Computer help: Windows ME randomly crashes
Windows ME randomly crashes
by hytam - 12/8/04 12:15 AMHello everyone
My son's PC running Windows ME randomly crashes, usually 5 to 10 minutes after start up. It then reboots and does a scandisk. Can anyboby help me with this as I'm not really computer savvy? Thanks in advance.
Regards
Anthony
Re: Windows ME randomly crashes
by hytam - 12/8/04 12:21 AM In reply to: Windows ME randomly crashes by hytamPS:
The above PC is an IBM Celeron thats about 3 years old. It was working well till reciently and I've used the supplied Product Recovery CD to reformat the HD and re-install the OS but the same happens. Thanks again.
Regards
Anthony
Re: Windows ME randomly crashes
by MarkFlax
- 12/8/04 4:10 AM
In reply to: Re: Windows ME randomly crashes by hytam
I've got no easy answer but I used ME for some years and I liked it, even though it was rather fragile and would crash on me quite often.
When it did, on the reboot it would attempt to do a "thorough" scan, and more often than not would either keep re-starting, or warn me that I had disk sector problems and my disk might be failing. "Do I wish to continue anyway?" 
I lived with this for a few years. I found that I needed to "take care" of my ME.
I would;
1] beware of installing and/or uninstalling too many programs, eg applications or games, (just the ones I really needed),
2] protect my computer with a firewall. I used the free version of ZoneAlarm,
3] regularly update and scan my system with my anti-virus program and my 2 anti-spyware programs,
4] keep my computer free of clutter, ie empty Recycle Bin, empty Temporary Internet files, clear History,
5] once a month, close down any running programs, and the screensaver, and run Scandisk for a "quick" check, I would set Scandisk to "repair" any errors automatically and save orphan clusters to a file,
6] once a month, (after running scandisk), de-frag the hard disk.
For me, it was a matter of regular maintenance, and I managed to keep the old dear working pretty well. I still have it as my back-up computer, networked to this new one, and it still runs well, if a little slow, and tired.
Mark
Re: Windows ME randomly crashes
by Willy - 12/8/04 4:10 AM In reply to: Windows ME randomly crashes by hytamSounds like a heat problem. -OR- a flaky power supply. You need to open case and verify *all* fans are running and clean(blow out) the dust out to better help cooling. If a flaky power supply unit, replace with a higher wattage one. Also, as for cooling, a stuffed system tends to run hot and repeated operation will degrade componets and while one componet(s) alone are OK as a whole maybe enough to cause a reboot. Place a household fan into an open case and if problems go away you got a cooling problem or if bad fan, replace. You didn't mention what system you have.
good luck -----Willy
Re: Windows ME randomly crashes
by Grif Thomas - 12/8/04 8:51 AM
In reply to: Windows ME randomly crashes by hytam
Anthony,
It's already been suggested to take of the cover to the computer and clean things out inside. Heat is not good for computers.
In addition, please follow the procedures in the links below to clean things up and eliminate unnecessary "start up" programs which can cause conflicts and freezes:
How To Shut Down Unnecessary Start Up Programs
How To Clean Unwanted Files From The Hard Drive
Hope this helps.
Grif
Re: Windows ME randomly crashes
by hytam - 12/8/04 4:09 PM In reply to: Windows ME randomly crashes by hytamThanks markflax,Willy and Grif,
Being a teen, my son doesn't really take care of his system although it is loaded with Norton Anti Virus software and the router has a built-in firewall. I will try all the suggestions that you all have posted and will report on the success or otherwise. If it doesn't workout, it might look like Dell will be getting a call for a new system$$$$.
Thanks again for taking the time to help me out.
Regards
Anthony.
