Something screwy is going on!

I have a AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3500+ that has Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 on it. Lately I've been having problems that seems to occur mainly while attempting to play games. The computer will crash and go to a black screen saying that windows did not start successfully and that a recent software or hardware change could have caused it (though I have not changed things). It will ask whether I want to start normally, in safe mode or last known good configuration, etc Sometimes after this it then goes to the blue chkdsk screen and other times it tries to start windows but keeps coming back to that black screen. If I turn the computer off for a while (like half an hour) and then turn it back on it boots up fine (sometimes after performing chkdsk, sometimes without it performing it). I'm typing this after such an episode and some weird things have happened. It quit letting me type and a repetitive beep came from within the CPU for about a minute. The volume bars appeared on the screen although I did not touch the volume controls. The lights on my keyboard flashed several times while repetitively typing [6d across the screen. ?? Weird.

I have Zone Alarm and Avast on my computer and have performed full system scans such as TrendMicro and PCPitstop checks but they show up no virus/malwares.

What on earth could it be? This has only be happening in the last 2 weeks. I bought this system in November 2006 I believe it was.

confused

 

Okay, now it just did it again and after it finally booted itself up again (after trying about 4 times) it popped up with this message:

"Windows - Registry Recovery" -->> (inside the blue bar at top)
One of the files containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or alternate copy. The recovery was successful.

??

 

It sounds like the PC is overheating. When PC's get hot, they do all kinds of wierd stuff... unplug all cables and cords (esp. power!) and take the side off. Look at the fans and heat sinks and make sure everything is clean. Spin the fans with your finger and make sure they spin freely w/o any resistance. Check your video card too: the fan on it (if there is one) may be dead; they go out fairly frequently......

hopperdave2000

 

I saw similar problems,on a computer that I was checking, and found that the Ramwas making a poor contact.
I t is worth taking the Ram, and just making sure it is properly seated , and the clips are fully pushed in.
It solved the problem on that one. If you have a can of compressed air, give it a blow out in the slots before replacing to make sure no dust or fluff in the Ram slots is causing the problem- Make sure , if using an air can, that the computer is cold before using the air can.

 

Thank you for the suggestions. It done it again and now is not loading windows up at all. Just keeps going to that black screen asking how you want to boot it. It did go to a blue window and said if t was the first time seeing it then to restart the computer but if it's the second time then to disable or uninstall any antivirus software, defragmentation device (I think that's how it was worded) and something else. Told me to do the CHKDSK thing, look for corruption and update drivers. But how do I run CHKDSK when the computer is this messed up??

 

It must still be under warranty, take it back. Could also be bad RAM.

 

I hate to have to take it in and it's times like this that you want to kick your butt for not purchasing a warranty! I got the system at BestBuy less than 6 months ago so surely it at least has a manufactures warranty (but even then it'll be sent off and I'll have to wait forever to get it back, right?)

I told it to boot and chose the selection for it to not automatically restart (I forget the exact wording, sorry). But when I do that I get the blue screen saying "A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer..." blah blah blah. The technical info at the bottom is:

***STOP: 0x00000024 (0x00190203, 0x842DAEF0, 0xC0000102, 0x00000000)

If any body knows what this means please tell me. When I take it in I want to make sure I know what I'm talking about so I can convey it to them well and so they don't try and give me the run around.

I am thinking of switching the RAM out with my other computers RAM and see if it will boot up then, then I will know for sure it's the RAM.

 

You know, all these problems seemed to start occuring after I defragmented my hard drive for the first time...

 

Have you tried pressing f8, as the computer starts, and picking last known good configeration, or, safe mode ?

 

I meant , again, after your other efforts ?

 

Have you tried changing your Ram , yet?
Or, if more than one stick of Ram in the computer, just take one out, and retry, - then do the same with the other stick.

 

Nah, haven't switched out the RAM. Will probably do it after lunch. Disgusted at it right now and need a break. F8 and last known good configuration, safe modes, etc are not working either. Tried inserting a Win2K disk in to see if it had any effect, had got to PC recovery twice but the system has hung and not been able to do diagnostics or anything. The system is an XP 2005 ME.

 

You will need an XP MCE Disk, if you want to to run repair.

 

0x00000024 is an error relating to the NTFS file system and/or the file systems timing (according to MS Knowledge Base)
http://support.microsoft.com/search...global&query=0x00000024&adv=&mode=s&cat=False
Check this link for info...............
It could be that your HD is failing or the file system needs to be repaired. A safe re-install may not fix the problem; formatting the drive might be necessary Find out who made the hard drive (western digital, samsung, etc.), visit their website and download and run their diagnostic tool. Some of these diag tools also will repair HD's depending on the manufacturer.... GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!

hopperdave2000

 

To test your memory try memtest86+. According to the error, it could also be a bad hard drive or cable etc.

 

Am fixing to run tests now. My keyboard started to not work while I was trying to boot the pc up - lights on it would either continually blink or would not light up at all. I removed it and plugged in my other keyboard and was able to get into PC Recovery and performed all the diagnostic tools and it found nothing so I went on with the recovery and I've lost ALL my files. But luckily, most of my important stuff (pics, etc) were backed up, but I did lose some.

Could of it been the keyboard causing all the problems?? (surely not, right?)

Should I run CHKDSK now? I've just got the computer up and set up my wireless internet again.

Thank you so much for all your help. I will keep you updated.

 

Any periphial can cause niggles, like if you do not connect your mouse , or, keyboard, before start up, but a faulty keyboard - quite possible.
It could have been switching itself, on, and off.


My favourite of quotes:- Sometimes the obvious eludes us.

It would be a good idea to run chkdsk, before putting too much on, to ensure all is o.k. Otherwise, run sfc /scannow, with your xp disk in the rom drive.