Windows XP fix

syncroid · 05-04-2009, 05:12 PM

I have been using Windows XP Pro on my work computer since 2002 and its been great. Lately though something has not been right. Everything was snail slow responding or once in awhile the computer would get an error message or just plain shut off with a blue screen of death warning. I ran hard drive checks. (okay) I ran memory tests over night. (all okay) I wanted to do a complete reformat and start fresh but could not do it. When I tried it said that the disc I was using was older then the version currently installed on my computer. WHAT?!? I guess when you install the service packs it updates your XP and your original disc that you paid for is now useless.

I'm going to be sending Bill an email on that one!
I finally figured out today that the registry might be corrupted. I went into "User accounts" and created a new user with "admin" capabilities. (like my old set up) By setting up the new user account, it creates a new registry for that user. (clean slate) I will keep the old user for a couple of weeks and make sure the new user stays steady, then I am going to blow out the old one.

Problem is gone! I was stoked! Just thought I would share and maybe help someone else out. I'm not a computer IT guy by any means. I know enough to get myself into and sometimes out of trouble.

slodave · slodave's Garage

Are you sure that the cd was for that computer? Service packs do not make a difference. Also, if you had the CD in the drive when you rebooted and the cd was a valid OEM or Retail version of XP, it would not matter. The initial install screen allows you to format or reinstall over an existing version and does not care what was on before.

User profiles can become corrupt and are difficult to repair. I have a client that went through the same thing. The profile was slow, I could not fix it, so I just created a new one.

syncroid · 05-04-2009, 05:29 PM

LOL Dave! I knew you would be the first one on the case. I built the computer from scratch. When I build a new one I always keep all the parts for that particular computer in the mother board box. (and thats only two that I have built) I did try to reboot from the CD as well. It warned me that all previous information would be wiped. (I was okay with that) When I did that it said that I had no recognizable hard drive/s and could not procede with the reformat. It was a valid XP cd that I bought, paid for, and registered. (all legit)
I think the new user accounts thing is pretty darned cool. I may be a little premature for celebrating early but I think I solved the problem.

syncroid · 05-04-2009, 05:36 PM

As a side note. I think the problem began when I went from IE7 to IE8. I down loaded it from Yahoo vs. straight from Microsoft. Compounded with Spybot yelling at me the whole time about registry changes to allow or deny. That computer has always been my guinne pig anyways.

It eats dust all day long on top of my tool box too.

slodave · slodave's Garage

When did you get the "...disc is older..." error? You try to install XP while in XP?

Is this computer early SATA or still PATA? <- regarding the HD not found.

syncroid · 05-04-2009, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slodave

When did you get the "...disc is older..." error? You try to install XP while in XP?

Is this computer early SATA or still PATA? <- regarding the HD not found.

As soon as I tried the fresh install. I tried it first while in XP then tried to boot with the XP cd. When booting from the disc is when I got the "hard drives not found error." I believe it is the early SATA. It has a couple of Western Digital HDs mirrored. My puter here at home is configured the same way. My HDs here are two 74gig WD Raptors.