There seems to be an error gui popping up at the very end of the Windows shutdown. I think it said application error, but it goes away to quick. I am wondering if this is causing my issues. Is there a place I can see what has happened at shutdown etc.?

Thanks

Check your Event Viewer via Administrative Tools.

Open the System as well as Application tabs and look for red X errors that coincide with your problem. Details here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427

Also try Ace Utilities or other registry cleaner... that may resolve your problem.

Thank you very much for the help.... I wish I would have read these posts before I tried what I did last night.... I tried to reinstall Win XP Home from the reinstall disk that came with the machine. It went part way through the install and came to a blue screen with some kind of "pooler" error and now it can't get out of the install loop no matter what I try.

Now I am REALLY stuck, I was better before I tried the reinstall.... I wish I could get back to square one now!!

What is the make and model of the computer?

The manufacturer may have multiple Recovery Options.

Does it always fail with the same error at the same time when you reboot the Recovery CD?

Errors during XP setup are usually hardware. Pooler errors are quite possibly RAM or perhaps the hard drive itself.

RAM can be tested with MemTest:

http://www.memtest.org/

If you can find (or know) the manufacturer of your hard drive their web site will have a diagnostic utility to test your hard drive for mechanical faults.

It is a Dell 2400 (I am pretty sure, I am at work right now) from 11/2003.

Actually, it was failing on the Win XP Home install CD. Stuck in its install loop where it failed. I did not try a recovery disk as I thought I would need to get out of where it was. Also, I have to make sure there was a recovery disk with it....

I did run the Win memtest, but only for 10-15 minutes and all appeared well. I will run it again and let it go this time or try the link you suggeted.... I also swapped the 128 memory w/a 256 and it didn't appear to help.... it has the original 128 back in it now.

Thank you!!!

I would see if the Dell troubleshooter will help you:

How Do I Install the Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system on My Dell Computer?

http://support.dell.com/support/topi...n&s=gen&~ck=mn


Are you saying that you were trying to Clean Install a retail Microsoft XP Home onto your Dell?

ok, I am finally there! I am almost wondering if it was not enough ram the whole time..... I got XP reinstalled, all of the drivers loaded, everything worked flawlessly, and fast! Loaded Norton AV 2007 and BOOM, boot slowed again... added 256M ram for 384 total and it seems to be good.

Painful process if it was just the ram!! Well, at least I learned some more stuff!

Thanks for all of your help!!!!

Thanks for the update. XP really works best with at least 512 RAM.

Also Norton is very invasive and troublesome software. It fights windows on many fronts. I learned this the hard way by purchasing the entire Norton package for my first computer not knowing anything about computers nor Norton. I would never touch a Norton product again. Just my experience anyway.

Glad you are running better. Let us know how it goes or if we can help further.:wave: