I'll be quick for this stuff totally baffles me

Window XP service Pack2
NEW AMD 1.8GHz CPU
NEW ASUS Motherboard
NEW 512 DDR RAM

Scenario: Typical net browsing, multi-browsers, possibly downloading, regular surfing, etc. Computer just shuts down for no reason and restarts. When XP reboots a typical Windows error pops up.

I forget the entire error log but essentially two errors occur.

minidump "something or other" and system.xml

I've tried virtual memory control overrides etc based on Google searches on these terms, no luck. I returned it to the place where the hardware was installed because other Google searches came back stating it was hardware related.

Anyway, the guys at the store stated proudly today that they ran the system all day and nothing crashed...idiots! you need to run apps, typically web browsing etc. I told them to run more tests, wait for the shutdown/restart error and FIX THE DAMN THING.

I have my doubts that they will help me

Any ideas on how to fix that myself....

Please

My brother (comp guru) ventures that it'* the power supply and/or RAM.


Is it a generic power supply? Who makes the RAM?



edit: is your CPU Heatsink seated properly?

Did you just have that rebuilt or something?

Just rebuilt...and yes I believe it is RAM as well...thanks Sniper boy...

The power supply is 300W I believe, should be ok for the new hardware, I hope they come up with something...if not I will just bite the bullet and get new RAM...thanks for confirming my gut.

Sol is next in line here....Sol? buddy?

I"m no expert but it sounds like a problem with maybe the powersupply, or a RAM issue.


EDIT: nevermind.. I see someone else beat me to it. I forgot about the window for a few minutes before replying to it. lol.

Maker of the Ram, and I assume you do have at least 128 in there, even though 64 is the bare minimum for XP

Nevermind, just read your stats

did this start when u installed service pack 2... because service pack 2 is not for every system... and it causes problems on many systems due to that, microsoft knows about this and is trying to fix it. otherwise it sounds like the power supply or the ram.
and could u be more specific about ur hardware, like a model number on your mainboard, and the core on your processor. thanks

Is it completely updated? Even after SP2? I haven't had problems with any of the 4 computers i use/service (2 of my own). However none are AMD, and i do some people don't like SP2 'features'.

However an error like that doesn't sound like a windows problem, either. If your setup allows this, try using 1 stick of ram at a time if you have 2, and maybe you can pinpoint a bad module that way, Have you tried checkdisk? Maybe there are some bad sectors on your Hard disk.

However the web apps bothers me, that almost points to a virus for me. Was your computer online anytime before it was updated with SP2?

Service Pack 2 was installed on a clean HD and it was not online when installed. I have heard SP2 problems with dirty installs but not on a clean hard disk. Its one stick of 512 RAM, I bet its faulty RAM. Once tomorrow rolls around I will call them back to do a RAM test or just to give me another stick. Maybe I'll buy a new box/power supply for chits and giggles.

I'm betting its RAM.

Thanks guys, keep it coming, I need ammunition to deal with these idiots.

I think it is the power supply I have had that happen to two computers the power supply had enough power for the rating but they do not always put out what they say they do in might even have a bad ground in it so when it drawls a lot of power and has a dip or spike in power it could cycle it off.

To help prevent lot of data when this happens right click on My Computer then go to properties, hardware /device manager then disk drives and open the hard drive that it shows next select policies and disable write caching on the disk and hit ok.

Also run Ad-aware and Spybot update them make sure to immunize also I would recomend to restart in safe mode after updating and before checking the computer. TO start in safe mode you will need to hit F8 when booting.

To check the ram you can remove one at a time and run for a while and see if it works but you will need to have the ram in slot 1 on the MB. If you do not want to mess with the internals you can do a search for memtest or ram check to test it.

If you do not find a problem you should test the CPU with some thing like superPI set to the most digits and on loop if you can run for a while to check it. I have an AMD 64 3400+ in my laptop I love it and have not had any problems.

If the RAM CPU and spy ware are not the problems then it is most likely the power supply.

Good luck and keep me informed on the status and any progress or other problems that arrise.

Edit tests have shown that an instalation of win XP can get spy ware in 4min just being connecter to the net. I know this my self I installed XP and onlywent to the win update page then to dl spybot and alredy had some spyware sneek on. I am completely clean now though.