My computer is possessed with a Windows XP alien - HELP!

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January 8th, 2006, 11:07 PM
GeekyGirl

My computer is possessed with a Windows XP alien - HELP!

I have a brand new system that came with a virgin hard drive. It's not hooked up to internet yet. Computer specs are:

AMD Althon 64 3000+ processor
160 GB Hard Drive partitioned using Norton's PartitionMagic 8.0
1 GB of RAM

Strange things are happening to the partition with Windows XP. On my first clean install, the system tray icons were not showing up but everything else seemed to be working smoothly until I ran into problems with installing an HP business injet printer. This install caused havic on my system which was ultimately due to a Firmware issue.

After recovering from that tragedy, I had to reformat and reinstall Windows XP on the partition. Now I am having some issues with Explorer.exe. At times, the screen will just flash and reset itself. At other times, the screen goes blank instead of starting the screensaver and still other times I get a Dr. Watson apology screen stating that explorer.exe has had a problem and needs to shut down. I know the tech information in this error is important. I just didn't know how much you need to be posted here. Here is what I was able to write down before my screen flashed and the message disappeared...

Application Name: explorer.exe
Application version: 6.0.2800.1106
Mod Name: Unknown
Mod Version: Unknown
Offset: 00fd03ab
exception error: 0xc0000005
Flags: 0x00000000
Record: 0x0000000000000000

I tried to retrieve the txt document that would have been sent to Microsoft with the error but when I went to the location, the folder and file didn't exist.

I know there are lots of testing software out there. I also know many of them cause even more havic on your system. Is there a reliable and good program to use to test my system/windows partition? If not, how can I go about getting to the root of the problem?

Thanks
Geeky Girl
January 9th, 2006, 05:45 AM
mercyreaper

That is bad news, when explorer.exe is corrupted or has issues, that means your OS reliability is seriously downgraded, anything can happen after that, since explorer is one of the core elements of windows.

Is this a new retail machine or a custom build?

If it is custom, it really sounds like the OS disk you are using is having issues, have their been any error messages on install of XP? You might try another CD of that os, sometimes you can get bad installs, and having 2 in a row means either the copy of XP you have is scratched on the disk and is now somewhat corrupt, or the hard drive you have has some bad sector issues, might try running chkdsk /r in a dos prompt to check it out and see if you get any returns.
Other then that I would say either one of those 2 should solve your issue.

If it is a retail system then you can probably contact the manufacturer and get a new PC sent to you or perhaps a new OS disk or hard drive. Easiest would be a new PC. Good luck.
January 9th, 2006, 11:21 AM
jitBob

A quick Google of 0xc0000005 will give you plenty of ideas.
January 9th, 2006, 11:32 AM
GeekyGirl

The Windows XP disk is from my previous computer which is a Dell. I just installed with the same disk on another partition with no problems. I ran a chkdsk of the partition I am having problems with and no errors were found. I was thinking that there may be something wrong with how it was partitioned. I used the diagnostics that are part of Norton PartionMagic which all came out OK too.

That is why I am so baffled. I can't seem to narrow the issue down to being software or hardware related issues.

I'll go check out the google search as recommended to see if any light bulb ideas stick out.
January 9th, 2006, 11:59 AM
Tekboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekyGirl

The Windows XP disk is from my previous computer which is a Dell. I just installed with the same disk on another partition with no problems. I ran a chkdsk of the partition I am having problems with and no errors were found. I was thinking that there may be something wrong with how it was partitioned. I used the diagnostics that are part of Norton PartionMagic which all came out OK too.

That is why I am so baffled. I can't seem to narrow the issue down to being software or hardware related issues.

I'll go check out the google search as recommended to see if any light bulb ideas stick out.

Are you formatting slow or quick, on your install, and are you letting WinXP format the partition, or are you formatting with a 3rd party utility? Make sure you let Windows format the partition, at least for troubleshooting purposes.

Good luck. :)
January 9th, 2006, 05:45 PM
slgrieb

Ok, GG, my first thought would be bad memory in the system. You might want to try a memory diagnostic like: http://www.goldmemory.cz/download.php or http://www.memtest86.com/ My second guess would be a defective motherboard.

