Fresh XP SP3 install getting unstable within a week :@

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pando

235 posts

Master Geek

#27292 21-Oct-2008 09:32

Hi all

I've just built a whole bunch of PC's most using vista but one i've installed XP SP3 so it can run specific software

Twice i've done clean XP installs and within a week the registry gets corrupted with a message saying that there was a registry issue and XP has fixed it from a backup.

I've run memory and HDD tests and I doubt reformatting and doing another clean install will help unless I can trace the problem. It's got power to burn, E8400 w/ 2G RAM.

All it has is XP SP3 installed then full updates run including IE7 and .NET 2 + 3.5.

Could be MS updates, the first install started failing after upgrading to IE7 which was a day after installation, 2nd install didn't start failing until after Office was installed several days after I set it up.

Any thoughts?

Ragnor

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#172475 21-Oct-2008 11:06

Are you installing from a disk with SP3 slipstreamed into the install or installing then updating to SP3? Try a slipstreamed install if you haven't.
http://lifehacker.com/386526/slipstream-service-pack-3-into-your-windows-xp-installation-cd

Are you installing any Symantec or Norton products? There is a conflict between some of their products and SP3 which produces registry corruption
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9094578

pando

235 posts

Master Geek

#172480 21-Oct-2008 11:27

It's an XP SP3 disk

Running Kaspersky 2009

webup

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Ultimate Geek
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#172681 22-Oct-2008 08:13

Are automatic updates on?

Ive seen this a few times where an update had issues and was causing problems.

pando

235 posts

Master Geek

#172697 22-Oct-2008 09:36

Updates have been turned on both times and the 2nd time round was set to do critical ones only

I'm going to reformat and reinstall again this weekend and not use updates at all and run only the bare requirements for it's intended purpose

Nety

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#172710 22-Oct-2008 10:12

To me sounds like it has a hardware fault. Maybe try running burnin software to check that it does not have a problem.

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trig42

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#173276 24-Oct-2008 09:15

+1

Sounds like RAM.

Grab a copy of MemTest (on UBCD amongst others) and run that. I had a PC last week with those same registry errors, one of it's 2 sticks of 512 RAM was stuffed.

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pando

235 posts

Master Geek

#173348 24-Oct-2008 13:58

If you read the first post, i've already run memory tests and i've done hdd tests as well.

I don't suspect that it's hardware and the pc works fine until software gets installed and upgraded and then it's only the registry that gets corrupted, applications run perfectly fine. I't when the pc is rebooted it just stalls for 10 mins and gives up the goose about registry corruption.

Nety

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#173378 24-Oct-2008 15:39

The only other option then hardware would be drivers IMHO. However I still think you are looking at a hardware fault. XP just does not corrupt the registry without something else going on.

If the other PC's are the same model have you considered swapping the hardware? (well swap the disks)

Tarq57

156 posts

Master Geek

#173619 25-Oct-2008 22:18

What applications are running at startup? Any backup or imaging, or HIPS software?

Oh God, what've I done to it now??

38894

80 posts

Master Geek

#173735 26-Oct-2008 19:24

SP3 specifically screws both .NET3.0 (Most specifically office mods such as Outlook addons etc) and SQL so if you're using anything with either of those technologies that could be the problem.

Also I've had some REALLY bad experiences with Kaspersky Full Blown. By Full Blown I mean the full internet security suite. It was the 2008 release back in 2007 that I had problems with it but it seriously locked down my machines and screwed with the registry so badly that I had to re-install the machines and swore I'd NEVER use Kaspersky Internet Security Suite EVER again.

Other than that, without seeing the machines and going through the registry manually in the command line I wouldn't want to offer any other suggestions as to whats screwing with it.

pando

235 posts

Master Geek

#174574 30-Oct-2008 09:51

Biggest problem was it always left my house running perfectly and only developed an issue after it was at my friends work for a day.

I think it might have been a bad HDD sector. Running the disk tools in XP never found any issues but I took the disk out and ran checks from under my vista PC and it found an issue with the disk and repaired it. I also have reset all drivers to manufacturer ones instead of MS ones too but doubt these to be the cause.

It's stable thus far thankfully as it's his dispatch server so is running SQL server, full Office 2008, full Kaspersky 2009, and .NET 3.5 NZ Post software so is critical to his business - God he's lucky I don't charge him anything :)

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pando

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Master Geek

#176582 7-Nov-2008 12:05

Well if it's hardware it's not the HDD nor the RAM as it's corrupted again with a new hard diskand swapped RAM so running out of options other than to install Vista instead.

Tarq57

156 posts

Master Geek

#176588 7-Nov-2008 12:19

Biggest problem was it always left my house running perfectly and only developed an issue after it was at my friends work for a day

That should be a bit of a giveaway. What software was used during that time?

Oh God, what've I done to it now??

Mark

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#176647 7-Nov-2008 14:51

When you give the machine to your friend ... is he setup as a local admin/power user ?
Try setting him up as just a standard user, lessens the chances of him/her accidently breaking things (and lock the admin user to just yourself .. you can hand the keys over later if no problems appear).

Could just be a case of the user installing their favourite toolbar from a website and it going on a little admin privildged rampage in the registry :-)

Mark

pando

235 posts

Master Geek

#176662 7-Nov-2008 16:08

I've looked at it and can't see any new software installed other than the printer which is the usb labelling printer and the nz post dispatching software and he swears no one has installed anything else.

As for someone going on a admin rampage you can discount that as they're starting their own new business and wouldn't purposely sabotage it.

Is doing my head in - for once vista may be the better solution