Strange characters xp won't boot

Hi, we have an acer vertion M464 (mistake, I know...). A colleague today was browsing on the internet (searching for JW information for RE -honest!) when the computer had a fatal error and crashed. I'm trying to figure out what to do.

Attached are screenshots of what is coming up. There are really strange words coming up- seems like all the characters have been jumbled up. The screen that comes up is the option screen to start windows normally, which then leads to a screen of rows of speech mark characters " and nothing else.

I've put in the recovery disk from ACER, which doesn't do a lot (still strange characters/jumbled up).

I've also put in Ultimate Boot CD for Windows and Bart PE Disk, both of which end in a blue screen of death. Something to do with ACPI on the motherboard. I get the option to load UBCD, but then blue screen.

Problem is I can't seem to do anything due to lack of suitable booting options. I have got an xml syspreped image for the machine, but can't get into UBCD to use ImageXML (or whatever it's called).

Is the only way out to take the disk out, put in it a working machine and do a chkdsk and other diagnostics? This may invalidate the warranty though- if it's any good at all anyway.

Any thoughts very welcome! Thank you.

last good know goof configuration hmm.... Maybe a virus or malware?

The RAM is cooked, replacing it should sort the machine. You may be able to get memtest86 running on it to confirm but the symptoms simply scream busted RAM.

I agree, it does look like a memory problem. If possible you could try underclocking it to see if it makes any difference. Operating at DDR2 533 instead of DDR2 667 for example.

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Originally Posted by Michael

I agree, it does look like a memory problem. If possible you could try underclocking it to see if it makes any difference. Operating at DDR2 533 instead of DDR2 667 for example.

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Thanks everyone. Michael, how do I go about underclocking the memory?

You need to go into your BIOS to change memory frequencies. It really depends on what make/model motherboard you have. Some unfortunately don't have the option at all.

Ok, thanks. I'll have a look tomorrow. I gather then reimaging would have no affect. Perhaps I could replace the memory from another working machine, put it in the duff one, and see if it cures the problem.

Cheers.

Looks just like some of our students English work :)

Agree about the memory though.

HBJB

Yeah i have had this before, it was a memory problem.. but i was a little more inpatient and just changed the memory lol.. :o

... it had to be done quickly lol