May be off the subject, but I'm curious; why would a "virgin" hard drive be partitioned with Partition Magic? This utility runs under Windows and wouldn't be used to set up a new drive. What is on the other partition(s)? Why was Partition Magic used instead of the native Windows utility?
January 9th, 2006, 06:19 PM
Green_Eyed

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekyGirl

The Windows XP disk is from my previous computer which is a Dell. ...

I believe this is the root of your problem. That's an OEM disk which is MEANT for Dell hardware. Since you're not using Dell hardware, the OS isn't loading properly.

Get yourself a different XP disk preferrably a retail version. And that CoA that is on your old Dell won't for any build other than the OEM version.
January 9th, 2006, 06:25 PM
slgrieb

Actually, no Dell OS CD-ROM is Dell specific. Dell recovery CDs are another matter. Microsoft says you shouldn't, but the combination of Dell OS CD and Product ID will load and run on any computer. Using this disk on any computer other than the original violates the law even though it will work. But that has nothing to do with operational issues.
January 9th, 2006, 06:57 PM
Green_Eyed

Quote:

Originally Posted by slgrieb

Actually, no Dell OS CD-ROM is Dell specific. Dell recovery CDs are another matter. Microsoft says you shouldn't, but the combination of Dell OS CD and Product ID will load and run on any computer. Using this disk on any computer other than the original violates the law even though it will work. But that has nothing to do with operational issues.

Have you been successful at this?
January 10th, 2006, 01:03 AM
GeekyGirl

The Windows XP CD I have from the Dell system must be OK to use on other systems. When I called Microsoft to activate the software, they told me that based on the Microsoft Certificate number on the computer that I have the full version and that I could use it on another system as long as it was no longer installed on the Dell.

You can use PartitionMagic on a new hard drive since it also has a start up utility that can be run in DOS. I wanted to set up a dual boot system using BootMagic. I also want to eventually have Linux as a partition. In my research about partitions on the net and in computer magazines, it always seemed to be recommended to use a third party program to handle the partition issues. I had tried to use Windows partitioning in my old system and had some issues with the dual boot set up.

Here is a breakdown of the other partitions on this hard drive:

C: Main NTFS Windows XP hard drive (Brainiac)
D: a NTFS Windows XP partition used to test out new programs before installing them on my working system. (The Lab)
E: set aside to hopefully install Linux some day
F: storage hard drive for my font collection (Fontaholic)
G: Storage hard drive for my data (Data)
H: Storage hard drive for my business data (ScrapTools)

Note: I had a similar set up on my old computer with the partitions with the only difference being that it was spread out between 2 hard drives instead of one large one. The Windows installation on Drive D (The Lab) went smoothly and flawlessly and I haven't had problems with it.

I was reading on some other forums when I did a search for the explorer.exe error that there seems to be a belief that Windows has problems when put on large hard drives (partitioned or not). Any of you ever experience that as well?

I always let Windows format the drive and I always use the slow method of formatting.

I ran the memory test and passed with flying colors - no problems there.

Is there a utility that can check the motherboard? I hope this isn't the case since that is the reason I had to get a new system in the first place.

I've been looking at some programs that diagnose and fix registry/software/OS problems. I have never been a fan of these programs because many of them just cause more problems than what you started out with. Is there a reliable one that people trust?
January 10th, 2006, 08:51 PM
slgrieb

Yes, GreenEyed, I have. The OS CD will run OK, but the Recovery CD will puke. It checks the motherboard BIOS for a Dell signature and won't run on Dell-free hardware.
January 11th, 2006, 07:59 PM
Green_Eyed

Quote:

Originally Posted by slgrieb

Yes, GreenEyed, I have. The OS CD will run OK, but the Recovery CD will puke. It checks the motherboard BIOS for a Dell signature and won't run on Dell-free hardware.

And those are the CDs that Dell distributes. They just aren't labled "recovery".
January 11th, 2006, 08:56 PM
slgrieb

Depending on the particular model, etc, Dell may supply an OS CD, a Recovery CD, or both. Along with CDs for drivers, installed apps, etc. The OS CD really doesn't care what system it runs on. If it fails to load, we are back to problems with memory, mainboard, and hard drive. Usually in that order.
January 12th, 2006, 07:51 AM
confus-ed

Like slgrieb's says it may be slightly off topic, but ..

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekyGirl

..You can use PartitionMagic on a new hard drive since it also has a start up utility that can be run in DOS...it always seemed to be recommended to use a third party program to handle the partition issues...

