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Forums › Microsoft Windows › XP SP3 Stuffed up


37 posts

Geek
Topic # 98181 25-Feb-2012 15:15 Send private message

Something is seriously wrong with my Windows XP SP3 PC.

Yesterday(24 Feb 2012) My PC started having errors and freezing on my account. On the language thing next to my password it was a black box.

I Let it do a virus scan overnight and now i can get on, but when trying to play flash games it crashes.

I am doing An AVG Tuneup as i speak (3:16pm 25 Feb 2012) But i can't even update virus definitions. If anyone can help that would be great.

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2573 posts

Uber Geek

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  Reply # 586687 25-Feb-2012 15:30 Send private message

Can you create another user profile and log into that to see if the problems carry over? Then you'll know if it's profile specific, or an OS wide issue.

Do you use System Restore? Could you try restoring back to a good point?

Try scanning with MalwareBytes to see if you have any malware infections - it's free.

gzt

3196 posts

Uber Geek

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  Reply # 586689 25-Feb-2012 15:40 Send private message

what kind of errors exactly? with text if possible.

228 posts

Master Geek
  Reply # 586828 25-Feb-2012 22:44 Send private message

I would check the BIOS settings to make sure that you haven't lost some memory. Images/buttons/icons not showing up also occurs with low memory. If you've lost a whole stick of RAM and you have a lot of software and hardware installed then that could be a problem at startup.
You can usually view BIOS settings by holding down F1 or F2 when you turn on your computer. There is probably a short message that tells you the correct key to press for Setup/Settings.

If all the hardware looks OK then try to start Windows in Safe Mode. It doesn't load all the applications, services and drivers that might be causing a problem so there's more chance that you can logon and check things outs.
Press F8 when Windows starts. That should get you the Windows loader menu which allows you to select Safe Mode.

[Edit] You don't say if you found any malware with the scan. Did you?




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37 posts

Geek
  Reply # 586896 26-Feb-2012 11:13 Send private message

I ran an Avast! Home 6 Virus boot scan and it came up clean. I took that off and installed AVG Home 2012 As well. I think it's java. Flash Player Working but not java

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