Computer crashes

[jfornito831]

I have a 5 year old laptop which use to run great. I started it up 1 day and it crashed right after the xp screen. So i figured something was wrong and used the system recovery disk that came with it to wipe it out and start fresh. So it did the beginning part of the reinstall then it says it needs to restart to finish the install now it crashes during the  loading items like the mouse and keyboard screen. so i try to get in safemode to do somethings i seen on the net and it says windows xp setup can run in safemode  and to restart. so i try a different thing but everytime it basically tells me umm no you cant do anything here. there is no know good configuration is says some file is missing or corrupt. There isn't anything on the computer that i need i just want to be able to use it again.  any and all help would be grateful.  Info is limited about the machine being it crashes right away so what ever info i can get outta bios is about all i got.

[patio]

Sharpie XP CD or original ? ?

[jfornito831]

Its a gateway issued microsoft windows xp home edition system recovery cd/dvd. Back in the day we had a problem with the net not working and our I.S.P. made us do a drivers/applications cd i tried that and its the same thing as the gateway cd.

[Broni]

1. Run memtest: http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic62524.html

2. Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD, and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, which is not listed, try using Hitachi tools.

[jfornito831]

Thanks for the help. Ran the memtest overnight it passed 20 times. the hard drive test passed also. I was looking up ram prices and came along a website called crucial.com and it says i only have 1 slot on my laptop. so i wouldn't have to take it apart and check each ram slot or should i do it anyway. laptop is a gateway mx3560. Both programs ran fine like i said the mem test ran over night = 8 hours. what's next?

[jfornito831]

ooo yeah for that the h.d. test  it gave a disposition code of 0x00. tried googleing it but nothing popped up.

[jfornito831]

just found out it has 512 mb ram non removable? doesnt sound right to me. I think i know where more would go but i cant confirm it anywhere on the net. Looks easily accessible on the underside of the machine. But it still brings me to the main problem..it crashing as soon as it gets to the xp screen..

[patio]

DLoad install and run Everest Home...FREE.
It will tell you everything you need to know about that machine.

[jfornito831]

im on an imac how do i burn a .exe file to a disk to use in the pc laptop

[jfornito831]

nevermind  the last one

[jfornito831]

everest isnt free anymore. in fact i cant find it. question would my computer still work with only 512 mb of ram? cause thats all it has there isnt any more of removable ram. i confirmed the location of where it goes and there isnt any removable ram there.

[Spoiler]

Try here....

http://everest-home-edition.brothersoft.com/

you can the free version.....

[jfornito831]

but its a .exe and i cant burn it on a mac or atleast i dont know how

[patio]

Copy it to a USB flash drive...

[jfornito831]

i dont have 1