[Wrules]

Last week Firefox was crashing every 10 minutes and every day this got worse. I determined it was not a Firefox issue as other programs were crashing too. I then received the Blue Screen of death saying the file:" win32.sys" may be causing the problem. I re-started my computer in safe mode and no programs would open, i would get errors saying it could not locate the program. My computer then crashed again with a different error on the blue screen (the message is slightly different every time).

I tried a repair installation of windows which did not work.
I formatted the hard drive completely and re-installed windows which did not work.

I now cannot even log on as every time I boot up I get a message saying the computer has turned off as a result of a fatal system error. : “Stop: C000021A (Fatal System Error) The session manager initialization system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0XC000026C (0X00000000 0X00000000) The system has been shut down.”

The computer is a Dell Dimension 4700
It is over 7 years old.

Is this likely to be a hardware fault?
Is there a way to solve this problem?
What would you recommend I do?
Thanks in advance.

 

[DT Roberts]

Re: Windows XP Blue Screen. Re-installed windows and it did not solve the problem.

Hello and welcome to TSF.

It sounds like the hard drive is dead and gone, especially because of your description of how it progressively worsened. Run SeaTools for DOS to be sure: SeaTools for DOS | Seagate

 

[VirGnarus]

Re: Windows XP Blue Screen. Re-installed windows and it did not solve the problem.

If reinstalling Windows altogether after a format didn't do the trick, then you can bet your bottom dollar it's a hardware issue.

You'll want to use another computer to download and burn the UBCD. It has a bunch of hardware diagnostic tools in it that should do the trick. You'll want to access the following in order:

Memory: Memtest86+
CPU: Mersenne Prime Test (latest version)
Disk: Seatools

For memtest86+, just let it run its course overnight (at least 7 passes).
For Mersenne Prime Test (Prime95), let it run minimum 12 hours.
For Seatools: Select Long and Short DST.

If Memtest finds errors, remove memory until only one stick is present. Then test again. If errors again, replace stick with another using the same slot. If that one doesn't error, assume the first one is the culprit. If both error, change memory slot. If they continue to error in new slot, you got a bad motherboard and/or power supply.

If Memtest shows no errors, run Prime Test. If after 12 hours it displays no errors at all, move to Seatools. If it does, assume CPU as problem.

 

[Goodby]

Try running wipedrive on the hdd just to be sure!

 

[Wrules]

Re: Windows XP Blue Screen. Re-installed windows and it did not solve the problem.

Hello and welcome to TSF.

It sounds like the hard drive is dead and gone, especially because of your description of how it progressively worsened. Run SeaTools for DOS to be sure: SeaTools for DOS | Seagate

I ran the SeaTools software and did a short and long scan for my HDD. It passed both.
I then did a Memtest scan and it came up with an error straight away saying my RAM is likely to be faulty and needs replacing.
This obviously leads me to think the RAM is faulty and needs to be replaced.
However, i haven't opened up the computer and cleaned it at all.
IF replacing the RAM does not solve the issue, does anyone recommend anything else to do? thanks in advance again.
ALSO, my computer fan is making a fair bit of noise if that helps anyone.

 

[Old Rich]

Re: Windows XP Blue Screen. Re-installed windows and it did not solve the problem.

Did you run memtest on one stick at a time and try the sticks in different slots?

Run memtest on the new memory to confirm it is the memory and not the motherboard.

 

[Wrules]

Re: Windows XP Blue Screen. Re-installed windows and it did not solve the problem.

Did you run memtest on one stick at a time and try the sticks in different slots?

Run memtest on the new memory to confirm it is the memory and not the motherboard.

I only have one stick of 512 MB

 

[Old Rich]

Re: Windows XP Blue Screen. Re-installed windows and it did not solve the problem.

Have you run the testwith the memory in a different slot?

 

[Wrules]

Re: Windows XP Blue Screen. Re-installed windows and it did not solve the problem.

Have you run the testwith the memory in a different slot?

I will try that in a bit. If the computer runs fine with the RAM in the second slot, will this affect the computer in any way? I read somewhere that the slot 1 for RAM on the motherboard (closest to cpu) should always be used? Also, do you recommend a way to clean the inside of the computer as it is going to be very dusty.

