KenB

If I can but in ??? This could be the beginning of the end for your hard drive. Take a look here: I would be inclined to put your drive on another system and try to access the files etc before you do anything else. The clicking could be due to the surface of the drive breaking down and not able to be read. It could be that the sector that contains the boot information cannot be read. The drive may be accessable from another system. The more you try to access it - the less chance you have of getting any data off it. (assuming the clicking is coming from the drive)

Start up in Normal mode and make a note of the time when the system crashes. Then Startup in Safe Mode. Start > type in ......event viewer ......ENTER Expand "Windows Logs" in the left pane. Click on Application / Security / System in turn. Locate any errors that occur at the noted time and date. Copy the error report(s) and post them here. They may ( or may not ) help. This may help: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic40108.html

That is slow - but it is down to the site not your system. Not really. Older drivers are difficult to locate. Excellent :) If you need help locating any software post the details and I will do what I can.

Is the date and time showing correctly in the bottom right corner. I don't think this is related to viewing PDF files ================= Can you post me a link to a PDF file that you cannot view please ? If I can't view it either then the problem lies with the site and not your system.

Was this safe mode with networking so that the system could access the net to search for an updated driver?

This is not a phone ! The motherboard supports upto 4GB - your game suggests 4GB. If you havn't got 4GB then you would need to upgrade this too to comply with the specs in your first post. The suggested card from your first post can be bought here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001V9FA6I/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001UGXVJ0&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1ED1WVFX057YEBGZAPDX You will not get an equivalent one for half the price.

Congratulations. Putting a system back together and getting it up and running is no mean achievement. Well done.

Your motherboard is as I posted above. See here: https://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00835812&lc=en&dlc=nl&cc=uk&aoid=&product=3349278&lang=nl#N68 My previous post is correct. Your PSU is only 300Watt. If you upgrade your Video Card ( depending upon what you select ) the PSU will need upgrading too - to something like 500 - 600 Watt.

Hi and welcome to ExTS If this is your Hosts file it is little wonder you are having problems. Chances are there are other underlying problems too. One of our Security Experts should be along soon to advise. If you don't hear from them within 24 hours either send me a PM or simply add a second post to this thread to remind me.

Hi and welcome to ExTS Your Processor is 2.8GHz - better than the 2.2GHz required. If this is your motherboard: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00864946&lc=en&cc=us#N278 You have 1 PCIe slot available. Take a look here: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-performance-radeon-geforce,2997-3.html You don't say which card "gave up". Depending on what this was - you may need to upgrade your PSU to power any new card.

Once you start posting on these forums it is impossible to stay away :) It is always best if you get drivers direct from the manufacturers site. This is a niggle with XP. When you reinstall you find that you have to trawl the net for drivers for your devices. You probably will need chipset drivers for the motherboard. NIC drivers Sound Card drivers etc. Start > Run ....type in ....devmgmt.msc ......ENTER Any devices with yellow exclamation marks / red Xs need attention.

Hi, If you can let us know what the problem was - others may benefit :)

This was to be my next suggestion. Also - if you were aware that an update had caused your problem and you know which one - you would then be able to contact MS with specific data and ask them to explain. Try Ashampoo from here ( free ) https://www.ashampoo.com/uk/gbp/pin/0710/Offline/Ashampoo-Burning-Studio-6

It certainly could be a hardware problem. Random shut-downs ( random errors of any kind ) are difficult to diagnose. I presume that you are using the system at the moment? Next time it shuts down - there should be a STOP error / Blue Screen Post the exact error message please. You may need to do the following to get the error message to stay on screen: Start > Control Panel > System > Advanced Tab > in the Startup & Recovery box click Settings > uncheck Automatically Restart > OK

You can't see me - but I am smiling :) Progress. Start ....type in ....winver......ENTER This will tell you which Service Pack you have. If none then you must start with SP1 or SP1a If it is 1a then you can jump to SP3 If not - then you must install SP2 then SP3. Good Luck - let us know how you get on.

If you restore the system to a previous date you can manually install the critical updates one at a time. If the restore gives you a working DVD Drive again you need to identify which update caused the problem. ============ Try this first: Start > type in ....devmgmt.msc .....ENTER Click the + next to DVD CDROM Right click on the device > click on "Update Drivers" Select "Search Automatically" (Win 7 may be a little different - I am on Vista at the moment.) If new drivers are found you will need to restart the system. ============ Regarding "lost post" - you should get an email when I or anybody else replies - do you ?

OK - we can rule out Services. Next on the hit-list is Drivers. Again - this may be a lengthy process but it is important that you complete it. Start > type in .....devmgmt.msc .......ENTER In Device Manager make a list of the devices ( on paper ) so that you can check them off. Then right click on the + next to the following ( obviously one at a time ) Disk Drives Display Adapter DVD CDROM IDE Controllers etc Right click on the device and select "Update Drivers" Then select "Search Automatically" This process could take 5 mins or so per driver. If the driver is updated you will be informed on screen. If this is the case re-boot and try in normal mode again. I am thinking that if you can boot up in Safe Mode - this loads with minimal drivers. In Normal Mode ( which brings all drivers into play ) you are having problems. It could be a corrupt driver.

Hi and welcome to ExTS Unlikely. Do you have a sound card fitted to a slot on the motherboard ? If so - take it out and re-seat it. You may have disturbed it when you were fitting the PSU.

Hi and welcome to ExTS Are you refering to a router? Make and model number of the "box" please ? Please confirm that this is a wireless connection - not wired. Who supplies your connection ? Can you post the exact error message please ?

Hi and welcome to ExTS This type of problem is difficult to diagnose. My initial thoughts are that the router is at the cause of your problem - not the computer. Try switching the router off > leave for 1 minute > switch on again. This will re-set it. What is the make and model number of the router ? Which ISP are you using ? ===================== Do you have any cordless phones in the house ? ===================== We could try changing the chanel on the router if the above does not fix it.

Hi, I have split your post from the other thread - you are better with your own :) Welcome to ExTS. If you suspect an update has affected your burning facility try a System Restore to a date just before the start of your problem. Start ...type in .....system restore .....ENTER Your data / files etc will be fine. You will need to re-install updates / software that was put on the system after the selected date. This link may help: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/products/features/system-restore

As long as you don't access the net - it is worth a try. (don't forget to enable again :) ) Did you make a note of the service that caused the change as suggested? Was this in normal or safe mode? Have you reset all services again ? You ran MBAM early in the thread and can't run it now ? Strange. Which service caused this?

Hi, So now you are unable to boot up at all ? Take a look here - post 6 http://discussions.virtualdr.com/showthread.php?t=186540 Also found this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330182 I would try taking one of the RAM modules out. ( turn off at the wall first ) If you are still getting BSOD swap them over. If none of the above work then I would suggest a complete re-install. You may have data / files that you need access to. Let me know if you do.

Hi and welcome to ExTS I don't use Win7 so I hope the following is correct. Start > type in ....dxdiag .......ENTER 1. Which version of DirectX are you using ? 2. Are any problems indicated under "Display" "Sound" "Input" in the Notes section ? 3. Are "Draw" "3D" and "Texture" enabled under the Display Tab ?

More questions I am afraid ...... Are you sure it was the hard drive ? If so - what type of noise ? Clicking? Grinding ? Squeeking? Do you have an Operating System installation disk ?