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Windows XP - Lots of problems

R

redivider

Member
I finally got Win XP Pro up and running on my new machine. Installed all the drivers without too much trouble. Then I added in another stick of RAM (512MB PC3200, for a total of 1GB) and a Wireless Network card. Installed the drivers for the Wireless Network Card (linksys) and configured network settings and got online OK.

Then I went to check the Windows Update site, so I click "Start" and then I try clicking "Programs" and nothing happens. Then I try clicking on other stuff in the Start menu and nothing will respond. Tried clicking an application on the desktop to start it... nothing happens. Then I tried restarting and it told me that "You do not have permission to restart or shut down this computer" What??

So I just shut it down manually and restarted. I got the log on screen where it says "click a username to begin" or whatever, and there are no usernames!! I only set up one account but it wasn't there. The only option is to turn off the computer. SO I did that and restarted again. This time it didn't go to the log on srceen... it just went to the Welcome screen and then showed the desktop, but just the wallpaper... no start menu or task bar or anything... and it just sat there for like 5 minutes. So I reset again...

I should probably also mention that about 50% of the time when I start up the computer, it reboots before it gets through the whole process.

Anyway... got back on without seeing the log on screen and tried the Windows Update site again. The page starts to load, according to the status bar, and then is says "Done" but there's just a blank white page. Then I tried Google to see if I was in fact online and I got an error that said, "Cannot access C:\Documents and Settings\Dan\Desktop Invalid memory location." So I tried refreshing the page and IE disappeared.

I am at a loss as to what is going on. None of what is happening seems to make any sense. I've never had problems like this before so I'm not sure what to do.

Any ideas? I have no clue where to even start.
 
Just to add to the insanity... I just clicked on Start--> Control Panel and it said "Windows cannot create a shortcut here. Do you want the shortcut placed on the desktop instead.?" So I decided to play along and clicked Yes. I was curious to see what kind of shortcut it thought I was trying to create. So then it says "Windows could not create the shortcut. Check to see if the disk is full" Does this all point to hard drive problems?

 
Try taking the RAM back out and see if that solves anything. Seems like you have a bunch of (seemingly) random errors, and those are usually a good indicator of faulty RAM.
If it works ok with the one stick of RAM, verify that they are the same speed.

By the way, to select a user name that isn't shown at the welcome screen, hit CTRL+ALT+DEL twice. This will bring up the classic logon screen.
 
Another option is to check Event Viewer.
Right click My Computer -> Manage -> Event Viewer. Look for errors. That info will help us locate a solution for you.

Good luck.
 
Well, I took the RAM back out and put a new IDE cable on the hard drive. Seems to be working much better now. I think it may have just been the IDE cable. I guess I should do things one at a time. But as long as I dont get any more of the same errors I'm gonna try putting the RAM back in.

I was able to get on Windows Update with no problem and I'm now installing all the updates.

If anything else happens I'll check the Event Viewer and post what I find...

Thanks...

 
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