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I admit it: I started messing around with Administrative Tools in my HomeXP OS, to create the Perfect Game XP OS. I think it did make games more stable, and certainly added more memory. I saved this as a separate profile, to load after reboot.

However, when I returned to my standard profile, I've found that CTRL+C, the copy-all function, no longer works. When I try it, the desktop momentarily empties of everything. Then, I get back access to it, but I receive the Windows message about sending an error to Microsoft.

I've no idea what's causing it. I can't think of disabling anything for the standard admin profile, and I can't think of anything else that would cause this. Any ideas? This really stinks.

Th eonly thing I can think of is that you've managed to disable the service that operates the clipboard. That would affect any user profile, not just the profile in which it was disabled. I'm not sure which service that is though.

Have a look through this list for optimal services settings for games in Windows XP.

That was it! I'd switched the Clipbook for Automatic to Manual, assuming that my use of same would trigger it. Silly me! Manual obviously means Disabled, despite the fact that it's a separate listing.

Thanks!

I wrote too soon. It seems to be working...but intermittently, now. I was able to copy a good 6 directories, but it choked on the 7th. I wouldn't think it was the size of it, but I've no way of knowing.

Would a Windows Restore to a day before I tampered with Administrative stuff help?

Originally posted by fable
I wrote too soon. It seems to be working...but intermittently, now. I was able to copy a good 6 directories, but it choked on the 7th. I wouldn't think it was the size of it, but I've no way of knowing.

Would a Windows Restore to a day before I tampered with Administrative stuff help?

I know that the clipboard can only hold a certain number of items, but it's supposed to be 12, not 6. Yes, Windows System Restore will fix this.

This is a great way to learn how things work though. Especially with a magic button that puts it all right again!

I'll try that. Thanks.

That unfortunately didn't work. I had thought System Restore would only affect the registry, but it restored files and directories I had since deleted, and replaced--doubling them over, in some cases. Damn. Any other ideas? I've got the clipboard on Automatic, at least.

Good news, and bad news. The good news is that I kept a backup configuration of my admin settings, before tampering with them. The bad news is that choosing those settings didn't solve the problem.

I've had a quick search for this problem, and a few other people have had this happen. At the same time drag-and-drop features in Widnows Explorer seem to be an issue to. Are you having any problems there too?

The only repair suggestions I've been able to find is the MSBlaster patch or an inplace upgrade of the operating system (basically reinstall on top of your existing windows install).

At this point I'd also recommend running a scan on your computer for viruses and spyware.

I do scan regularly, but it's never a bad suggestion. As for upgrading the system--it's XP Home, fully upgraded, and just installed 2 months ago. Imagine my joy.

As long as I have your attention, Flibble, let me ask you about something else. I've recently discovered that I've got some serious XP instability going inside games. My video and sound drivers are fully uptodate. I've got 256 MB RAM, and a Radeon 9600 card; an Athlon 1.3 GB CPU. Yet if I run Morrowind, Sacred, or Beyond Divinity, I crash every 10-20 minutes. It's rare if I don't.

I did a 1-on-1 comparsion of Vanilla Morrowind, today. Installed it on both my XP and Win98 side (I'm using a dual-boot). The XP installation continued crashing to a reboot every few minutes. The 98SE install ran like a song. Any suggestions what's wrong? I don't think an exorcism will help.

Upgrade to XP Pro. Get more RAM.

Buy an MSI motherboard.

Wonderful. I love it when new installations do that. You can always reinstall the same OS straight back on top of itself, but you'd then need to download all the service updates again.

I had a Radeon 9600XT for a while and found it ran best on the 3.8 drivers. Some of the later drivers did odd things in several different games. Most noticably was lighting distortions in Jedi Academy, but NWN and KOTOR also did some odd things. Eventually I gave up on it and got myself a GFFX 5950 instead. You might want to try an earlier version of the Catalyst drivers. It sounds a strange thing to do, but sometimes newest doesn't always equate to best option.

Originally posted by HighLordDave
Upgrade to XP Pro. Get more RAM.

Buy an MSI motherboard.

Have you become so attuned to the force that you don't need the wavy hands thing anymore

Originally posted by Mr Flibble
I had a Radeon 9600XT for a while and found it ran best on the 3.8 drivers. Some of the later drivers did odd things in several different games. Most noticably was lighting distortions in Jedi Academy, but NWN and KOTOR also did some odd things. Eventually I gave up on it and got myself a GFFX 5950 instead. You might want to try an earlier version of the Catalyst drivers. It sounds a strange thing to do, but sometimes newest doesn't always equate to best option.

That's a point. I may just do that. At the very least, it can't hurt. Do you have any idea where I can find earlier drivers? Since this setup is only a couple of months old, it still has recent drivers on it.

ATi at least provide previous drivers. Try here.

Thanks. I'll try those. Would I be right in assuming that just because the latest drivers work in my Win98SE OS, they wouldn't necessarily work on the other side, under WinXP?

Originally posted by fable
<SNIP>I've recently discovered that I've got some serious XP instability going inside games. My video and sound drivers are fully uptodate. I've got 256 MB RAM, and a Radeon 9600 card; an Athlon 1.3 GB CPU. Yet if I run Morrowind, Sacred, or Beyond Divinity, I crash every 10-20 minutes. It's rare if I don't.

I did a 1-on-1 comparsion of Vanilla Morrowind, today. Installed it on both my XP and Win98 side (I'm using a dual-boot). The XP installation continued crashing to a reboot every few minutes. The 98SE install ran like a song. Any suggestions what's wrong? I don't think an exorcism will help.

Dave got his point there - for athlon & P3 class PC 256MB is not enough to run XP and games. I happen to have almost similar specs with your PC fable. when i "deck out" my RAM (well i deck out till 1.5GB RAM ) those annoying instability gone - not to mention that annoying stutter during gameplay

For some reason XP Pro is devoid of many of the compatibility issues that plague XP Home, so if you can get your hands on a copy, you might see if that's the problem. Plus, as KidD01 says, you shouldn't run any version of XP with less than 512 MB of RAM.

You might also check and see if ATI has updated firmware for your video card and check with your mobo manufacturer to see if they have an updated chipset and AGP driver.

@Mr Flibble:
The Force has only limited influence over thick-headed Babylonian gods with video games named after them, so it's use against fable is mostly a waste of time. However, I've found MSI boards (especially those with VIA's KT333/400 and the nForce2 chipset) to be rock-solid stable, so for $100 (USD), it may be worth upgrading.

I do have hopes of upgrading within a few weeks to 512 MB RAM. So at least that's on the cards.

fable, if i'm not mistaken yer mobo still use SDRAM type of RAM. with DDR craze lately the market demand for SDRAM is dropping. Hence the price might be more expensive than normal. if u can found a good deal it's best to deck out yer PC RAM - that is if u plan it to use it for further; if u plan to upgrade soon 512 is fine for now.

Also check on the RAM compability in mobo site, those damn SDRAM have some issues. It's best to use recommended brand and type from mobo manufacturer site. AFAIK DDR also got some compability prob, in short to upgrade RAM check on mobo site for the compability list