Win XP problem I cannot fix

[vertical]

Hello everybody,

I would appreciate your assistance. Something weird is going on with my PC/Windows (XP Pro SP2).

The PC freezes often if left running on its own for some time. When I try to use it after idle period of time, I cannot open any programs or files. I receive error mesage: "You have no permission or access to do this or to open a file". I am the only one who uses the PC.

I cannot install updates for Adobe Acrobat 7.0. After downloading when I try to install updates, they start installing but after some time, it stops and I get the same error message as described above. I have reinstalled Adobe Acrobat but it did not help.

I cannot open PDF files online. The Web page just closes if I try to open a PDF file. I have to download the file and then to open it with Adobe Acrobat.

I started experiencing problems buring DVDs with Nero 7. It starts buring but after some time, it reboots the PC on its own or if it burns to the end it takes very much time comparing to how it worked before.

Also, NeroShowTime started experiencing problems playing back video files. The picture freezes.

Often, when I try to open a picture on a hard drive (I have three HDs), the PC reboots on its own.

Once I had BSOD after the PC crashed while buring a DVD. The error mesage read: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. I researched the Internet and found it has something to do with drivers. I never touched or changed anything related to the drivers.

After that I installed VersionTracker - software that checks whether the drivers on PC are updated and it shows everything is fine though not sure it works right.

And totally weird though not sure it is related to other problems: I use the keyborad to type in two languages. When I type not Engslish text, the letters, numbers and symbols do not correspond to buttons on the keyboard.

I uninstalled the software that was installed not long ago - Procoder 3; an Epson printer (driver). Nothing helps.

I have all Windows updates installed (unlikely Adobe updates those go fine)

AVG intivirus

ZoneAlarm Pro firewall.

I clean PC with SystemMechanic 7 on a regular basis including the registry.

If you decide to help me, which would be really appreciated, please provide detailed instructions as I am a non-technical person. Thank you!

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Welcome to the Windows Forum.

Not sure what causes your problems; I can think of three possibilities

• malware
  
• temperature
  
• disk or file system failure
  

To check for malware I recommend that you run an online scan with http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

To check your computer's temperatures, download, install, and run Speedfan; it will give you all temperature sensor readings on your computer. Observe if it gets hotter the longer you run your system.

To check your hard disk, run CHKDSK (Start -> Run -> type CHKDSK C: /F /R); this will run the check disk utility the next time you reboot. With the /R option it will take a while to complete.

Please report back how it goes. Don't hesitate to ask if anything is not clear.

P.S. one question: how much memory (RAM) do you have?

[vertical]

Hi Pat,

Thank you for your response.

1. I could not run TrendMicro - some files could not be installed on my PC for some reason and it did not work. But I ran AVG (all the latest updates installed) in the Safe Mode on all three HDs. Nothing found.

2. I ran scandisk for disk errors with both options checked. Nothing found.

3. Temperature. I have a device istalled that measures temperatures of processor; power unit; video cards. Processor is 50-54 (half a year ago and before that it was about 40 or even lower. I have no idea why it has become higher). All the rest - around 30. If you think I still need to run the software you advised, I will do that.

4. RAM - 1024.

Thank you.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

I don't know AVG, so I don't know if it only does a virus scan, or if it also scans for other malware, like trojans or spyware. So I still recommend the Trendmicro Housecall scan. Try the new version at

http://prerelease.trendmicro-europe.com/hc66/launch/

If this also doesn't work, try the Ewido online scan at

http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/

Let us know how it goes.

[rong]

I think you need to install the AVG Anti-Spyware to do the scan you need, but keep the anti virus as well.

[Dencandy]

Also, vertical, how old is your hard disk? The symptoms you describe sound suspiciously like the beginning of an HD failure to me, so make external copies of all your important data, if you haven't already done so. There's an excellent little piece of freeware called HDD Health available from many sites including this one (Panterasoft). It only takes a few minutes to download and run and it will tell you how far away hard disk doomsday is.

Another thing, is all your RAM actually working? Check with the System Properties General pane.

[vertical]

Also, vertical, how old is your hard disk? The symptoms you describe sound suspiciously like the beginning of an HD failure to me, so make external copies of all your important data, if you haven't already done so. There's an excellent little piece of freeware called HDD Health available from many sites including this one (Panterasoft). It only takes a few minutes to download and run and it will tell you how far away hard disk doomsday is.

