Clean XP install - Lots of Blue Screens Now

I am getting Blue Screens, some times repeatedly. I just had 4 crashes in a row. I just reformatted this hard drive, and reinstalled Windows XP home.

I was using the Windows 7 release candidate for the last 8-10 months, but the demo is ending.

I have tried 3 times already reinstalling windows. One time I left the windows update at service pack 2 and I still got blue screens. The other time I let windows update all recommended updates, and I am getting blue screens again.

It is random when I get the Blue screens and sometimes I can be on the computer for hours. Other times like today, as soon as i tried to boot the computer up, it crashed like 4 times to blue screens.

The only out of the ordinary thing I did use a disk eraser program to write 0s on this hard drive when I first reinstalled windows XP. I did this because I had some MP3s that may or may not have been copyrighted on my computer, and I figured I might as well try and wipe the disk good, so I would never have to worry about RIAA.

I have no idea what the problem is now, I did write down some of the error messages, but it has happened so many times now, I gave up writing down the messages.

I have no clue what to do really. I ran XP for years on this computer and never had a blue screen. But now after going back after Windows 7, I cant even get XP to be stable for 1 day.


THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND HELP

jason

 

And what messages are you getting in your event viewer? Any error flags in your device manager? Are you installing antivirus or other security before the blue screens? Any external devices? Did you use the disks that actually came with the machine? Does this happen in Safe mode?:wave:wave:wave

 

Wow. I just recently used system restore to revive my computer and thus re-installed XP Home. My computer is fine and flying. No blue screens here. But your post brings up a question I should ask and one you'll likely be curious about once you're problem is repaired...

Having reinstalled, what's the common accepted wisdom regarding updates? I have pop up messages that Windows updates are waiting and I've been totally ignoring them. After the trauma of being without a working computer and then having it so wonderfully restored and working better than ever, I'm reluctant to click on any update. (I'm a big believer in "if it ain't broke...")

I don't even know what the computer's current status. Does it presently have SP3? SP2? What, as a baseline, should it have anyway? I'm guessing I'm now missing some patches that were issued over the years. But, as said, it's running so beautifully now.

 

The problem with this is that many of the updates, including SP3, are related to security issues that MS has discovered and addressed. Some are related to system issues but you really shouldn't be running without them, esp. if you go on the internet.
Yes, there are instances where updates create problems, usually this is in some way related to other software on your computer. You can review each update and if it looks like something unrelated to your setup, like a security patch for Word documents where you don't have Word, then skip them.
When I reinstall an OS, I immediately do the updates and SP's, then the antivirus and anti spyware, then I use Winpatrol to manage the autoruns, a few other tweaks like disabling remote, disabling windows messenger, adjust for best performance.
Have not encountered any problems with this routine. :wave:wave:wave

 

Hello and thank you for the replies.

Here is an update: I decided to just reinstall windows again and to install things slowly to see when the blue screens start to happen

Well right now, I have installed windows XP home, my Mobo driver from disk, and my original Nvidia graphics driver from a CD and have had no problems.

I have not updated windows to service pack 2 or any sort of windows updates. Also I have not updated any other drivers and I am not sure if I need to.

As far as I could tell if I let windows update by itself, it will not stop until I have service pack 3 and the most recent internet explorer.

I am not sure what I am going to do yet, I may try to install windows updates 1 at a time and see when the problems begin.

Anyone have any advice or experience with this?

This is strange to me, because before i beta tested Windows 7 I was running service pack 2 and never had any problems.

THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP, I APPRECIATE IT
jason

 

I am not blue screening now that I reinstalled again and have done no windows updates or driver updates.

Right now I am at windows xp out of the box and driver versions off original CDs, and having 0 problems or blue screens.


The only thing is, without updating atleast to windows XP service pack 2, I can not install some things, like Avira Anti Virus.

So I may try to update to SP2 and see if the computer will run properly.

I dont see how it would be a hard ware issue. All hard ware has been working fine, before with XP, then for 8 months with Win 7, and now working again fine with no updates to windows, or updated driver versions. If it was a hardware issue, I think I would be noticing the problem now.

Earlier this morning I blue screened atleast 10 x with all updated windows/ drivers.

THANKS AGAIN FOR THE HELP

 

UPDATE: I have been running fine for about 2 days now, and not 1 crash or any problem.

I reinstalled windows XP, and did not use automatic update, I found the XP service pack 2 on the microsoft website and updated only with that update.

I am also using the drivers that came with the mobo/ graphics card originally.

I think I was having a problem with something in a windows update, but I am not sure. Atleast with SP2 I am able to use any software I have tried to install so far.

THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP