[nmithani1]

have just installed XP Pro SP2 on a formatted C:\ not 48 hours ago; I've fully updated it but right from the start, there've been issues such as explorer not executing properly, log-in times too long, taskbar icons not showing up and the latest being Rainbow Six: Las Vegas crashing (no issues with circumventing the Securom checks).

I also had problems during installation, about five times, the installation froze/hung at installing devices even though every component of my system is no more than 2 months old apart from the 160 GB Wester Digital WDC 1600JB-00GVA0 HDD. The sixth time, Windows installed but plagued by the aforementioned issues. Could it be the HDD?

 

[jnibori]

You can run a check using Disk Health from the left pane on PC Pitstop. I'd also right-click the drive, select Properties > Tools tab and run Error Checking (Put ticks in both boxes)

Not sure if that's you problem, but you at least can rule it out.

 

[Emtronics]

If your disk checks out ok, do another format and re-install without any USB devices plugged in. When an install hangs, this is usually hardware related and sometimes can be an USB device plugged in. (sans keyboard and mouse)

 

[nmithani1]

I have a USB mouse and keyboard, which were plugged in during the installation; I might have disconnected other USB devices including a USB hub when it installed successfully.

Secondly, whenever I run a chkdsk scan in Windows it give me the "Detected minor inconsistencies on the drive. This is not a corruption", and cleans up some unused indexes. This is regardless of how long ago Windows was installed or what is installed on Windows. Chkdsk on reboot never gives any such message and previously, chkdsk on reboot causes Windows to fall apart. Specifically, log-in/log-off problems, self-reboot, BSoD.

PC Pitstop gave this message: "Overall Disk Health: Very Good. Low fragmentation levels. Recommendations: No action required."

 

[nmithani1]

I ran HDD Regenerator 1.51 up till 68000 MB (out of 160 GB) and it hadn't detected any bad sectors. However, it did take 6 hours. The HDD is 160 GB Wester Digital WDC 1600JB-00GVA0.