Another thing, is all your RAM actually working? Check with the System Properties General pane.

Thank you, guys.

I do not have AVG antispy but I have SpyBot running. As far as I know it is at least not worse.

The HD is between 4 and 5 years old (I just do not remember for sure). I will definitely use HDD Health.

I am not quite clear about the second. What is "System Properties General pane"? Where is it located.

A piece of info that might be useful.

I just tried to burn another DVD and I got BSOD.

I wrote down all technical part and missed all general words.

Technical info:

***x STOP: 0 x 000000D1 (0x86800000, 0x00000002, 0x00000000, 0x804DADF8)

There was also error: The error mesage read: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

[vertical]

I used HD Health and it shows: one HD - 100%; the second - 87%; the third - 67%. I it OK?

[Dencandy]

I used HD Health and it shows: one HD - 100%; the second - 87%; the third - 67%. I it OK?

Which of these 3 is Windows on? HDD Health should tell you the likely date of failure. The first is OK, the second is soon, the third is any time now if it hasn't happened already!

DRIVER_IRQL__NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL errors are very technical, as you'll see here (from vladd44). Way beyond my knowledge, I'm afraid, but usually linked with some sort of hardware/software conflict or failure (eg driver or RAM failure, network card or graphics chip problems).

To check your RAM, go to Control Panel (Category View), then Performance & Maintenance, then System and you'll get the Systems Property pane. RAM should be listed near the bottom of the pane on the right but I don't know of the RAM is actually checked to see if it's functioning properly.

A free utility called PCWizard, here, will run basic checks on all your hardware, including RAM, and should tell you about any problems related to them.

[vertical]

I used HD Health and it shows: one HD - 100%; the second - 87%; the third - 67%. I it OK?

Which of these 3 is Windows on? HDD Health should tell you the likely date of failure. The first is OK, the second is soon, the third is any time now if it hasn't happened already!

DRIVER_IRQL__NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL errors are very technical, as you'll see here (from vladd44). Way beyond my knowledge, I'm afraid, but usually linked with some sort of hardware/software conflict or failure (eg driver or RAM failure, network card or graphics chip problems).

To check your RAM, go to Control Panel (Category View), then Performance & Maintenance, then System and you'll get the Systems Property pane. RAM should be listed near the bottom of the pane on the right but I don't know of the RAM is actually checked to see if it's functioning properly.

A free utility called PCWizard, here, will run basic checks on all your hardware, including RAM, and should tell you about any problems related to them.

Thanks. I do not know how to determine which of the two (both are Samsungs) Windows is on. The HDD Health shows pretty much the same specs about them. There is a difference in numbers but I cannot locate the number for HDD in Windows.

Actually the HDD Health indicates "Normal" with regard to the one that is 68%. The one with 87% is marked as "Good".

[Dencandy]

Sorry vertical, I was wrong about the percentage figure, that tells you the reliability of the prediction for the end of the hard disk's life. If HDD reports "good" or "normal" that means it found no serious problems on its first run with the HDs with 67% & 87% reliability - but that's 'very low' and 'medium' reliability for the report for those 2 disks. The other one seems to be perfect.

However, did you run HDD Health shortly after switching the computer on, i.e. while it was still cool? If so leave the machine on for an hour and then run HDD Health again. If the result is the same, the problem is probably not the HDs. To make sure, you can set HDD Health to run all the time and it will give a far more accurate forecast if you let it monitor the disks for several days. There's a check box on the Options>General screen for it to start up with Windows.

Did you also download and run PCWizard? That should be able to indicate whether there's problems with any of the other hardware.

But the DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error looks ominous and I have no experience of dealing with it. Perhaps some of the other members can help with that one.

To find out where your system files are, go to My Computer then right click on the image of the first drive which should be labelled 'C:'. Click on Open in the menu that appears and you'll get a list of folders. Look for one labelled Windows. If it's not on C: go through each drive till you find it. All the system files will be on the same drive.

Then check back with the information from HDD Health to see if the hard disk that Windows is on is unreliable.

If it is you'll probably have to uninstall it and re-install on the best disk. One of the other members will have to tell how to do that as I've never done myself. Or you maybe can get someone to do it for you.

[Dencandy]

I'll be away in the mountains for 10 days from the 19 February, vertical. I hope someone else can continue advising you on this problem.

