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04/14/2008 09:40:59 AM · #1 |
Help please.....
I am having all sorts of trouble with my computer at the moment, as the screen is often going black, freezing up, and shutting down all the time.
I have plenty of ram and gega bites.
The computer people are having headaches trying to work out what is wrong. First they checked for a virus, now checking the monitor, but could be a graphics card, or the mother board. Bummer, as I need it and hate it when it freezes up on me, and closes down.
At the moment they have set me up with another monitor and now checking my monitor out.
Next they plan to put in a graphics card to see if thats the problem.
They then think if it isn't any of the above, then it may be the Mother Board.
I do not want to spend to much time and money on it, as it may be best to get a new computer. It is nearly five years old.
Does anyone have any ideas of what it could be wrong with it.
Thanks heaps.....
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04/14/2008 09:49:34 AM · #2 |
Freeze up and shutdowns when no virus is readily discovered can often be due to heat. Check all the fans to make sure they are spinning freely.
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04/14/2008 09:59:30 AM · #3 |
It has been to the computer place twice now in the past two months, and tested, and they can find nothing wrong with it, except the things I mentioned above.
Mother board, Graphics Card, Monitor.
I am really concerned, as I really just want a computer that works.
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04/14/2008 10:01:47 AM · #4 |
| do back ups as fast as you can! then at least you will have all your work saved |
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04/14/2008 10:03:03 AM · #5 |
It could also be a driver issue as well. I can say for sure that its not the monitor that is causing the reboot. Heres an idea:
on the desktop right click the "my computer" icon and select properties. This will open a "system properties" window. on the tabs at the top select the "advanced" tab. Near the bottom there is a section called "Startup and recovery" click the "settings" button. There should be a lower section called "System Failure". Deselect the check box by "Automatically restart"
Now the next time something goes wrong it will not reboot, it will display the ever popular BSOD aka Blue Screen Of Death, Now at this point take a picture of the screen and either post it here or email it to me,(Ill pm you my email addy) and from there we should be able to figure something out hopefully :)
-dave
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04/14/2008 10:03:52 AM · #6 |
I agree with  Kaveran, it sounds like your computer maybe over heating. You will be working and out of the blue it will shutdown, just like you pulled the power plug. I took my computer to the place that built it expecting an expensive repair but all it cost me was a $11.00 in caned air.
You will be surprised at the dust that will get into a computer even when your house seems to be dust free. The computer attracts dust and other things like animal hair, if you have a pet, and even carpet fibers it your computer sits on the floor.
You may want to purchase some canned air and blow out the fans. Don't forget the fan on the motherboard that seats on your chip and the fan on your graphics card. I bet you will see the problem solved and hope you do.
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04/14/2008 10:04:20 AM · #7 |
Hi Shez, It's too bad that your computer is not working right for you. I wish there was something that we could do for you to help with that. I would suggest that you back up all your files as soon as possible to disc or an external hard drive just in case it quits and does not come back to life.
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04/14/2008 10:21:18 AM · #8 |
A few suggestions;
- Turn off screensavers, or any monitor 'power saving' modes. Right-click the desktop and go into Properties / Screen Saver to change these settings. Perhaps the system is going into 'power saving' mode and unable to recover
- Is the problem happening when you've got a lot of applications open? e.g. running photoshop, internet explorer, and other things all at the same time? - 5 years old for a PC is quite old in software terms, so perhaps it's just not up to spec to handle multiple applications at once. RAM is the important thing here.
- Check available space on your hard disk. If that starts to run low Windows often has problems as it depends on the hard disk for swap space etc.
- On the hardware level, re-seating the RAM in its slot, or checking the RAM is of the correct type and pairing is important.
- Try defragging the hard disk (Go into My Computer, Right-click the C: drive, into Properties / Tools / Defragment Now...)
- Try running CCleaner (this is a freeware app which cleans up temporary files etc. that build up in your PC over time) - Warning: Make sure you've backed up anything important before getting too in-depth with this software, in case your PC doesn't re-boot.
In fact, if your PC is really playing up, I'd recommend backing up important stuff to an external USB hard disk before you try anything else.
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04/14/2008 10:31:39 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by Kaveran:
Freeze up and shutdowns when no virus is readily discovered can often be due to heat. Check all the fans to make sure they are spinning freely. |
I was way too slow on the response...doh!
Yup, was just about to post this very statement...
Edit: What Scott said as well... More times than not a simple cleaning of the inside of the case solves the problem for most users. CPU fans can fail and Thermal Grease (die-electric compound between CPU and Fan) can get old and fail depending on environment. Most do not shut their pewters down at least once a year, open the case out in the back yard and blow out the shiznit.
CPU fan especially, most mobo's protect the CPU by shutting the system down when the CPU reachs a certain temp (usually nice and toasty 80-90C or 112-122F).
A common thing many do with their Desktop pewters is to place them on the floor under a desk. Lot's of neat stuff down there to suck into your pewter. The way fans in desktop cases are set up is such that dust, dirt, animal hair or whatever is sucked into the front of Case then up and out the back chassis fan. The CPU fan is somewhere in between and likes to grab the really small particles. The grease becomes resin and the fans slow down.
There are utilities to watch the temp of the CPU and inside of the case, fan speeds as well (some mobos will shut a system down if the fan speeds are not right) but your computer people would know that. Most (good) mobos come with the utility on a CD, you may not be so lucky with Dell's and in-house designed mobos. In the past when there was no utility provided for measuring temps/fan speeds I would use Motherboard Monitor //majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=311
I'm also guessing your computer people would have thoroughly cleaned the inside of your case, and noted any dust/dirt build up in the case and fans. You may have a gone caput CPU or Powersupply fan.
