[gagster]

Have posted a few times here regarding this week-long attempt to get my machine back in operation. In a nutshell, had XP for 6 years with no major problems. Recently (in one session) updated monitor, added wireless keyboard/mouse, added memory, added USB 2.0 card and external drive, then updated to SP2, downloaded McAfee antivirus. Have not been able to keep machine running two days in a row since then. Each time did clean reinstall of XP with complete reformat of drive, this past time I only downloaded SP2, which was the only time it was connected to the net.

Errors have popped up "files in registry had to be recovered by use of log, successful". Could not successfully install a video capture card which I had used in this system for years (drivers would not install from the cd). Could not successfully install drivers for the USB 2.0 card, "missing a necessary entry,...the INF was written for Windows 95 or later..."

Now system will not boot again, "missing or corrupt WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM."

Previous boot errors were "missing the file SYSTEM32\pci.sys", "WMI error", and "Windows shutting down Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service terminated unexpectedly". Each time I had tried to install a lesser subset of those items indicated above.

Having a hard time believing SP2 is so unstable, is it possible my hard drive is starting to go and is what is causing this? Thanks for any tips.

Dell 4400, P4 1.6G, PCI USB 2.0 VIA VT6202 card

[gagster]

Okay, used some procedure I found to use recovery console to repair the config\system file and get to prior system restore points, tried one at a time until one allowed me to boot. It is the one before I installed SP2. So something about my system does not like SP2? Still cannot install either video capture card with its provided cd, nor the USB card, will search for updated drivers and probably order a new hard drive in the meantime.

[DaChew]

the usb card would be plug and play with sp2

pull it out, use regular keyboard

do a clean install of XP with the vid card, then load sp2

what is the vid card?

[simpswr]

Is your processor a Prescott? . . have you ugraded to the newest BIOS?

What model is the Dell?

[nocrap]

You said "Recently (in one session) updated monitor, added wireless keyboard/mouse, added memory, added USB 2.0 card and external drive, then updated to SP2, downloaded McAfee antivirus. Have not been able to keep machine running two days in a row since then."
I've seen this type of thing happen before and I would bet you have a MEMORY PROBLEM. Put back in just the memory you had before the upgrade and try it. If problem goes away you need to return the memory you upgraded.

[gagster]

DaChew: USB card install wizard did come up automatically, but driver install was not successful. Funny, because the info I had was that SP1 had the driver needed, so I assumed SP2 did. I already did a clean install with old keyboard, and all added cards removed. Two clean installs later I have put the wireless keyboard back, doesn't seem to be having a problem. It is not the video card, but a video capture card, V-Stream 88XLP, not so important, I have left the card out for the time being.

simpswr: Don't know what a Prescott is, all I know is Pentium 4, 1.6 GHz. Never upgraded BIOS, nor do I know how to. Model is Dimension 4400.

nocrap: I already tried going back to the original memory before, will try again because am not sure at what point what combination of things I had done when the second cycle of problems began. Is there an easy way to do a thorough check of the memory?

Thanks to everyone.

[Broni]

"missing or corrupt WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM."

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545

[simpswr]

You can find the BIOS for your Dell 4400 here

Dell had a problem with some of their BIOS not working with SP2 . .

[DaChew]

Originally Posted by simpswr

You can find the BIOS for your Dell 4400 here

Dell had a problem with some of their BIOS not working with SP2 . .

yes get the basics down

and then after that add one card back in at a time, there might only be a certain pci slot where it and windows will be happy

usb2 is plug and play with sp2
leave it that way, don't mess it up

[gagster]

I will update bios tomorrow, not able to download it using this machine. I had stored the MS XP SP2 update executable (which was given by someone here, and initially worked, it is
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en)

both on my desktop and on a cd, when I try to run either one now it tells me "file is corrupt", does that sound like memory or hard disk problem? or simply due to bios? I mean, how could there be a difference between the file that I downloaded a few days ago and saved on my desktop, and the one I would download today and save there if I didn't already have it, only thing I can think of is it wasn't stored 100% correctly.

[DaChew]

sounds like a hardware failure or a bad cd?

[gagster]

Seriously doubt it is a problem with the cd, since the same failure also occurs with the file when I attempt to run it from the desktop. Also have used this DVD burner and DVD reader often and just last week to burn both music and data CDs, and video and data DVDs. Only bad burns I ever got came from Memorex double layer DVDs.

Since it is not very expensive and will provide spare parts if this isn't the issue, I will be ordering more memory and a hard drive. Heck, I'm even thinking of actually buying an XP cd with SP2 just to make sure it is good, only $90, and how much time I have spent on this is worth more than that. Also will plan it better this time, most likely will try one more clean reinstall. Reverting back to original configuration to the extent possible (original cd drive gone), and will use another machine to download the programs I want including the bios update, SP2, and some protections like extra firewall and virus protection (leaning toward Zone Alarm and Grisoft) so I can have them all installed before ever connecting to the net. Will add the extra cards afterwards. Thanks for all the tips.