Is it XP or is it the machine? [Archive]

View Full Version : Is it XP or is it the machine?

huge80

December 11th 03, 07:46 AM

hi,

i have almost the same problem. except mine`s a compaq
already running xp. i tried downloading the service pack
with no luck . it would take for a about a month before
it would lock up to the point i`d have to reinstall xp. i
bought xp home and tried to use that insead of the
restore disk . that lasted about 3 weeks before it to
crashed . i went and then bought norton system works and
found at least 20 errors after reinstalling xp for the
8th time. all my errors say that it`s a device driver
error.but not which one. the last one that i got said
it`s the video driver. no one seems to know why this
computer keeps crashing to the point that i have to
reinstall xp . i`m glad to see i`m not alne in this.
>-----Original Message-----
>Hi, all -
>
>I use a Dell Dimension XPS 450 which I bought in 1999.
It came with Windows
>98. From the beginning, this machine has been a *******
child. It would lock
>up for no good reason, I'd routinely get "blue screen"
messages, software
>was very slow to load...the list of problems would
differ day-to-day, but
>there was always something. And it's been a while since
I used W98, so I
>don't even remember them all.
>
>Earlier this year, I began upgrading the machine. First,
I added memory -
>went from 128 MB to 384 MB; the memory modules came from
Dell. After that, I
>installed Windows XP Pro. I did it as a new
installation, in the hopes that
>I could wipe out any and all vestiges of the previous
problems. I backed up
>the drive and used the install option that should have
wiped the drive clean
>and started from scratch. It didn't work - it did an
upgrade install
>instead. I tried it again - this time it supposedly
reformatted the drive
>and did a complete install. I did NOT move any program
files from the backup
>to the reformatted drive. I have only moved data files.
I have never moved
>any of the old program files. All the installs since
then have been from the
>CD's that the software came on.
>
>Now, after the OS change, the new memory and a bunch of
fixes and patches,
>the performance is worse than it was before!
>
> 1. Programs are still slow to open, and sometimes
don't open at all.
> 2. Every time I use MS Outlook Express, I eventually
get an error
>message that says that OE has to close because of an
> unexpected error. That locks up the machine.
This has happened every
>day, without fail, that I have tried to use OE. It seems
> to only happen once per day, no matter how many
times I open and
>close OE. Each time it happens, if I'm online, I send the
> error report to the great sinkhole at Microsoft.
> 3. Sometimes, during boot-up (twice this morning),
the process goes far
>enough to display the desktop background, but not the
> icons. The only cure is to use the Reset button
and reboot -
>Ctrl-Alt-Delete does bring up an option to shut the
machine down,
> but it doesn't work.
> 4. Frequently (about half the time) when I shut down
normally, the
>routine hangs, leaving a blue screen for anywhere from
five to
> thirty minutes.
> 5. While using either Outlook or Outlook Express, a
second instance of
>the dial-up program for my ISP is started. This will
happen
> ten to fifteen minutes into the use of the
Outlook or OE software,
>and only happens while I am online.
>
>And there's probably more; that's just a sample of the
last couple of days.
>
>I've used Symantec System Tools 2002 repeatedly. System
Tools will say that
>it fixed numbers of registry errors and shortcut errors,
and if I run it the
>next day, there are more errors of the same type, even
though no software
>has been loaded or moved in the intervening period.
>
>This is making me absolutely crazy. Has anyone had
similar problems, and can
>anyone point me at any solutions? Or should I just go
out and get another
>machine, move the data files as needed, and go on with
my life?
>
>Thank you for your help and for the shoulder to dry on.
>
>
>Steve E.
>
>.
>

Jim Macklin

December 11th 03, 07:46 AM

Serious_Practitioner

December 11th 03, 07:48 AM

Papa

December 11th 03, 07:48 AM

Then I seriously doubt that you did. That test is much too detailed to
easily forget. The compatibility test should be a "must do" by anyone
upgrading to XP from an older machine. With the results from the test made
available, the user knows exactly where the driver and hardware shortcomings
are, and will know what action they must take.

