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Problem sorted out. It seems that the chkdsk function works differently on my ASUS laptop in that where in times past on other units the function would pop up halfway through the bootup with a text interface showing what it was doing, on the ASUS I got the initial start showing the manufacturer’s logo then chkdsk dove right in full tilt with no descriptors showing. I just let it go and 3 hrs. later I got a bootup with MR alive; it’s alive! I now have a current backup and am getting ready to do the Windows 10. Thanks all.

I should also state that I had successfully used the HD MR to do backups for a couple of years.

I used the HD MR. I can’t find anything in Windows logs because I had set up a chkdsk run last night for this morning and when I booted up, I got the maker logo flash, then it went to a blank screen with the HDD activity light going crazy. This has been going on for 3 hours now. I am using a backup to write this as the ASUS is my work computer. Just what I needed.

I just recently put in an SSD into a Dell D630 ( which, despite not having certain speed-up programs, really hops along) and found the Samsung cloning program could not find the external HDD I connected with a USB 2 IDE/SATA connection assembly. Luckily I had installed Macrium REflect and used it with the same connection to clone the disk with no problems. The new disk was slightly thinner than the old one and required a little tweaking to connect properly, but after that, no worries, mate!

If you have a smartphone, download the Wi-Fi analyzer app. In it’s default mode, you get a graphical mode strength v. channel display of all viable signals in the area. You can then tell if a change in router output frequency is required. I did it on my shop router from default ch. 6 to ch.3. Worked, it did.

I use Macrium Reflect to do backups and always do a complete HDD backup: all partitions. One never knows.

I picked up a Dell D630 from Tigerdirect a while back coming off-lease For about $250. While I didn’t put Mint with Cinnamon on it (I did burn an .iso disc and did a live CD check just to see) and then upgraded from XP to Windows 7, the upgrade did take well. I did put the Mint on a netbook: Acer Aspire D150 after doing the live CD to ensure proper working. Works nice.

Another update: I ran a memory check using Memtest 4 with no problem, neither a chip fail nor a power shutdown. Trying a new video card did not work; I still got a shutdown. Trying a pair of Ubuntu live discs gave the shutdown. Now, since I have changed the mobo, the power supply, the video card and even unplugged the HDDs in the system (I thought possibly there was bad sectors on the boot drive-unprovable because I would get shutdown before a chkdsk run would complete), the only thing left would be the CPU: the only common factor through the various iterations in the test regimen. I do have a new one around somewhere but my servicing area got moved within the shop so things are scrambled. At least if I have to get another one, they are cheap.

I’ll try that next chance I get along with double checking the memory chips. Thanks.

Actually, I had removed the video card driver earlier to check for funky drivers and have not been able to reinstall it, so I should imagine that the default mode for the card with no driver would be VGA.

UPDATE: I could not use Macrium Reflect to install the backup image; I got shut down in the middle of the restore, rendering the install inoperative-not bootable. I then tried to do the non-destructive OS install; the system did not give me the proper option to do so. I bit the bullet and did a partition format and new install. Since the new install is SP2, I put in my SP3 disc to install the update and the *%#) system shut down! I then tried a live Ubuntu disc to get into the system and fiddle with the partitioning system on the 3 HDDs I have reasoning the the HDD upon which I have C: partition (along with a data and a separate programs partition) might have sector problems. No luck: the Ubuntu was getting ready to get onto the desktop and bang! Twice! The peculiar thing is that I can sit in Safe Mode all day long. Any ideas, please?

I haven’t done any more to the Systemax due to snow and the need to do my primary job. It seems there must be a basic software glitch that is available in standard boot that does not load in safe mode. This implies the need to do a clean install of either my XP or jump to Windows 7. I did the upgrade advisor and can do it fairly easily. At least I have a backup (which I might try first) if things go to pot (Macrium Reflect-yay!) or do the install. I also have other partitions that carry a number of my programs and data so I won’t lose them. I just have to find the time.

Back on the air again. I had to obtain motherboard caps and put them in (oy, such a task!) this, on the original mobo, get back to my regular job of fixing audio equipment then putting in the original mobo. Interesting results, I found. (1) I still have the problem. (2) For some odd reason, if I run it in safe mode works, it does. No sign of overheating. I ran Malware Bytes full scan and removed 2 items. I am using a 650W Corsair P/S now. (3) I removed the driver for the Nvidia video card, rebooted into regular XP and within 5 minutes, bang! (4) A peculiarity occurred in that a mystery found hardware screen popped up and, of course, would not install. I did find “unknown device” in device manager and removed it. (5) Bios date was way off. That got resolved but the desktop, which has a wallpaper changer that has a calendar showing did not change at all (Groundhog Day!). Only on the last reboot did it change properly. I’m beginning to think of upgrading the OS to Windows 7 32-bit.

Granted, heat can be a problem, but with the quick powerdown AND the side of the box open, heat now is no problem. ESR sure seems to be the main culprit and I will try to get things back in order as time permits.

After doing a batch of digging, the instructions found at the address: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_xp-windows_update/bits-not-listed-under-services-in-win-xp/9e0a3fe5-e193-4441-b3f4-85df0e9b42aa?page=9 enabled my Lenovo laptop to update again. Now my PSI does not recognize a batch of .NET updates I downloaded manually and keeps the reoffering of same (typical XP .NET behaviour) and am now doing a reinstall of the 2.0 and up.

Also, I never had the 100% CPU problem others had; just that I could not update.