Computer corrupting all downloads...

[Dazz]

Hey Guys,

I've been a long time reader of Tehcnibble and have been doing tech for a while. Recently I have started building clients, but still mostly working on friends computers. This is my first post here on the site as I have been able to search for answers to most of my previous issues. This is a strange one and something that I haven't run across yet... So, I turn to you pros for a little assistance and guidance.

Issue:
My friend has been been complaining about the system saying that files are corrupt and he can't download or launch almost anything without getting a message about corrupted files.

Troubleshooting:
I ran all of the Virus/Malware apps and tried several tweaks for a couple hours before we decided to perform a complete format. He was running XP Home, but we are now running XP Pro and the same thing is happening on a FRESH install. When installing XP from slipstreamed Service Pack 3 CD that I have used several times before, we did get several unable to find errors. Clicking browse and navigating to the file found it on the CD and also clicking Retry worked as well.

Even when we try to run Windows Updates; they too are corrupting... Every file that I have downloaded via his newly formatted machine and downloaded driver packages are corrupt. I have downloaded drivers via another machine and extract them onto a USB drive. Only then was I able to get video (FX6600GT), LAN driver and audio drivers installed all using this method.

I have tested both sticks of memory via Memtest and both check out fine. I have run tests on the CPU (Intel Pent. D) and it checks out fine. I have tested the PSU and it is testing out correctly. I have not run tests on the hard drive yet, but will be starting that here shortly.

What can cause every download to be corrupted on a fresh install of XP Pro? Could a bad hard drive cause corruption issue? Possible bad network card driver? We are able to browse the internets just fine without issue...

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Dazz aka Bill
Roadfire PC Services

 

[Dazz]

BTW - I have done more research... This machine does not have Nvidia Firewall or any firewalls installed/active. Neither the ISP nor Modem are at fault as this happened on his network first and now on my network. All of the other 5 machines on my network are able to download without corruption.

We have now tried both, onboard LAN and a brand new network card... Same issue via both.

 

[rusty.nells]

Have you tried a different NIC, cable or wireless adapter?

EDIT: OOPS...I read too slow.

 

[Dazz]

Sounds like a bad hard drive to me.

I think that is the conclusion that I am coming to as well... Ran defrag and it looks fine. Running error checking now and it is moving, but moving about 5% every 20 minutes or so on verifying free space.

 

[nudone]

BTW - I have done more research... This machine does not have Nvidia Firewall or any firewalls installed/active. Neither the ISP nor Modem are at fault as this happened on his network first and now on my network. All of the other 5 machines on my network are able to download without corruption.

We have now tried both, onboard LAN and a brand new network card... Same issue via both.

is it a nvidia device? if so, i'd blame that, regardless of the firewall issue. if it's not nvidia then please ignore me.

edit: just thought i'd better add, i'm using a motherboard with a choice of nvidia or marvell yukon ethernet - had to disable the nvidia as it was totally useless - exactly the same problem described in your original post.

 

[l337]

very rare cases dodgy ram can pass memtest so id swap them out with some other ram for testing just incase aye. id boot up ur fav bootable cd nd do some downloads nd see jus rule out hardware all togetha aye

 

[purple_minion]

I had a drive go out on me as well as memory dieing. In both cases it started off slow and then winblows hit the fan. Basically my whole drive was corrupted, I mean every single file windows would touch got hosed. Since you haven't checked the drive yet I would run several manufactures cd's to get a second opinion if it passes on one cd. Also try HDRegenerator or spinrite, as I have had a drive pass the diag cd yet find bad sectors that indicate a dying drive (also the crappy clicking sound was a tip off.). Since you already formatted there is nothing lost trying to find if the drive is screwy. Also pay attention to the post screen, I had a dying drive in my myth box that would startup and display the name in the post screen with random characters, instead of Maxtor it was Ma@tor or something. Points to corrupt firmware or issues reading the firmware off the platters.