My 3yr old computer with AMD 1.8 chip and running on XP pro started crashing some weeks ago. Usually after a couple of minutes or during booting. Once crashed and restarted it seemed to work OK. Crashing got more frequent so I had the HD wiped and XP Home installed. Unfortunately it still crashed. During switch on it was now taking several attempts to boot up. Each day taking longer ending up with it rebooting constantly. I tried to start it from the XP disc but after going through the proccess it still would not start windows. I have also changed the ram memory card, no difference.
The other thread in the forum"Windows XP keeps rebooting" covers part of the problem, but does the way mine has gone down ring a bell with anyone, any ideas?

Thanks

My first guess is a failing hard drive. Do you know the make? You can find the diagnostic here:

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

If you don't know the make this scan will show you under drives:

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Thanks for that. I have had a look and the HD is an "Excelstor Jupiter" and unfortunately is not mentioned in tacktech. Also checked the internet for related diagnostics with no luck.
Would it be posible to take out the hard drive and install it into onother PC as a slave to either a)check if it is working and b)if it is working ok salvage some of the files.
Would it be a straight "plug and play" excercise or does it have complications?
Unfortunately I don't have much experience of the hardware side of PC's.
Cheers

I received a reply from ExcelStor's technical support, today. They suggest using the Hitachi Drive Fitness Tool.

http://forums.tacktech.com/viewtopic...9a42c989cc1aaa

Hitachi download:

http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/suppor...2_v405_b00.exe

As to your latter question: yes you can move the drive just as you say. You will only need to either change the jumper from Master to slave or temporarily unplug your DVD/CD drive and plug the Excelstor in there (secondary Master).

Ran the Hatachi tool and the result was - NO ERRORS all OK.

Now the next problem, what to try next??

I would appreciate any thoughts.

Thanks

Can you start in Safe Mode? Press F8 after BIOS POST before Windows.

Also perhaps a BIOS upgrade might help. Do you know the make & model of the computer and or the motherboard?

If not this scan should show: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

What is listed under System Model as well as Main Circuit Board?

Have tried to start in safe mode several times. when I use it it goes into a rolling screen of info, did a pause, example - "multi(0)disc(0)rdisk(0)something(1)\windows\syste m32\config\system" or another one ending "system32\drivers\system\volsnap.sys" followed by a flash of blue and it re-starts the pc and goes as far as the screen where it gives you the options "start normaly. Basically every time I get to the page"We apologise for-----windows did not start successfully ------ Option to Start windows normally or in safe mode or safemode with networking etc. Cann't get further than that.

Picked up on the start up screen "Phoenix-Award Bios V6.00pc copyright 2002" does that help
Unfortunately cann't run a scan to find out more info

See if you can access the Recovery Console by booting your XP CD:

How to use the Recovery Console

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;307654

To try to fix the boot:

Assuming that your XP is on C: then:

Type:

FIXMBR C:

then enter. After that completes type:

FIXBOOT C:

then enter. After that completes type:

BOOTCFG /rebuild

then enter. After that completes type:

EXIT

then reboot.

If in the process you are asked to run chkdsk say YES.

Also after the BOOTCFG /rebuild you will be prompted to:

C:\Windows
1. Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All):
2. Enter Load Identifier: (Custom description for an operating system loading from the Boot menu)
3. Enter Operating System Load Options: (that is: /fastdetect)

Reply:
1. Yes
2. XP
3. /fastdetect

If this fails you can run a Repair Install that will leave your data intact:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Hi from an extatic Groucher!!!!!!

Ran through the recovery console with no effect and nearly did not bother to try the Repair Install, computer out the window instead, BUT, I tried it and IT WORKED!!!!!

When re-installing, it could not find the "VIAAGP1.sys" file so I had to download it and put it on a floppy. Could a corrupt file have coused all that grief???

I have spent the evening copying files etc to CD, must get into the habit of backing up.

I really can not thank you enough for your help and I am sending an email out to everyone on my address book telling them about D-A-L.

I will keep this thread open for a couple of days because when I had the drive wiped and windows re-installed just before Xmas it did crash the next day. We'll keep the fingers crossed though.

Is there anything that I should be doing regularly to ensure all is healthy inside the box?

Many thanks.

VIAAGP1.sys is a VIA graphics driver. Your motherboard and or graphics card must have a VIA chipset. This driver would usually install from one of those sources.

Glad you got it going!

Here is a good overview of a healthy routine:

http://www.pcguide.com/care/index.htm

Let us know how it goes & thanks for the thanks & kind remarks!