 

[Wrules]

Re: Windows XP Blue Screen. Re-installed windows and it did not solve the problem.

I just bought a new 1 GB stick of RAM and my computer is back to normal and hopefully will stay like this. Thanks for your help. Need to do a good clean though.

 

[Old Rich]

Re: Windows XP Blue Screen. Re-installed windows and it did not solve the problem.

You can use a can of compressed air to blow out the dust bunnies . .

 

[Wrules]

Re: Windows XP Blue Screen. Re-installed windows and it did not solve the problem.

I spoke too soon. It was working for a good 3 hours with a new RAM stick then decided to just crash. When i re-booted it gave me a solid amber light which according to my computer manual may be due to a device malfunctioning or a device being incorrectly installed. Well I'm certain i installed it properly as it clicked in place and like i said had it working for a while. I left it off for several hours then it would load up but as soon as i logged on my screen would not pick up a signal from the PC. I then re-booted (had to try about 3 times) in safe mode and i'm able to log on.
Any idea what could be causing this problem?
Was the faulty RAM only a small problem?
Thanks in advance again.

 

[Old Rich]

Look in Event Viewer for hints on what made it crash . . Did you load the CHipset and other drivers from the Dell support site? What Service Pack level?

 

[Wrules]

Look in Event Viewer for hints on what made it crash . . Did you load the CHipset and other drivers from the Dell support site? What Service Pack level?

I have over 20 errors from SideBySide and 5 from DCOM. This means nothing to me.
I've installed all the drivers from the dell website but first from the drivers CD. I installed service Pack 3 about half an hour after i got the computer working.

 

[Old Rich]

Sounds like you are using Norton Security . . I would uninstall that and install Microsoft Security Essentials and see if the errors go away

 

[Wrules]

Sounds like you are using Norton Security . . I would uninstall that and install Microsoft Security Essentials and see if the errors go away

I'm not using Norton, used it like 5 years ago never going to touch that again. Using Avira and Zone Alarm, been using those two for a while and haven't had any problems with them so i doubt it's a fault with one of these programs which is preventing me from booting up normally.

 

[Old Rich]

Re: Windows XP Blue Screen. Re-installed windows and it did not solve the proble

Side by side is part of the Norton suite . . it must not have been uninstalled when you removed Norton.

See if this allows you to remove it:

Remove SideBySide, removal instructions

 

[Wrules]

Re: Windows XP Blue Screen. Re-installed windows and it did not solve the proble

Side by side is part of the Norton suite . . it must not have been uninstalled when you removed Norton.

See if this allows you to remove it:

Remove SideBySide, removal instructions

I've done 4 formats of the HDD, it cannot be norton on my computer, it's impossible.

 

[Old Rich]

I have over 20 errors from SideBySide and 5 from DCOM. This means nothing to me.

Well . . it came from somewhere . . .

 

[AlbertMC2]

Re: Windows XP Blue Screen. Re-installed windows and it did not solve the proble

Hi

SideBySide is a windows XP (and onwards) feature that helps stop DLL version problems.
It can also be malware (Old_Rich has given removal instructions)

You can read about SideBySide here and here

If you are getting SideBySide errors you usually have to reinstall your C++ Libraries:
a. Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package (x86)
b. Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)
c. Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable Package (x86)
d. Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)
e. Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86)
Once that is done you can also run System File Checker.
Go to Start -> Run -> type sfc /scannow -> ok
(You will need your Windows XP CD. When asked insert it)

Note this might not solve the SideBySide errors and you might have to do a Windows Repair, Windows Update and reinstall the program causing the SideBySide error.

Even though you are getting this error it is probably not the cause of your BSOD.

Have you tried running Memtest on the new memory? Did you ever run Memtest with the memory in the 2nd slot as Old_Rich suggested?

Have you cleaned out the PC?

You can also check your hard drive for any errors. To do this go to Start -> Run -> type chkdsk c: /r -> click Ok . When asked if you want to force a dismount say No. When asked to schedule the check at the next startup say Yes. Restart your PC to allow chkdsk to run.

You can also look at the Temps and PSU voltages in the BIOS. Post the values in your next post.