Very Strange, could someone please help

[Dodie21]

I have researched the site for any simular incident but found nothing.
Hope that someone can help.

About a month ago we had several bad storms that lasted for days. Shortly after that I started haveing problems with my computer shutting down or freezing.
I had a APC power chute personal edition surge protector on the computer that was running fine. All checks showed that it was fully powered and battery backup was fine.

I had the electric company come out and check the wiring in my house as my microwave and alarm clock were also acting wierd.  All checks done by the electric company seem to be fine and the said I had on electical problems.
However my computer continued to keep turning itself off or freezing.
I then noticed that my surge protetor lite said that I had faulty wiring.
I again called the electric company to come out and they again assured me it was not the electric.
NOw my computer had become so unstable and would shut down before I could even connect to the internet.

My computer is still under warranty so I took it back to the store to have it checked.
Before they even looked at it the said that I had a virus and that they could clean it for $150.00. I asked them to please show me why the thought it had a virus because I was almost certain that it did not.
They said they would have to do there diagonistic check first but that is what is sounded like.
WEll after they did all there checks and did more thorough checks they found nothing wrong with the computer at all and suggested it was the house wiring, I told them I had had it checked already.
So what they did to fix my computer was to install a brand new hard drive as they said they sometimes just go bad. Computer is 2  years old. with new hard drive.
WEll I brought the computer home and have had it back about 2 1/2 weeks now.
And started having the same problem only about after the 1st week. with new hard drive installed.
I decided to put the computer on another circut in the house thinking that maybe the electric company was wrong. It worked great for about three or four days but now it is doing the same thing.
What I am getting now is a blue screen when it freezes.
A problem has been detected and windows has shut down to prevent damage to your computer.
Machine_Check_Exception.
If this is the 1st time restart your computer
If it happens again follow these steps. Check to make sure new hardware or software was installed properly and ask about any updates.
Disable any newly installed programs.
Disable Bios memory options, Chaching or shadowing.
Technical INformation
XXX STOP: 0x0000009C (0x00000000, 0x8054D570, 0XA2000000, 0X84010400,
Beginning dump of physical memory
Physical memory dump complete

Then I have to hold the start button down to restart my computer.

I suppose that I should just take it back to the store and have them check it again, but it is a 60+ mile drive every time I have to take it back, to just bring it home and have it do the same thing.
I have done a recovery and reinstall of all new programs and still the same thing.
Please if anyone can help before I make that drive.

[Dodie21]

I realize I left this out if it will help.

Insignia D400a Desktop
2.8 GHZ Intel Pentium 4 processor
160 GB hard drive
512 MB DDR SDRAM
Windows XP sp2 home edition

Nortons internet security 2007 (have used for 7 years on various computers no problems)
Adaware
have done AVG virus scans, which came out clean
but this is a brand new hard drive should not be happening
Downloaded and running Mozilla, always have and also uninstalled and redounloaded thing it might have been corrupt. Same thing happening

[2k_dummy]

Have you tried booting the computer without the UPS? It is entirely possible that the UPS took damage while protecting the computer - that is its job.

[Dodie21]

Yes when I got the compter back after the new hard drive was installed, I tried running it with the ups. That is when I noticed the red light on the ups that said faulty wiring.
So I got a new power protector and am using it but the computer is still acting up.

[soybean]

You might try this.  Download SpeedFan and install it.  It will give you some info on system temperatures and various voltage readings.  If there's a problem with your computer's PSU (power supply unit), I think the voltage readings on SpeedFan might give you a clue there.  And, it you have a problem of overheating of your CPU, SpeedFan  can help diagnose that.

[Dodie21]

Ok I downloaded the speed fan but it realy isnt showing me anything.

Readings
Win9x:NO  64Bit:NO  GiveIO:YES  SpeedFan:YES
I/O properly initialized
Linked ISA BUS at $0290
Linked Intel 82801DB ICH4 SMBUS at $E000
Scanning ISA BUS at $0290...
SuperIO Chip=LPC47m172
Sensor's Base Address : $06C0
Scanning Intel SMBus at $E000...
SMART Enabled for drive 0
Found WDC WD1600JB-00REA0 (160.0GB)
End of detection
Loaded 0 events

Fan1: 0RPM
Fan1: 0RPM

HDO: 44C
Last: 44C
Min: 44 Max: 44 Mean: 45.3

INFO:
Scanning SMBus at $E000...
Decoding DIMM #0
 Memory type is DDR
 Module Rows : 2
 Levels : 2.5V
 Parity : NO PARITY
 Refresh Rate : 7.8us
 Total Size : 512MB

S.M.A.R.T.
Model: WDC WD1600JB-00REA0   Firmware:20.00K20
Everything that is marked has a green ok
Indepth online analysis of hard disk

