xp stalls

[doug]

AFter almost 2 years of use, Windows XP Home edition
locks up and stalls frequently. When I reboot and get the
blue screen, it asks if I want to run chkdsk. If I bypass
chkdsk, XP will open and work for a few minutes before it
locks up again. When I reboot and allow chkdsk to examine
Drive C, it completes examination of a percentage of the
drive and scrolls information, but before it completes the
disk scan, it ALWAYS stops at the following
message: "Program files\windows media player\music.wma
cross linked at allocation unit 184345"
It has stopped there at least 25 times. I put in a
brand new hard drive, and although Windows XP formatted
the disc and downloaded program files from the CD, Windows
locks up during installation at 34% completed. On reboot,
it has repeated this process several times, but
installation always hangs up at 34%.
I've searched for a *music.wma* file so I can delete
it, but to no avail.
Any ideas on why XP hangs up? Could it be the RAM,
the motherboard or maybe a malfunctioning (Low) power
supply?
Thanks
Doug in Tacoma

[XP]

doug wrote:
> AFter almost 2 years of use, Windows XP Home edition
> locks up and stalls frequently. When I reboot and get the
> blue screen, it asks if I want to run chkdsk. If I bypass
> chkdsk, XP will open and work for a few minutes before it
> locks up again. When I reboot and allow chkdsk to examine
> Drive C, it completes examination of a percentage of the
> drive and scrolls information, but before it completes the
> disk scan, it ALWAYS stops at the following
> message: "Program files\windows media player\music.wma
> cross linked at allocation unit 184345"
> It has stopped there at least 25 times. I put in a
> brand new hard drive, and although Windows XP formatted
> the disc and downloaded program files from the CD, Windows
> locks up during installation at 34% completed. On reboot,
> it has repeated this process several times, but
> installation always hangs up at 34%.
> I've searched for a *music.wma* file so I can delete
> it, but to no avail.
> Any ideas on why XP hangs up? Could it be the RAM,
> the motherboard or maybe a malfunctioning (Low) power
> supply?
> Thanks
> Doug in Tacoma
>
Possible blaster worm. Remove.

Otherwise:
This might be the fault of the software or of the hardware.
Go into msconfig and remove everything you recognize
on the startup tab.

Gently unseat and reseat every data connection in the computer.

This includes your cards. It is common for computers that are a few
years old to get a few bad connections and this procedure will
usually fix it -- but be warned that it occasionally happens that
a connection that was, say, connected to the motherboard will
completely fail during this operation. Instant computer death
ensues. Been there, done that, but if you're
getting lockups this is certainly worth the risk IMO.

Then try replacing your cables. (As long as you're at it,
why not get the new round cables to replace the ribbons.)

Connecting a device that isn't working properly to a USB port stalls
mine. It locks it up like a bank vault,
and it has to be unplugged to get it to reboot.
Try booting without any USB device connected for starters.
Also unplug every peripheral except the disk you're booting
from, the keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
If this is running OK, add the other peripherals one by one
(Lots and lots of boots!), testing for a while between each.

Is it particularly hot where you are? Running the computer
in a room that isn't air conditioned? Your CPU may be running
too hot. Fix that.

Did you try to overclock your CPU? Undo.

HTH
m
http://www.mbstevens.com/