drivers and Downloads
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen

Dell also includes a diagnostic program that can be launched by hitting the F12
key at startup or booting from the Resources CD that would have been shipped
with the computer.

I'd also take a look inside the machine to see who manufactured the hard drive.
Once you have that info, check the company's web site for a utility designed to
test their hard drive.

Another easy item to test is the system's RAM. Take a look at this web site for
a program that will help with this task.

Memtest86
http://www.memtest86.com/

Good luck

Nepatsfan
 
And how you tried to Install/repair in safe Mode...hmmm, will do next time!.
nass
Click to expand...

You still CAN'T READ.

I quoted the OP's post that YOU replied to. The OP CLEARLY stated
that a reinstall had been attempted and that it didn't work.
 
PD43 said:
You still CAN'T READ.

I quoted the OP's post that YOU replied to. The OP CLEARLY stated
that a reinstall had been attempted and that it didn't work.
Click to expand...

OP did NOT clearly state that a clean install had been attempted.
 
What The FK you are drippling about and why you replying to my post. I don't
have a problem the OP does, so if you have an answer please post to the OP
not me I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, DO YOU understand!!!!.
HTH
nass
http://www.nasstec.co.uk
 
nass said:
What The FK you are drippling about and why you replying to my post. I don't
have a problem the OP does, so if you have an answer please post to the OP
not me I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, DO YOU understand!!!!.
Click to expand...

I've followed your posts for a long time...

Your "fixes" are often knee-jerk in nature and often reflect your not
having fully read what you reply to.
 
If you know what troubleshooting is about, you will appreciate what been
said!.
We don't know if the OP done a Repair/Install or if he/she done a recovery
repair of the system, also if His/Her HDD gone NUTS or the CD-ROM driver
corrupt or gone bad or RAM for that matter.
Do you know the OP, are you His/Her Family or a friend?.

Even if He/She performed a setup, he/she could miss a step in the procedure
which end up in disaster or incomplete setup rendering the machine useless or
unbootable.
Again, please if you have answer provide it or leave others to help, your
interference can damage the OP and take the attention from His/Her issue to
your garbage . You set back and watch before jump in!!!!.
 
PD43 said:
I've followed your posts for a long time...

Your "fixes" are often knee-jerk in nature and often reflect your not
having fully read what you reply to.
Click to expand...

Okay, keep my Knee-Jerk aside and Provide the answer to the OP issue then if
you can?.
What your verdict on this?.
Oh, that mean you like/enjoy reading my posts if you been a follower from a
long time ;)
HTH.
nass
 
nass said:
Oh, that mean you like/enjoy reading my posts if you been a follower from a
long time ;)
Click to expand...

No. I recently dumped my killfile to get a fresh start.

You're probably going back in soon.
 
PD43 said:
No. I recently dumped my killfile to get a fresh start.

You're probably going back in soon.
Click to expand...

Do you need my sig for your Killfile, give us a break will ya.
If I did reply to you, just because I can see you are not nasty and you
don't mean any thing bad, but the way you argue is bad. Usually I don't
answer back have no place for that and this NG not the place for such a thing.
Again, I'm not a bad person if I done something bad to you or said something
direct or indirect, my apology "sorry" even if I don't know what it is.
Smile ;) , I don't know you or have any thing against you just respect!!!.
 
nass said:
Again, I'm not a bad person if I done something bad to you or said something
direct or indirect, my apology "sorry" even if I don't know what it is.
Click to expand...

It's nothing that you've done/said personally to me. It's just that
half of the time (probably more) when I read your "fixes" I wanna slap
you.

I'm trying to cut back on that... or maybe I'm just trying to find new
people to slap.
 
...
You can try Dell's 90/90 harddrive diagnostic tool.
Should be available if you hold CTRL+ALT and hit D on the bios splash
screen or from the boot menu (if you hit F12 on the bios splash screen).
Click to expand...

Spidey - Nepatsfan and Animenia's post are the best advice posted.
You saw a problem, then started fixing things using only wild
speculation. Add a once perfectly good and now corrupted OS to a
growing list of failures. OS problem created because you did not
learn what had failed - instead fixed something that was not broken.

We fix things to learn. Well this is your learning experience;
learn from mistakes. Never fix things on speculation. First collect
facts to know what is defective.

Dell provides comprehensive hardware diagnostics that are booted by
pressing F12 when computer first starts. Also those four rear panel
lights report failures. Only after those diagnostics and lights
identify a failure, do you fix that failure. Once the original
failure is located and fixed - lights report no error and those
comprehensive hardware diagnostics report everything OK - only then
move on to fix the OS that you have corrupted.

First establish hardware is OK - the diagnostics and light. Later
move on to software - the OS. Those functions to diagnose and repair
hardware do not even use the OS which is why a Dell is easier to fix.
 
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