Some weird problems with a new computer

[knownote]

Had a custom built computer made. windows xp of course.
Worked fine for a few days, and actually it still works fine when it's on, but there's some weird 'you know what' going on.

First off, it won't shut down! I choose "shut down computer" and it restarts every time! The 'standby' choice is not "clickable" for some reason, it's grayed out. But both "shut down computer" and "restart" just restart the computer! Have to unplug it to shut it down which is NOT good.

And also, when it restarts it will get to the blue "welcome" screen and just sit there forever not working. Then if I press "ctrl alt delete" windows will load instantly and everything will function fine.

One more problem, if it doesn't just sit there on the blue welcome screen, it will give me a warning that says I "have no paging file or the paging file is too small". I'll go in and fix what it says is wrong, but then I'll get that message again next restart.

Is this stuff weird or what? The place I got it will fix it no charge, but it's over an hour away from me, so if anyone can tell me what to do to save me a drive, please enlighten me, 'cause I'm lost.

[blutach]

Thought about re-loading Window$?

Regards

[knownote]

Yea, I thought about it, but i'd love to save the hassle of re-loading the programs I installed. I don't have a lot on it yet, but if someone had any ideas I could give them try knowing if it didn't work I could re-load windows as a last resort. I'd kinda just like to know what's causing this, I'm trying to learn my way around the computer more, and if I re-load windows I don't learn nuthin'....

[LT. Columbo]

i'm no expert by any means but it could be a glitch in windows install i guess. i seen it happen ( to me once too). did you install windows? probably not i'd guess. but i bet it's something the shop did building it though, i wouldn't muck with anything and have them say you voided your warranty, take it back.

[jmet]

First thing I would recommend is doing a "Windows Update". Second thing is kill any unnecessary programs from automatically starting up. You can do that through msconfig. Go here to see exactly how to do it (Be very careful though on what you disable!) - http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?t=56373

[techreactor]

Check for Viruses, but looks more of an OS problem. Also if the problem started recently, try to do a system restore from a good restore point that you know of.

[benbryant]

Hi knownote,

I'm afraid to tell you that the only best solution is to do a clean installation your windows again because whatever you try to fix is just a walk-around, not a good solution at all. If you have to reload the windows, please double-check that your system is set for "Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC" HAL

PS: Please make sure that your BIOS is up-to-date and check memory modules too (Bad memory can cause a lot of wierd startup and shutdown problem too)

Regards

[anonymez]

knownote,

download the latest drivers for all your hardware, and do a clean install of windows. update windows, at least to 'service pack 2'. update bios. this will eliminate any harware issues, and will very likely solve any problems you currently have.

as ben said, anything other than a clean install will be a work-around, NOT a true solution. there may be more serious problems you have not noticed. a clean install is definitely for the best

[blutach]

That's 3 votes for clean install. Just one question - did it always behave this way or only since you loaded some prog? If the latter, a system restore might help.

Regards

[Chewy]

a 2nd question, do you change any windows settings?

sounds like a windows tweak program run amuck, especially one not meant for XP.

problem with clean install, who's gonna do it?

[anonymez]

problem with clean install, who's gonna do it?

i'd imagine his win xp cd

the problem sounds so severe, IMO anything but a clean install is not cool

[Chewy]

Oh I agree, but I would consider letting the system builders do it,
and watch carefully. Take notes.

[knownote]

Thanks for all the suggestions...
I had already done a bare minimum startup via msconfig and that didn't help.

windows was up to date, w/service pack 2.

It had to be some program I installed, since it didn't do it until a few days ago. It started about 4 days after I had been using it.

My first thought was system restore, but aaarrgh! I went to do that and it wasn't 'enabled'! System restore has always been my friend, so I was upset to see the folks that built it hadn't enabled it.

Thanks for the suggestions. Before I do the windows re-install I think I'll start removing programs I've added. Starting with the latest one and working back. Then I'll see if that does anything. Might be a bad program, or something that's not supposed to work with xp.

I have a suspicion of a soundcard driver program I installed. I had a soundcard I wanted to use but it was a little old and the drivers were not xp drivers. So I searched the net and found an updated driver from the manufacturer. Could've done it I guess.

Thanks all

[Chewy]

I have a suspicion of a soundcard driver program I installed. I had a soundcard I wanted to use but it was a little old and the drivers were not xp drivers. So I searched the net and found an updated driver from the manufacturer. Could've done it I guess.

what was it?

[knownote]

it's an old yamaha XG- seven hundred something or other. It was an early soundcard that had optical digital in's and out's. I use it for my home recording studio to maintain quality in my mixdowns. It was a frustrating sound card from the start. All the writing was in japanese with no english instructions.

Even after installing the supposed updated driver for it, the digital in's and out's were never recognized, so I'll have to get a new soundcard anyway.