My main computer was running fine last night, until all of a sudden it started "pausing" frequently - as in the mouse wouldnt move and ctrl-alt-delete wouldnt respond (until it unpaused in which case they all turn up ).  The hard disc light showed activity but im not too sure if there was any real activity (if you know what i mean).

so I switch it off and come back to it later when I had time - the problem started before I got into windows and I done several resets and got varying results - from having the windows splash screen freezing (including the blue bar animation stopped), to getting a welcome screen, to having a mouse pointer (which just froze indefinately).   couldnt even get into safe mode - it listed all the stuff loaded, but pretty much stopped after that. so again, not much time to think about it.

Switched it on in the morning in a last ditch attempt - and it loaded a windows 2000 style login screen - strange because i dont need a login for this computer, but logged in anyway . . . the wallpapers (on a dual screen) loaded up and there seemd to be some activity. . . no pauses.  But then it shut it down (before even loading explorer), getting the "saving your settings" message.  

I tried the adminstrators account and the same thing happens, itll "log in", only to log straight back out to the login screen.  It even does this in safe mode (which I can get into except I cant).  

Anyone have any ideas?  Ive been running this setup for almost 2 years wihtout even a hitch, this just baffles me!

Im running Windows XP Pro SP1, abit NF7-S v2, 2x 80gb SATA drives, 2x512MB Corsair PC3200, AMD XP2400+ . . .

Cheers in advance

Same thing happened to me a while back, I had to reinstall
it gives u an option to reinstall over yer old so things are about the same as before.

Have you tried using the recovery console?

It could be that a WSH script of some kind has been placed to run on startup from either your registry or startup folder. Id check for Virii/spyware/rootkits too? But that doesnt explain the initial freezing. :?: :?

yeah I already did a check for spyware and virii a few days ago, although I guess anything couldve happened.

I take it the recovery console is part of the XP CD?  

One thing I cant really do, without spending a large amount of time doing, is to reinstall from total scratch, because I need to literally dig the computer out of a hole just to reconnect a floppy drive to install the sata raid drivers.  if I simply reinstall as is, does anyone know if I still have to load the sata drivers through floppy?

could be a windows update issue ?  windows has automatically updated and borked itself ?

do start / help and support / system restore (its on the middle on the right) and restore to a week ago, or there abouts )    (good idea to do this even if its not a windows update problem!)

what does it get up to when you try to boot in safe mode ? ... the last thing loaded / line of text..... that could be whats causing the problem

sounds really odd, but do you have 2 mice plugged in?  or did you have 2 mice plugged in?  Ive experienced a problem where if you have a PS2 mouse AND a USB one plugged in the computer does some freaky lockup things with HID Compliant devices. Keyboard _usually_ works ok, though not always.

My old computer used to do it.

Was down to incorrect sound drivers and incorrect graphics drivers.

Used to even pause the xp loading screen.

like

move move move move waaiit!!!! move move move move waiiit!

Every 2 seconds or so. like using remote desktop over a 56k modem.

Quotecould be a windows update issue ? windows has automatically updated and borked itself ?

Nah, its not a windows update - ironically, it could be a downfall, seeing as windows updates doesnt let me do anything else other than download and install SP2 - something which I havent done yet. . .

Quotedo start / help and support / system restore (its on the middle on the right) and restore to a week ago, or there abouts

Cant get into Windows. . . thats the problem . . . and I never have system restore on . . .

Quotewhat does it get up to when you try to boot in safe mode ? ... the last thing loaded / line of text..... that could be whats causing the problem

Its the last line...bhidsys.drv or something. . . cant check at the moment. . .

Quotesounds really odd, but do you have 2 mice plugged in? or did you have 2 mice plugged in? Ive experienced a problem where if you have a PS2 mouse AND a USB one plugged in the computer does some freaky lockup things with HID Compliant devices. Keyboard _usually_ works ok, though not always.

I had 2 mice plugged in about a year ago - once off. . .

QuoteWas down to incorrect sound drivers and incorrect graphics drivers.

but its been working fine with no hitches for like 2 years.  I updated the video card drivers last month . . .



update : I tried doing a reinstall, but it looks like Im going to have to make some space and drag the computer out just to connect a floppy drive for the SATA RAID drivers  

Can you have somebody put the sata drivers on a cd.

or can you boot and acces harddrive ? put drivers on harddrive.

For some reason, probably only known to microsoft, Windows XP install only lets u load 3rd party drivers at setup via floppy and no other medium  

BAWS.

After all that, the installation stops at "searching for previous version of Microsoft Windows" . . . so I cant even install windows now!!

 

Quote from: LokiFor some reason, probably only known to microsoft, Windows XP install only lets u load 3rd party drivers at setup via floppy and no other medium  

because that set up routine is old and predates usb drives etc. M$ selling you their old stuff at new prices as usual.

Quote from: LokiBAWS.
After all that, the installation stops at "searching for previous version of Microsoft Windows" . . . so I cant even install windows now!!
 

hmmmm, sounds like a bad HD / corrupt data

can you boot into anything wiuth a boot dish then run some HD scans / del the windows partition ?

Try reformating from another disk, surface scanning the disk and then reinstalling XP.

Also get yourself a copy of some backup software and use it, Acronis TrueImage is good. Next time it goes tits up you should be back up and running relatively quickly.

OK, this is bizarre - earlier today the computer halted on the RAID screen (displays connected drives, after bios screen) . . .

however, just trying things again (seeing as Ive been getting inconsistent errors), it is now installing and behaving normally.  :shock:


would it be possible that these inconsistencies and errors have are down to insufficient power from the PSU?  300W (Enermax) may sound low by todays standard, but ive never really had a problem, but I did install a Leadtek 6800GT (which requires an extra molex) last month.  this is what it powers:

Abit NF7S v2 motherboard
Athlon XP 2400+
1GB Corsair RAM (2x512MB)
NEC3500 DVD writer
Pioneer 106S DVD reader
Akasa Fan Controller
4x 80mm fans
Audigy Soundcard
Leadtek 6800GT
2x 80GB 8MB PATA drives (with SATA converters)