"Serious_Practitioner" > wrote in message
...
> Frankly, I don't remember if I did or not.
>
>
> Steve E.
>
>
> "Jim Macklin" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Did you fellows run the Windows XP compatibility test before
> > upgrading?
> >
> >
> > "huge80" > wrote in
> > message ...
> > | hi,
> > |
> > | i have almost the same problem. except mine`s a compaq
> > | already running xp. i tried downloading the service pack
> > | with no luck . it would take for a about a month before
> > | it would lock up to the point i`d have to reinstall xp. i
> > | bought xp home and tried to use that insead of the
> > | restore disk . that lasted about 3 weeks before it to
> > | crashed . i went and then bought norton system works and
> > | found at least 20 errors after reinstalling xp for the
> > | 8th time. all my errors say that it`s a device driver
> > | error.but not which one. the last one that i got said
> > | it`s the video driver. no one seems to know why this
> > | computer keeps crashing to the point that i have to
> > | reinstall xp . i`m glad to see i`m not alne in this.
> > | >-----Original Message-----
> > | >Hi, all -
> > | >
> > | >I use a Dell Dimension XPS 450 which I bought in 1999.
> > | It came with Windows
> > | >98. From the beginning, this machine has been a *******
> > | child. It would lock
> > | >up for no good reason, I'd routinely get "blue screen"
> > | messages, software
> > | >was very slow to load...the list of problems would
> > | differ day-to-day, but
> > | >there was always something. And it's been a while since
> > | I used W98, so I
> > | >don't even remember them all.
> > | >
> > | >Earlier this year, I began upgrading the machine. First,
> > | I added memory -
> > | >went from 128 MB to 384 MB; the memory modules came from
> > | Dell. After that, I
> > | >installed Windows XP Pro. I did it as a new
> > | installation, in the hopes that
> > | >I could wipe out any and all vestiges of the previous
> > | problems. I backed up
> > | >the drive and used the install option that should have
> > | wiped the drive clean
> > | >and started from scratch. It didn't work - it did an
> > | upgrade install
> > | >instead. I tried it again - this time it supposedly
> > | reformatted the drive
> > | >and did a complete install. I did NOT move any program
> > | files from the backup
> > | >to the reformatted drive. I have only moved data files.
> > | I have never moved
> > | >any of the old program files. All the installs since
> > | then have been from the
> > | >CD's that the software came on.
> > | >
> > | >Now, after the OS change, the new memory and a bunch of
> > | fixes and patches,
> > | >the performance is worse than it was before!
> > | >
> > | > 1. Programs are still slow to open, and sometimes
> > | don't open at all.
> > | > 2. Every time I use MS Outlook Express, I eventually
> > | get an error
> > | >message that says that OE has to close because of an
> > | > unexpected error. That locks up the machine.
> > | This has happened every
> > | >day, without fail, that I have tried to use OE. It seems
> > | > to only happen once per day, no matter how many
> > | times I open and
> > | >close OE. Each time it happens, if I'm online, I send the
> > | > error report to the great sinkhole at Microsoft.
> > | > 3. Sometimes, during boot-up (twice this morning),
> > | the process goes far
> > | >enough to display the desktop background, but not the
> > | > icons. The only cure is to use the Reset button
> > | and reboot -
> > | >Ctrl-Alt-Delete does bring up an option to shut the
> > | machine down,
> > | > but it doesn't work.
> > | > 4. Frequently (about half the time) when I shut down
> > | normally, the
> > | >routine hangs, leaving a blue screen for anywhere from
> > | five to
> > | > thirty minutes.
> > | > 5. While using either Outlook or Outlook Express, a
> > | second instance of
> > | >the dial-up program for my ISP is started. This will
> > | happen
> > | > ten to fifteen minutes into the use of the
> > | Outlook or OE software,
> > | >and only happens while I am online.
> > | >
> > | >And there's probably more; that's just a sample of the
> > | last couple of days.
> > | >
> > | >I've used Symantec System Tools 2002 repeatedly. System
> > | Tools will say that
> > | >it fixed numbers of registry errors and shortcut errors,
> > | and if I run it the
> > | >next day, there are more errors of the same type, even
> > | though no software
> > | >has been loaded or moved in the intervening period.
> > | >
> > | >This is making me absolutely crazy. Has anyone had
> > | similar problems, and can
> > | >anyone point me at any solutions? Or should I just go
> > | out and get another
> > | >machine, move the data files as needed, and go on with
> > | my life?
> > | >
> > | >Thank you for your help and for the shoulder to dry on.
> > | >
> > | >
> > | >Steve E.
> > | >
> > | >.
> > | >
> >
> >
>
>

Jim Macklin

December 11th 03, 07:48 AM

That might be the root of your problem, a computer that
doesn't run W98 well is not a good candidate for XP. It is
like putting a fresh coat of paint on a rusty 99 Olds after
the traffic accident.

