Thread: Laptop keeps needing reinstall every 1-2 days

Could write a book on the troubles I've had with my Acer Aspire 5024WLMi the last few days. Have reinstalled Windows XP over 10 times now. Will try as well as get to the spot.

Where I'm at now I have two problems,

1. Within hours or days of installing XP I get blue screen of death even although I formatted C drive. I try to fix it with boot CD but it not at all finds an earlier version of windows to fix. So I undertake stuff in recovery console such as replacing my ntfs file (was told to do this by somebody) but that doesn't help. Then I attempted to chkdsk but 30 minutes later it's only at 20%. May as well presently reinstall!

2. My laptop often just cuts the power. I think this is due to overheating but to be truthful when it cuts now and then it's hot as well as occasionally it is not. I have ordered a cooling mat and in the interim I have a big office fan blasting it on full power, seems to help. I'm also considering buying compressed air can.

I initially was using my Acer Recovery disk that had it's own Windows on there. Have used that about 10 times in the past and it's worked fine. I can install it but now when it boots I get a light blue screen where it starts checking things to a point where it just freezes or restarts. So for the last few days I've been using a friends XP disc just for the 30 day trial to try and sort out a solution to this problem. It rarely lasts 1-2 days so the 30 day limit is no issue!

I just desire a clean factory restart of my laptop essentially. I don't care about missing files or something; it's all backed up on a Harddrive. I've tried formatting C as well as D drive but it doesn't help out (though I always do a quick ntfs one).

I'm planning on purchasing compacted air; windows 7 with 1GB memory (as opposed to my 512MB memory) to possibly help repair this problem.

Other things? I ran SpeedFan and the blue number in the tray usually sits at 50-58c.

Thanks for reading,

Yes cleaning your CPU cooler and fan is a good idea.

Next time you get a Blue Screen Of Death or two go to C:\Windows\Minidump
Copy the .dmp files in there and zip them up, attach the zip file in your next post using the "Go Advanced" button, then click the paper clip icon to attach the zip. These files(s) may help discover what is causing the BSOD.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'C:\Windows\Minidump', there seems to be no such dir or does it appear in recovery console area or something?

It is the folder where XP writes the dump file after you get a blue screen.

I would find the brand name of hard drive that is installed in it. Then go to the website and see if there are some hard drive utilities that can test your drive for bad sectors. Pretty sure the memory you are planning on being won’t repair this problem.

I checked system info and it seems to be an Acer HDD but couldn't find a HDD checker on their website. I was recommended ccleaner and did a full registry clean, rebooted but still same problem with the light blue screen wanting to do a check.

Acer does not create HDD. Might require taking away the cover to get the info off the drive.

Ok,looked on system and found 'HTS541010G9AT00', typed that into Google as well as found out it's a Hitachi. Does this help?

The main problem will be relating to overheating issue just cleanup the fan as well as the heatsink on the top of the processor and also the RAM and all the check all the rotation of the fan with the any software like SpeedFan and also HDD manager and if there are any badsectors in the HDD remove them with the ghost program. These will surely help you out.