Trouble with my OS..

[NoctisReitop]

I'm sick of my operating system effing up all the time. Between my computers, my biggest problem has been that my computer will suffer some small crash, then it will proceed to never boot again because something got misplaced during the crash. At least that's what I'm presuming: something fragged. Only facts are: some small crash = windows never working again.
Before I get too far, are my thoughts correct about why I'm having trouble? I have this problem a lot. I don't really crash that often, either. Once in a while I'll have a crash, and eventually, the occasional crash will evidence my hypothesis.
But my main question, I'm wondering if you guys have some advice as to the best way to clean up all the pieces from a crash. This includes saved games that go corrupt after a crash during that particular game, operating system, and so on. I make sure to run the "chkdsk c: /f" after every crash, but that doesn't seem to be cutting the mustard. I'm at a loss.

[Death_blooms]

Originally Posted by NoctisReitop

I'm sick of my operating system effing up all the time. Between my computers, my biggest problem has been that my computer will suffer some small crash, then it will proceed to never boot again because something got misplaced during the crash. At least that's what I'm presuming: something fragged. Only facts are: some small crash = windows never working again.
Before I get too far, are my thoughts correct about why I'm having trouble? I have this problem a lot. I don't really crash that often, either. Once in a while I'll have a crash, and eventually, the occasional crash will evidence my hypothesis.
But my main question, I'm wondering if you guys have some advice as to the best way to clean up all the pieces from a crash. This includes saved games that go corrupt after a crash during that particular game, operating system, and so on. I make sure to run the "chkdsk c: /f" after every crash, but that doesn't seem to be cutting the mustard. I'm at a loss.

Trouble with my OS? Trouble with what OS lol. Tell us what OS are you running so we can help you.

[Loosecannon]

It can't be anything from Microsoft, they all work perfectly

[NoctisReitop]

Bah! *slaps self* Windows XP. Guess I take for granted that everyone is plagued with this OS. And it works "perfectly". Perfectly crappy.

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by Loosecannon

It can't be anything from Microsoft, they all work perfectly

I sure hope you're joking...

[Adak]

The first step in having a really stable system is to make a good stable "base" set up. That includes:
* all your hardware devices being recognized and fully operational. e.g., A bad HD will surely wreck your swap file, and thus your stability, before long.

* XP being updated with the latest patches/updates
* checking that the system is without malware of any kind.
* limiting your software running at any particular time. No matter how "advanced" your software or OS may be, it can't replace the functions of inadequate hardware resources: IRQ's, RAM, for the software you're trying to run, all at the same time.
* checking your temps and limiting the overclocking. You'd be surprised at the quantity of dirt, dust and hair that gets into computer cases. And how many user's never clean them out regularly.

Part of the problem that I've seen is with programs that are removed. Whether they are removed manually, or via their own uninstaller's, or through control panel-->Remove or Adjust Programs, for some reason, they don't get removed properly from the registry, or etc.

Lastly, I'd just be aware that some programs are just not 100% compatible with XP, or with the underlying BIOS of each system.

Furthermore, some programs make adjustments to Windows, which will then cause other programs (which had worked just fine previously), to now become unstable.

I don't know what the end user can do about these last two problems, except to complain to the software company's involved, and perhaps reboot right after running them.

I've found XP to be stable, but I don't really game much either. I can't begin to suggest what a program would do that would subsequently prevent the rig from even booting up. Perhaps one of the well informed gamers can give you some insight on that.

Good luck!

[screwballl]

I do all sorts of gaming and have not had a problem with XP for a few years now (since early SP1 days).
Make sure SP2 is installed
Make sure DirectX 9.0c is installed
Make sure you have the latest drivers for EVERYTHING including motherboard
Make sure that everyday web surfing is done under a limited account and the ONLY time you go into the administrative account is to play a game. Surfing the internet while under administrative login is like driving a car at 90mph with no windshield, you're gonna get hit in the face with everything thats flying around out there.
Keep a good firewall like Comodo installed, a good realtime spyware scanner like Spyware Terminator, good antivirus like Avira...
hope this helps.

[NoctisReitop]

Originally Posted by screwballl

I do all sorts of gaming and have not had a problem with XP for a few years now (since early SP1 days).
Make sure SP2 is installed
Make sure DirectX 9.0c is installed
Make sure you have the latest drivers for EVERYTHING including motherboard
Make sure that everyday web surfing is done under a limited account and the ONLY time you go into the administrative account is to play a game. Surfing the internet while under administrative login is like driving a car at 90mph with no windshield, you're gonna get hit in the face with everything thats flying around out there.
Keep a good firewall like Comodo installed, a good realtime spyware scanner like Spyware Terminator, good antivirus like Avira...
hope this helps.

Hmm, hadn't thought of surfing under a limited account. I'll definitely try that. My drivers and direct X are good.

This is off topic. My girlfriend's mother's computer just had something really wierd happen to it. It's had a stable XP home install for at least several years. Today it prompted to activate windows or it won't log in to an account. Has anything like this ever happend to anyone? XP doesn't just deactivate itself, does it? I'm pretty sure that re-activating it would simply fix the problem of logging on, but I'm wondering if something else isn't going seriously wrong.

[screwballl]

The best schedule is to format and reinstall windows once a year. For most people that is not possible so even for the normal home user with a decent running windows installed, every 1 1/2 to 2 years is good. If it has been more than 2 years then save what you can, format and reinstall windows. One thing that is THE main problem is that people do everything under administrative and that is the worst you can do. Internet surfing and any other online access under an administrative name is devastating. The only saving grace is a hardware (router with NAT) AND software firewall (such as Comodo firewall).
There have been tests where they showed that an unprotected WinXP computer running under administrative name simply connected to the internet (not even web surfing) was compromised within 4-20 minutes (average was just over 6 minutes). This was with no anti-virus, windows firewall and no other "extra" software except the monitoring software. IIRC this was with SP1 but don't quote me on that.

You can get Acronis True Image (older version) for free somewhere on their website so you can back everything up.
Usually you have 30 days to activate so that should be enough to backup whats needed and reinstall windows.

[azianai]

activation is probably your gf's mom d/led the latest WGA (windows genuine activation) through update. I wouldn't worry unless its a bootleg =P