[vertical]

I'll be away in the mountains for 10 days from the 19 February, vertical. I hope someone else can continue advising you on this problem.

Dencandy, thank you very much for your time!

I did not run PCWizard yet but will do it tonight.

I ran HDD Health not on cold PC - it mostly works 24/7 all year through. I also set HDD Health to run all the way. I see the program symbol in the right bottom corner. The readings are the same all the way. Based on what you advised, I hope it is not HD problem.

[vertical]

I installed and ran PCWIzard. I am not quite sure what I should look for. For memory it just shows my two 512 sticks. I do not see there anything criminal so far.

I also looked into Performance & Maintenance > System but could not find anything about RAM there. It looks like I am doing something wrong.

[vertical]

I tried the new version of MicroTrend and after four tries it worked.

It scanned the whole PC and found 10 grayware (have no idea what it is) and 0 infections.

Guys, your further advice would be appreciated.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Good; then this can be eliminated.

Back to the CPU temperature; could it be that dust has accumulated in the computer housing that prevents the fans from cooling properly? I am not a hardware expert, so I don't want to give you any instructions how to clean your computer. But someone here, possibly -pops-, can give you detailed instructions how to do that.

B.t.w. is it a desktop or laptop machine?

[vertical]

Pat,

It is desktop. Its one side is clear plastic and I can see there is not much dust. Also I have a device installed that measures the temperature. Processor - 43 © to 47, the rest (2 video cards and PSU) are even lower.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Ok, that sounds better than your earlier post where you indicated 50 - 54 (°C I assume).

Now I'm running almost out of ideas, especially when it comes to the "You have no permission or access to do this or to open a file" message.

When the "freeze" occurs, can you open the Task Manager ((Ctrl+Alt+Del) and see if there is anything using very high CPU (Processes tab)?

[vertical]

Ok, that sounds better than your earlier post where you indicated 50 - 54 (°C I assume).

Now I'm running almost out of ideas, especially when it comes to the "You have no permission or access to do this or to open a file" message.

When the "freeze" occurs, can you open the Task Manager ((Ctrl+Alt+Del) and see if there is anything using very high CPU (Processes tab)?

Pat,

The temperature flactuates but I do not run e-mule for now and it is lower, I mean the processor. It is always within 45 C.

I never tried to do this.

I am thinking about checking RAM. How can I do that? I built the PC but it was one time experience and I would not like to physically touch RAM if it is possible to test it without it.

[vertical]

Hi,

A new BSOD happened right now.

I could not open a Web page, nothing, I mean no Web page, could be opned. It turned out that there was no connection though there was no sign of no connection in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Windows suggested to check the connection. I clicked "Yes" and the program (I never seen it before) started checking and all of a sudden - the BSOD.

The error text: DRIVER_IRQL__NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

The technical info:

Stop: 0x000000D1. (0xFFFDFFFD, 0x000000002, 0x00000000, 0xF7677C28)

***NDIS sys - address F7677C28 base at F766F00.

Date stamp 41107ec3. Beginning dump of physical memory. Physical dump complete.

Please suggest something.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

RAM is a possibility, indeed. There are several RAM test softwares out there, but I'm sorry I don't know of any specifics.

Someone else here knows about a reliable RAM testing software? I remember seeing that they must run for a long time (24-48 hours) to be sure that the RAM is bad. Of course if the RAM is bad, it may find it much sooner.

[Irene]

This looks to be an explanation of your error...

Stop Error Message on Windows XP: STOP 0x000000D1 {KB 916595} Win XP (caused by certain network adapters and certain host firewall software; hotfix available).

MICROSOFT SUPPORT

Someone else had a similar problem in another forum in the link below. The same STOP message and the 'NDIS sys' is referred to.

Might be worth a read through the thread....

LOOK HERE

[vertical]

Thanks. I also believe it is related to my problem but I am not sure what of the mentioned can be used in my case.

Besides, what is confusing that I had twp different BSODs. Could it be that problem is broader than ndis.sys?

[Irene]

My search also found this.....

LOOK HERE

Does any of it ring any bells?

[vertical]

Actually I do use a Logitech mouse but I never installed their software. I just pluged it in and it has been working. I've been using the mouse for at least 3 years or longer. If it was OK for three years, could it affect something now?