Win XP with sp3 system unstable

[xuesheng]

My Windows XP with SP3 system has apparently crashed twice in the last two days, when I wasn't watching the monitor. I think so because in one case a subsequent error message told me of a blue screen crisis and said the system was rebooted. In the other case I saw it rebooting, and the same serious error message then appeared. I've found that the drive was apparently in need of defragmenting, so I'm doing that now (while I write this from another computer; I assume that I should not operate the fragmented computer while it's being defragged, right?).

Another weird thing recently is the frequent reappearance of a strange error message in a small box titled simply 'Msg', saying 'No update has be (sic) found'. I'm not sure why this might be. I did install some software from the disc which accompanied my computer's motherboard, but then uninstalled it when it didn't open. It's very disconcerting, and seems to indicate an unfinished process that is stalled.

Could these two matters be related?

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Check the Event Viewer for the time(s) you suspect crashes, if there is anything serious recorded. Post the details here.

[xuesheng]

I am confident that this is the relevant entry in the Event Log.

Event Type: Error

Event Source: Outlook

Event Category: None

Event ID: 34

Date: 14/10/2009

Time: 11:28:02 AM

User: N/A

Computer: THOMAS-PC01

Description:

Failed to get the Crawl Scope Manager with error=0x8001010d.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

[Boris]

Read this for a solution ?

http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-3590886.php

[xuesheng]

Read this for a solution ?

http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-3590886.php

I looked at the linked forum postings, and the detailed instructions, but I don't have the technical competence to follow the instructions as presented. But the point is made that the fault lies with Windows Search. I still don't know how to use the new Windows Search; it seems to be quite different from the former search function in Windows, through which I could insert the name of a file or file-type and run a full-drive or full-computer search. With the new Windows Search, I still haven't figured out how to do that.

Anyway, the crashes haven't reappeared in 24 hours. Maybe that's because I uninstalled all the Apple-related software I could find in Control Panel / Add-Remove Programs.