Windows problems

[Dave N500 CHM]

We have a machine in the office running windows 2000 which was working ok yesterday but now seems to have two big problems.
The first is a memory usage where it brings up error messages saying that its low on virtual memory. Ok it has done this before but I installed 512 in it two weeks ago and it seemed ok till now.
When I run task manager as soon as the machine starts you can watch the mem usage go up to about 700mb before the machine crashes, it even does this in safe mode!
I cant see what is causing this, any ideas?

Also the really bizarre thing is since yesterday the machine has decided it a brand new computer. When it loaded this morning it had the "help getting started" box and if you open a web page or outlook it runs the setup wizards???

I thought I could just restore it to an earlier time but it seems I cant do this with windows 2000.
Give me XP any day over this, pain in the butt.

Thanks for any help

[ThePassenger]

Ok. Sounds like something that runs on boot has a bloody great memory leak.

2k should have msconfig, start > run > msconfig

Select "Diagnostic Startup" and reboot.

Did the problem go away?

[Dave N500 CHM]

Thanks for the reply
Unfortunately 2K doesn't have msconfig which is a real pain as I always use it in XP.
Oh but I can download and install it, just remembered that.
Will give it a go assuming I can keep the machine running long enough.

[Dave N500 CHM]

Hmmmmm, this problem gets stranger.
I cant copy or paste so I'm having to run "msconfig" from my usb key. It seems to remember what settings I've changed in their after you reboot but I'm not getting any info or that message that says "msconfig ran before reboot thingy". Sorry cant remember the exact wording.

As much as I hate giving up I think I'm just going to have to format it and start again.

Also:
I might start another thread on how to back up Outlook in one move. I hate having to backup the folders individually and the same to restore.
Can anybody help me with this?

[ThePassenger]

Dave N500 CHM said:

Hmmmmm, this problem gets stranger.
I cant copy or paste so I'm having to run "msconfig" from my usb key. It seems to remember what settings I've changed in their after you reboot but I'm not getting any info or that message that says "msconfig ran before reboot thingy". Sorry cant remember the exact wording.

As much as I hate giving up I think I'm just going to have to format it and start again.

Also:
I might start another thread on how to back up Outlook in one move. I hate having to backup the folders individually and the same to restore.
Can anybody help me with this?

Can't help on Outbreak I'm affraid, but it sounds like it'd be simpler to just to FFR the machine. Maybe if you have a spare license and the machines man enough throw XP on it. Win2k is long overdue for SP5

[greenlandy]

IIRC in outlook you can export all of the settings calender contacts and mailbox's in one move if you start at the top folder and tick the "include sub folders" tab. Just save it as a .pst file.
Have you tried removing the new RAM it might be faulty.

HTH

[Dave N500 CHM]

Aghhhh I thought for a second I had it licked, Windows loaded up no problems, msconfig pops up and has changed a few things.
Then on restart I get a blue screen, lots of 0x000000***** and DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

Will now go and format the machine with a wry grin on my face, bloody things!


Thanks for your help though Passenger and good luck in finding a new job, assuming your looking that is!

[ThePassenger]

Dave N500 CHM said:

Thanks for your help though Passenger and good luck in finding a new job, assuming your looking that is!

On and off. I'm currently more interested in trying to screw as much of the £16k the tax man took off me back Tis mine! That and the book publishing thing

[Dave N500 CHM]

Greenlandy
I did wonder about hardware but the machine was having similar memory problems before the upgrade.
It wasn't just ram I put in though, it was also another MB CPU & GC.
Was all sitting happy till two days ago.

Cheers for the outlook tip, sounds like its just what I'm after.

BTW your landy is V cool

[greenlandy]

Dave N500 CHM said:

BTW your landy is V cool

Thanks took me a couple of months to build but was well worth the effort.

[Dave N500 CHM]

greenlandy said:

Dave N500 CHM said:

BTW your landy is V cool

Thanks took me a couple of months to build but was well worth the effort.

Those wheels look the business!
I've always fancied a diesel SWB myself, just for those wet winter months.