"Serious_Practitioner" >
wrote in message
...
| Frankly, I don't remember if I did or not.
|
|
| Steve E.
|
|
| "Jim Macklin" > wrote
in message
| ...
| > Did you fellows run the Windows XP compatibility test
before
| > upgrading?
| >
| >
| > "huge80" > wrote in
| > message ...
| > | hi,
| > |
| > | i have almost the same problem. except mine`s a
compaq
| > | already running xp. i tried downloading the service
pack
| > | with no luck . it would take for a about a month
before
| > | it would lock up to the point i`d have to reinstall
xp. i
| > | bought xp home and tried to use that insead of the
| > | restore disk . that lasted about 3 weeks before it to
| > | crashed . i went and then bought norton system works
and
| > | found at least 20 errors after reinstalling xp for the
| > | 8th time. all my errors say that it`s a device driver
| > | error.but not which one. the last one that i got said
| > | it`s the video driver. no one seems to know why this
| > | computer keeps crashing to the point that i have to
| > | reinstall xp . i`m glad to see i`m not alne in this.
| > | >-----Original Message-----
| > | >Hi, all -
| > | >
| > | >I use a Dell Dimension XPS 450 which I bought in
1999.
| > | It came with Windows
| > | >98. From the beginning, this machine has been a
*******
| > | child. It would lock
| > | >up for no good reason, I'd routinely get "blue
screen"
| > | messages, software
| > | >was very slow to load...the list of problems would
| > | differ day-to-day, but
| > | >there was always something. And it's been a while
since
| > | I used W98, so I
| > | >don't even remember them all.
| > | >
| > | >Earlier this year, I began upgrading the machine.
First,
| > | I added memory -
| > | >went from 128 MB to 384 MB; the memory modules came
from
| > | Dell. After that, I
| > | >installed Windows XP Pro. I did it as a new
| > | installation, in the hopes that
| > | >I could wipe out any and all vestiges of the previous
| > | problems. I backed up
| > | >the drive and used the install option that should
have
| > | wiped the drive clean
| > | >and started from scratch. It didn't work - it did an
| > | upgrade install
| > | >instead. I tried it again - this time it supposedly
| > | reformatted the drive
| > | >and did a complete install. I did NOT move any
program
| > | files from the backup
| > | >to the reformatted drive. I have only moved data
files.
| > | I have never moved
| > | >any of the old program files. All the installs since
| > | then have been from the
| > | >CD's that the software came on.
| > | >
| > | >Now, after the OS change, the new memory and a bunch
of
| > | fixes and patches,
| > | >the performance is worse than it was before!
| > | >
| > | > 1. Programs are still slow to open, and sometimes
| > | don't open at all.
| > | > 2. Every time I use MS Outlook Express, I
eventually
| > | get an error
| > | >message that says that OE has to close because of an
| > | > unexpected error. That locks up the machine.
| > | This has happened every
| > | >day, without fail, that I have tried to use OE. It
seems
| > | > to only happen once per day, no matter how
many
| > | times I open and
| > | >close OE. Each time it happens, if I'm online, I send
the
| > | > error report to the great sinkhole at
Microsoft.
| > | > 3. Sometimes, during boot-up (twice this
morning),
| > | the process goes far
| > | >enough to display the desktop background, but not the
| > | > icons. The only cure is to use the Reset
button
| > | and reboot -
| > | >Ctrl-Alt-Delete does bring up an option to shut the
| > | machine down,
| > | > but it doesn't work.
| > | > 4. Frequently (about half the time) when I shut
down
| > | normally, the
| > | >routine hangs, leaving a blue screen for anywhere
from
| > | five to
| > | > thirty minutes.
| > | > 5. While using either Outlook or Outlook Express,
a
| > | second instance of
| > | >the dial-up program for my ISP is started. This will
| > | happen
| > | > ten to fifteen minutes into the use of the
| > | Outlook or OE software,
| > | >and only happens while I am online.
| > | >
| > | >And there's probably more; that's just a sample of
the
| > | last couple of days.
| > | >
| > | >I've used Symantec System Tools 2002 repeatedly.
System
| > | Tools will say that
| > | >it fixed numbers of registry errors and shortcut
errors,
| > | and if I run it the
| > | >next day, there are more errors of the same type,
even
| > | though no software
| > | >has been loaded or moved in the intervening period.
| > | >
| > | >This is making me absolutely crazy. Has anyone had
| > | similar problems, and can
| > | >anyone point me at any solutions? Or should I just go
| > | out and get another
| > | >machine, move the data files as needed, and go on
with
| > | my life?
| > | >
| > | >Thank you for your help and for the shoulder to dry
on.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >Steve E.
| > | >
| > | >.
| > | >
| >
| >
|
|

Jim Macklin

December 11th 03, 07:48 AM

Another thought, do the upgrade tests now, they are on the
XP CD and should still detect hardware incompatibly.

