WinXP doesn't start...

[Shabbaman]

This is a story about PTW. There's probably a bug forum for PTW induced madness, but it isn't PTW I'm really interested in.
I installed PTW on my girlfriend inmates computer (new thing, athlon 1200 blabla), civ3 1.29 worked fine. But PTW (no patch, can't download it either) doesn't work fine. It crashes all the time, and the computer hangs as well (if I start PTW from the autorun from the cd, it doesn't even start, but the computer reboots...)
Since I installed PTW, this occurs with other programs as well (sounds a bit like a virus, doesn't it?)

That sucks.

Yesterday (having new year hang over and all...), the damn thing wouldn't even start! Win XP start screen appeared, next, black screen plus arrow.



After I turned the computer of three times (shut the power off), instead of a black screen, a blue screen with welcome text appeared.

Turn power off.

Next, winXP starts properly, but then, after 5 minutes of Word Arbeit, the system hangs. After the next reboot, the thing works fine again.

It sucks.

But the question is: what's wrong? I'm pretty sure that it isn't some virus btw.
Does WinXP suck big time, or is PTW that crappy?

Happy new year btw, greetings from Shabbaman

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by Shabbaman
But the question is: what's wrong? I'm pretty sure that it isn't some virus btw.
Does WinXP suck big time, or is PTW that crappy?

I´d rather not answer the latter questions as it would be more or less yes to both.

But what you describe surely sounds like a virus. If you have access to the net there, quickly use an online virus scanner to check it out. Or download one from somewhere.

Yet the problem can also be related to a malfunction of any computer component, most like a motherboard and/or memory error. Or the CPU is not properly cooled and got too hot. If you can, check that out, i.e. by replacing the RAM and testing it with another comp.

It would be much more helpful if you could post some more details, e.g. any error messages you encounter. Also check the hardware setting in the WinXP control panel to look for any conflicts.
You should definitely deinstall PtW and if nothing help WinXP as well. A clean reinstall of everything is the best solution to any software/virus related problem. Just be sure that you know exactly that the programs you reinstall are clean copies.

 

[Smash]

sounds almost identical to what happened my system.It was no virus.
It was a bad IDE.Had to be replaced.I had all manner of problems for about 6 months.Would come and go.Then finally it went for good.

I would run an extended diagnostic on it and cross my fingers.

Fortunately, a new HD is pretty cheap.Just stay away from Fujitsu or whatever.Western Digital is pretty good.

That fixed my problems.Unfortunately a new video card has wreaked havoc on my system now..

 

[Shabbaman]

Originally posted by Smash
It was a bad IDE.

I would run an extended diagnostic on it and cross my fingers.

IDE? Is that something that runs the diskdrives and stuff?
Diagnostic test, that's an idea I'll check that one tonight!
Thanks.

 

[ainwood]

Yep IDE is the controller interface between the CPU and the disk drive.

From Smash's post, he might have meant that it was actually a problem with the Hard disk drive - that the CPU couldn't read it (that's if a new HDD actually fixed the problem)

 

[Sodapop]

Sounds like what my system had as well... Though there was no big trouble, and I never found out why it happened... Before paying anything or replacing hardware, just run the repair thing by booting from XP's cd... That thing can fix a lot of stuff (which is quite impressive)... If that doesn't work, then maybe it's a hardware problem...

 

[Smash]

Yes,sorry,I meant HD.My terminology is not so good.
Anyway,that may not be the problem but your problem(s) sound painfully familiar.

There is always the re-format option if you run out of ideas to try.I just finished my 4th in a month and a half(long story).Not fun getting over 30MB of windows updates on a dial up

An extended diagnostic will tell all.

 

[Shabbaman]

Can I do an extended diagnostics with the system tools from win XP? With the tools that came with it, it seems that all's ok.
I think I've found out when the problem occurs btw:
After I've played PTW, in some occasions, the computer won't shut down (meaning, windows won't close...), leaving me with the only choice of shutting the computer down by cutting the power.

 

[Smash]

No, you need one of the discs that came with your machine.Put it in and restart.Tap f3 or something...contact your comp's manufacturer or manual for the directions.

Hanging software is usually a symptom rather than a cause.

Take that damn PtW out.Its no good anyhow

 

[sumthinelse]

Originally posted by Shabbaman
I think I've found out when the problem occurs btw:
After I've played PTW, in some occasions, the computer won't shut down (meaning, windows won't close...), leaving me with the only choice of shutting the computer down by cutting the power.

Some people have trouble with DirectX. The reason I thought of that when you said you had shutdown problems is that when I am running CIV3 or PTW my APM (Advanced Power Management) "sleep" mechanism never works, but when I am not running CIV3 or PTW it works fine. If you install a more recent version, though, it may be difficult to go back if that version is worse. I haven't tried it. This thread discusses it for MP network problems and some of the posters said they had trouble with it.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39943

What version of DirectX do you have? I confess that the only way I know to detect the versions is to look in the "system root" (mine is WINNT) example \winnt\system32\directx in some text file. It might be \windows\system32\directx on your machine.

 

[Smash]

start/run..type in DXDIAG,press "ok".In "system" it will show your current version DX.

 

[GenghisK]

A control panel called dx8diag.cpl (something like that) does exist. It's exhaustively listing all DX features including the version... To be copied into winnt/system32 of course.