Computer problems from hell

[Vendor Defendor]

After a virus I said screw it and I'll reformat. I did, reinstalled windows, reinstalled all my drivers, put on my virus scan, ad-aware, spybot blah blah blah then decided to update windows. After windows installed Service Pack 2 it needed to restart. Restarted and windows told me that 'Nfts.sys is missing or corrupted. Please insert windows orgional disk to repair'.

Damn it

Put in windows, figured I would try to repair as my first option, it did its repairing thing and then rebooted and into a setup screen. After maybe 20 seconds of it having a little status bar flash back and forth I hear this click and the hard drive shut off. The computer reboots.

Now this process is repeating over and over again.

Ideas? Should I try formating AGAIN and maybe there is still something corrupted in windows thats causing this?

Any ideas help.

 

[ShouldIBuy]

If you did a complete format/reinstall, and you're having problems like this, there's a good chance you may have some bad hardware (bad memory is usually a good place to start looking).

 

[BuickMike]

I would also expect a hardware related problem, but most likely a bad driver. If the system keeps rebooting on your own, you are probably getting a blue screen error but don't see it because XP is set to automatically reboot upon BSOD by default.

When you went to Windows Update, did you install any Hardware Updates? If so, that is your problem. Their hardware updates typically install the wrong drivers and cause such a situation. I would only install SP2, Media Player 10, and the critical patches after that.

Can you get into Safe Mode? If so, try removing SP2 and other updates. Also reinstall all your drivers. Otherwise, just format and reinstall again.

Also, did you install your chipset drivers for the Motherboard?? Alot of people overlook them and it can cause problems.

Hope this helps,

Mike

 

[S10xGN]

Put your 'puter behind a router (<$20.00), get a good AV program, install (free) ZoneAlarm firewall and be sure to set it up to ASK permission for programs to access the 'net (this way you'll know if you f'ed up). Do NOT let windows update ANYTHING. Repeat: TURN UPDATES OFF! I'm still at the base SP1 and have never had a virus or any (fatal) 'puter problems. I run Spybot and AdAware weekly and it's been years since either program found anything. Also, be wary of what programs you open or what web pages you visit, ZoneAlarm will let you know if something is calling out! Again, do not rely on Windows to keep your 'puter working!

Now, reformat and start again to get around your first problem.

 

[ShouldIBuy]

I usually agree with updating any hardware drivers from Windows Updates. However, you really should update any critical updates at the least.
S10xGN,
Not running updates has nothing to do with not getting a virus or fatal errors. Most critical updates are aimed at preventing a virus infection.

 

[Vendor Defendor]

Found the problem. Motherboard was fried. D'oh.