Weird behavior in XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter sleepyturtle1
  • Start date Start date
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sleepyturtle1

For the past coupla' days Windows XP has been acting strange. If I leave it
up and running (mostly just downloading binaries with XNews) and come back
to it a couple of hours later, it does the following:

1. The active window border is black (I use the Olive Green color scheme).
2. In the taskbar, every window open is labeled but there are no
seperations (tabs I guess you'd call them).
3. Also in the taskbar, if I click on the arrow to show the inactive
taskbar programs, the icons flash on and off. Mostly off with none showing
at all (even the date and time are gone).
4. When I hit "Start" and choose "Turn Off Computer", it will sometimes
just give me the option to Log Off when the options should be Standby, Turn
Off or Restart. When the options are correct, the window is completely
transparent with only the icons showing. They are just hanging there.

I did notice that the processor fan was running and my processor temp was
between 65 and 69 Celcius. The task manager is showing very high processor
usage but XNews never used to be such a processor hog but I can't explain
what else could be using so much of the processor's time.

Upon restarting, it does just fine, like now.

Can anyone explain what might be the problem?

I'll list my system specs as best I can. If more info is needed, just ask.

Compaq Presario
AMD Athlon XP 2400+ (2.0 GHz)
608MB of Ram + 32 used for Video = 640MB total
40 GB Seagate HD
Lite-On CD-R drive
Pacific Digital USB Dual Format DVD Writer

Programs other than System listed in Task manager

zclient.exe (Zone Alarm Pro)
RAM_XP.exe (RAM Idle Pro)
hpsysdrv.exe
udisi.exe
ccApp.exe
ps2.EXE
Xnews.exe
rundll32.exe
 
Try turning System Standby Off.
It is known to cause that type of problem. I turned mine off a year ago and
I can come back to my machine and everything is running perfect.


Control Panel, Power Options
 
Try turning System Standby Off.
It is known to cause that type of problem. I turned mine off a year
ago and I can come back to my machine and everything is running
perfect.


Control Panel, Power Options
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I've never turned it on. Under Power Options it says System
Standby: Never. Same goes for Monitor and Hard Disc power options.

Thanks anyway.

I'm beginning to think it may be my RAM. I recently had to send my
Simpletech 512MB stick back for replacement. I'm beginning to wonder if
they sent me someone else's return. My first stick was truly bad. Windows
wouldn't load at all with it connected. I tried reseatting it, switching
the two sticks around and nothing worked with the bad stick in. This "new"
stick failed Stride6 in the Microsoft's Memory Diagnostic. But it passes
the memtest86 set of tests. I'm truly at a loss.
 
Three suggestions, in this order:

1) Check there is no virus/Trojan or any malware:
On-line virus scan. Run (up-to-date) Ad-aware and/or Spybot. If result
proves positive, review security strategy.

2) Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) may be corrupt:
To correct the deficit, Explorer needs to be replaced. If turning off the
..exe file using the Task Manager and turning it back on does not work,
a new copy needs to be extracted from the i386 folder. For more
details, please read MVP Kelly Theriot's reply to an inquiry which might
be cosidered as similar to the one presented here:
http://tinyurl.com/2fpf9
Also consider, Restore the Taskbar to Default Functionality (Line 164)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
(Courtesy of MVP Kelly Theriot)

3) Do a system restore to before the malfunction.


Bee.
 
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