Couple of questions.

The room (and whole house for that matter) is air conditioned. Field Value Sensor Properties Sensor Type Asus ASB100 Bach, Winbond W83L785TS-S Sensor Access SMBus 2Dh, SMBus 2Eh Motherboard Name Asus A7N8X Temperatures Motherboard 29 °C (84 °F) CPU 48 °C (118 °F) CPU Diode 58 °C (136 °F) WDC WD1200JB-00EVA0 42 °C (108 °F) WDC WD2000JB-00GVC0 35 °C (95 °F) Cooling Fans CPU 3750 RPM Power Supply 1474 RPM Voltage Values CPU Core 1.68 V CPU Aux 1.68 V +3.3 V 3.34 V +5 V 4.89 V +12 V 12.93 V -12 V -12.84 V -5 V -4.86 V One reason I don't think it is hardware related is that only explorer.exe is crashing. No other programs have been crashing or otherwise locking up. EDIT: The only things I've uninstalled are games, and previous versions of java, leaving the latest version intact.

Your logic is compelling. The reason I inquired about Alias is that the error message related to it. Have you made any additional changes? How's your machine running now? Time for the Window non, non, Repair?

I agree that the error message relating to Alias is puzzling, but I just don't know how it would be causing explorer.exe and only explorer.exe to crash. If I recall the program uses Java, so if it was Alias causing the crashes, I'd have expected Java to crash as well, though it hasn't yet.

Time for the Window non, non, Repair?

I'm certainly starting to think it's pretty much the only option left at this point.

I have some errands to run for a bit, then unless you have another idea before then, I'll run that repair and hope for the best. I'll post any results.

Yes. I do have a new recommendation that may prove to be a short-cut. One of my mentors reminds me that there is an Explorer.exe "fix" in each of the Service Packs including SP1, SP1a, SP2. This Mentor recommends to use Control Panel - Add/Remove to Uninstall SP2 Then SP2 would necessarily need to be Re-installed, and during the re-install of SP2, the Explorer.exe "fix" would be applied, thereby fixing the problem that you have been experiencing. Neat, Fast. Easy. It's a good option for fixing your problem without going through the "non, non Repair", which would take about 1/2 hour. Your Choice. Uninstall - Reinstall SP2 or follow Fred Langa's more lengthy routine for a complete Repair. If I thought my only Windows System problem was with the Explorer.exe, then I'd probably decide to just Uninstall and Reinstall SP2. But it's up to you. Your Choice. Do you have an SP2-only CD? You can Download SP2 from Microsoft, save SP2 to a file on your Hard Drive, then Uninstall and Reinstall from your Saved copy Next Point: Though your machine is working OK……. Some of the Voltages are out of recommended value to the point that they raise "some" concern. Probably not enough to recommend a new PSU at this time, but enough for you to continue watching these values and monitoring for changes both up and down, under load, and with no load. We can certainly address the Temperature and Voltage concerns after you have completed the repair of your Choice regarding Explorer.exe. Best Regards

Hey….. Wait a minute. You're running Windows XP SP1a. All that would be required would be to Update to SP2. If you haven't already launched the other proceedure, consider just updating to SP2. I'll be around tomorrow from time to time, and will check in on your progress. Best Regards

The primary reason I haven't updated to SP2 is because of the horror stories I've heard about it causing problems and leading to having to reformat and reinstall. I've heard that its best to do a fresh install of SP2 rather than upgrading. I've also heard of some programs not running properly in SP2 that were designed to run in SP1. Are all of these concerns ill founded? I just want to be sure that the truth is contrary to what I've heard in the past. (hell for all I know this isn't even the case anymore if it ever truely was) I haven't started anything yet, and will likely wait till sometime tomorrow since it's getting late. Oh yeah, just another question about SP2…. Isn't there something with alot of annoying dialog windows for the firewall in SP2? I seem to remember hearing something about that… or I'm thinking of a review of vista I read…. EDIT: I think I've noticed something that could be related. Firefox wil not stay as my default browser. It has been set as default, and yet sometimes after a Reboot links will open in IE, the funny thing is though that IE, hasn't been getting run, and Firefox never reports not being the default browser. (I have it set to check every time firefox starts up.) It could be related, but I'm not as concerned about it as I am about explorer.exe crashing constantly… and I'll hope that it will be fixed with whichever fix I end up using to fix the explorer problem. EDIT2: After a few reboots, every time I open up task manager, CPU usage is at 100%. The only 2 processes that seem to be taking up any significant CPU is zlclient.exe and vsmon.exe. If I try to open my zonealarm window it just locks up. I'm going to reset my router/modem to get a new IP since it seems to have blocked a ton of intrusions since installation just earlier today… odd stuff. EDIT3: Ok after having switched IPs and switching CLI.exe to denied access (probably unrelated), the CPU usage is normal… man gotta love all the random problems appearing and disappearing.

