Computer restarting itself, shutting down and restarting

[Wapping]

I am running Windows XP.

I tried to load software etc for a Philips Webcam from its CD along with VOIP on the same CD.

The software appeared to load OK and it asked me to restart the PC, which I did. On restart, the new software was shown on the Start menu’s ‘New programmes’ and the shortcut icons had appeared on the desk top.

The PC then went into a deep funk, followed rapidly by apparent demonic possession.

First the mouse stopped working, the cursor vanished.

Then the keyboard froze. I could not get any response, number lock etc. not working nor did Control Alt Delete.

I was forced to switch it all off via the ‘On’ switch.

I then restarted and got a message that windows had encountered a serious problem (report it to Microsoft) and the PC shut itself down completely, then proceeded to restart itself with no intervention from me, got itself as far as me logging on, then proceeded to shut itself down. It auto-restarted again, got as far as the welcome screen, shut itself down, auto-restated, shut down, auto-restated in a in a faster and faster cycle, without me touching a thing.

Eventually it stopped long enough for me to turn the whole dammed thing off manually one more and I was able to restart it in Safe Mode. I hit the System Restore tool and wound the clock back to this morning, far enough back to get rid of the new software. It then restarted itself in a fairly violent manner (lots of disk clattering), dumped the new software and all is now well, apparently.

Any ideas what the hell happened and how I might avoid a repeat performance?

 

[Fanum]

It sounds like a good old fashioned IRQ conflict...two pieces of hardware trying to share the same settings...possibly after the new software told XP to reserve some resources that were already in use by something else.

Odd, 'cos I presume it's a USB cam???

I'd be inclined to make sure you have everything backed up, then start the PC normally and plug the camera in when windows is up and stable- XP should find the camera and will ask for the software- at that point it should use a different interrupt setting and hopefully everything should be slotted into place without any fuss

 

[Wapping]

It sounds like a good old fashioned IRQ conflict...two pieces of hardware trying to share the same settings...possibly after the new software told XP to reserve some resources that were already in use by something else.

Odd, 'cos I presume it's a USB cam???

I'd be inclined to make sure you have everything backed up, then start the PC normally and plug the camera in when windows is up and stable- XP should find the camera and will ask for the software- at that point it should use a different interrupt setting and hopefully everything should be slotted into place without any fuss

Bill, thanks for the tip.

Yes, it's a USB cam.

Will follow your advice, O fount of all knowledge....

 

[Wapping]

Done it!

The driver for the camera is loaded and seems to work; at least the PC recognises it correctly.

The CD with the driver also carried some Philips software called V-lounge, which was (surprise, surprise) clashing with AOL. I got rid of V-lounge and all is well.

It now seems I can send video messages to other AOL users but not to anyone else. How I get around this little stumbling block I am not sure.

Thanks for all your help, Bill.

 

[Fanum]

Pretty much any other messaging prog should be able to make use of the cam Richard..the one most commonly used now (here anyway) is Skype...

If you install it (or whatever other prog you want to use) then go into settings/options, you should find a place to select the input source where you can pick the camera.
As long as it's working, it's recognised by the system and should show up

Try Skype first and if you have anyprobs, post back here......I've managed to get it working for several people and a lot of us here are familiar with it

http://www.skype.com/intl/en-gb/hel...nloadep-_-skype download/exact-_-UK/644544664

 

[judge]

Done it!

The CD with the driver also carried some Philips software called V-lounge, which was (surprise, surprise) clashing with AO(-HEL)L.

You don't say...

It now seems I can send video messages to other AO(-HEL)L users but not to anyone else. How I get around this little stumbling block I am not sure.

You don't say