Help Please XP

[Eljanno]

Hi
Hope someone can help me please
I am not new to computers, but at the moment I feel that I am traped by the advice I am getting.
I had XP put on to my pc, after using ME, I think its great however,the problem I have is it I install software that requires my computer to reboot, then I keep getting the screen that has 'safe mode, allow windows to start normally on it'
Sometimes if I allow windows to start normally everything is fine and I can continue.
Yesturday however I was trying to install an update for nero (wma files) and It just would not reboot, until I went to safemode and thought the system restore ect now everything is fine again untill that is is I try to install anything else.

I apologise if I have come to the wrong forum for this, but I am new here and I am already being told conflicting things by people who think they know what they are talking about.

I would begreatful if someone could point me in the right direction of the problem, a new motherboard/graphics card ect has been mentioned, however the one in there now is suposed to be new
Thanks for your time Guy's

[Cricket]

Hi Eljanno,

Welcome to PC Mech.

Is this computer a store bought name brand PC or a home built system?

What are the specs...name of brand and model of each part if you know it. What brand is the power supply and how many watts does it put out?

Are you using any power management options in BIOS or in Windows?

Did you do a clean install of WinXP or did you upgrade over WinME?

What background programs are running on your system, especially the anti-virus software?

Cricket

[Eljanno]

Hi Cricket
The computer was built for me by someone I worked with, I am not sure of the spec's only thing's like 40gig h/d 256 ram, as for the motherboard I cannot remember what the name is butI know its red if that's any use and it has on board graphics ect. The processser is amd athlon, and the power supply is I think,300 or 350atx no the disc was reformatted before the update of XP was put on, I am not sure what you mean about using power management option in the bios but I ca find out if you can tell me how, and the antivirus software is norton 2003.
Thanks for your time lookfarward to hearing from you.
Jan

[Cricket]

Hi Eljanno,

Try this...start up the Norton Anti-Virus program and go to Options. I'm not sure where it is in the 2003 version, but try to find the option for scanning the floppy drive on shutdown and disable it. See it that helps.

Cricket

[Eljanno]

Hi Cricket
I dont seem to be able to find anything that gives me the option to diable the floppy drive on shut down.
Do you think it has something to do with the motherboard, because I am being told to buy new, but if I dont need to waste the money I wont.
Cheers

[Markoman01027]

Eljanno,
Right click on my COMPUTER, Properties, and go ahead and look for anything that will tell you wheather you want the floopy drive to be seeked at startup or not. I am not too familiar with windows XP, so I do not know the exact location. I have checked the MNB, but they did not provide me with instructions on how to disable floopy drive in XP.
Just look around.. I am sure you will find it sooner or later..

-Matt

[Eljanno]

Cheers I'll give it a go later, what has the floppy to do with things is that causeing my problems do you think
jan

[Alfie]

With XP it's important to have compatible devices and software,this can be verified through XP's catalog.
In order to determine the source,we need to know what devices are in the computer and if all software is comatible with XP.
You will need to upgrade the drivers for your devices to drivers for XP,etcIf you check device manager,it should list your devices.

[Eljanno]

Hi
All the drivers and updates where checked when XP was put on to the machine, a scan of XP updates also indicates that everything is updated.
Cheers

[got AMD]

hEY!
when u boot ur comp press "delete" after it reads all its bytes
then there should be a screen with options
goto standard cmos, it should be defalut, copy all the data down and when u boot with the new xp....you know what to do

[Confused]

I'm having a little trouble following. Please clear something up. Was the HD formatted and ME installed and then upgraded to XP?
Or was the HD formatted and XP installed?
Chas

[Eljanno]

Ok Sorry, the H/D was formatted and XP installed
or so I'm led to believe but I have no reason to doubt this.
Jan

[RoyKelly]

Hi and welcome to PC Mech!

Are you disabling Norton before installing software? Many times an anitvirus will cause installatiuon problems.

Are you having problems any other time? IE, when you are notr installing anything?

Is this XP Home or XP Professional?

When you check users are you an administator? (click Start, click on Control Panel, click Users)

You might also try http://support.microsoft.com

[Eljanno]

Its XP pro and no I dont disable Norton, Yes I am the admiistrator the guest account is set to off.
Once the computer rebooted when I just clicked on a file, but notheing else, it seem to be fine, I am just concerned that I am unsure of addinng new software or hard ware, thinking about it I added my scanner and printer, with out a problem
Thanks for your time
Jan

[Confused]

As a matter of habit I disable and/or stop all programs whenever I'm installing a new program.
Chas

[mike breck]

Yes,

It's always a good idea to close all background programs before installing a new program. I would certainly explore this simple solution first before blaming anything else.

The easiest way to close background programs in XP is to use MSCONFIG.

So before trying to install a new program do this:

Click on the Start Menu>Run.

Type "msconfig" without the quotes into the Open box and click OK.

Clear the box next to "Load Startup Items".

Click on Apply. Reboot as ordered.

After installing your new programp, go back to the utility and put a check mark back into the box next to "Load Startup Items".

Click "Apply" and Reboot as ordered.

See if that helps with program installation.

Also, I would double-check with the person who installed XP on your PC, that they did a CLEAN install (formatted to wipe the HD of Win Me) and not just UPGRADED Me to XP.

A clean install of XP is considered the best way. Upgrades can lead to all sorts of quirks and problems.

HTH

[Eljanno]

Thanks for that I'll give it a go,
XP was installed on to a clean disk, I have been having this problen for a while, but at the moment its not that bad.
Initally I had the H/D changed, the the guy who built the computer put in a new motherboard, unfortunatley I am not sure of it's name, all I know is that it has on board graphics, ect (32meg apparently this can be uped to 64 meg), Now a friend of mine is telling me to change the motherboard and graphic's card because that is what is causing the problems, but obviously I dont want to be paying out more money for thing I dont need.
Is there anyway I can find the name of this motherboard in my machine, say when the computer boots up?
Thanks for your time, sorry to be a pain
Jan

[Confused]

Downlaod and run Belarc advisor. www.belarc.com
Chas

[Eljanno]

What's that?
I dont want to download and run stuff because that's when I have a problem with the system rebooting.
Cheers Jan

[Confused]

Belarc is a hardware and software inventory utility. Very useful.

I don't know if it gives brand and model number during boot, but there should be a FCC number or something similar.Give all the information you can during boot and maybe we can find something ffrom www.motherboards.org

Also GLC gave a link some time back about FCC numbers. Maybe we can find that post.
Chas