Restarting problem with XP

Sorry to crowd the forum- I've seen similar complaints, but they are usually blaming new versions of SL for crash/restart troubles.
I checked the WIKI- found no solution.
In my case, I wiped my hard drive and installed a brand new version of Windows XP home in order to get rid of years of accumulated malware, etc. It was taking almost 8 minutes to restart my PC.
I downloaded and installed SL 1.6.9 and that's when I found my problem.
I have lots of memory, etc., using the same LindenLab-approved graphics card as before, which had been satisfactory.
Shutting down the firewall did not help. I see no problems running my other apps.
I wonder if I could downgrade to earlier versions of SL?

Any help is appreciated.

I'm confused. Did you say you found your problem or am I misreading? Can you describe the problem more clearly? What is restarting, is it XP or SL? Is the computer rebooting or turning off completely? I have seen my 3 computers all get turned off by SL. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

When you wiped the HD, did you load the latest drivers for your motherboard? The basic ones with XP are usually way out of date. Make sure all your drivers are up to date.

You may need to run a memory tester as bad memory can cause those same symptoms, over heating can as well.

No, you can't use older versions of SL

Thanks guys, for quick replies..

Kathmondu..and Satar...
SL was not shutting down, I couldn't even run it. My computer was shutting down. I've just found the "shutdown on error" option in my setup stuff (somewhere). I deselected that auto shutdown, and next time I tried to run SL, I got a blue screen with info about my ATI drivers, etc.
(This may be a good item to add to the WIKI on shutdown problems)
Spent the past couple of hours chasing down info on websites, I had to go through the MS Windows verification hassle with my new copy of XP Home, then download additionas modules, like MS .net framework, etc. (I forgot what a pain in the butt it is to set up a new OS)
Also- Memory checks okay, and BIOS controls say operating temps are very good.
I'll load the motherboard setup CD and check on updates.
It's been over a year since we put the PC on line, I forgot just how many things have to be updated!
I did manage to get in world, after SL warned me that my graphics card driver is out of date. I checked out the one they recommend, but as of now, I haven't resolved the problem.
At least, I can get in world, but the message that my stuff is out of date is kind of aggravating. I bought my ATI Radeon card a few months ago for the specific purpose of getting on SL1!
Again, thanks

I uninstalled all my video drivers and reinstalled the latest drivers from ati.com
I can log into SL, but I am still hounded with the message that my driver is out of date. I wonder if this means SL techies are not really updating the code they use to check our graphics cards?
I can choose to not see the message, but I am a very stubborn person- I'd rather verify there is still a problem, and fix it

Here's the annoying message.........(BTW- 3.8 is now 5.x)

oh, what Ati are you using, but try the drivers on this page

http://www.omegadrivers.net/

Remember installing vid drivers you should always always uninstall everything that the card uses then restart, then install, i gotten some oddball drivers messing with me a few times before -.-

On the side note i got a pretty nice blue screen every time i started SL when my ram was dying (was barly a week old duh) and when the dang vid card wasnt seated properly

What card are you using? For some reason SL thinks you have outdated drivers even though you have the latest installed correct? Did you use an ATI drivecleaner before you loaded the new drivers? Older drivers don't overwrite well at all and you may still have some garbage floating around. You can try uninstalling SL and upload the full version of SL from the Download page after you update the video driver.

What they mean by that message is Catalist 3.8 or better. Catalist 3.8 at the bare minimum.