I think my Computer is dying?

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by tw

This computer has never had a reinstall of Windows in seven years. No reason to do that.

The Windows 98 computers I still support have never had Windows reinstalled.

Slowness is (as was described earlier) more likely due to many programs that insist on loading before you can log in. For example, Adobe Acrobat loads a very large program when the OS starts. Which is why so many blame Windows (rather than Adobe) for their slow booting. Easily removed with some standard software that nobody was interested in.

Do you have hardware problems? All computer manufacturers have comprehensive hardware diagnostics to confirm all hardware without the complications of Windows. But only the more responsible manufacturers made that software available - and free.

Why is the machine crashing? The stop error numbers and associated message says so much. How to fix a problem without doing the nuke'n pave.

Meanwhile the nuke 'n pave can be done by anyone. Simply load and execute the System Restore CD-Rom. That puts the entire disk back to what it was when the system was first purchased. Nothing technical.

So did you use the On-Track (or whatever it is now called) software that came with the Western Digital drive? Don't. Disk drives need no software to install them. Windows has everything necessary to locate, format, and configure the disk drive automatically. Additional software is also provided by the Disk Manager that is in Windows. Don't know if the System Restore CD-Rom will undo that Western Digital software.

Thanks for your thoughts.

The reason in favour of the Nuke-and-pave is that there are almost certainly multiple issues slowing the machine down. There is a lot of software I have never used, and almost certainly a lot of malware and assorted crap. Rather than chasing a dozen or more issues, kill the lot and rebuild.

The reason for getting a pro to do it is that there have been many software updates and patches since I got the machine. I don't want to go online until the updates are installed. I know it is possible to download the updates, burn them to discs, reinstall, then update, before going on the internet, but that is complicated and I'll probably screw something up. Get a pro to do it.

On the same principle I have just had a light globe behind the dashboard of my car replaced. I probably could have done it myself, but it would have taken me an afternoon of farting about figuring out how to dismantle and reassemble the dash, but I am busy and it was easier to get it done by a mechanic with the service I just got done. Still, $50 to change a sodding lightbulb ... hmmm.

If you're interested, the technical information is:

BAD_POOL_HEADER

STOP 0x000019 ( 0 x FF953120, 0 x FF953138, 0 x 1A030001).

I have no idea what this means and don't care enough to try to find out, because it only relates to one specific problem. So don't bother chasing it on my behalf.

[Pete Zicato]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

BAD_POOL_HEADER

I'm not certain, but I think that's when you trip at the edge of the springboard and fall head-first into the pool.