Look in Device Manager....what nvidia driver is installed?

nv4_disp ver. 6.14.10.5216

How long ago did you update it to that version?

I have absolutely no clue...but the driver is dated 10/6/2003, if that helps...

OK..just for the hell of it, let''s try something. Download these drivers ftp://download1.nvidia.com/Windows/56.72/.Also download and install this http://rudz.frac.dk/modules.php?op=modload&name=Diner_Wrapper&file=index&req=ShowFile&file_wrap=html/nfr.htm .Using the Add/Remove Programs un-install the nvidia display drivers and re-boot into safe mode. Run the NFR that you installed and it will delete all old nvidia files that might still be on your system. While still in safe mode, install the 56.72 drivers and re-boot into windows. Reset your display settings and see if the random re-boots stop.


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Should I do that on Win2k or WinXP? The reboots happen on both...

Either...what ever is easier for you to see if it fixes the problem

Ok, but you have to answer something for me...

How the heck do you know all this? I'm know my way around a PC, but damn...you're like the Britannica's Encyclopedia...it's almost scary.

All other worldly knowledge has been expunged from my brain....so I have room for all this computer shit..

You don''t want the book Hus its the Devils work.
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I'm about to crash Gary, I'll try it tomorrow and let you know how it goes. Thanks for the help though, if I can repay the favors somehow, just say the word.

Just remember...if it blows up....China did it

Nite......

All other worldly knowledge has been expunged from my brain....so I have room for all this computer shit..

Gary, tried what you said, everything went smooth. When I booted into safe mode, NFR didn't find anything, so I installed the display drivers, boot back into Win2k, it was fine. I tried to load Winamp, and blackness. So, it reboots, I go back to Win2k...this time, it crashes before the login dialog even shows. Tried twice more...same thing. So, now I booted back into XP, and everything is ok...I can use my browser, thats all I need really. Are you sure it's not a bad HD? I had a feeling this was gonna happen, been wanting to get a new HD for a while now...just been too lazy to format, figure just buy new.

Oh, and China...I'll be expecting my new Alienware soon. I want it Black with a 20" LCD. I mean, it's the least you can do seeing as you killed my Windows 2000. You OS murderer!!!

Oh, and China...I'll be expecting my new Alienware soon. I want it Black with a 20" LCD. I mean, it's the least you can do seeing as you killed my Windows 2000. You OS murderer!!!

It could be (although it wouldn't be the most likely source of the problem) a bad sector on the HD that when you try to access it, it crashes the system. My guess is, it just doesn't happen when you load Winamp, but happens with any number of programs. Go to Control Panel/Advanced/Startup and Recovery/System Failure. Check only 'Write an event to System Log'. Force a crash and then look in Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Event Viewer' and tell me what it says.

Well, you''re right about it crashing with any number of programs, it''s not partial to Winamp. So, I tried what you said, but I can''t load the event viewer, tells me that the event log is corrupt. (That feature was already checked, so I just loaded the Event viewer...)
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Sorry, Hus....got way-laid by the 'EX'.

A corrupt 'Event Log'....uh-oh....maybe you did break XP Is this a new install of XP?

Yrag, serious question, how can you break XP ??
/me following everything closely compiling his own book.

I don't know....Hus said in his first or second post that he had broken XP. Maybe he'll share his insight into how one does that so we can all do it...

Nope, a new install is my hope for fixing this whole thing. I just wanna know a couple things though, if it''s not a bad HD, could be another piece of hardware? Else, a new HD and fresh install is the easiest cure?

If it can''t be another hardware problem, I''m just gonna buy a new drive...

Oh, and to break XP is not an easy thing ya know..., first you have to stupidly have a dual boot setup, and use XP on the D:\ drive to confuse any applications that you might install, it helps. Then you need to install Redhat Linux...just to see if you can do it and never use it, then just install, uninstall, reinstall, overwrite and a bunch of programs, download stuff you don''t need, and repeatedly experiment with beta software till you get pink boxes in SDC SmartStartup, and somehow all that breaks CursorXP after a while. Then the "I don''t care if you''re busy, the screen is going black, NOW!" crashes start to happen at random, just when you least expect it. After that, there''s no tuning back...
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Yrag
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My honest opinion is that it is not a HD problem...the one thing that would have caused a problem that you are experiencing would have been caused by corrupt drivers (thus the load of the new graphics drivers)and the fact that 'Event Viewer' is also corrupt. I don't like the part about your screen going black....so I am concerned there might be a hardware problem, but I don't think so. I would try a fresh install and I think you'll be good to go (if not,then get a new drive). Try one thing first...run 'Defrag' on the main drive and see what it does.

Oh, and to break XP is not an easy thing ya know..., first you have to stupidly have a dual boot setup, and use XP on the D:\ drive

...that wasn't a good thing to leave out

...although I have to admit it's a great tutorial on porkin' a 'puter

Are these separate drives or partitions?

I have 3 partitions, C:\ is win2k (now dead thanks to China ), D:\ is XP Pro, and Z:\ is Linux.

Gary, I'm not gonna try and salvage this drive if I'm gonna do a fresh install. I'd rather just buy a new one, they're cheap anyways...$65 for a WD 80GB, more than I got now. I was planning on doing this from the start, I started this thread because I thought Win2k was a bit more stable to get me through until I got the new drive, and I honestly wanted a new taskbar replacement. Although that's not possible anymore...I'll just ride it out for the week, I'll order it on Friday, and go from there.