Hi Pat - I don't know about "definitive" insight... but here are some
suggestions:
1. In XP it is possible to uninstall windows updates. Since your
problems started after the latest update you could try uninstalling it.
Go to Start, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs. At the bottom of the
list you should see all the Microsoft updates listed. Choose the latest
one and uninstall it.
2. Similar to uninstalling the last update, XP has a utility called
System Restore. It will take your PC back to a previous date. You
won't lose any personal data, but any programs you installed since that
date might have to be re-installed. Go to Start, All Programs,
Accessories, System Tools, System Restore. See if there is a date
listed that is previous to when you started having any problems. If so,
follow the instructions to restore to that date. (This will get rid of
any MS updates added since that date too).
3. Since the blue screen mentions your video card/chip (ATI) - I would
try reinstalling the driver for it. Go to Device Manager (Start, Run,
type DEVMGMT.MSC), and right click on your video chip listed under
Display Adapters. Choose remove or uninstall from the popup menu, click
ok, and then reboot. XP will "find" new hardware during boot. Wait
till you get to the desktop and see a message like "your new hardware
has been installed and is ready to use"
4. The sum of your symptoms - blue screens, failure to boot, hanging and
freezing - could point to a serious hard drive problem. I would
immediately back up any important personal data like photos, music,
documents, and then run a check disk on the hard drive. Go to Start, My
Computer. Right-click the C: drive, choose Properties. Click the TOOLS
tab and click the "Check Now" button. Be sure to put check mark in both
boxes to auto fix any errors. You'll likely be asked to "schedule" the
run for the next reboot. So reboot and the check will start. Could
take an hour or two so be patient.
5. If you have a brand name computer (like Dell, HP, Acer, Sony, etc.
etc.) there is very likely a simple way for you to restore it to factory
settings. In other words, with a few clicks and a maybe 15 minutes, it
will restore the PC to exactly the way it was the day you got it from
the store. Of course this WILL erase EVERYTHING you've added to it
since then. So back up all your important data. But after doing this
your machine will purr just like it did the day you got it. This may
save you a trip to the repair shop and some expense! If you post the
brand/model of the PC we can find instructions on how you can start the
factory reset.
Hope some of these suggestions help,
Donk
On 6/5/2013 7:03 PM, PatB wrote:
> This showed up after a Windows Update, thankyouverymuch.
>
> 1. "ati2dvag" with a blue screen comes up, completely freezing the computer.
> "device driver got stuck in an infinite loop ..." I have to turn it off
> manually. I've tried a number of Google suggestions that I'm comfortable with
> to no avail. I have scanned with all the cleaners I have. There are many
> more suggestions I'm not comfortable trying.
>
> 2. At the same time the above began, windows started hanging up/freezing
> more and more frequently. It happens when web surfing and rarely other
> programs freeze as well - MSWord, Adobe Reader. Two times on restart I only
> got a black screen; rebooted again and it worked normally. Rarely, all on
> its own, the machine will stop running and reboot itself.
>
> Do you have any more definitive insight into this?
>
> I'm about to take it to a local shop but would rather save the dollars if I
> can.
>
> Thanks so much.
>
> pat
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> If you have any questions or problems with any aspect of this site, please
> feel free to contact me directly bi...@optonline.net Please do not post
> personal issues directly to the group.
>
> To unsubscribe from this list, send an email to
> a-1-computer_tech-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com
>
> Thank you for using A-1 Computer TechYahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
------------------------------------
If you have any questions or problems with any aspect of this site, please feel
free to contact me directly bi...@optonline.net Please do not post personal
issues directly to the group.
To unsubscribe from this list, send an email to
a-1-computer_tech-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com
Thank you for using A-1 Computer TechYahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A-1-Computer_Tech/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A-1-Computer_Tech/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
a-1-computer_tech-dig...@yahoogroups.com
a-1-computer_tech-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
a-1-computer_tech-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