Almost every EIDE or SATA hard disk includes S.M.A.R.T. data. That information is collected by the drive itself and contains data that the manufacturer considered relevant to check reliability. The data is made up of several attributes that have a current value, a worst one, a threshold, some raw data, and some flags. Basically, when any attribute's current value is below its threshold, the hard disk is considered unreliable and likely to fail. By using several techniques, this report tries to give a wider range of info, basing its analysis on advanced comparisons with normal values based on real hard disks and on expert-like checks. The final results are not to be taken as an absolute truth, but they are a very good approach to what a professional would say about your hard disk status.
Your hard disk is a WDC WD1600JB-00REA0 with firmware 20.00K20.
The average temperature for this hard disk is 34C (MIN=23C MAX=46C) and yours is 44C.
Your hard disk's S.M.A.R.T. attributes are now being analyzed and a full report about the reliability, health and status of your hard disk is generated:
Your hard disk is not below any attribute threshold. This is good.
Your hard disk was never below any attribute threshold. This is good.
Your hard disk is now being compared to real data used to define normal values for your specific hard disk model. This way, the analysis can automatically use proper operating ranges. The images give you an idea of how each attribute is within such range. Current and raw values are shown for easier reference for experienced users. There are 1603 hard disk models in the current archive.

        Attribute       Current       Raw       Overall
10      Raw Read Error Rate      200      0       Very good
9      Spin Up Time      182      3858       Very good
10      Start/Stop Count      100      82       Very good
10      Reallocated Sector Count      200      0       Very good
10      Seek Error Rate      200      0       Very good
10      Power On Hours Count      100      221       Very good
10      Spin Retry Count      100      0       Very good
10      Calibration Retry Count      100      0       Very good
10      Power Cycle Count      100      77       Very good
10      Reallocated Event Count      200      0       Very good
10      Current Pending Sector      200      0       Very good
10      Offline Uncorrectable Sector Count      200      0       Very good
10      Ultra DMA CRC Error Rate      200      0       Very good
10      Write Error Rate      200      0       Very good

All of the attributes of your hard disk have normal values. This is good.

The overall fitness for this drive is 97%.
The overall performance for this drive is 100%.

Only thing I get a chart for is the temp and it is at 44

Not sure what all that means but it seems ok to me

[soybean]

I'll be back later on this; going to a picnic now.   

[Dodie21]

k thanks,
enjoy the picnic and thanks for the help
it seems to be running ok now.
So fingers crossed I will not have to post again.
Except to say thanks

[Dodie21]

OH my guess I spoke to soon, oops I did it again, crash, no worning.
Just nothing.

[Fed]

I'd take that computer to a different house and try it.

[soybean]

I'd take that computer to a different house and try it.

I like the idea, too, just to eliminate a problem with your electrical supply.  Have you experienced any more unusual behavior with your microwave and alarm clock, or any other appliances?

[Dodie21]

Only micro and alarm clock and they mess up all over the house.
cordless phone is pluged in where computer is and it works fine

Did the post I put up from speed fan show any abnormalitys to you

[Dodie21]

well dont think it is an electrical problem. moved computer left it off for a couple of hours and when I turned it on it ran great for about 5 hours, then it started again. got worse and worse, brought it home hooked it back up and started all over this morning, been on since before 8am 11:43 here now.
So far no problems and I have been reading and doing all kinds of test.
Tried to do a memory test but I could not get the program to install .
But I did check and clean the memory stick seems fine made sure everything in the case was perfectly clean, looks new, they must have cleaned it good when they put the new hard drive in.
Also hooked the old hard drive up at a friends to try and get kids pics save to a disk and the guys at the repair shop have put a pasword on it, Can they do that it is my info I am trying to back up insted of paying them $100's of dollars to do it for me.

Call me dumb and niave but I have a problem with that.
Anywhoo
Just need to get the system stable so I can get on with life.
Thanks for all the help so far

[Fed]

It seems then we can rule out your electricity suppy.
I think you should test your RAM, I see you had a problem doing it but it is really very easy.
All you have to do is download the correct file from memtest, place it on your desktop, unzip it and double click the 'setup' file. (Or a similar sounding name).
Have a floppy ready (I've found this the quickest & easiest way).
Memtest will create the floppy for you, then re-boot your computer with the floppy in the drive and with the A drive set as 1st boot device.
Memtest will run off the floppy in a continiuos loop, let it run for a few hours and any memory errors will be displayed.

Download - Pre-Compiled Memtest86 v3.3 installable from Windows and DOS

[Fed]

For windows installation begin by downloading either the Pre-Compiled Windows package to build a boot-able floppy disk or an ISO (zip version) to create a boot-able CD-ROM. After the file is downloaded an extract must be done to uncompress the file(s). To extract right click on the downloaded file and select the "Extract All" option. The extract option will let you choose where the files will be extracted to. To build a bootable floppy go the the folder where the files were extracted and click on the Install icon. The floppy disk will appear to be unformatted by Windows after the install is complete.