Anyone know anything about computers?

Hightower · 12 September 2006, 22:50

Pc's been playing up for a while. Everythings OK when I boot up initially. After entering a user account my pc sometimes:

1. Crashes and freezes.

2. Monitor switches it's self off and on several times, then pc re-boots

3. Everything slows down and takes an age to get going.

This all started happening about a month ago and has been gradually getting more frequent.

Sometimes when I do get her going I get a report saying that there's a Nvidia Driver problem! Or other messages referring to the Graphics! All the newest drivers have been installed/uninstalled with no affect

.

Thing is once I get over the boot process and logging onto my account, she runs fine till the next time I start up.

I'm gonna open up the case this weekend to have a poke around as a fan is making some pretty weird noises at the mo and everything needs a good dust off and clean up.

Any Idea's or suggestions on things I could do before I reload all the software and start again?

BogMonster · 12 September 2006, 22:55

I've had a problem in the past with the processor overheating when the cooling fan was kaput, it started doing things a bit like yours.

Otherwise it may just be a "Windows is tired and emotional please back up anything important and reinstall the whole #kin thing from scratch" error

Nos4r2 · 12 September 2006, 23:57

Mine was doing exactly what Hightower's is doing. It sorted itself out after I ran checkdisk at startup and told it to do a full drive scan.

Neal · 13 September 2006, 07:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I've had a problem in the past with the processor overheating when the cooling fan was kaput, it started doing things a bit like yours.

Andy we also had problem like this, with the monitor closing down it was my graphic card overheating this was due to the machine being pushed back to close to the wall when the kids were playing. Hope you get it sorted.

Robox · 13 September 2006, 07:45

Had the similar problems on mine and it was due to the graphics card overheating due to the cooling fan not working,check it out before it cooks itself .

Rob C

martx007 · 13 September 2006, 08:58

Try making one change at a time and see what happens. I'd boot up in safe mode first and if it still does it then you know it's not a driver problem which would then point to as the previous threads stated a hardware malfunction.

Hightower · 13 September 2006, 10:12

Bios says temp processor temp is 32c and case temp of 38c

This is a problem only at startup and once I get running it seems to stabilize, so I dought it's a temp problem.

I'll reload all the software first and see what happens

I also read somewhere that the Bios could be outdated and a windows update could be uncompatable with this.....Anyone care to suggest if this could be true?

Biggles · 13 September 2006, 18:07

Andy,

Is this a new graphics card and which one is it. Also what motherboard do you have ?

I've just fried a Nvidia 7800 GTX and my last computer was pretty awful on the graphics side with loads of crashes and that was a bang up to date Nvidia card as well.

Nick.

benc · 13 September 2006, 18:22

It does sound likely to be the graphics card.

The funny noises from the fan - are they still going when its working fine?

The bearings may be shot in the fan on the graphics card.

I'd first try safe mode, and then if it still fails in there try changing the graphics card.

Hightower · 13 September 2006, 19:03

I haven't a clue what the bits and peices are inside a computer. All I can say is that it's a couple of years old and has been working fine up untill these problems started.

I've backed up all my files but can't find my server conection discs, but when I do I'll reload all the original software and see what happens. The wait for days whilst the Microsoft Windows updates get installed.

Biggles · 13 September 2006, 19:19

Andy,

Although these problems don't necessarily mean your computer is about to die, you do right to start backing stuff up.

If you don't play games on your PC it might be time to think about replacing it with a new one.

There are some very good computers around for little money now.

If you want you can give me a budget and an idea of what you want and I'll try and point you in the right direction.

If you can though It would be better to wait for Windows Vista and Direct X 10 but sometimes its just not possible to wait.

Anyway if I can give you some help I will. I normally build gaming machines for a hobby but I can advise on anything given a bit of time.

Nick.

Hightower · 13 September 2006, 19:40

I'll keep you informed Nick. I appreciate all your's and others advice, but will reload windows and try to format the C drive at the same time. My concern at the moment is getting reconnected to my server again, as I can only find the ADSL Modem guide and disc. I'll have to manually write the connection info down first to paper.

Andy

Biggles · 13 September 2006, 19:54

Andy,

For your information I think Windows XP is pretty good. Its the first windows I've never had to re install and I'm pretty fussy with my PC.

If your running other versions of windows then these are no longer supported by microsoft.

Hightower · 13 September 2006, 21:49

Well I've reloaded windows and installed Service pack 2. It was a bit tricky getting connected back to my server, but I ran the Files and settings wizard and made a disc which helped me tremendously.

I can't belive how much faster the computer is. Must have been full of crap

.

The other trick bit was getting the USB ports to work....Still don't know what I did, but a dig around in the device manager was all that was needed.

Now to see if I get a re-occurance of my problem....Fingers crossed.

All that and I'm Knackerd. Here's hoping to have fixed the problem so that I can spend the money on a brand new 19"TFT monitor.

BogMonster · 13 September 2006, 23:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Here's hoping to have fixed the problem so that I can spend the money on a brand new 19"TFT monitor.

Go for it. I've just bought a HP vs19e and its bl^&dy brilliant - using it right now at 1280x1024. I can't bear even looking at the miserable 17" CRT on the pc at work now, its such a horrible little icky thing and I remember when I first got it I was SO impressed.

I always thought they were an unnecessary luxury till I got one... then you start to think about how much time you spend looking at it and penny pinching on that makes about as much sense as buying an uncomfortable bed on the basis it was cheap!

£199 from Comet probably cheaper by now as this was back in July. And I got the VAT back which was even better

Yep down £20 already here 10/10 from me for this particular one

Hightower · 14 September 2006, 12:25

Novatech do one for £140 inc. Its a 19" widescreen.

Biggles · 14 September 2006, 12:49

Andy,

LCD TFT screens have few resolutions. Make sure your computer can output the desired resolution for your monitor.

Also the most important part of a TFT screen is its refresh rate. That Novatech one has all the right specs.

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...nov-tft19y&P=2

I take it thats it.

Hightower · 14 September 2006, 16:29

Yes Nick, that's the one.

Right, I've just turned my PC on after it's been off all day and it's playing up again. Not with exactly the same faults as before, but the monitor is switching it's self on and off again and things keep hanging, but hasn't crashed yet.

I haven't got all of XP updates yet, so I'll wait till after then.

Catch you all later (if everything still works then)

jwalker · 14 September 2006, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

...Also the most important part of a TFT screen is its refresh rate.

Why is that, Biggles?

BogMonster · 14 September 2006, 20:04

I don't know what the different refresh rates are but mine runs at 60Hz (I think it does higher ones too but this was the default) and the picture stability is superb, not a hint of flicker at all, when there is just my wallpaper image showing, it could be a painting

If the monitor is switching off it could be losing the output from the graphics card which will put it into "power save mode" (same as if you unplugged the VGA input lead from the PC) which also points to a dud graphics card as somebody else suggested.

You do need to choose the right res though - I had mine at 1024x768 when I first fired up the computer and it was horrible, but at the designed 1280x1024 its lovely.

I hate widescreens, but that's just me. I always think you can fit more useful stuff on a proper shaped screen which was one reason I got this HP.