Instead of Windows restarting when it encounters an error, set it up so that it gives you the error message. To do this, go to Start > Control Panel > System > then click on the Advanced tab. Under Startup and Recovery, click on the Settings button and remove the check mark in front of "Automatically restart". Now when you get the error, it should stop on the screen so that you can write down the error message and post it here.
Steve
Message Edited by volcano11 on 07-27-2004 05:48 PM
Look in the Event Viewer (Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer) and see if you can read the error message there.
I've been trying to install several programs including CapWiz (video caputre program) Ulead Studio, and Adobe Premiere.
Update: "I tried going to control panel > add/remove software > and then installed the program that way, it worked for Ulead, and it worked for CapWiz on the second try, however directX 8.1 was not installed b/c of the same problem. I wonder if it could possibly have something to do with the autorun feature? Just a thought, if that was the case maybe it is the cd drive that is the problem, however I tried using both of my cd drives before and neither one would work. I'm happy to finally get this program installed, but would still appreciate any info you could give, as my computer is still not working like it should.
I'm not exactly sure what i was looking for, but here are the error messages it had listed, I don't know if these are the same ones that caused my problem.
The open procedure for service "WmiApRpl" in DLL "C:\WINDOWS\System32\wbem\wmiaprpl.dll" has taken longer than the established wait time to complete. There may be a problem with this extensible counter or the service it is collecting data from or the system may have been very busy when this call was attempted.
Unable to open the Server service. Server performance data will not be returned. Error code returned is in data DWORD 0.
I went to the tab as you said, and the automatically restart button was not checked. I then went and tried to install a program and the same problem occured. It appears that the blue screen is a standard error screen that says to run diagnostic tests or something like that. For some reason it will not stop on the error screen even though it is set up to.
if it was me, i would reformat, wiping the harddrive and doing a clean reinstall of win xp et al..
you could try using the recovery console, and running "chkdsk /p" or "chkdsk /r"..
i would reset the password for the administrator before using the recovery console.. you can do that by going to start/run and type:
"control userpasswords2"
you can leave the password blank, or not..
if you are going to try doing a clean reinstall of win xp et al, look in dell's "product support"/ reinstall guide so that you will have an idea what all is involved in doing a clean reinstall of win xp et al on an 8400..
i don't see a reinstall guide available for the 8400 in dell support..
i am not sure how you manage working with a sata harddrive..
assuming that the 8400 is similar to other dells, in order to do a clean reistall of win xp, you need to adjust the settings in the bios, the "system setup", moving the cd-rom drive up to "1" (one) in the boot sequence.. then, put the win xp cd in the cd-rom drive and reboot..
you will see a message, "press any key to boot from the cd"... press any key.. the files "should" begin to load to boot from the win xp cd.. if you manage to format the harddrive and install win xp, then, after win xp is installed, use the dell "drivers and utilities" resource cd, putting it in the cd-rom drive..
(i am not sure how things work when doing a clean reinstall of win xp on an 8400 but there is no harm in trying to install win xp.. if it will not let you boot from the win xp cd (after you have adjusted the "system setup"), it will not change anything on the harddrive)
once the "resource and utilities cd" is "installed", it will display the drivers that are appropriate for your pc..
install the chipset drivers first..
if you need to install drivers for "sata", install those.. if you need to install drivers for the network card (nic) install those.. the dialup modem, install those.. etc..
if you have sound card drivers on one of the cd's that came with your dell for your sound card, you can install those.. alternatively, you could (possibly) download the drivers from dell support/downloads..
install your video card drivers from the disks that came with your dell..
enable win xp's "internet connection firewall"..
you could explore the dell "resource and utilities" cd before you begin.. just load it in the cd-rom drive and see what it looks like.. i say all of this because currently there is not a reinstall guide in dell support for the 8400..
there may be some helpful information in the manual that came with your dell..
Message Edited by redwolfe_98 on 07-27-2004 09:20 PM
volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
July 27th, 2004 21:00
Instead of Windows restarting when it encounters an error, set it up so that it gives you the error message. To do this, go to Start > Control Panel > System > then click on the Advanced tab. Under Startup and Recovery, click on the Settings button and remove the check mark in front of "Automatically restart". Now when you get the error, it should stop on the screen so that you can write down the error message and post it here.
