Advice Needed

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:52 pm Post subject: Advice Needed

I had a computer built for me back in October 2005 by a friend of mine. It's been pretty solid overall, but lately I've had some issues. The main problem is when it boots and goes to the desktop, I can't get anything to work - it's like a frozen desktop. I click on icons and nothing opens. I have to reboot 3 or 4 times before programs start opening - once that happens, it seems to run normal. Another issue is a strange sporadic noise coming from the case - almost like an air leak. Forgive me - that is a poor description, but it's about the best I can come up with. I don't know what to make of the rebooting issue - I'm sure one of these times it's going to refuse to start then I'm screwed.

I am backing up all my stuff as we speak - any ideas and/or suggestions as to how I should begin pinpointing the problem[s]?

Much appreciated,

Pitt
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Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:57 pm Post subject:

Do you know about msconfig? maybe try turning off some programs and see if that has anything to do with it. Have you noticed any weird error messages or random reboots?
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Keep doing what you're doing and you'll keep getting what you're getting...

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:06 pm Post subject:

air leak

???

have you tryd to remove the side of the case and listen to locate it ?
something loose ..... dust in fans .....
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Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:28 pm Post subject:

could be a stuck hard drive.

when's the last time you updated motherboard, hdd, and video drivers?

if your pc isnt responding at all, try disabling some startup programs, then try restarting in safe mode if you are still having problems. while in safe mode, run your spyware and antivirus programs. some of those things are write protected in normal windows mode, so even if you delete them, they come right back.

if that fails, you could try reinstalling windows... yes, its a long process to re-download everything, but it sounds very much like a bunch of clutter causing your system to grind to a halt. Were I you, I would snag a new HDD (as they are like... dirt cheap now) and install completely on that.

post your PC specs.
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Humanism- Less Filling, Tastes Great.

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:30 pm Post subject:

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject:

just home edition .

a reinstall isn't that much work , and i like a clean start !
i do it every year Embarassed

_________________

Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running
around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music...

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject:

lol - I warned you that was a crappy description of the noise - believe me, I knew I'd get the business for phrasing it that way. Embarassed

HV - I'll take the cover off and try to pinpoint where it's coming from - it's not doing it now.

cmos - I know msconfig give me the box where I can see what's starting. No error or random reboots to report.
10K - My friend installed 2 HD's when he built it - one failed back in March and I reinstalled everything on the second drive. I'd like to get another just in case. The last time when the HD went, it wouldn't boot - period. I loaded windows on the second drive and went from there - all data was lost on the first drive. I'm having an issue updating stuff - I tried to update the motherboard drivers and after downloading the file from Asus, I couldn't install it - froze every time. Same goes for most installations - crash every time. Since I just did a Windows reinstall a few months ago, I'm looking for another issue. Or maybe I did the reinstall wrong. My specs are Windows XP Pro, Asus A8N-SLI nForce4 SLI Athlon 64(FX) Skt939 DDR ATX Motherboard, AMD Athlon 64 4000+ Processor (ClawHammer) Socket 939, 2 - Corsair CMX1024-3200PT 1GB DDR400 XMS3200 Memory, eVGA e-GeForce 7800 GT PCI Express 256MB DDR3 Video Card, 2 - Maxtor DiamondMax 10 6L200M0 200GB Serial ATA [one went bad already].
Cyber - the CD Rom drive was empty at the time.

What about a failing power supply? Can I test the processor, ram, HD to see if they are operating OK?

If components need replacing I can do it - I just need to replace the correct ones. Rolling Eyes

Here's a test I ran

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:50 pm Post subject:

did you try the other stuff 1st? cleaning in safe mode and all that?
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Humanism- Less Filling, Tastes Great.

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:16 pm Post subject:

Yep - didn't turn up anything Embarassed

Is there a way to check the memory? It seems like it's moving like the memory is crapped out.

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:42 pm Post subject:

This is the only thing i know of,i have no idea what you do with it.

http://www.memtest.org/
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:51 pm Post subject:

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:45 am Post subject:

Cyber - the scan didn't turn up anything. I'm going to give the box to my wife's cousin - he makes a living fixing these things. In the meantime, I brought home a comp from the office to use and one that I thought would run cod 2. Here are the specs: It's an HP with AMD duel core 3800+, 1 GB memory, geforce 6150 vid card. I loaded cod2 and set almost all the specs to minimum and the game is unplayable - very choppy with the worst lag imaginable. Any ideas on how to get this POS to run the game until my other one is squared away?
_________________

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:35 am Post subject:

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:56 am Post subject:

lol
_________________

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 10:08 am Post subject:

Sorry could'nt resist .Take a look at this thread.
http://www.uzaclan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4096
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