Pop the side off and continually blow a desk fan into the case. Run the the pewter and see if opertates without locking (or runs longer) up. If so you most likely have a heat problem.
Message edited by author 2008-04-14 10:38:51. |
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04/15/2008 11:49:38 PM · #10 |
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04/15/2008 11:57:02 PM · #11 |
| hey maybe it could be the display driver. this happend to my daughters laptop. it would suddenly freeze and go black. does it say anything like, "the display driver has stopped responding and has fully recovered" ? also, what kind of computer do you have? |
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04/16/2008 12:11:58 AM · #12 |
I'm going to jump on the excess heat bandwagon. Make sure the fan on the CPU and the big fan for the case are running, and for that matter, the one on the power supply.
If its dust build up or a dying (but not dead fan), you might try running it with the case cover off. That allows heat to dissipate, and in most cases will stop the overheating. I don't recomend running it with the case open on a regular basis (don't touch anything while its running), but it is a good diagnostic tool.
A new fan is pretty cheap and is a snap to install.
Good luck. |
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04/16/2008 12:54:36 AM · #13 |
If you work in the IT field everyone (at work) assumes that they should be able to bring there home computer in and you will look at it for them... I don't have any issues with that as working a users computer is usual only a 10-15 minute deal anyways and there is alway a Starbucks card there somewhere.
Funny that we are talking about heat issues with a PC as Today I find a pewter outside my office. It is the receptionist's, little note that it crashes (to a user everything is a crash). Before doing anything I asked what was up and she said that it would run for an hour or so and go black.
[thumb]670068[/thumb]
(two birds one stone...I've been doing that 14 HDR thing)
5 years worth of dirt...enough to fill an 8 oz glass.
Power Supply ventilation non-existant, seized 80mm Chassis fan and the CPU fan running at about half speed. Two cans of Compressed air, and a couple drops of sewing machine oil later and it was out the door.
Well once it was running I removed the two trojans and 1253 pieces of malware/spyware to be nice.
Message edited by author 2008-04-16 00:55:52. |
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04/16/2008 05:04:51 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by awpollard:
[thumb]670068[/thumb]
5 years worth of dirt...enough to fill an 8 oz glass.
Power Supply ventilation non-existant, seized 80mm Chassis fan and the CPU fan running at about half speed. Two cans of Compressed air, and a couple drops of sewing machine oil later and it was out the door.
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With the cost of labor and compressed air, it probably would have been cheaper to just buy a new power supply, chassis fan, and heat sink, heh. |
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04/16/2008 05:23:26 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by awpollard:
If you work in the IT field everyone (at work) assumes that they should be able to bring there home computer in and you will look at it for them... |
Brings back memories. Ever open one from a heavy smoker? Ugh.
Originally posted by awpollard:
Well once it was running I removed the two trojans... |
UNbelievable where people are having sex these days!
Originally posted by sherpet:
I do not want to spend to much time and money on it, as it may be best to get a new computer. It is nearly five years old. |
5 years is pushing the envelope to me. Don't sink too much money into the old machine when you can invest it in a new one. Who are these "Computer People" you mentioned? |
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04/16/2008 06:18:51 AM · #16 |
| Five years old is definitely time to treat yourself to a newer, faster, quieter machine. You don't need a new monitor (unless you want one!) but you really should get a new computer. It's a very important tool - just as important as your macro lenses! More, maybe, since without it you can't see anything you've taken with those nifty macro lenses. :-) And besides, you deserve it! |
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04/16/2008 09:53:03 AM · #17 |
| Thats what mine was doing before it crashed yesterday! I opened it and WOW I have never seen so much dust in one place! It was thick nasty dust. I got it all out and my daughter got my computer going again. I hope it all works out. |
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04/17/2008 03:06:26 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by awpollard:
If you work in the IT field everyone (at work) assumes that they should be able to bring there home computer in and you will look at it for them... |
Isnt that the truth!
Im a midrange system engineer myself but got started working on computers in the mid 80's, long before computers wee actually personal. Ive spent more than my fair share of the last 20+ years working with PC's but by and large I simply claim ignorance stating that I work on "bigger hardware", which actually is the truth, I just dont let on the my experience goes far beyond that. |
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04/17/2008 04:27:20 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by sherpet:
I have plenty of ram and gega bites. |
I have never been bitten by a ram, but those gega bites are worse than mosquitoes! ;-)
And heat only makes them worse!
Seriously though, I'd start by checking the fans as well. My last computer had a flaky fan by its 5th year and started doing these sorts of things. |
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04/17/2008 04:40:32 PM · #20 |
| If those people have had it in their shop twice and still cant find out whats wrong with it I would take it elsewhere. Better still if you can afford it get yourself a shiney new one, dont know what the prices are like down under but here in the UK you can get a reasonable new setup pretty cheap. 5 years is a lifetime in the pc world. Best of luck Shez. |
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04/17/2008 04:43:58 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by awpollard:
quote
If you work in the IT field everyone (at work) assumes that they should be able to bring there home computer in and you will look at it for them..unquote
No, no, it's ICT these days ! (Information Communications Technology) - IT is old hat
;-)
Message edited by author 2008-04-17 16:44:19. |
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