OT: Windows Media Center PC or Windows XP 64bit?

[HFG]

Originally Posted by deathmatch782

MC = Media Center it comes with more media programs, ie: burning, video and photo editing ect...

And I havnt heard what they were chaning the name of Longhorn to. Might have been changed, but i really dont care as i despise Microsoft.

Nobody likes the top dog

-Vista clone

[otolith]

I don't care for macs, and I like my PC...particularly the fact that I could build my own from scratch. So when I did this, I went pretty high-end on the components I bought. It was great for a couple years, once I got it set up correctly. I went with XP Pro, as it was a more "stable" of a system. Now, however, I've lost all my saved email and email addys, the computer will just shut off in the middle of something for no apparrent reason, and I'm pretty much relegated to using my laptop. Thank goodness I have that. However, for some reason, I can't access any "secure" site (and I really need to pay my bills). So, I guess I'm currently a Windows hater, but still feel it's the best option out there.

I don't think I have the time to learn a new operating system like linux...I've bought too much software now as well.

[ksarauer]

Originally Posted by otolith

Now, however, I've lost all my saved email and email addys, the computer will just shut off in the middle of something for no apparrent reason,

Sounds like it is getting hot. Have you checked to make sure the fan on the processor and power supply are functioning?

[otolith]

Really? I did just clean out the fans of a bunch of dust...haven't tried anything else...but why would that make me lose all my email.

[Tutmos]

This probably goes without saying but you have up to date virus scanning and a properly configured firewall app?

If it's fairly new the board bios should have an overheat alarm for the CPU if the fan goes out or isn't working well. I've seen pretty goofy behavior from cards not being fully inserted or memory.

Come to think of it I do have an old server that I put together that has the same problem with randomly rebooting. I spent a lot of time trying to track down the cause, as in over 100 hours, including clean installs of the OS (Server 2003 Std) etc. Never found the cause and finally decided it was cheaper to simply buy a new dell power edge server (my first 75lbs computer). I'm guessing it was a problem with the mother board.

The issues with your email and browsing are a little odd though, coincidental with the powering off or did they both start at the same time? Did anyone open attachments they shouldn't have? Did someone install monitoring software on it?

[Shigo_Naito]

Originally Posted by Tutmos

This probably goes without saying but you have up to date virus scanning and a properly configured firewall app?

If it's fairly new the board bios should have an overheat alarm for the CPU if the fan goes out or isn't working well. I've seen pretty goofy behavior from cards not being fully inserted or memory.

Come to think of it I do have an old server that I put together that has the same problem with randomly rebooting. I spent a lot of time trying to track down the cause, as in over 100 hours, including clean installs of the OS (Server 2003 Std) etc. Never found the cause and finally decided it was cheaper to simply buy a new dell power edge server (my first 75lbs computer). I'm guessing it was a problem with the mother board.

The issues with your email and browsing are a little odd though, coincidental with the powering off or did they both start at the same time? Did anyone open attachments they shouldn't have? Did someone install monitoring software on it?

Also did you install any new drivers right before this happened? I have a TV card that when i install a version of the drivers it will reboot randomly.

I have used most of the Windows family including Vista, 2003 Enterprise and MC 2005. For me i am going to stay with XP Pro or MC for right now and wait for everything to settle down with Vista and the 64bit versions. If you plan to go to Vista make sure you have a good video card there is alot of eye candy.

[Frogbone]

I don't think Derek said that his machine is "re-booting". If it shuts down for no appearant reason there is a good chance for the power supply to be the culprit.

I had to replace two in my system over the last two years. I keep upgrading components but seem to always forget that you need more power for all that stuff.

Just the other day I installed a dual display card. It ran fine all day and the wife was crunching reports until the machine went dark. I yanked the 400watt power supply and installed a 500 watt PS. Now she runs fine again.

Not sure about the e-mails being gone but I do seem to remember that you had teh same problem at the hospital before. My guess on the e-mail would be operator error

[ksarauer]

What email program are you using?

[otolith]

I use netscape for email...

I could tell things were getting a little more f'd up, but it was after I installed the upgraded version of zonealarm (v6.xxxx) that I started developing problems...I guess I don't even need the firewall since I have a wireless router(???). So I uninstalled it, and installed the last v5.xxx of zonealarm, and then uninstalled that as well. Can't remember if I did anything else, but things started to become unstable. I also recently purchased a HP 3310 All-In-One printer, which installed a crapload of files. I really like the printer, I must say. It prints amazing photos, has a fax, a scanner, a copier, and was well worth the price, even though it is now $80 cheaper.

Somehow along the way the "colors" virus was detected on my computer. Norten did find it, gave me the alert, but then said it couldn't disinfect my system. Seemed pretty odd, since it's a macro virus of some sort that only affects MS Word, and I hadn't used Word in a while. So, I reran Norten after updating it, and it didn't find the virus. Go figure. That's the only other thing that I've noticed.

Anyhoo, since then, the computer would often boot up and load into windows, and would be real slow. It would then say it recovered from some sort of fatal error. It would connect up the the MS server to check on the problem, and find that there wasn't a solution (go figure). Then it would also just not boot up, and I'd have to turn it off and then back on, or else it would boot into the mode where it would give you an option of choosing to boot into safe mode, the last known good configuration, or to boot normally. It would maybe do that once or twice, and then it would boot into windows, only to recover from some sort of fatal error. Sometimes it will boot into my bios settings as well, and gives a message about CPU speed being set incorrectly? Somewhere along the way, Netscape (v7.1??) lost only my emails and bookmarks under my profile, while my wife's work fine. Also, I can't seem to connect to any secure sites, both on my main computer AND the laptop. That really sucks, because I have the laptop directly connected to the cable modem currently.

And if you've read this far...my system is one I put together roughly 2-1/2 to 3 yrs ago. It has an AMD 2400XP+ (runs at 2GHz), Asus A7V8X MB, 512 DDR 2700 (333Mhz) RAM, All-in-Wonder AGP video card, a cool-looking case (with see-through window and neon blue light), and a 400W power supply. Any questions?

[otolith]

All right, I'm trying to do a system restore to Oct. 1st, just for grins.

And I did not update to service pack 2.

[ksarauer]

Is it still running on the same install for the last 3 years? If so, I'd reinstall the OS rather than do a system restore. I have not had any luch with a system restore fixing any problems. (go figure)


It is amazing the difference it makes.

[Frogbone]

Here are a few suggestions:

Dump Norton Anti Virus ! I have seen so many systems get screwed up after the piece of junk had been installed. Use AVG free from www.grisoft.com !!

Dump ZoneAlarm and go with the free version of Sygate's Personal Firewall.
Since I switched I haven't had a single problem

Your safe mode rebooting indicates that you have some sort of driver conflicts.

Make sure you have the latest drivers for your components.

[otolith]

About time you guys got up!

If I do a reinstall of the OS, wouldn't that blow up all my data, programs, etc. and wouldn't it be better off wiping out the hardrive and starting over?

Oops, sorry, I have Symantec AntiVirus.

The more I think about this, I'm sure I have some driver incompatability issues...However, the sudden turn off and reboot makes me think I may have a hardware problem as well.

[otolith]

Do you need a personal firewall if you have things going through a router?

[otolith]

Also, any idea why I can't view SSL/secured websites? I'd like to pay my bills and buy some stuff online, but I can't. ?????