XP Pro = DOG!!!

[Amon_101]

Ever since I loaded XP Pro on my PC, I have been having problem after problem after problem.
Here are a few highlights:
1) Random freeze. The PC just freezes up, and I can't do anything. Have to reboot PC.
2) Only way to save jpegs & gifs is to type .jpg or .gif after the image name. Otherwise, the image will not open.
3) Sometimes "Age of Empires" games save, sometimes they don't. Even if they save correctly the first time, there's no guarantee they will open again.
4) Web pages will get locked and not allow me to close windows.
5) Two memory sticks went bad. Worked perfectly fine in Win 98.
6) Would not load first two times I tried to load it, finally had to have it professionally done. TWICE! (There's $100 I should have back.)
7) Sometimes CDs and DVDs play, sometimes they don't. Purely random.
8) Mouse speed slows down or speeds up as it wants to.
9) A couple games clearly stating XP compatible won't load, or won't work if they somehow DO manage to load.
10) While I love the thumbnail feature for folders, it decides on a case-by-case basis which view it wants to be in. Even if I set them all to use the same view, or even set one particular folder to use a specific view, there's a 50-50 chance it will be in that view next time I open it.

If I could go back in time, I would NEVER have loaded XP Pro on this PC! It's just one thing after another. Win 98 was super stable, and I only had a fraction of the problems I'm experiencing with XP Pro.

For the record, my problems aren't caused by a virus. As stated earlier, it was professionally loaded twice, and the same problems occurred each time. The system is more than high enough to handle XP Pro (PIII 933 with 512 RAM, GE Force3 video card, all fairly high-end stuff).
I'm also not a PC novice, as I have loaded OS's on differnt occasions (95 & 98), and have put a couple PCs together, along with the occasional upgrade to my current one.
If I hadn't been stupid and converted both hard drives to NTFS format, I would load 98 back on and have a nice shiny XP Pro frisbee.

Sorry to vent, but it is just so annoying the problems I've experienced with this "superior" OS.

...Dan
(http://www.captiongallery.com)

[gsnedders]

Sounds like my problems... Why I'm still on 98SE on my gaming machine (and Mac OS 10.3 on my everything else machine).

[oracleguy]

Well first off, the OS isn't going to cause your memory modules to go bad. Are you running the latest drivers of everyting? It sounds though more like a hardware type problem, it could have been coindicidental with loading XP. Just because you converted your hard drives to NTFS isn't any reason not to go back to 98, all you have to do is re-format them as FAT32. I'd plug in an extra hard drive (and unplug the existing ones) if you have one and load 98 on it and see if you start experiencing similar problems, if you do then you know it most likely isn't a software problem.

Additionally, #4 is vague but it sounds like it can hardly be faulted with the OS. What browser are you using?

And since you didn't say, I have to ask, are you running SP2 yet? Or at least SP1 with all the patches?

[Amon_101]

I know the OS isn't going to cause the memory to go bad. It's just another bad thing that happened after I installed XP.
All drivers are latest and greatest as recommended by manufacturer.
I was under the impression that once you convert a hard drive to NTFS, it cannot be converted back to FAT32. Is that not the case?
Unfortunately, I don't have the funds right now to be able to purchase another hard drive to test it out. Can't find a job anywhere.
I'm running the latest version of IE with all updates installed. Never had this issue before installing XP Pro, so that automatically makes it related.
I'm running SP1 with all updates installed.

Thanks for the follow-up.

...Dan
(http://www.captiongallery.com)

[oracleguy]

The drive can't be converted, its gotta be reformatted. So you'll lose whatever is on it when you do.

You could try and use a superior browser (http://www.mozilla.org/) and see if that solves your webpage problem. I assume you've checked for spyware and such?

And whats the chipset on your motherboard? I assume you downloaded the latest version of those drivers? The reason I ask is the some of your issues with saving and CDs/DVDs not working could be related to the chipset drivers.

[Roy Sinclair]

I hope your venting has allowed you to feel better but lets try finding some solutions now so you don't need to vent again.

Your problems sound typical for "Upgrade Install" installations. My experience has been that systems upgraded from the 9X generation of OS rarely work as nice as a fresh install of the XP OS would. I suspect that a part if not all of your problem is related to still running leftover code that still thinks it's working on a 9X generation OS. I would start by running the MSCONFIG program (Start > Run > MSonfig) and removing everything (yes everything!). After doing that, try running some of the problem programs and see if they don't start working better (IE excepted, there's addition sources for that problem).

Assuming things start working better, try adding back the removed items one at a time (start with the most important, the anti-virus program).

The IE problems are similar but it's likely you've got a rogue "Browser Helper Object" which is a program that's loaded as a part of IE whenever it loads and which can monitor IE's activity. The intention is that it can provide some useful service but less scrupulous individuals have made BHOs which perform all sorts of nasty tricks. People who've ever installed software like KaZaa are especially susceptible to these. Look for a tool like BHODemon to list all the BHOs installed on your system and to disable them, it's likely you'll only need the one for your Adobe reader software and none of the rest.

[Ultragames]

so hey, why not be rude for once.

Maybe try learning what the hell your doing, and how to take care of your system before you make a generalisation please.

Granted XP does have some major issues, but they are about equal to most, (not all) OS' and they arn't those described above. As far some of your problems, looks like you updates your OS and forgot about your hardware.

[rmedek]

so hey, why not be rude for once.

Maybe try learning what the hell your doing, and how to take care of your system before you make a generalisation please.
Not to be a stick in the mud, but here's why:# 1.1) Always be respectful and polite when posting- There is absolutely no excuse to be rude, confrontational, or hostile when posting on CodingForums.com. This is a place where web programmers come together to solve problems, not create them. Flaming can get you banned.

[Amon_101]

so hey, why not be rude for once.

Maybe try learning what the hell your doing, and how to take care of your system before you make a generalisation please.

Granted XP does have some major issues, but they are about equal to most, (not all) OS' and they arn't those described above. As far some of your problems, looks like you updates your OS and forgot about your hardware.

If you knew how to spell, I might take you a little more seriously. Until then...