(NT) Anthony, Good Luck & Let Us Know How It Goes
by Grif Thomas - 12/8/04 4:30 PM
In reply to: Re: Windows ME randomly crashes by hytam
Re: (NT) Anthony, Good Luck & Let Us Know How It Goes
by MarkFlax - 12/9/04 3:35 AM
In reply to: (NT) Anthony, Good Luck & Let Us Know How It Goes by Grif Thomas
Yes, good luck with the computer, and your teenage son,
Mark
Re: Windows ME randomly crashes
by dnajbishop - 12/9/04 4:36 AM In reply to: Windows ME randomly crashes by hytamcould be something simple, have you checked all mains connections are firmly connected ?.
db
Re: Windows ME randomly crashes
by hytam - 12/9/04 2:55 PM In reply to: Windows ME randomly crashes by hytamHello everyone
I tried all the suggested and some other things that I thought would help. Stripping the system (IBM NetVista Celeron with WindowsME OS)of its RAM and using a spare strip didn't help. Not even changing the motherboard's battery with a new one. The one thing that I didn't do was to change the power supply as I didn't have a spare or one that would have fitted. No, nothing worked. I even reformatted the HD and reinstalled Windows ME with the supplied recovery disc twice.
I could see that Nicolas (14yrs), my son was getting really upset; it's the long school holiday break here in Singapore and he was moping around the house missing his friends online(MSN Messenger) plus gaming (not high end games like DOOM and such) with them. So the wife and I agreed to give him his X'mas present early.
We decided that instead of getting one from Dell or some other name brand system, we went to Singapore's largest computer centre at Sim Lim Square where we built one from scratch. We built a system using:
Intel P4 530 3GHz 800FSB CPU
AOpen Motherboard i865PEa-71F with Intel 865PE chipsets
2pcs Kingston 256MB PC3200 CL3A
Seagate 80GB SATA HDD
LG CD-R/RW 52/32/32
Sony 1.44MB FDD
ATX High Tower with Xenac 450W power supply
AGP8X GeForce FX5200 with 128MB sound card
Amplified surround speakers (freebee OEM kind)
BenQ Keyboard with mouse
Microsoft XP Home with SP2
freebee software on CDs:
Norton AntiVirus 2004
Nero Express CD burning software
All the above for US$695.00 cash and built up with all software and drivers loaded in 2.5 hours!!! Neededles to say there was a HUGH smile on Nicolas' face when we got home with it and set it up. I must say that it turned out much better than I had expected plus I paid less than what I would have for a similar branded system. The fantastic thing was that we watched the technician build it right in front of our eyes and I didn't have to wait days for it to be delivered, especially during this period. As for warranty, well the CPU, motherboard and RAM have a 3 year, 1 year and lifetime warranty respectively. The next foreseeable problem is how his elder sister (16 year old) is going to take it! I just might have to go back there again soon as she has the same IBM NetVista system that crashed.
Once again, thank you all for taking the time to help with the suggestions and yes, teenagers are tough to manage especially when there are more than one in the home at the same time!! Best of luck to everyone and have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Stay Safe!
Regards
Anthony.
(NT) Congrats Anthony, A New Toy.....Always Lots Of Fun !
by Grif Thomas - 12/9/04 5:02 PM
In reply to: Re: Windows ME randomly crashes by hytam
Re: Windows ME randomly crashes
by Anthony Brown - 12/10/04 8:13 AM In reply to: Re: Windows ME randomly crashes by hytamMy Me constantly crashed also Compaq 7001 cl.
I tried sysytem restores numerous times. System then began losing operating system.
I solved it by reformatting and installing XP.
No problems at all- 1 month and running.
Re: Windows ME randomly crashes
by hytam - 12/11/04 7:20 AM In reply to: Re: Windows ME randomly crashes by hytamPS:
Oops........ the AGP8X GeForce FX5200 with 128MB is a video card.
Anthony
Re: Windows ME randomly crashes
by boabyd - 12/10/04 1:32 PM In reply to: Windows ME randomly crashes by hytamHi.
Im not an expert in solving problems that you have . I would like to suggest that you get rid of windows ME.
I have read a lot from other people and sites who all say that Windows ME is one of the worst programs that microsoft came out with. Because of the problems just like what you are going through. I hate the though of you having to spend money to upgrade to windows xp but you will have less problems with that version of windows.
I hope this helped you. sorry I could not give technical advice.
Re: Windows ME randomly crashes
by pain_viande - 12/11/04 8:42 AM In reply to: Windows ME randomly crashes by hytamA very good chance That to your memmory, not you hard Drive is faulty. If you are not a novice on computer, open your box and if you have two rows of memory,; swith them from bank one to bank two, and vise versa. You can even take your memory out of you PC and get it check, for a very cheap price, you will no if your memory is ok
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