Can someone help me please, My computer won't defrag, scan disc or do a system restore, it is now coming up with a message at the beginning say "system intiallization failed". I have a basic knowledge of computers but have exhausted all of them i just don't know what else to do.
If this isn't solved soon i think i am going to disapear completly
Please help me
Danielle

Sounds like you have some corrupted files in there somewhere.  Are you running Microsoft Windows XP or earlier?  If so, go to the Microsoft windows update center on the web and allow it to scan your system.   It may be able to update with the latest security updates "high priority" and at the same time repair corrupted files.  If that works, go to download.com and search for a program called Ad-Aware SE.  Allow ad-aware SE to scan your computer and remove any spyware files (clean your temporary internet files first and history folder prior).  Keep your antivirus software up to date.  Good luck.

http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

If you can't update because of issues with windows installer 3.1 let me know I will try to track down where I found the patch to correct this problem.  Charlie

Thankyou for replying charlie, i have win ME, i have been to windows and checked for updates several times since this started, but there isn't ever any there, my anti-virus is checked every day to keep that updated.
Do you have any other help, coz this is getting desperate, It crashes quite often to or if it doesn't want to that it just freezes.

Well i did all that you said and it still hasn't solved my problem, althou it did get rid of bad things (i think)
Thankyou anyway, but please keep racking your brain for any more ideas
Danielle

Have you checked how much free space you have left on your hard drive?
Sometimes if you run out of room this will freeze your pc up and create problems as the swap drive is unable to cope and info can not be moved and some files became corrupted.
You may find that its a case of reinstalling windows at the end of the day.
Try and find a good pc repair shop who will be able to look at what's going on. Its very hard to solve these problems by word and mouth where a pc techy person sat with it will be your answer.

Oh please do not try to defrag your pc in its present condition. If it freezes on a defrag you could lose info as it moves stuff from your hard drive into memory then back onto the hard drive.
Out of interest how long has the system been up and running?

Hi Minipeace,
I have only had this comp from July, I din't know comp had a problem until i tried to defrag
Danielle

Hi
It sounds like the defrag crashed on you and has created the problem. Its what created defrag to crash that needs looking into.
Is this a new pc as you've had it from july or a second hand unit?

Computers can be a nightmare! Intel based pc's seem to be more stable than AMD based ones and going back a few years AMD had real problems with motherboard chipsets and hardware configs. With so many different components that can be fitted problems do pop up.

It could be a number of things that have created the problem from hardware to software and it really needs someone looking at it to solve the problem if you are not pc minded. It could be hard drive, memory, motherboard, software or something else like a card that needs to be removed and refitted again, its just so hard to see whats going on over the internet.
Every time it crashes it could create more problems as windows is not shutting down correctly.

Please try not to worry, it can be fixed.

If its new contact the supplier who should repair it FOC.

Hi there, unfortunatly for me it's 2nd hand, all i know is that it's a Dell, have checked disc space and thats still ok. Don't want to pay out for someone else to mend it, coz i would prefer to use my money on another husky pup!!. Worst comes to it then i will
Cheers for all your help i understand it's difficult via internet
Thanks Again
Danielle

How much memory does the pc have? Have a look in accessories/system tools/system information and look at the total phsical memoryand available physical memory

total pysical memory is 126.17mb and avaible memory is 276.00kb
Is this good or bad

You need more memory for it to run smoothly. Could be why its crashing. Have you installed any programs since you got it? Some programs take up valuable memory even when not actually being used. For example Broadband connected via usb will take up alot of memory but less if connected via a network card. A pc needs to have extra memory so its not having to share it around as much. Ideally you should be running on 256 not 128 which you are on at the moment. I have 512 memory and have no problems crashing but my old pc only had 128 and crashed on a daily basis as soon as i upgraded the memory to 256 it didnt crash anymore. Your motherboard will only allow so much so you will have to check how much you can add. It doesnt cost too much and a good website is [URL]http://www.ebuyer.com[/URL]
If you dont want to add more memory then you will have to uninstall some programs as basically your asking too much of the pc to cope with at once. hth

Not brilliant - sounds like you have just about run out of memory which would be causing your computer to crash/freeze.

