System 32 problem AGAIN!!

**Maggy** · 22-10-2006, 13:39

I just had a nasty 15 minutes when I tried starting up this PC earlier.It was coming up with the options to start in safe mode etc.Tried that and it kept reboting.Tried the start Windows normally and it carried on rebooting,Tried the use the last safe good configuration..carried on rebooting.Realised that I had a problem and I would have to re-install.the upshot seemed to be I had a system 32 failure.It then rebooted and when I was offered the chance to repair it asked for administrators password..I don't have one..I then exited and the safemode screen arrived,I decided on the go back to last known safe configuration option and suddenly it was back to normal...

Now what exactly did I do that sorted out the problem...

Anyway I'm running my AV (which is NOD32 and I'll be surprised if anything has got past that)and i'm going to get adaware going as well..The ZAP antispyware ran yesterday so but I'll give it another go.Why is System 32 giving me these repeated boot up problems? Is it something XP home is prone to?

nffc · 22-10-2006, 13:45

No, and if you're careful with the OS, then i'd say it sounds likely your HDD is on the blink. What make is the disk (you can find this in Device Manager, or in the BIOS).

AntiSilence · 22-10-2006, 13:55

I've had problems with Western Digital Caviar drives dying for no reason

**Maggy** · 22-10-2006, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by nffc

No, and if you're careful with the OS, then i'd say it sounds likely your HDD is on the blink. What make is the disk (you can find this in Device Manager, or in the BIOS).

I bluddy hope not, I only got it in January..

It's a Maxtor.The thing is I'm getting none of the indications I got when my last HDD was slowly failing.It was working fine last night my son assures me and he also assures me that he downloaded nothing at all last night.

Anyway why would the system 32 problem indicate a HDD issue?

nffc · 22-10-2006, 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

I bluddy hope not, I only got it in January..

It's a Maxtor.The thing is I'm getting none of the indications I got when my last HDD was slowly failing.It was working fine last night my son assures me and he also assures me that he downloaded nothing at all last night.

Anyway why would the system 32 problem indicate a HDD issue?

The problem is that the system32 files have got missing or corrupt, this can be because the data itself is on a bad sector or similar (that's the HD) or because some messy software muck has screwed it...

There's no plausible reason for a 10 mo HDD to decide to just go up creek, it's under warranty anyway, I'd suggest running PowerMax on it just to be sure, if it is dead at least you know (and if it's not, you can back up and reformat, or whatever).

If your HDs are failing on a regular basis then it's probably not bad luck. Maybe a dodgy IDE controller on the mainboard but a poor quality PSU is more likely, if it's muck like Bestek or Q-tec then you're going to have a lot of problems, likewise if it's under powered it will struggle to deliver the wattage you want it to, which will cause spikes and can stress components.

AntiSilence · 22-10-2006, 14:07

I had a Q-Tec PSU once, a 500w (pah!)... It was OK powering my Athlon 750MHz and GeForce 4 Ti-4200, but as soon as I upgraded to an XP3200+ with a GeForce FX5950 Ultra, it couldn't supply the required power and my PC just kept re-booting.

I now spend a little more on my PSU's. I had an Antec, but that blew up and killed my DVD writer

and I've found that Jeantech supplies are good (even though they're from PC World lol)

**Maggy** · 22-10-2006, 14:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by nffc

The problem is that the system32 files have got missing or corrupt, this can be because the data itself is on a bad sector or similar (that's the HD) or because some messy software muck has screwed it...

There's no plausible reason for a 10 mo HDD to decide to just go up creek, it's under warranty anyway, I'd suggest running PowerMax on it just to be sure, if it is dead at least you know (and if it's not, you can back up and reformat, or whatever).

If your HDs are failing on a regular basis then it's probably not bad luck. Maybe a dodgy IDE controller on the mainboard but a poor quality PSU is more likely, if it's muck like Bestek or Q-tec then you're going to have a lot of problems, likewise if it's under powered it will struggle to deliver the wattage you want it to, which will cause spikes and can stress components.

You think my AMD Athlon 64processor 3000+ and my 1.80 GHZ are on the way out..please say not...

Graham M · 22-10-2006, 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by AntiSilence

I had a Q-Tec PSU once, a 500w (pah!)... It was OK powering my Athlon 750MHz and GeForce 4 Ti-4200, but as soon as I upgraded to an XP3200+ with a GeForce FX5950 Ultra, it couldn't supply the required power and my PC just kept re-booting.

All I can say to that is "LoL"

AntiSilence · 22-10-2006, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

All I can say to that is "LoL"

Indeed!

LOL

That was when I didn't want to spend much on the PSU... Now I know better! And since I had a 5950Ultra, I've now got a 6800GT which needs even more power! LOL

Paul K · 22-10-2006, 14:22

Coggy, pop to the Maxtor site and look for a drive diag tool, run it on your drive and make sure that the drive isn't the issue. If it's not the drive and is the motherboard controller then there are ways around the problem that won't cost the earth or detroy the PC so don't start panicing yet

nffc · 22-10-2006, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Coggy, pop to the Maxtor site and look for a drive diag tool, run it on your drive and make sure that the drive isn't the issue. If it's not the drive and is the motherboard controller then there are ways around the problem that won't cost the earth or detroy the PC so don't start panicing yet

I linked to Powermax in my post

---------- Post added at 14:31 ---------- Previous post was at 14:31 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

You think my AMD Athlon 64processor 3000+ and my 1.80 GHZ are on the way out..please say not...

Probably not. If it is the HDD, then there's likely to be something else causing it, i'd say the PSU is most likely.

greencreeper · 22-10-2006, 14:33

Disk problems would show up in the Event Logs.

Sometimes PCs do strange things - just the way they are

Doesn't necessarily mean (and especially without supporting evidence) that the PC needs chucking in a skip.

22-10-2006, 14:40

I agree with GC is prob Just a hic up, perhaps something installed loaded something to start up thats caused a conflict.Back up to be sure though and wait and see

**Maggy** · 22-10-2006, 14:52

Well that was a trip up memory lane..I cant remember the last time I used a floppy disk.Anyway all that happened was it discovered that my maxtor was present as well as my external drive.It failed to even see the sata drive.I followed the instructions and finally had to reboot because nothing happened for 5 minutes..yes I know I'm impatient but frankly I think it's a software problem myself.I did install Bryce 6 yesterday and although that appears to be working perfectly it may well have had issues with software my son was using..

Anyway it's rebooted three times now with no problems.It's just this system32 being the issue three times in a short space of time that's got me wondering.

Where are my manners?Forgot to say thank you to everyone...I'm getting like the children I teach.

22-10-2006, 15:11

I think it depends on the controller maxtor software wont see a sata drive on a none native controller as these need drivers to run so when you boot from floppy said drivers are not seen and the controller will not work

It could be the same bit of software conflicting on these 3 occassions