Well don't ! is all I have to say, Partition magic doesn't always calculate the cylinder boarder's correctly (only the very latest & greatest does it 'right' & not in all situations), I dunno if its having a bearing here, but what will always get the geometry correct for any particular o/s is that o/s itself & not some third party product ;)
January 12th, 2006, 10:30 PM
GeekyGirl

Quote:

Originally Posted by confus-ed

Well don't ! is all I have to say, Partition magic doesn't always calculate the cylinder boarder's correctly (only the very latest & greatest does it 'right' & not in all situations), I dunno if its having a bearing here, but what will always get the geometry correct for any particular o/s is that o/s itself & not some third party product ;)

If that is the case then do I need to start completely over with the hard drive partitions? My data is backed up from all the data drives onto DVDs already so it would only be time that I lose. Does Windows let you set up a dual boot system or do I still need to have a boot program in place? Also, how do you protect the one partition that has an OS installed already while I install the second OS? The thrid party programs always hide the partitions for safe keeping.

I am still interested in finding a good diagnostics program that can troubleshoot hardware and software issues that I can use when needed.

Thanks
GeekyGirl
January 13th, 2006, 05:36 AM
confus-ed

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekyGirl

If that is the case then do I need to start completely over with the hard drive partitions? My data is backed up from all the data drives onto DVDs already so it would only be time that I lose. Does Windows let you set up a dual boot system or do I still need to have a boot program in place? Also, how do you protect the one partition that has an OS installed already while I install the second OS? The thrid party programs always hide the partitions for safe keeping...

I'm really loathe to say an unqualified 'yes' to that, as I'm asking you to do a load of work, based on a 'perhaps this went wrong originally' type assumption, I will say for sure that problems with calculating disk geometry correctly in all situations (most especially if re-sizing or re-positioning) are a well known Partition Magic flaw for a number of versions & because of that I very rarely would want to use it this way, lots of folks use it routinely with no problems whatsoever, but I'm cautious with it because of past experience..

The best answer for any 'multiboot' situation is seperate disks, partitions being logical containers within some greater object always cause issue when different o/s's may have access, as one can't reference the other fully.

Installing multiboot windows is usually fairly painless if you start by installing the oldest operating system first, subsequent installs can then see previous installs & react appropriately (if say you had win 98 installed & then added xp in another partition windows setup makes you a little boot menu so you can choose which you want to run)..

Installing muliboot linux is different as that needs to come first, & if you are new/unsure about this, the 'use a seperate disk' advice is probably a good idea :)

To 'really understand' about multiboot you need to understand how a master boot record might control matters, & how control is passed from bios during the post sequence, before begining bootstrapping (the loading of any o/s in this context, as bootstrapping really means just loading up something more complicated) - which is pretty geeky knowledge if I say so myself ;) - much googling required on that though, as I've yet to turn up something which explains it all simply without even more technobabble than I can handle ! :) - start with this Wikipedia entry perhaps ?

As for your diagnostic tool, well that's us isn't it ?, he says with a bit of a wry smile on his face .. :eek2:
January 15th, 2006, 11:05 PM
GeekyGirl

First off, to eliminate the OS issue, I went broke and am waiting for my delivery of Windows XP Professional.

Now onto the matter of the partitions. I did a lot of research prior to ever delving into partitioning my hard drive. I partitioned my old Dell system and things have gone smoothly. In that case, I have 2 hard drives but I still installed to partitions on the first hard drive with Windows XP. I never ran into conflicts or issues for that system and I used a third party software to complete the partitioning and act as my dual boot program as well. I used Partition Commander then.

Moving to my new system, again I want two partitions to have Widnows XP and I was playing around with the idea of Linux since I really want to learn it. I decided that instead of trashing my old system that I would use both of them and have them networked through my SBC DSL router. This way, I am distributing the power better and I can multi-task between the two systems (I have a KVM switch hooked up to share the monitor, keyboard and mouse).

Before I decide to tear down all the partitions and start from scratch, I thought I would give the new Wondows XP Pro a try since no harm will be done. If all fairs well, then I will continue the long journey of installing all of my software and getting my new system up so I can rebuild the old system.

Yes, this forum is one of my "diagnostic tools"!

Ultimately, my aim is to get these two systems stable and working so I can spend the time becoming more geeky!