Steve
Message Edited by volcano11 on 07-27-2004 05:48 PM
volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
July 27th, 2004 22:00
Look in the Event Viewer (Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer) and see if you can read the error message there.
Steve
volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
July 27th, 2004 22:00
Which program are you trying to install?
Steve
brentsmith
6 Posts
0
July 27th, 2004 22:00
I've been trying to install several programs including CapWiz (video caputre program) Ulead Studio, and Adobe Premiere.
Update: "I tried going to control panel > add/remove software > and then installed the program that way, it worked for Ulead, and it worked for CapWiz on the second try, however directX 8.1 was not installed b/c of the same problem. I wonder if it could possibly have something to do with the autorun feature? Just a thought, if that was the case maybe it is the cd drive that is the problem, however I tried using both of my cd drives before and neither one would work. I'm happy to finally get this program installed, but would still appreciate any info you could give, as my computer is still not working like it should.
Thanks
brentsmith
6 Posts
0
July 27th, 2004 22:00
I'm not exactly sure what i was looking for, but here are the error messages it had listed, I don't know if these are the same ones that caused my problem.
The open procedure for service "WmiApRpl" in DLL "C:\WINDOWS\System32\wbem\wmiaprpl.dll" has taken longer than the established wait time to complete. There may be a problem with this extensible counter or the service it is collecting data from or the system may have been very busy when this call was attempted.
Unable to open the Server service. Server performance data will not be returned. Error code returned is in data DWORD 0.
brentsmith
6 Posts
0
July 27th, 2004 22:00
I went to the tab as you said, and the automatically restart button was not checked. I then went and tried to install a program and the same problem occured. It appears that the blue screen is a standard error screen that says to run diagnostic tests or something like that. For some reason it will not stop on the error screen even though it is set up to.
Brent
redwolfe_98
2 Intern
•
1.3K Posts
0
July 27th, 2004 23:00
if it was me, i would reformat, wiping the harddrive and doing a clean reinstall of win xp et al..
you could try using the recovery console, and running "chkdsk /p" or "chkdsk /r"..
i would reset the password for the administrator before using the recovery console.. you can do that by going to start/run and type:
"control userpasswords2"
you can leave the password blank, or not..
if you are going to try doing a clean reinstall of win xp et al, look in dell's "product support"/ reinstall guide so that you will have an idea what all is involved in doing a clean reinstall of win xp et al on an 8400..
i don't see a reinstall guide available for the 8400 in dell support..
redwolfe_98
2 Intern
•
1.3K Posts
0
July 27th, 2004 23:00
here is a thread where someone reformatted an 8400..
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=sw_winxp&message.id=118957
i am not sure how you manage working with a sata harddrive..
assuming that the 8400 is similar to other dells, in order to do a clean reistall of win xp, you need to adjust the settings in the bios, the "system setup", moving the cd-rom drive up to "1" (one) in the boot sequence.. then, put the win xp cd in the cd-rom drive and reboot..
you will see a message, "press any key to boot from the cd"... press any key.. the files "should" begin to load to boot from the win xp cd.. if you manage to format the harddrive and install win xp, then, after win xp is installed, use the dell "drivers and utilities" resource cd, putting it in the cd-rom drive..
(i am not sure how things work when doing a clean reinstall of win xp on an 8400 but there is no harm in trying to install win xp.. if it will not let you boot from the win xp cd (after you have adjusted the "system setup"), it will not change anything on the harddrive)
once the "resource and utilities cd" is "installed", it will display the drivers that are appropriate for your pc..
install the chipset drivers first..
if you need to install drivers for "sata", install those.. if you need to install drivers for the network card (nic) install those.. the dialup modem, install those.. etc..
if you have sound card drivers on one of the cd's that came with your dell for your sound card, you can install those.. alternatively, you could (possibly) download the drivers from dell support/downloads..
install your video card drivers from the disks that came with your dell..
enable win xp's "internet connection firewall"..
you could explore the dell "resource and utilities" cd before you begin.. just load it in the cd-rom drive and see what it looks like.. i say all of this because currently there is not a reinstall guide in dell support for the 8400..
there may be some helpful information in the manual that came with your dell..
Message Edited by redwolfe_98 on 07-27-2004 09:20 PM