Ideas on an XP problem please

I am thinking to save some expense I have been asked to look at an old XP machine that is used by a fellow who runs this machine to use CAD software in his cabinet making workshop.

Now the problem is it boots through the Windows screen where the dotted line runs across and then baulks at the welcome screen.

The inside is fairly clean and the only obvious problem was some noise on the graphics card fan on start up it disappeared after a while and I am guessing it only needs cleaning and re lubing.

Now I have got to scratch around for hardware details as I cannot run any info programs on the machine and the owner has no idea what is actually inside.

I know this is a tall order but any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks marsmimar didn't give that a thought must be slipping, and Berton yes mate have done a rudimentary check of the MB it is a micro ATX and there does not look to have any of those bad caps. In fact it is in remarkable condition considering the environment where it is kept.

The operator who works for the fellow says he did blow a lot of dust out when this problem started up though the GPU cooler I have to clean a bit more and re lube that fan.

Now I just found out why he wants this machine restored back if possible - it has approx $30,000 of CAD on it and that is not the full pro version

Anyway I am going to try safe mode now and see what can be done with it. Someone did mention to me about repairing the MBR using the installation disk and I am wondering if nothing can be done in safe mode if that is where I should head to??

Ok update no safe mode loads files but then stalls at the next screen. I am trying a Kaspersky Rescue disk at the moment just in case something untoward has crept in as I don't think security was much of an issue for the fellow - but have to wait for updates for it. If anyone doesn't think it is worth it I will shut that down and look elsewhere.

Now one odd thing is that I have an inspection light over the opened machine and every time the hard drive actuates the light goes out Have checked the rails volts and all ok except the 12v which is tad under - 11.89v which is just within the 5% tolerance. Just another oddity running this machine or coincidence??

Anyway I shall have a look at those tutorials all the same.

Can you run a WinPE disc (or Live Linux CD/DVD) and use it to run some system info tools?

lehnerus2000 said:

Can you run a WinPE disc (or Live Linux CD/DVD) and use it to run some system info tools?

I have a Ubuntu install disk TRY or INSTALL would that do Peter?? (I normally use that for reteiving data)

ICit2lol said:

lehnerus2000 said:

Can you run a WinPE disc (or Live Linux CD/DVD) and use it to run some system info tools?

I have a Ubuntu install disk TRY or INSTALL would that do Peter?? (I normally use that for reteiving data)

Use the Try option, unless you want to delete the existing OS.

The only issue is that I don't know what GUI tools are available for interrogating the system.
This means that you'd have to use Terminal commands.

This link has some commands:
Linux List Hardware Information Command

I created a few scripts based on that link and zipped them up:
Hardware Scripts.zip