XP install and partitioning

[FWSIV]

This problem just started this morning. During the startup window once the blue squares move across the bar and the system starts to transition to the user option screen, the computer shuts down. The only way I can restart the computer is by unplugging. But even after this, the same thing happens. I can start the computer in safe mode, but previous good configuration does the same thing. The computer shutdown normally last night, and I haven't changed/added anything in a while.
any help would be greatly appreciated-

[Panama Red]

Boot to Safe Mode with Networking, download and install Malewarebytes and run a Full system scan. I always eliminate malware as the first option.

[FWSIV]

I wasn't able to connect to the internet- could I just download the program on a usb and run from there?

[FWSIV]

ran maleware and nothing was detected

[Panama Red]

Can you Restore the sytem to an older Restore Point than the one it's trying to grab as Last known good Config? See if you have a Restore Point a couple days older than the latest one and see if that works. Did you run any Windows Updates or install any new programs or updates yesterday before you shut down?

[FWSIV]

Originally Posted by Panama Red Can you Restore the sytem to an older Restore Point than the one it's trying to grab as Last known good Config? See if you have a Restore Point a couple days older than the latest one and see if that works. Did you run any Windows Updates or install any new programs or updates yesterday before you shut down?

Dont' think any updates were installed other than some security (most likely), and added no new programs.

Restored back to the 8th (3 days) and have the same outcome

[FWSIV]

Ran chkdsk and got some messages about SYMEFA.SYS issues- the screen changed to quickly to get the entire massage, but the issue still exists. So I've been looking into this issue some more and it seems that it's related to norton security- it seems that restoring doesn't resolve the issue either- at this point I may just do a clean install of XP and find another security program to use.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Norton is a virus in itself. Try the Norton Removal tool and see if that helps, before you do a reformat and reinstall.

Download and run the Norton Removal Tool to uninstall your Norton product | Norton Support

[FWSIV]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader Norton is a virus in itself. Try the Norton Removal tool and see if that helps, before you do a reformat and reinstall. Download and run the Norton Removal Tool to uninstall your Norton product | Norton Support

did this last night and nothing changed
restarted computer a few times with the same results each time.

[Nuclear Krusader]

The Last Good Configuration is now corrupted as well and will not help. If this damage was caused by virus, good chances are that System Restore is useless now as well, since now many malware programs hide themselves into restore points to reinstall themselves should antimalware programs removed them.

I've been trying for most of last week and this one to find a way to set a messed up system back to a workable state, either by finding contaminated keys and items in the registry or by running several utilities. So far, I've been unsuccessful; sometimes the damage caused by malware is so vast that even after the offender has been removed the only way to get the PC up and running again is to nuke and pave. Frustrating, but the registry is so humongous and cryptic that fixing it is a job for a software engineer, not for an IT tech.

[FWSIV]

so format C and install?
sounds good to me-
At this point I think I'm done with Norton, so now I'm open for suggestions for internet security/firewall/blah blah blah.

[Nuclear Krusader]

I've been using M$ Security Essentials lately on customers computers and even on my own laptop. Paired up with Windows Firewall, it's a relatively good all-round package, and it's free.

For firewall, personally, though, I still use Comodo; and on my workstation I have AVG free.

[FWSIV]

I'm about to re-install XP on my computer. I have a 160gb HD and I'm wondering if there is any benefit to partition this HD for the install. I have a second 250gb WD HD that I use for backup. In the past I've done it both ways and don't really see any difference. If the HD crashes doesn't it just take out the whole drive and not just a partition?

[FWSIV]

Started fresh install of XP and once all the files are loaded and it's starting windows the power turns off again just like it was earlier. what the heck is going on? Could this be a HD problem? MB issue?

[EzyStvy]

If the hard drive dies - it dies and so does everything on it.

Multi partitions can be helpful for keeping track/help organizing your files....Which is much difference with on partition.

[glc]

With drives those sizes, just leave them each single partition - keep it simple.

[FWSIV]

That's what I'll do if I can get windows to load-
see other post as I'm having some issues with windows and power

[FWSIV]

Replaced HD with a spare. Same thing. Widows starts loading the setup files and when it goes to start windows, the power shuts off.

UPDATE-
OK, so I replaced the wrong HD with the spare. Now I replaced the original master HD with the spare, and windows loads like it should. Now should I buy a new WD 500GB black to use as my new master, or should I use my spare which is a Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 80GB? I think I know the answer, and will probably go ahead and order the WD black. I do have a couple of WD 250GB blue HD that I could use if I needed to.

[glc]

What is the bad hard drive, and is it still on warranty?

[glc]

Threads merged.

[FWSIV]

Originally Posted by glc What is the bad hard drive, and is it still on warranty?

From what I can tell it was the HD.
No this was actually the original that I built the computer with about 6 years ago. It was a 160GB Maxtor.
I thinking about getting a 500GB WD black- that should fix me up nicely

[FWSIV]

Originally Posted by FWSIV From what I can tell it was the HD. I thinking about getting a 500GB WD black- that should fix me up nicely

Issue still exists.
I replaced the old HD with the new WD, and I did get a little further in the install of windows- got to partition/format screen- But not always- sometimes I only get as far a installing the initial setup files. I have tried with just one HD or both HDs installed and it does not matter. Also, replaced the PSU with a spare- no difference.

I do have a spare video card that I have not tried yet. Could a bad video card cause the machine to power down at the same point everytime?

Should I try removing some memory? Could a bad memory cause the machine to power down at the same point everytime?

Could it be something with the MB? Case? Loose wire?

help

[FWSIV]

Another update-
At this point I think it may be a bad MB-
I have swapped out PSUs, ran memtest (everything was fine), and replaced the video card, and still get the same outcome. At this point I have replaced all hardware on the computer and the results are always the same- the only thing that I haven't replaced is the MB. So I think I'll just do a new build. The MB is about 6 years old- AMD 939. So I think I use some of the stuff and "upgrade" the other computers and get myself a newer model.