A similar series of tests can be run at www.pcpitstop.com

"Serious_Practitioner" >
wrote in message
...
| Frankly, I don't remember if I did or not.
|
|
| Steve E.
|
|
| "Jim Macklin" > wrote
in message
| ...
| > Did you fellows run the Windows XP compatibility test
before
| > upgrading?
| >
| >
| > "huge80" > wrote in
| > message ...
| > | hi,
| > |
| > | i have almost the same problem. except mine`s a
compaq
| > | already running xp. i tried downloading the service
pack
| > | with no luck . it would take for a about a month
before
| > | it would lock up to the point i`d have to reinstall
xp. i
| > | bought xp home and tried to use that insead of the
| > | restore disk . that lasted about 3 weeks before it to
| > | crashed . i went and then bought norton system works
and
| > | found at least 20 errors after reinstalling xp for the
| > | 8th time. all my errors say that it`s a device driver
| > | error.but not which one. the last one that i got said
| > | it`s the video driver. no one seems to know why this
| > | computer keeps crashing to the point that i have to
| > | reinstall xp . i`m glad to see i`m not alne in this.
| > | >-----Original Message-----
| > | >Hi, all -
| > | >
| > | >I use a Dell Dimension XPS 450 which I bought in
1999.
| > | It came with Windows
| > | >98. From the beginning, this machine has been a
*******
| > | child. It would lock
| > | >up for no good reason, I'd routinely get "blue
screen"
| > | messages, software
| > | >was very slow to load...the list of problems would
| > | differ day-to-day, but
| > | >there was always something. And it's been a while
since
| > | I used W98, so I
| > | >don't even remember them all.
| > | >
| > | >Earlier this year, I began upgrading the machine.
First,
| > | I added memory -
| > | >went from 128 MB to 384 MB; the memory modules came
from
| > | Dell. After that, I
| > | >installed Windows XP Pro. I did it as a new
| > | installation, in the hopes that
| > | >I could wipe out any and all vestiges of the previous
| > | problems. I backed up
| > | >the drive and used the install option that should
have
| > | wiped the drive clean
| > | >and started from scratch. It didn't work - it did an
| > | upgrade install
| > | >instead. I tried it again - this time it supposedly
| > | reformatted the drive
| > | >and did a complete install. I did NOT move any
program
| > | files from the backup
| > | >to the reformatted drive. I have only moved data
files.
| > | I have never moved
| > | >any of the old program files. All the installs since
| > | then have been from the
| > | >CD's that the software came on.
| > | >
| > | >Now, after the OS change, the new memory and a bunch
of
| > | fixes and patches,
| > | >the performance is worse than it was before!
| > | >
| > | > 1. Programs are still slow to open, and sometimes
| > | don't open at all.
| > | > 2. Every time I use MS Outlook Express, I
eventually
| > | get an error
| > | >message that says that OE has to close because of an
| > | > unexpected error. That locks up the machine.
| > | This has happened every
| > | >day, without fail, that I have tried to use OE. It
seems
| > | > to only happen once per day, no matter how
many
| > | times I open and
| > | >close OE. Each time it happens, if I'm online, I send
the
| > | > error report to the great sinkhole at
Microsoft.
| > | > 3. Sometimes, during boot-up (twice this
morning),
| > | the process goes far
| > | >enough to display the desktop background, but not the
| > | > icons. The only cure is to use the Reset
button
| > | and reboot -
| > | >Ctrl-Alt-Delete does bring up an option to shut the
| > | machine down,
| > | > but it doesn't work.
| > | > 4. Frequently (about half the time) when I shut
down
| > | normally, the
| > | >routine hangs, leaving a blue screen for anywhere
from
| > | five to
| > | > thirty minutes.
| > | > 5. While using either Outlook or Outlook Express,
a
| > | second instance of
| > | >the dial-up program for my ISP is started. This will
| > | happen
| > | > ten to fifteen minutes into the use of the
| > | Outlook or OE software,
| > | >and only happens while I am online.
| > | >
| > | >And there's probably more; that's just a sample of
the
| > | last couple of days.
| > | >
| > | >I've used Symantec System Tools 2002 repeatedly.
System
| > | Tools will say that
| > | >it fixed numbers of registry errors and shortcut
errors,
| > | and if I run it the
| > | >next day, there are more errors of the same type,
even
| > | though no software
| > | >has been loaded or moved in the intervening period.
| > | >
| > | >This is making me absolutely crazy. Has anyone had
| > | similar problems, and can
| > | >anyone point me at any solutions? Or should I just go
| > | out and get another
| > | >machine, move the data files as needed, and go on
with
| > | my life?
| > | >
| > | >Thank you for your help and for the shoulder to dry
on.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >Steve E.
| > | >
| > | >.
| > | >
| >
| >
|
|