Guess I spoke too soon…. if I use any application that uses the internet zlclient.exe and vsmon.exe start up with the 100% CPU usage. Grrr. EDIT: This keeps getting better. I can't end the processes without getting a "Access is denied" window. EDIT2: After one of several reboots, I went to use firefox, and though all my bookmarks, themes and extensions were intact, everything was reset to default values, from my settings on my extensions, theme and basic options in firefox. Heh, quite odd, that the less I do the more seems to go wrong.

Good Morning Bob…, Will you please Run a fresh PCPitstop Full Test, and post the new TechExpress link back here into this thread so I can get an overview and better picture of this machine's functioning at this time? Also with Everest, please Run and post the Temperatures and Voltages screen. Please post the temperature and voltage data under two conditions: 1. With no applications loaded, only Everest open. (No Load) 2. With one/some of your gaming applications open and running. (load) Thanks

Bob, I'd sure like to see you reduce the number of running programs and applications to start when you boot up. Refer back to your PCPitstop Full Test. Under Windows - The items highlighted in Purple and Grey are likely candidates of items running that are not required and may be contributing to your chronic resting 3% CPU load. "Where" is your computer tower located? Again I'm inquiring with interest about Heat. The tower needs good air circulation especially at the back where hot air is exhausted and the front bottom where cool air is drawn in. (it really doesn't matter if your home is airconditioned, if the cool air is not vigorously circulating from front to back inside your case.) Poor choices for Tower location include: *enclosed in a pre-built 'computer desk' where the slot for the Tower does not have a fully opened back panel. *On the floor, especially in a corner position or with other items/furniture directly next to the Tower preventing good air flow through-put. Have you acted on my prior recommendation to "open the case" and "blow out the dust bunnies". (even in the cleanest airconditioned homes, computer towers rapidly acquire airborne dust and dabris.) Give particular attention to cleaning the fins of heatsinks, and to the enclosed power supply unit. Make sure all fans are spinning freely, and actually spin when the machine is turned on. To clean out the inside of the tower case, use a can of compressed air (available at most office supply stores) DO NOT use "cleaning instruments" like rags, brushes, metal, wooden or plastic tools. Serious attention with a can of compresssed air will do the trick to clean even stubborn debris clinging to and between the heatsink fins.

Good Morning Bob…,

Will you please Run a fresh PCPitstop Full Test, and post the new TechExpress link back here into this thread so I can get an overview and better picture of this machine's functioning at this time?

Also with Everest, please Run and post the Temperatures and Voltages screen.
Please post the temperature and voltage data under two conditions:
1. With no applications loaded, only Everest open. (No Load)
2. With one/some of your gaming applications open and running. (load)

Thanks

(NO LOAD - zonealarm disabled)
Field Value
Sensor Properties
Sensor Type Asus ASB100 Bach, Winbond W83L785TS-S
Sensor Access SMBus 2Dh, SMBus 2Eh
Motherboard Name Asus A7N8X

Temperatures
Motherboard 28 °C (82 °F)
CPU 43 °C (109 °F)
CPU Diode 51 °C (124 °F)
WDC WD1200JB-00EVA0 38 °C (100 °F)
WDC WD2000JB-00GVC0 33 °C (91 °F)

Cooling Fans
CPU 3709 RPM
Power Supply 1448 RPM

Voltage Values
CPU Core 1.70 V
CPU Aux 1.68 V
+3.3 V 3.33 V
+5 V 4.89 V
+12 V 12.86 V
-12 V -12.78 V
-5 V -4.84 V


