huge computer hanging problems - please help!!

11/10/2013 08:12:44 AM · #26

ok -- after running a chkdsk, it does seem like the harddisk has some big problems.

Since it looks like I need a new hard disk, I was going to take the plunge and order an ssd disk along with a large hard disk.

But I know nothing about hardware -- I'm a software person.

This is the ssd at which I was looking: crucial 480GB ssd

But this is the computer I have:
dell 8300

It looks like the SSD is smaller than the slots in the computer? Can I still use that drive as an internal drive? Is it a bad idea?

Garry

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

11/10/2013 09:29:48 AM · #27

Wendy, a lot of (most) SSD drives come with an adapter to fit it into a HDD bay.

11/10/2013 10:07:15 AM · #28

That's why I was asking the question -- it looks like this one doesn't have an adapter. (there were a number of comments and a few question listed on amazon. One of them was about the adapater. Until then I wasn't realizing that size really was a problem. :)

So is size a problem? Do I have to worry about running a laptop drive in my desktop? I assume there must be 3rd party adapters?

11/10/2013 10:16:41 AM · #29

Originally posted by vawendy:

Nah.. No adapter is really needed. Hell, it's an SSD, you can plug it in, and simply set it somewhere in the case - it's not like this is a sensitive spinning platter drive. (and there should be a place in the case where you can easily set a couple of screws in one side, which is more than sufficient)

11/10/2013 10:17:20 AM · #30

Have you eliminated the processor and motherboard as potential problems?

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

11/10/2013 10:23:28 AM · #31

Originally posted by Cory:

Have you eliminated the processor and motherboard as potential problems?

the chckdsk was coming back with loads of problems -- so it does appear to be hard disk related.

(hubby's out of town, but he was thinking hard disk, too)

Message edited by author 2013-11-10 10:23:58.

Ja-9

Nikon D750

11/10/2013 10:28:07 AM · #32

Wendy, this is why I use an external hard drive exclusively for my photo's...and we are set up to back up to "the cloud" (my words not the technical words)...this happened to me about 2 years ago with my Laptop. Our outdated computers just aren't designed to handle the size photo's that we work on no matter the space that our computers have...As several have said it's the motherboard...(which is what pooped out on me). It takes me up to 3 hours to process just one photo on my laptop now (going to replace my Laptop very soon)....but if my computer crashes my photo's aren't on it...

I'm holding my breath for you...and I feel your pain...totally hoping you get a resolution. Personally I'd just leave it at the Geek Squad and get the back up done there...that way you know it's done...best $$$ spent...(JMO)

11/10/2013 10:32:15 AM · #33

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Got everything off -- whether the files were corrupted is a different matter. But the geek squad had a 2-6 day turn around which just seemed plain silly. And $100 just to copy the files. So I brought them home and worked on them myself. (and this isn't my laptop, Janine -- it's my workhorse at home. I know the ancient laptop can't handle the stuff. The desktop should have been fine)

Message edited by author 2013-11-10 10:36:09.

11/10/2013 10:34:47 AM · #34

Cory -- I assumed with errors coming up on hard drive, and with a number of people guessing imminent hard drive failure (geek squad was guessing that too), I thought I was pretty safe on that bet.

Am I making a mistake by just replacing that and not taking it in somewhere and paying for the diagnostics?

Garry

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

11/10/2013 10:48:38 AM · #35

Wendy. You'll know soon enough. Replace the HDD and if all works, then problem solved. If not, you have other issues. Fix one thing at a time, and right now the HDD is the likely culprit. You can even purchase a cheap HDD to test with. Just install the HDD, install the OS and check for functionality. If all works, you're good....and have a back up drive :)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/10/2013 11:00:49 AM · #36

that's the problem. If it's just a hard disk, I've been wanting to buy and ssd for the system and photoshop for awhile. I'll purchase a 480GB ssd and a 3TB drive.

If it's the computer -- I might just buy a mac retina laptop and those things aren't going to help me much, because I'd be buying different things...

Plus -- what sucks is I didn't get the windows 7 software with my computer -- they don't send disks anymore. I doubt I created a recovery disk. And the way things are working now, I doubt that I can. Gack! You can request it from dell, but they say nothing about the shipping time and, of course they're closed on Sundays.

This sucks. :(

Message edited by author 2013-11-10 11:02:19.

Devinder

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

11/10/2013 11:43:55 AM · #37

wendy,given your situation: i recoomend: try buying a 3tb off a local best buy first. If it works out, invest in the online ssd, if not you can stick the 3tb drive in a case (10-20 bucks?) and use it as a USB drive.

The OS problem is a bit more difficult. You might have to buy one or try to see if you can make the recovery disk installation (usually built into these computers) work. it might try to burn the dvds for you.

Heres an assumption from a not very hard ware pov. if that space for the backup has been already allocated to your drive and assuming that accessing it isn't part of the problem, then you should be able to create recovery disks. might be worth a shot.

11/10/2013 12:11:33 PM · #38

Wendy, the trick is to watch your resource monitor. If the HDD is maxed out, and there are tons of errors, then yes. It's the drive.

If the processor is slammed, then it's the processor. If it's the RAM that's hanging up, then you know it's the RAM.

Learning to read a monitor graph could save you lots of time and effort.

The build in one under Task Manager > Performance > Advanced works well enough, but there's also the Process Explorer if you want more powerful abilities to see what's going on.

11/10/2013 01:28:58 PM · #39

Originally posted by Cory:

That's the problem, cory -- nothing was maxing out!! nothing! every once in awhile there would be a spike, but otherwise, it seemed like it was doing nothing.

Message edited by author 2013-11-10 13:30:17.

11/12/2013 07:46:52 PM · #40

Thanks for the input, everyone!

Here's the latest update -- just bought a 3TB internal drive. Took out the old drive, installed the new drive and installed a system on it. It's currently installing 132 updates to system 7 since my copy is 2 years old. :)

I'll then install photoshop and run it for awhile and see if it was just a hard disk problem, or if there are still any lingering issues. Hopefully it was just the drive.

We're on our way!

Thanks again -- hopefully I'll be back up and running by tomorrow!