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Computer keeps shutting down or freezing, performing illegal operation


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#1
littlefairywren

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Hello

I really need some helpful advice. I am also a newbie so info I can understand would be great too.
I am running XP and my computer for no apparent reason will switch itself off and restart and give me a dialog box at restart that says my computer has recovered from a serious error. When I try and see what data it has recorded it always appears in my temp folder (or at least I think that's what it means).
When I am surfing on the net I will also be taken back to the desktop and another dialog box appears to tell me that Internet Explorer had performed an illegal operation. This also happens with Firefox.
The other day I was trying to type up an assessment for class when the same happened in Word.
This is getting very annoying. It is now just a matter of how many times it will happen in one sitting on the computer instead of will it happen!
Please help!!!!
I have defragged, Adawared and cleared cookies and check for viruses. I don't know what else to do.
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#2
Retired Tech

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Items in blue which are underlined are clickable to give more information about the process

Click start then run, type prefetch then press enter, click edit then select all, right click any file then click delete, confirm delete

Click start, all programmes, accessories, system tools to run disc clean up, then from system tools, run disc defragmenter.

Click start then run, type sfc /scannow then press enter, you need the XP CD

Windows File Protection will show a blue onscreen progress bar, when the bar goes, reboot

If you do not have an XP CD you can borrow a same version as was originally installed XP CD, if you downloaded SP2 then you need an SP1 XP CD

If you do not have an XP CD and are unable to borrow one, run the scan, click skip if it asks for the CD, if it keeps asking, click cancel.

If it kept asking for the XP CD then system files are missing


Click start then run, type chkdsk /r then press enter, type Y to confirm for next boot, press enter then reboot.

Windows will appear to load normally then either the monitor will show progress or the screen will go blank, do not disturb this.

This will take an hour or so before it gets to the desktop.

Download and install Tune Up 2007 Trial

Run Tune Up Disc Clean Up

Run Tune Up Registry Clean Up

Click Optimize and Improve to run Reg Defrag, which will take a few minutes and need a reboot. You should disable the antivirus programme to run this and check it is running after the reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to optimize the computer, select computer with an internet connection from the drop down menu, this also requires a reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to accelerate downloads, select the speed just above your actual connection speed, this requires a reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to run system advisor

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#3
littlefairywren

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Hi Keith
Thanks for your response and advice. I have followed everything you posted and so far so good, although I am not completely sure what I have done. This is the second time I have requested help from Geeks (the first time was over 2 years ago) and I just wanted to say thanks for everything.
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#4
Retired Tech

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You can click prefetch, sfc /scannow and chkdsk /r in post two for an outline description

Thank You for letting me know
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