(UNDER LOAD - Oblivion and zonealarm running)
Field Value
Sensor Properties
Sensor Type Asus ASB100 Bach, Winbond W83L785TS-S
Sensor Access SMBus 2Dh, SMBus 2Eh
Motherboard Name Asus A7N8X

Temperatures
Motherboard 28 °C (82 °F)
CPU 51 °C (124 °F)
CPU Diode 64 °C (147 °F)
WDC WD1200JB-00EVA0 34 °C (93 °F)
WDC WD2000JB-00GVC0 33 °C (91 °F)

Cooling Fans
CPU 3750 RPM
Power Supply 1480 RPM

Voltage Values
CPU Core 1.68 V
CPU Aux 1.68 V
+3.3 V 3.33 V
+5 V 4.89 V
+12 V 12.93 V
-12 V -12.84 V
-5 V -4.86 V

My computer is off the floor and has good circulation in front and back. It also has dust screens on the intake fans, so there is currently very little if any dust in the computer.

I tried to run another PCpitstop scan, but IE keeps going non-responsive during the upload test. I shut down zonealarm during the scan, but it still didn't help.

I recommend installing SP2. Yes, there have been horror stories about problems provoked by SP2 in the early several months of its existence. But we've weathered the worst of the storm and now SP2 is much more competent. Might there be some conflicts with legacy hardware and older games. Sure, there might be. Most of the "horror stories" that are still circulating are being promoted by folks who hate Microsoft anyway, but have lost any factual basis for their arguement. OK, there will always be obsure difficulties with an operating system, but SP2 vastly outperforms SP1(a) in terms of compatability and security. Overall, SP2 is a remarkably useful and secure evolution of the XP operating system. That's my opinion. and…. It can be uninstalled if you so choose.

Ok, I'll do that then. I'll make sure to make a seperate disc of it. I'll let you know if it works out. EDIT: Ok, I don't wanna pay shipping and handling and I don't see a way to make a SP2 CD. I'll go ahead and install from windows update anyway, but if you happen to know a way to make a cd of SP2 for future use I'd appreciate knowing… no rush though.

I've noticed other users complain that IE stalls during Upload on the Pit Test. These users had previously had not trouble completing the Pit Test with IE, and then added a Router. Once they were behind the router, they started having the problem wiith IE stalling. This is not "universal" for users with routers, but of those who claim IE stalls, there is a high percentage who have recently installed or recently reconfigured their router. I've run behind a Router for years and never had a problem with the Pit Test or any other IE browsing function. But I use the stock and then upgraded firmware for my Linksys Router. Maybe you can get a complete Pit Test by connecting your DSL modem with CAT5 directly to this computer. Best Regards

Only problem is that my modem is my router. I have one of those 2wire homeportals. It is hooked up to my computer atm through the cat5 connection as opposed to the other methods availible. It's as direct as I can get with this modem… I could try disabling my firwall on my modem but since it was running the first time, I doubt the firewall is to blame.

I'll give another attempt to the pitstop test before I make the upgrade.

Am making backups of important info atm for upgrading to SP2 just incase atm.

I ran a couple more attempts at the PCPitStop test, it timed out the first time, then I ran it a second and just walked away. Figured I'd give it time to see if it would get any further or if it was going to lock up completely at the upload test. It finished the test but it didn't finish the upload test.. guess it timed out. Here's the TechExpress link: http://www.pcpitstop.com/techexpress.asp?id=99BUPWSHERJS6LUQ

I have lowered my IE cache to 25MB since I forgot to do that after the previous test.

EDIT: I almost forgot to mention, that I ran windows update and got the latest security updates (as per recommendation on the MS website in preparation of installing SP2). After doing so my CPU usage is back to normal with zonealarm running.

Adjust your Internet Cache file size to 80mb
from IE Select - Tools - Internet Options -
in the Temporary Internet files area (Middle of "General" tabbed screen)
Press - Settings - In "Amount of Space to Use" (type in) 80

You can also save a ton of space by reducing the amount of Space Reserved for System Restore

Goto: My Computer
Right-Click on My Computer - Select - Properties
Click on the System Restore Tab
User the "Slider to change the amount of space to use for save System Restore points down to under 1000mb" Many experts recommend about 250mb.

Reboot and Defrag

You may find that you can recover quite a few gigs of Disk space.