Issue I experience is my computer restarting once I launch the web browser.
Issue I experience is my computer restarting once I launch the web browser.
My system includes:
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 945
GPU: Sapphire HD 7790
RAM: 8GB
Storage: Western Digital 500GB SATA 3 HDD and a Kingston 240GB SSD.
I am still using Windows XP Professional x64 Service Pack 2 and rely on the 360 Chrome Browser 13.0.2310.0, Chromium version 86 for browsing the web. Naturally, I installed Windows on the SSD. Everything functioned smoothly until recently when I purchased a new ASUS DRW-24D5MT DVD writer, as my previous unit was no longer reading discs. That earlier model was an LG on IDE, whereas the new one uses SATA.
After installing the DVD writer, approximately once every five times, when I double-click the 360 Chrome Browser, my PC freezes for about a second, then displays a blue screen with messages such as "new hardware or software might have caused this." I must restart my PC to resolve the issue, as it does not respond to commands otherwise. I am uncertain if the recently installed ASUS DVD caused this, as it would be unusual for this to be the explanation. However, I have no other reason besides the fact that I have never experienced this problem before! The Kingston SSD I bought about a year ago has worked perfectly so far.
Another unusual problem recently emerged: yesterday, I noticed that all my programs ran slower than usual. For instance, it took about 3 or 4 seconds for Total Commander to launch after double-clicking it, whereas it usually responds instantly. Upon opening the Task Manager (Alt+Ctrl+Del), I saw only 3 cores instead of the usual 4. My AMD processor is a quad-core model, which always displayed all four cores. I checked CPU-Z as well, which also showed only 3 cores and 3 threads. I became concerned, adjusted the BIOS settings, and everything seemed normal—both in the Task Manager and CPU-Z. The speed of my PC responding to commands has returned to normal.
What is the cause of the browser issue? What leads to the blue screen display? I have used this browser for over a year (if I recall correctly) and never experienced anything like this! Neither before nor after installing the SSD. This problem began only after replacing the old, faulty LG DVD writer (which was on IDE) with this new ASUS DVD on SATA. Could this be the root cause? If so, what should I do? If not, what steps can I take?
There are several reasons why you might be encountering issues....
1. You are still using Windows XP, which is quite outdated and slow compared to current technology. Think of it like buying a new car but replacing the engine with one from a junkyard—it would function, but it would be nearly ineffective.
2. The DVD is the latest technology, yet your PC is outdated. Try playing it on someone else's newer computer and check the Device Manager; you should see a yellow triangle next to the DVD.
3. There are numerous factors contributing to your PC's slowness—XP, outdated hardware, and possibly hidden software. Check the Add/Remove Programs for unfamiliar items and review the Startup menu; currently, only your sound card and AV player are listed.
4. The browser you're using is also outdated, making it difficult to access modern websites. You may have noticed warnings about incompatibility or the need for updates. The hardware appears to be inadequate for newer software.
There are several steps you could take, such as downloading and running Malwarebytes. Keep in mind it may not work on XP, so if it does, perform repeated scans until nothing remains.
It’s important to recognize that using XP exposes you and others to risks, and it is strongly recommended to upgrade to a more modern system.
I have been using SATA 3 HDDs for more than 10 years and they never caused me any problems. So it's definitely not an incompatibility problem between SSD/SATA and Win XP. Stop blaming the WinXP, I used Win7 and 8 and 8.1 and 10 and they were all CRAP compared to XP. I will not, repeat: WILL NOT change my operating system on my machine, I would rather buy myself a laptop for browsing the web if that is really and truly the last resort.
In Device manager everything is OK, have a look, it doesn't have any conflicts with the DVD. I would show you a photo, but I cannot insert it here properly without uploading it somewhere, and I'm not gonna start uploading random pics on random websites just to prove a point. It's all fine in Device Manager when it comes to the DVD, there is nothing yellow there, it says "This device is working properly".
