HELP! crashes on start up

I'm getting this exact same problem myself now. I'm getting to the point just after it creates a window, and then, all of a sudden, back to desktop. Trying to run again brings up the crash logger.

The problem for me occurred after a HARD lock-up (even the MOUSE didn't move), requiring me to press the reset button on my system.

I'm on:
Operating System: Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3600+, MMX, 3DNow (2 CPUs), ~1.9GHz
Memory: 2048MB RAM
Video Card: ATI Radeon X1950 Pro with Catalyst Control Center 8.6 drivers (up to date)

Some notable lines from the SecondLife.log file:

2008-06-27T09:24:46Z WARNING: LLWinDebug:etupExceptionHandler: Our exception handler (007F73D0) replaced with 4F6E6ADA!
2008-06-27T09:24:46Z WARNING: LLAppViewerWin32::initHardwareTest: Someone took over my exception handler (post hardware probe)!

2008-06-27T09:24:46Z WARNING: LLWinDebug:etupExceptionHandler: Our exception handler (007F73D0) replaced with 04BFE23C!
2008-06-27T09:24:46Z WARNING: LLViewerWindow::LLViewerWindow: Someone took over my exception handler (post createWindow)!

(since it dies as the window maximizes itself, a setting I had before the lockup, I'm assuming there's something else not getting removed that I need to deal with, and these are relevant)

I've tried:
- Uninstalling
- Manual Cache Clear (does that EVER fix any damned crash bugs? May as well tell me to stick my thumb up my ass for all the good it ever does)
- Letting Windows run CHKDSK after the reboot
- Cleaning out some residual registry entries after Uninstallation

SL is the ONLY program that is causing me grief, but if I can't get it to run, I may well have to wipe the OS and reinstall everything.

Also, it's ANY version of SL: official client OR release candidate. Same exact problem.

Whatever caused your hard crash/lock up could very well have damaged your drivers and/or OS..............or anything other software on your system. That crash could also be something totally unrelated but telling you something is wrong. Total system lock ups are serious. The causes could be simple and easily solved by finding the damaged software and fixing it.........but it could be a prelude to some hardware in the first stages of failure.

Update your video drivers is a good starting point.

On your question about clearing your cache. Clearing the cache will not help if you are crashing. It helps with missing inventory, slow rezzing, and sometime excessive lag. Yes, it does help in those instances.........not always, but enough that it's a very easy thing to do and should be tried.

A full reinstall of XP DID in fact fix the issue. Also added was a new power supply (620 watt, as opposed to 300 in the old one).

Now, however, after making it look nice in the RC, it too dies during login, after I've gotten logged IN, but before I can 'see' myself inworld. The standard client, though ugly as hell (jaggies all over; no AA options that I can find), does work.

Where is the AA option in 1.19.1? Does it even actually EXIST?