OT Computer Expert Needed

[Lacy]

Hi all, Mike here,

Just back from a two day trip to hear about these problems. We have had some problems in the past, but this is getting bad from what Renee has told me.

At times the computer just freezes - Task manager is unable to shut down programs (or sometimes even fails to open), and the restart cycle sometimes takes two or three times to reboot to a normal OS. The computer is about 6 years old - an HP Pentium 4, 2.66ghz, 512 DDR ram, 120 gb HDD (about 50% used). It has windows XP, Service Pack III (should be the latest, I just have not found a Vista to upgrade her - Windows 7 would require a complete reformat), I run Norton Antivirus and Utilities (I can't run McAffee, it crashes the computer).

I defrag regularly, have updated the registry and run every Norton, DOS and windows check I can find but it still freezes up on Renee whenever she has more than two programs up (usually AOL, Adobe Photoshop and WordPerfect (no, I'm not kidding)).

As I said above, I have considered upgrading to Win 7, and IF I need to wipe the system and start over, thats what I'll do (if the computer will support the OS - I'll have to check).

Anything I have not thought of? I am not a computer professional by any stretch of the imagination, but I also know a little more than how to turn it on and off.

Thanks for all the assistance. Mike.

 

[lilfishbigreef]

Hey Mike and Renee,

i recently upgraded a Vista laptop (only a few months old) to Win 7, Believe me i tell that is was the best thing i did even though i forgot to backup some files and lost them! i am considering doing it to a desktop i have running vista as well even though i dont have any problems with it! well worth it IMO, everything runs much faster and smoother! good luck

Emilio

 

[saltwaterfishlover]

I would run a scan disk or error checking on the drive.... it could be you have a random bit of info on a bad sector/block of the drive and when it gets hit you freeze up... also due to the age I would open the cage and check how dirty the heat sink is and blow it out... if you are thinking of a format reload of xp or going to 7 spend about 100-200 bucks on more memory and a new hard drive... and do a fresh install on the new drive.... that way it be clean and fresh.... and have all your data on the old drive and more memory to make it run a little nicer.... also if you think its spyware or malware.... use spybot search and destroy, spyware blaster and malwarebytes......

just my opinion.....

I have a triple boot laptop.... linux, xp and 7.......

 

[mrx66699]

Mike did you follow the steps I showed you above. Let me know if you need assistance.

 

[Lacy]

mrx,

I did a system restore to a point about two weeks ago. That helped, then the system started crashing again. I then reset to a point about 6 weeks ago - same result, good for a short period of time, then crashes.

I'll be helping Renee at the PBMAS Frag swap today, so I'll try another restore tonight and see what else I can figure out.

If nothing else, I'll get another drive, install WIN 7, and run it parallel to transfer files/programs. Once I have everything transfered, I'll format it as a slave drive to the master HDD.

I did look at the internal components - some dust and stuff built up but can I use a vacuum to clean it out? I thought there was a problem with static electricity generated by the vacuum?

I just don't want to mess it up any further.

Thanks, Mike

 

[OceanLandlord]

.... also if you think its spyware or malware.... use spybot search and destroy, spyware blaster and malwarebytes......

just my opinion.....

I have a triple boot laptop.... linux, xp and 7.......

Have to agree with saltwaterfishlover. He suggested the best three spyware programs there are. Most problems now IMO are spyware related from browsing the net. I would also suggest Avira Antivir Personal as a great free antivirus program. Only draw back is one popup once a day when the program auto updates. I've had all sorts of problems with norton and mcaffe causing conflits with my systems. All the above programs are free. Most important thing you can do with the spyware programs is to make sure to update before running and run at least once a week.

 

[mrx66699]

Mike def do not use a vacuum, it will cause static electricity like you said. Use a can of air, take it outside and blow it out. This will get it cleaner than the vacuum anyway. From the sounds of things I think you said this just started. So since you have reset it to a point in time six weeks ago, it could be the processor fan from the all the dust like you said was in it and over heating. Dust is a computers worst enemy. Have you checked the memory? Are you sure it just started or was it doing this a while back and has just gotten worse. If you are absolutely sure it just started then it sounds hardware related. I have plenty of used hard drives if you need one and are not wanting 300 or 400g of space I think I have some 180g s. Also if you want I have a usb cable connector that will hook the hd to any computer and you can then just take your data off. I can put it on a usb drive for you (take about 3 minn). I would just replace the drive and check the memory. Also dont go out and purchase new software either (the os just PM me).

 

[jpkboca]

If you think it's memory download a program called memtest86.

http://www.memtest86.com/download.html

It will test your memory and let you know if there are any problems with it.

Jeff

 

[Lacy]

Update,

Mike here: First, thanks for all the suggestions.

Taking mrx's idea, I tried a restore point for about two weeks ago - no effect; tried one for 6 weeks ago, again no effect. Since I have not installed any new programs (other than security updates and the like from Microsoft or HP) I don't think the computer has become infected by malware I may have brought in. Of course, the internet is another story - but the programs I run found nothing serious.

I've been travelling a lot recently (got in at 0200 this morning) so I finally got time to take the computer and use air to blow out the dust this morning - I'm still sneezing. Makes me wonder why they don't make a replaceable filter like for AC air handlers to go on the intake of the fan......Wait!!! Idea!!

I did a deep scan for viruses, Trojans, spyware using Norton and Spycatcher (programs I already had) and found nothing but one tracking cookie (removed, executed and the remains were secretly buried).

I tested the memory, all the drives, motherboard, CPU and the system overall using PCDoctor for Win - the only problem that showed up was that the Floppy drive is having issues writing. Probably the disk, but I don’t think that will affect the system itself as I rarely use it. I also did a surface scan of the HDD (all partitions) and no errors were found.

Since I turned on the computer I am getting a definite buzz from (I suspect) the HDD as neither of the fans have come on yet. Not sure if that is a sign of a failing drive, but I'll backup to my Passport drive just to be sure. I'll see what happens today by using the programs that Renee usually uses: AOL, Adobe Photodeluxe and WordPerfect. I'll post the outcome later.

Thanks again.

 

[saltwaterfishlover]

the fans should be on from power on.....are they on now?

 

[Lacy]

Mike here again: Well, just after I wrote the previous post I was called out on another trip. I got home at 1050 so I downloaded Spybot and ran a check. Spybot found some minor spyware that reports on configuration data and the like, nothing major.

Saltwater - the fans appear to be temperature controlled - they will come on after the unit has been on for a few minutes, then turn off and on as needed - they do not run continiously. This has always been the case for this computer so I don't think it is unusual. To answer your question, the fans have come on since I got on the computer a few minutes ago so I know they work.

So far the system seems stable. I'll put it to a real test tomorrow when I unload our camera on it and process, label and post the pics.

 

[ReefWreak]

If the harddrive is making a buzz.... that's definitely not a good thing... usually you'll hear clicks from it occasionally (actually sounds sorta like a mantis shrimp) before it dies, but if you're hearing weird noise it's definitely a possible source of the computer issues.