Serious Problems with my Computer...XP Related?

[Acid_Basik4]

System Specs.
Custom Built
2000+ AMD Athlon Processor that is XP Approved
512 Mb PC 2100 DDR RAM
40 Gig Generic HD
Nvidia 256 Graphics Card
Generic AMD Approved Motherboard
300w Power Supply (AMD Approved)
Serial Card


Problem:
My computer ran fine for about 3 or 4 months after building it, but then it suddenly started giving me strange errors. The errors include locking up while or during certain programs, blue screens that indicate that windows has shut down due to an error, and at times not even starting.

At the time of those first series of errors I had an ATI Motherboard. Thinking that could be the problem, I replaced it with my current one. The errors continued and eventually it wouldnt load windows without an error. I tried reinstalling windows but it would either stop responding during loading or get to the installing part and restart automatically. I swaped out harddrives and such and finally tried buying a new 512 Mb stick of RAM to replace my current 256 stick. It worked and I was able to reinstall Windows and ran smooth and perfect.

Then, a few days ago, I installed an old harddrive as a backup to hold my important files. I was able to install it properly and it all worked fine until I shut down and restarted. My computer began to display the same symptoms as before; bluescreens, lockups, and faluire to loads. Again, it wont install Windows.

I disabled and disconnected the second harddrive and still recieved errors, and now my computer cant do anything without locking up (Im using a friends right now).


I doubt it could be RAM as the stick is new, unless something is eating up my RAM? Is that even possible? Could it be my Harddrive? It is a few months old. Ive tried swapping out harddrives and graphic cards but have had no luck.
Ive also been trying to reinstall Windows XP but it will stop responding as soon as I get to the 'Select what you want to do' screen. Its really frustrating that this happens every so often.

I read on these forums that XP is finicky with RAM. Could it just not accept my new RAM after awhile?


Any help would be appreciated as I am not very good at computers at all. I break them better then use them.

[sam]

was the old hdd formatted if not you may have givin yourself a virus..

i would clear your cmos and formatt the drives and start over

[The Real Bingo]

I had problems with my computer crashing, and crashing often. Apparently it was my XP Home Edition, because after a friend installed Pro it hasnt crashed since. Maybe that will do the trick.

[Acid_Basik4]

Silly me.

Upon further inspection I realized that my heat-sink fan was not spinning. Yes, not spinning at all. I had actually had it running numerous times without any cooling on my CPU.


Im guessing that could have been very devastating?
However, I am right now typing on my computer that has had no problems where I had problems before. Im hoping I didnt fry my CPU too bad, but if I ever get more problems Ill know what I need to replace.


Thanks for the help everyone.

[Dj-Icer]

you could scan for any possible virus. formatting could be also the last option you do...