Windows XP Instability Issues?

That is very weird! What folder does ServicePackSourcePath link to?

On each of my XP computers here I have SourcePath link to the CD ROM drive (eg E:\), and ServicePackSourcePath link to c:\windows\ServicePackFiles.

I'm afraid my only remaining suggestion is to go ahead and reset your laptop to your factory settings using the Restore Partition. Doing so will possibly remove your files (back them up!) and probably remove your programs (backup the product keys and settings if you can, and be prepared to reinstall them). At this point it really sounds like you have a fault with Windows, but without the install CD you can't repair it.

 

Mine was C:\Windows and C:\windows\servicepackfiles.

 

In all honesty, I might just learn to live with it. The computer doesnt usually bomb out untill a few hours of use or idle time. I will see if my IT guy at work maybe can get me a xp sp3 disk to try the same thing again (copy to I386 folder). It just is not worth having to reinstall all these apps and files. I am willing to work through any and all solutions to avoid that.

 

Ah then might you have accidentally changed ServicePackSourcePath to d:\ rather than SourcePath to d:\?

We want:
ServicePackSourcePath = c:\windows\ServicePackFiles
and
SourcePath = d:\

 

No - please see my edit.

I already had the svc pack update in the right spot and I changed the main one to D:\ and it didnt work. Then Itried the C:\ location.

 

Ah okay fair enough.

The D partition should have, among other things, everything needed to reinstall Windows. That should include the I386 folder we're looking for. The trouble is that Gateway may have it all in a folder like D:\Windows, or D:\Reinstall Files, or D:\Rubberchicken etc. If you can have your tech co-worker lend you the disc then it's a moot point, otherwise it would be really useful to get inside that partition and copy the I386 folder. I'm afraid I've never tried to access a locked Gateway recover partition

 

You've been a huge help!! I have learned alot about windows repairs and such just going through all these steps. So lets see if I can get my hands on the right disk to try a repair.

 

I have once had to unlock and unhide a restore partition for a....Dell maybe? Anyway if you're unable to get that disc, I'll try to find the problem I used. I think it was Macrium Reflect or EASUS something-or-other.

 

You forgot one, C:\dellsareapieceofcrapandthisshouldbealessonnottobuyoneagain

:-D:-D

 

Something weird.....

My wife logged on to her user account on Friday (she has her own laptop and rarely gets on here). She left it up all day and when I got home, it was still running fine. I logged her off and logged on to my account. The computer has been on all weekend and not one single error or symptom described in my first few posts!

What the heck??

I have the XP SP3 disk now but dont want to do anything at this time. Not sure why all of a sudden these errors arent happening. Could it have to do with my wife's account and signing on to it?

Any insight welcome.

 

Well that's good news! I wouldn't yet call the problem fixed though, but we can add to the list that the problem is temperamental. It could still be caused by a handful of corrupted files, and for some reason there was no attempt to access them on that day, but there was on a previous day.

The only way I can think for the problem to be genuinely fixed from simply sitting on your wife's account is if she has some programs set to update or run automatically, and one of those activated and fixed whatever corrupt file(s) have caused all these problems. It's a stretch though, and I'm not convinced!

If you have limited time with the XP CD then i would still try the sfc /scannow command. It's a very safe procedure that only replaced corrupted Windows files with their originals. So long as the CD isn't a burnt one distributed by a shifty-eyed guy in a back alley, then there is zero risk. More than likely though you'll just get the same message popping up again asking for your XP CD2.