blue screen every 90 days?

This IS a registered copy...with it's own serial #.

NOT a copy of any kind.

The message it gives is something like....the boot record is lost, or cannot boot, something like that.... Not exactly sure... this is causing the complete re-install of everything.

Does that help @ all?? Thanks for anymore info.

Since it's a registered copy, below are URL's on how to correct the problem


http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/evaluate/xpactiv.mspx


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307890/en-us


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306555/


http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_faq.mspx


Hope this helps.


Rick

The message it gives is something like....the boot record is lost, or cannot boot, something like that.... Not exactly sure... this is causing the complete re-install of everything.

I am sure the cover has been removed & blown out...as the hard drive was replaced in May, because they thought that would fix the problem. (thinking it was a worm or virus).

It is connected in a heavy duty surge protector.

Hope this helps....Anymore info is greatly appriciated.

Thanks Again

Assuming the master boot record becomes corrupted, it wouldn't "cause" the machine to automatically reinstall everything.. To reinstall everything requires intervention from a person with an XP CD. Is the owner simply reinstalling everything because the blue screen error occurs.

But if you mean the error comes up and the owner "decides" to reinstall everything, then it's important to know EXACTLY which type of reinstall is performed..Has the owner repartitioned, reformatted, then reinstalled everything? Or has the owner simply reinstalled the operating system "over the top" of the previous version so all the files and programs aren't lost? (A full repartition, reformat, and reinstall is a much better option but it DOES wipe the drive first.)

Instead of completely reinstalling, has the owner attempted to load the "Recovery Console" and run the "FixMBR" command?

Hope this helps and let us know more.

Grif

Sorry, I guess I am not being clear... the machine is not automaticly re-installing everything, they were having to re-install everything themselves. Yes, they are re-installing because of the blue screen... the computer will NOT boot up after they would get the screen, & to reload was the only way to get it to work again.

The machine actually belongs to my mother-in law, her husband had to go thru this every 90 days for a long time, & he has recently passed away, I am trying to help her get this sorted out within the next week so she doesn't have to keep re-loading stuff & loosing information.

The exact message is not known, I am sure he knew what it says.... but she is not sure...only that it is about booting...boot record is lost or cannot boot, she is just not sure.

My father in law a computer guy, his work was with cobal, he had much knowledge about computers & even had to fix mine a few times.... but for some reason he couldn't get this figured out.
I am almost positive he reformatted & completley wiped everything off before re-installing.

I was also told that this started happening right after a freind sent an e-mail with an attachment, which was opened (this friend ALWAYS had computer problems (i.e. viruses & other things wrong)). So @ first they thought is was a virus or a worm or even a trojan horse... guess it doesn't really matter.

I will ask about the recovery console & the fixmbr to see what she says, but I doubt she will know, he did all this stuff....

What would cause the master boot record to become corrupted??
Could that happed on a schedule (every 90 days)??
Is there some type of fix for that or a way we could check the boot record to see if it's OK??
We really don't want to wait to see the blue screen to try the recovery console or run the fixmbr.

Thanks again

1. Find the make of the hard disk and go get that drive maker's DRIVE FITNESS TEST. It may be called something else but that's a prime suspect given only what you've written so far.

2. Adopt a ZERO TOLERENCE ATTITUDE for pests.

May I suggest that the machine have up to date antivirus and a firewall plus pass a scan with EWIDO and HOUSECALL (google.com)

3. Avoid Internet Explorer. Try Opera, Firefox, SeaMonkey. Don't fall for the trap that a red-X means you need to go back to IE.

4. Do not open any unsolicited email. Do not enable the preview of email. Don't open attachments.

5. If you use P2P software, the 90 day cycle may continue since it's another source of trouble.

Hope this helps,

Bob