Run this scan:
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
What is the complete listing under:
1. System Model
2. Main Circuit Board
3. Drives
Is your XP CD a retail Microsoft version or a computer OEM e.g. Dell; HP; etc.
Knowing the manufacturer of your hard drive will let you run their diagnostic on said drive:
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287
Also for starters you can run check disk:
start > run >
cmd
in the new window type
chkdsk/f
when prompted to run on boot choose
Y & reboot
this will check for & fix any disk errors.
Also: look in your
Event viewer: rt. click
My Computer then click
Manage then
Event Viewer.
Or:
Administrative Tools/Event Viewer or
Start/Run/ eventvwr
Open the
system as well as the
application tabs & look for
X errors. Click error line for details.
Post back the
source &
event id especially of errors that seem to coincide with a crash.
Also:
Go to
start | search (type in)
.dmp
Note the location of your latest .dmp file.
Then:
1) Download and install the
Debugging Tools from Microsoft
2) Download and install this
debugwiz
3) Open the Wiz & Browse to, or paste in the path to, your latest .dmp file.
4) After the Wiz creates a Text document attach it back to this thread.