is my computer completely fcuked?

[sash1]

I've been having a sh!tload of problems with my computer lately (crashes all the time, I get a registry error every time I restart), so I backed all my files up (onto a second hard drive), and tried to reformat. Only problem, I couldn't even boot up my computer anymore. My computer would just crash before I could get into windows so I could restart into MS-DOS. And then later it would have a windows protection error (no clue what that means, but I assume it means something is fcuked up). So I decided I would try and boot off my second hard drive (which had win98se installed), but even that would have an error when I tried to boot off of it and it would crash.

So I decided to boot off my Fedora CD and let that reformat, then I put in my Win2k CD (yes, its a legit copy) and began setup. Unfortunately, it just crashed in the middle of the setup process, and I can't get back to the setup becasue every time it tells me to remove everything from my drives and restart.

WTF is the problem here? Is my hard drive completely fcuked up? Should I buy a new one? Or is something else the problem?

My computer was:
Athlon XP 2100+
256Mb DDR (Pc2100)
Western Digital 20Gb HDD
nVidia 5200 (128mb)
Audigy

Thanks a lot,

`K

 

[Aleksandar]

It can be the hdd or the ram maby you can check the cables on the hdd or if you can change them
maby try to reset the bios.
if you cant change anything try removing everuthing that you dont need to install windows like youre sound card flopy a second cdrom drive if there is any then try installing.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

I agree on either bad memory, hard drive, or (less likely) a flakey mobo.

get a floppy friendly memory test utility and test your memory for errors.

get the hdd's support utilites from the manufacturers web site and test the drive (low level if you detect errors and test again)

 

[Aleksandar]

Download This Memory test extract it on a floppy drive and tun it on youre comp from dos.
if youre memory is fine then download
This it is from Western Digital it will make a self boot floppy and run it on youre comp see if the drive is fine.

 

[bluewall21]

Try something like Knoppix and run diognostic tests on your machine. (Knoppix has Memtest86 built in)

 

[Willoughbyva]

also it might be a heat related issue. Check and make sure the fins on you heatsink are not clogged up. Also might check to see if the PSU needs cleaning. Use compressed air to clean them with.