I've recently reinstalled xp pro after discovering someone had stolen my serial number, and followed microsoft tech support advice, which was to reinstall xp pro over my current version and enter the new serial number.

I did this and downloaded all relevant critical updates and sp1. I thought it was all hunky dory. Started running the net ok, ran a couple of emulators and Nokia programmes with no problems. Then it started.

I tried to play a game that had been on my system before the reinstall and as ot loaded to the main menu, the whole screen was scrambled, took far longer to start up and I had no keyboard or mouse functions. I tried PoP 3, The Suffering, Hitman Contracts, Morrowind, and Freelancer. They all did the same. Froze at the main menu. Sometimes I get Ctrl, alt + del functions, but not usually.

I've checked that all drivers are installed, and that there are no conflicts. I've even uninstalled and reinstalled tha games but with no joy. I'd rather not do a format C if I can avoid it, but don't know if it's a system problem. I have 5 days of warranty left and need it sorted.

My system is:
AMD xp2600+
GeForce 4 Ti 4200
512 DDR
Windows xp pro
Asus v400 mobo...

I thought it might be a Bios setting as that's all I haven't looked at but I've never touched Bios, and don't want to screw it up. Please for gods sake, help me.

Reinstall WinXP....and the games.....

Just to be sure tech support was right...I just whack in my Windows CD and reinstall? I do nothing else different?

Yes reinstalling it should be fine. But usually when you install a fresh copy of an OEM operating system it comes preloaded with all the necessary drivers. If you downloaded a bunch of new ones you could've created problems.

Because it was working earlier we can assume that overheating probably isn't an issue.

Reinstall, uninstall all the trash the put on, get a good antivirus and firewall, and leave the default drivers.

When you say reinstall over my current version, what exactly do you mean? Was this a fresh full install, or a repair install?

What I did was insert my Windows disc and selected install. It wasn't a repair install, just a straight up full install over my current windows version.

If it wasn't a repair install, everything on the hard drive should have been wiped. Were all the games gone after the install or were they on a different partition/hard drive? Did you reinstall all the motherboard drivers and Via 4in1 chipset drivers? Which version drivers are you running on your video card? When you say your mobo is Asus v400 do you mean A7V400-MX? Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to get a handle on what specifically was done.

I don't have the hdd partioned, all the games and programmes remained installed before and after the reinstall. I didn't format , I just inserted my cd-rom and selected install windows. I then followed the prompts.

A computer tech has suggested that because I had software that microsoft deemed to not be legitimate, when I downloaded and installed sp1 and some critical updates, it is causing my system to play up. I can't see this being the case, but the tech said he has seen it a few times before, including on his own pc. I will admit that not all of my software is 100% original.

Anyway, my mobo was supposed to be an asus thing, but my receipt says its a jetway v400da, but the instructions, software and drivers are for an asus v400db/v400dbl. Hope this helps

Melanie what you are saying is contradicting the way things work. A full new install wipes all the information and files off the hard drive. NOTHING should have been left on the hard drive. Is this a regular microsoft CD? Does it have the holographic label. Or a manufacturers Brand name recovery CD? Like Dell or Compaq or hp? I just looked up your mobo. That's the first I've heard of Jetway. Anyway lets go somewhere else. Click start right click on my computer and hit properties. The system properties window opens. Go to the hardware tab and click on Device manager. Look down the list. Do you see any yellow question marks? If so let me know.

restore the system. chance are the dirver updates from MS site did the damage, get hold of the mobo drivers and updates from the manurfactures site.

then try again.

I know that what I've said sounds like a contradiction, but that's what I did. I put the disc in, it gave me a blue box with options, one of which was to install windows. I selected the option and spent a good hour or so installing xp pro. I was surprised when all my programmes were still there.

when I go to the device manager, there is a yellow question mark by my monitor. I have a sony trinitron 22" crt monitor, and it won't let me select it as a plug and play monitor. I've tried going to display properties, settings, advanced and then monitor. The option for properties is not highlighted, and I can't select it.

BTW, here's the web site detailing my mobo. I'm a bit p*ssed that I didn't notice before that I didn't get what I paid for.

BTW, here's the web site detailing my mobo. I'm a bit p*ssed that I didn't notice before that I didn't get what I paid for.

http://www.j-mark.com/PRODUCT/mb/v400DBL.html

melanie,
Have you tried deleting the display monitor in device manager and then rebooting?

I have a cornerstone 21" and just let XP load the default plug & play monitor drivers.

i think what happend was that you installed windows without deleting the previous partition(your original windows install). you need to reinstall windows and this time dont install over the old install but you should delete the partition, therefore making the hardrive clean before installing the operating system, the directions are fairly self explanatory. if you need help with doing a clean install search for it on the web or post back here.

Melanie Go to the device manager, double click on the monitor, double click on plug and play monitor, go to the driver tab and select update driver. If it updates reboot. If it says you have the best driver then hit uninstall and reboot. when it restarts you will get a found new hardware balloon in lower right. Wait till you get the your hardware is installed message. Go back to device manager and make sure the yellow question mark is gone. Back to this install. When you put in the CD it says loading files. Then it has a screen that says what do you want to do install, press enter, repair to use repair console, esc to exit. You hit enter and you get the big legal crap EULA and you have to hit F8 to approve. Then the next blue screen says if you want to install windows hit enter, to repair the current installation press R. Do you remember if you hit R or Enter? Because if you hit enter and you still have files on your C Drive, it was a bad reinstall. Only hitting R on that second screen should have left files on your computer. List the drives you see in my computer. If you want to reinstall fresh (wipe out everything on the machine and start over) post back, and I'll go through what you need to do to repartition and reinstall. Where did you buy this thing and what kind of warranty did you get. And how many more days till it's over, and did the XP Pro come with it?

I bought the pC from a small (very reputable!!!) company that I have discovered has gone bust, after 10 years of trading. Seems to me like I have a couple of things to try including the monitor driver thing, and a new fan in my PC. Someone else has suggested that my CPU operating temp of 60c is too high, yet AMD state it is within regular operating temps. Failing this, it's format c time.

OK I'm still with ya. The 60C is a bit high especially if it's idle temperature, but it definitely isn't so high that it will corrupt programs or make the sys go down. With all the different problems you are having, I would make backups to CD of all your files and start over from scratch. It will save you a lot of grief down the road.