The browser is not old at all, this version of 360 Chrome Browser was released either last year or in 2023. So it is much newer than even Windows 10, and since it didn't cause any problems before, why did it start doing that now? By the way, I even reinstalled the XP about 5 days ago, so everything is in order.
Let me ask this: was I supposed to install this browser in the "normal" Program Files folder or in the (x86) version of the Program Files? I don't remember in which of those I installed it in the past, so maybe THAT was in fact the problem. What do you think?
PS: I repeat - stop bugging me about the XP 64-bit SP2, because changing it on this PC just ain't gonna happen.
Yeah, it seems one of my CPU cores might be having issues, or maybe the problem was only with just three cores. Now it's gone, I can see all four in Task Manager and the performance is good. Could this core issue happen again in the future? I haven't overclocked my CPU at all, it usually stays around 41 or 42 degrees Celsius, as shown by Core Temp. After playing a few games, it only reaches 50 or 51 max. Is that too high? It's cold outside now, and my room is at about 20 degrees Celsius, so I don't think the CPU would overheat.
I haven't removed the optical drive yet, meaning the new ASUS I just bought. Should I try disconnecting it to check if the blue screen problem continues?
Yes, disconnecting can help determine if it alters the behavior. Concerning the fluctuating CPU core count, this issue is likely to persist or get worse if the CPU is malfunctioning or if any motherboard part is deteriorating. The age of this system isn't ideal and you'll probably have to endure it until it fails completely or you upgrade the CPU/motherboard.
If keeping the old setup is your goal, parts should be available on eBay. Moving an older XP x64 OS could pose difficulties—something to keep in mind moving forward.
Before disconnecting my ASUS DVD, I experimented with changing the AHCI and IDE settings in BIOS. I learned that AHCI is preferable for newer hardware, so I adjusted the IDE settings to AHCI. However, the desktop would disappear, and the system would restart repeatedly, displaying warnings such as "Windows did not start successfully, a recent hardware change could have caused this" or offering options like "Safe Mode", "Start Windows Normally", and "Most recent settings that worked". I initially selected "Start Windows Normally" which restarted again, then chose "Most recent Settings" which also restarted. Eventually, I switched back to IDE in BIOS and adjusted the SATA Configuration.
If my CPU is failing, I plan to wait until it completely stops working, as it functions adequately now. Once it fails entirely, it would be simple to purchase a more powerful second-hand PC, especially since there are many local sellers offering good prices. I could acquire one today if I truly needed it, as transporting it to my country would be more expensive than the parts themselves. Buying a newer model isn’t my concern at this moment.
I prefer to keep using Windows XP, as I’ve relied on it for over a decade—since 2004 or 2005—and have tried all other Windows versions after XP (except Vista and 11), which I found disappointing. I deeply value XP, especially the x64 Service Pack 2 version.
What additional actions can I take in BIOS? Should I switch to RAID? Because changing to AHCI made the desktop vanish. What should I do next?
EDIT: I captured a screenshot of the blue screen using my phone and copied it (word-for-word) into a text file, hoping this will help.
XP needed some adjustments to switch from IDE to AHCI. Were you doing any of those changes before updating the BIOS settings? For instance:
https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/how-to...g-xp/31901
I don’t suggest trying the RAID option.
No, I didn't carry out those actions. I haven't encountered them before, and going through them makes me believe they're a bit complex.... Are you certain it's the DVD's issue? Because, as I mentioned earlier, I also use the MyPal browser, which is more demanding on the CPU than 360 Chrome (this one uses less CPU but consumes more memory), and I haven't experienced such problems with this browser (MyPal). The issue lies in the fact that YouTube and many other sites don't work properly or at all on MyPal, so I use it only occasionally for certain small tasks that 360 Chrome can't handle. For instance, 360 Chrome doesn't allow me to copy-paste a photo into an email (using Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V) while MyPal does it correctly and smoothly. That's why I use both browsers because there are functions one can't do with the other, you know?