Just started early last week, I got a blue screen after booting into windows which called itself a Stop Error Screen. It suggests my recently installed hardware is incompatible with the OS. Nothing (hardware or software) has been installed on the pc for at least 1/2 year, no hardware for 5+ years. I had to hard boot and go back into windows which worked but it was slow. I restarted and then all was normal until this morning. I tried to boot into windows again to no avail and am stuck in Safe Mode.
 
My pc is an old (10 years or so?), reliable HP upgraded from Vista to Win 7. It has served me well with Cakewalk 8.53 for my needs which are primarily singer / songwriter, etc. It's sole function has been gmail, cakewalk forums and DAW, nothing else. It DAW function has been on hiatus for a number of months while I work on the property. So gmail and forums every day, nothing else.
 
So now in Safe Mode, I see in Device Mngr I have a yellow triangle alert with "Consumer IR Devices". Not working properly because windows cannot load the drivers required for this device (Code 31).
 
I assume this is the issue. After googling the code, I have tried these steps unsuccessfully: Update the driver. Disable the driver.
 
So I figured my best choice is to do a system restore to 9/13, my last windows update and this would be just before my issue began. I tried to do this in Safe Mode but I get to a screen which tells me to boot into windows by inserting a CD. I'm not sure what this means. I made recover CDs, but I don't know if that is what they are asking.
 
I then tried to perform a "clean boot" into windows from safe mode which entails msconfig.exe, etc, but the last step here cautions all restore points will be deleted.
 
I still think if I could restore, I'd be in good shape, possibly.
 
Anyhow, my only other option as I see it is to reinstall windows which I am not looking forward to all the hassle. I might just try to get a HP on sale at tiger Direct and at least be up to date enough to run things like Sonar platinum?
 
I still have 2-3 weeks to work left to work on the property so I'm not in a great rush, but downhearted , yes. This pc has been a good friend dating back to pre cancer, radiation and slow recovery, and now living with cancer with 20+ new songs to record this winter in the downtime.

If I decide to build a basic pc, does anyone have any suggestions, especially where to purchase components, motherboard, etc. I used to build pcs in the 90s up to a little after 2000 or so, it has been a while, but I have a good knowledge of the basics but I wonder where people are buying the components these days.

I build my own desktops (and do some PC support).  I buy a lot of components from www.newegg.com
I also get some from Amazon.  
 
My suggestion is to "buy as much as your pocketbook can stand" or "buy overkill".  It will last you longer without having to upgrade or at least think about upgrading.
 
For a Win 10 machine, an i5 Intel CPU, 8GB RAM would be a good system. For what you are doing you don't need a separate video card, the built in Intel Video will suffice.  Its what I'm using and no issues with the Intel video. 

fireberd
I build my own desktops (and do some PC support).  I buy a lot of components from www.newegg.com
I also get some from Amazon.  
 
My suggestion is to "buy as much as your pocketbook can stand" or "buy overkill".  It will last you longer without having to upgrade or at least think about upgrading.
 
For a Win 10 machine, an i5 Intel CPU, 8GB RAM would be a good system. For what you are doing you don't need a separate video card, the built in Intel Video will suffice.  Its what I'm using and no issues with the Intel video. 

Thanks Fireberd, OK so newegg still has components, good to know. Also "Win 10 machine, an i5 Intel CPU, 8GB RAM" is what I was thinking as well, 2 HDs, I probably won't bother with solid state, I'm not a power user. 8GB RAM uddateable to 16-32 I think. On board graphics is probably fine, at most I run Sony Vegas.
 
Can I ask you how to pick out a good mother board?
 
Thanks again!

I'm using ASUS on my latest build.  I had an ASRock on my last build but the original had a hardware problem and was replaced by ASRock.  Because of that I started out with ASRock but it too had a hardware problem and was returned for the ASUS.  Others use Gigabyte.   The ASUS I have (see my sig) was chosen as it had more USB ports on the rear motherboard I/O panel.  Its sold as a "gaming" motherboard, I don't game just as noted had the ports.
 
I'm using an SSD (Samsung EVO 850) for the OS and Sonar.  I have a 1TB hard drive for Sonar Projects.  SSD seems to be getting very popular now.  

Picking a board:  As Fireberd said, pick a quality brand like Asus or Gigabyte.  I have also had good luck with Asus.
 
Just make sure you have enough USB ports for your needs.
 
A few spare RAM slots can't hurt.  I put 8GB (2 X 4GB, dual channel) on mine and it has been plenty for me.  Windows 10 and my AV stuff takes about 25% of that, so it leaves me with around 6GB to work with.
 
Onboard video works great these days.  Can run two flat screen monitors in HD resolution on my Intel HD graphics.
 
I would also recommend a SSD for Windows and Sonar, and a 2nd internal HDD for everything else.  Plus an external USB HDD for backups.  A 250GB SSD is fairly inexpensive these days, and the performance improvement in Win 10 is jaw dropping.

Fireberd, abacab, sounds very helpful, this gives me a very good direction and in about a month when the snow flies, I'll start with this project.
 
Super helpful, thanks when I really need it, I'm actually looking forward to it!

This seems to have morphed into a new build thread. If the OP has any interest other than a new PC the following may be helpful.
 
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17074/windows-7-resolving-stop-blue-screen-errors
 
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-7-stop-errors-or-blue-screens-guide
 
https://www.lifewire.com/blue-screen-error-codes-4065576
 

I would go +1 for SSD Drive - my main Computer which is about 4 or 5 years old now from Jim at Studio Cat Computers , an  i7 - 2600k @ 3.40 Ghz with 16Mb ram was just starting to struggle a bit on some larger projects. I had the opportunity to buy two Crucial MX300 SSD 1Tb Drives for a very reasonable price - I used one for system and one for projects - honestly its like I've got a new and better Computer!! 
Nigel
 

Bajan Blue
I would go +1 for SSD Drive - my main Computer which is about 4 or 5 years old now from Jim at Studio Cat Computers , an  i7 - 2600k @ 3.40 Ghz with 16Mb ram was just starting to struggle a bit on some larger projects. I had the opportunity to buy two Crucial MX300 SSD 1Tb Drives for a very reasonable price - I used one for system and one for projects - honestly its like I've got a new and better Computer!! 
Nigel
 

I agree, I've decided that will be the case if I can't get my old rig up and running!