Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: tinykitkatgrl on January 28, 2007, 03:00:11 PM

Title: computer will only run in safe mode
Post by: tinykitkatgrl on January 28, 2007, 03:00:11 PM
This is not a quick-fix problem, and I really need an expert who can help me.  :-?
Since about last August, my computer will freeze less than five minutes after booting in normal mode. This will happen whether I use the internet, log on, etc.- there seems to be no correlation between what I'm doing and when it freezes. It started one morning when I woke up to a frozen screensaver- restarted the computer, and it froze a few minutes later... again, and again and again. I cannot recall making any changes at all to my computer before this started. I tried system restore immediately and it said no changes had been made to my computer.
Since then i've been working in safe mode with networking, which besides being a general nuisance, has put my computer at risk because I'm unable to install windows updates, etc.
For the past week or so I've been posting at the SWI forums and the only conclusion that we've really come to is that it's not a malware problem. Here's the link to the post if you'd like to review it: http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=92457&st=0

Anyone who has any insight on this at all, please help?
Title: Re: computer will only run in safe mode
Post by: Dusty on January 28, 2007, 05:01:30 PM
Are there any entries in your Event Log which show a problem :-?

Is your RAM usage exceptionally high :-?
Title: Re: computer will only run in safe mode
Post by: patio on January 28, 2007, 05:04:30 PM
DLoad and run the HDD diagnostics from your HDD's site...

DLoad and run memtest...let it run for a few hours...

Other than that it might be a power supply issue which can only be tried by swapping out a new unit.
Title: Re: computer will only run in safe mode
Post by: tinykitkatgrl on January 28, 2007, 05:54:49 PM
I checked the Event Log already, didn't find anything unusual.

i'm only using about 2/3 of my memory.

How can I find out what my hard drive manufacturer is? My brother "built" this computer from various parts so I don't know it.
Title: Re: computer will only run in safe mode
Post by: GX1_Man on January 28, 2007, 07:07:54 PM
Quote
I checked the Event Log already, didn't find anything unusual.

[highlight]i'm only using about 2/3 of my memory.[/highlight]

How can I find out what my hard drive manufacturer is? My brother "built" this computer from various parts so I don't know it.

How do you come to that conclusion? When was the last time Windows was loaded on that machine? Do you have a Windows CD to reinstall with if necessary?
Title: Re: computer will only run in safe mode
Post by: street1 (RIP) on January 28, 2007, 07:15:28 PM
Quote
I checked the Event Log already, didn't find anything unusual.

i'm only using about 2/3 of my memory.

[highlight]How can I find out what my hard drive manufacturer is?[/highlight] My brother "built" this computer from various parts so I don't know it.

Go to the control panel to 'system' then -hardware then- device manager
double click on -disk drives.That should tell you what hard drive you have.
Title: Re: computer will only run in safe mode
Post by: tinykitkatgrl on January 28, 2007, 07:22:37 PM
okay, got it, thanks.
i'm running that after i reinstall my graphics driver (which someone else suggested).

Perhaps this is wrong, to check my memory I looked under capacity at properties on my c: drive?

I've tried to load windows normally several times in the past week with no luck.

I only have a windows upgrade cd, which i tried to do repairs with and got nothing but error messages.
Title: Re: computer will only run in safe mode
Post by: tinykitkatgrl on January 28, 2007, 08:44:05 PM
Reinstalling my graphics driver didn't work. and the diagnostic hdd tool found no problems.

i can't run memtest yet because i don't have a floppy to create a bootdisc on.
Title: Re: computer will only run in safe mode
Post by: fffreak on January 28, 2007, 08:45:17 PM
You can run it if you burn it to a cd using the iso.
Title: Re: computer will only run in safe mode
Post by: GX1_Man on January 29, 2007, 04:25:06 AM
Have you considered doing a reinstall after backing up your data files? THis will not fix any hardware problems, but will solve all Windows problems.....for a while.  ;)