Do you have a lot of programmes or windows open at once, if so keep them to a minimum

If your computer freezes try:
Ctrl+alt+Delete
and this will bring up a window with all your open programmes in it - close the ones you are not using and see if this helps.

In fact try it anyway when you first start up your machine to see if any power hungry programmes are starting up at the same time (some need t be running so do not automatically close them if you do not know what they are).

If you machine will take it I would try installing more RAM - does anyone know if ME can utilise more than 128 Mb ?  I know Win 98 was limited but not sure about the others

As for how many open at the start i can't tell you, but i have 2 programs running at mo, this forum and my incredimailXe. How much would i be looking at for more memory.
How do i stop unwanted programs from starting up at the beginning
Thanks for all the help peoples very greatful
Danielle

If you go to http://www.crucial.com/uk/ and fill in your computer/motherboard type it will tell you what sort of memory you need and give you prices.

There should be a local pc repairer who could do a PC health check quite cheaply (our local one does it for @ £20 ) they will take the computer back to factory settings which usually helps most things.  But you do need the original disks for the pc and peripherals as everything will be wiped off the hardisk   - to use this facility you really need to know someone who's already had it done by them ;) ;)

Hope this helps

I agree with the memory as well, more memory and things run smoother and quicker.  Keep in mind though,
Windows ME was considered a bit unstable.  My machine was 7 years old running an ME upgrade on a 95-A platform.  Towards the end there, I was receiving the "BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH" constantly, and it was very frustrating, similar to what OKI is experiencing now.  I ended buying a new PC but kept the old monitor and printer.  Then I picked up an LCD flat a year later after they came down a bit in price.  An XP upgrade disk (purchase the PC w/out an operating system) was about $100.  Each upgrade disk contains a full version of the software.  All it will do is prompt you to put your old ME disk in to check the license, and then you're go to go with a full new version.  Running ME nowadays is going to give up future trouble down the road even if you get this resolved now.  It may just be time to bite the bullet anyway and get the new machine.

Hi Oki

It might be that you could buy an OEM version of XP (one without any manuals) if/when you buy some more memory.  The OES versions are much cheaper than the versions that come with all the manuals etc but they are only available with new computers or upgrades and I do not know if memory counts as enough of an upgrade.

I generally get "bits" for my machine when I am upgrading/rebuilding it from Novatech if that helps

Dills got the right idea.

Get a quote first before buying anything. Its you're cheapest option. It probably just needs ME reinstalled and you will be fine.
Unless you are running heavy memory needed software you will be fine on 128, its just going to run a little slower than say 256 but thats it. A lack of memory will not crash your defrag out or just basic windows operation. ME or windows 2000 was built when 128 was a fair bit of memory, its fine for viewing the net and doing basic stuff, unless you like messing with pictures, 3D apps or running games.

I use an old laptop for the net, 5 years old, slow, 128 memory, 8mb graphics and its fine with XP perfessional. Nothing fancy just cheap internet use.

For gaming my bro has a mountain mod case running a 3.2 clocked to 4 with pci 256 graphics, raptor drive and 2 gigs of ram plus different heatsinks and so on and so on but its so expensive I think he is mad!! still its quick and he is into pc. He's just changing from air cooled to water cooled, crazy man hehehehe.

In addition to a PC health check these places will also fit extra memory etc. its far easier ( and often cheaper ;) ) than doing it yourself if you're not confident of opening up a pc and fitting new bits ;)

We had this problem recently on XP, everything was running fine other then defrag and a couple of other bits, then it stopped downloading updates as well, turned out we had a corrupt file and the only way to cure it was reformat and reinstall windows, but make sure you save all your personal stuff before you do it.

I had the same problem running Windows Me, on consulting my computer bod it turned out to be a virus that changed stuff in registry. I could have reinstalled Windows Me but was advised to upgrade to Windows XP as Microsoft no longer support Me. That's what I was told anyway!!