Computer Woes

[Blue Blur]

Okay, you may or may not have noticed that I'm very rarely around, even less than before when I just lurked. However, there's actually a reason for it, and I figured this would be a good place to ask about my issue. See, I just built a rather crappy computer from spare parts I had lying around in a box after my old one blew up. So I got this thing going, registered XP on it, and everything seemed to be alright, until about a week later.

Now, already, I'm getting errors. At first I thought it would be a hardware issue, that I'd set something up wrong, but come to find out, it's Windows-specific, Explorer.exe to be exact. I'm not entirely sure what the actual problem is, but I will occasionally get a blue screen and have to restart or some programs will just close. The worst seems to be any sort of Browser. I've tried every single one I could out there, Opera, Seamonkey, IE7, ect, and they all do the same thing, quit with an error at random times. All I can recognize at the moment is my video card driver seems to be the culprit, but those are up to date.

Anyone got an idea of what might be happening?

[Fritz]

Clearly there is only one part that needs replacing, and that part is the computer. Get a new computer.

[Blue Blur]

And thus the Blur smacked his forehead.

If I could do that, I'd have done it long ago. Nevertheless, this seems to be more of a Windows error than anything. I mean, the thing runs Linux fine, but I need Windows for many things.

[Rooster]

Blue, as someone else who's experiencing computer woes, I share your pain.

Just drink heavily and shout at it...makes me feel better anyway

[Dr. Doog]

You installed a bad program.

Windows.

[Holyman83]

Have you tried reinstalling windows?
Also my might want to get a Program that will scan the sectors on the Hard Drive to make sure there are not error. The XP one should work...but I don't trust it when there are bad problems going on.

[Blue Blur]

As of right now I've used several scanners, and I'm downloading Sisoft Sandra right now for the trial. I haven't Defragmented yet. May help, actually.

Rooster: Believe me, there's been some shouting. And... throwing... and such...

[gforce422]

If you look at the XP in Windows XP, it looks like a laughing face sticking it's tongue out.


XP

[Richard K Niner]

*throws in a Tux plushie*

[baloki]

Okay, you may or may not have noticed that I'm very rarely around, even less than before when I just lurked. However, there's actually a reason for it, and I figured this would be a good place to ask about my issue. See, I just built a rather crappy computer from spare parts I had lying around in a box after my old one blew up. So I got this thing going, registered XP on it, and everything seemed to be alright, until about a week later.

Now, already, I'm getting errors. At first I thought it would be a hardware issue, that I'd set something up wrong, but come to find out, it's Windows-specific, Explorer.exe to be exact. I'm not entirely sure what the actual problem is, but I will occasionally get a blue screen and have to restart or some programs will just close. The worst seems to be any sort of Browser. I've tried every single one I could out there, Opera, Seamonkey, IE7, ect, and they all do the same thing, quit with an error at random times. All I can recognize at the moment is my video card driver seems to be the culprit, but those are up to date.

Anyone got an idea of what might be happening?

Could we have some further details of the system and the problem? Such as computer specs, errors messages and such? For now all I can suggest is re-seating the video card and seeing if that helps as it might have come loose?

[Rooster]

You installed a bad program.

Windows.

Nothing that's ever happened to any of my machines has been to do with Windows...it's all been hardware.

[Blue Blur]

Okay, you may or may not have noticed that I'm very rarely around, even less than before when I just lurked. However, there's actually a reason for it, and I figured this would be a good place to ask about my issue. See, I just built a rather crappy computer from spare parts I had lying around in a box after my old one blew up. So I got this thing going, registered XP on it, and everything seemed to be alright, until about a week later.

Now, already, I'm getting errors. At first I thought it would be a hardware issue, that I'd set something up wrong, but come to find out, it's Windows-specific, Explorer.exe to be exact. I'm not entirely sure what the actual problem is, but I will occasionally get a blue screen and have to restart or some programs will just close. The worst seems to be any sort of Browser. I've tried every single one I could out there, Opera, Seamonkey, IE7, ect, and they all do the same thing, quit with an error at random times. All I can recognize at the moment is my video card driver seems to be the culprit, but those are up to date.

Anyone got an idea of what might be happening?

Could we have some further details of the system and the problem? Such as computer specs, errors messages and such? For now all I can suggest is re-seating the video card and seeing if that helps as it might have come loose?

I can get you the specs, but the error messages are a bit funky. I can never replicate the error in a similar form. All I've managed to do is figure out that it has to do with explorer.exe, as in the open/save/popup button/menu stuff. Basically, what makes Windows run. And the worst part is, it is as I feared, my computer is at full running capacity! Every program I've used says that it is free of viruses, file fragments, and all those other bad things. I've got 52% of my HD free, too. Anyway, complaints aside, here're my specs:

Pentium III 800 MHz CPU
462 MB RAM
Windows XP SP2
Nvidia 5200XT video card (256 MB)
SB Live! 24-bit Sound Card

I've checked every driver on this thing, so it's not a hardware issue. My XP is genuine and such, and I've used several scanners for viruses that all come back clean.

[baloki]

How big is the hard drive as it might be a page file related issue? Also it might be a hardware issue, unless you've taken every component out and tested it that can't be ruled out. Does the machine have onboard video? If it does, try running the computer with that and see if you get the error. Also did you resit the video card?

Finally if neither of those work it might be a memory problem, try running a memory test and seeing if that brings back an error.

[Dr. Doog]

You installed a bad program.

Windows.

Nothing that's ever happened to any of my machines has been to do with Windows...it's all been hardware.

this is a software problem. in fact, it truly is a windows problem.

[Blue Blur]

Well, I've got 32 gigs of space with 52% or 16.something free. I've already formatted it several times before installing XP. I've also defragged it and scanned once more. Still nothing comes up... It's as if there's nothing wrong, but I'm getting explorer.exe/blue screen errors everywhere.