advice on computer

[all thumbs]

In general, what causes a computer screen to freeze up? Win. xp, I run spyware and antivirus frenquently and they show no problems. Dosen't happen all the time but seems to be increasing to more often. Nothing gets me out of it except shutting off power & re-start. The unit is around 5 years old. Any ideas ? Thanks

 

[Xcusme]

Re: advice on computer

Heat.....open the case and have a look at the CPU cooling fan. Clean out the dust bunnies. Next likely culprit, power supply.

 

[rwise]

Re: advice on computer

also bad or dirty ram(can be cleaned with a pink pearl eraser), hard drive failing, mother failing, cpu failing, cpu fan failing.
Are you getting a blu scrn, or just stops responding? How old is it?
Like Xscusme said clean it out and go from there.

 

[briannh1234]

Re: advice on computer

Also - Make sure all the socketed components and cables are in all the way. No loose cables.

Is the Hard drive makeing any funny noises.

- Brian

 

[all thumbs]

Re: advice on computer

Thanks for the helpd Yes I do get a blue screen at times. Have no idea what a cpu or ram is , but I will start cleaning the fan as soon as the grand kids go home. The drive sounds like it always has, just a bunch of clicking at times. Five years old, but it gets alot of use with daughter and myself.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: advice on computer

Have you installed new programs lately?

 

[ZmOz]

Re: advice on computer

Most of the time, this is a software issue, not a hardware issue. There are billions of lines of code that make your computer run, and if just one character is out of place it can cause all sorts of failures. Unfortunately the only way to fix this is usually to reformat your hard drive and start over. If you've never done this in 5 years then it's way past time. Although it's a hassle to backup all your files and reinstall all your software, it's nice to have a clean slate and your computer will probably run just like the day you took it out of the box.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: advice on computer

What ZmOz said. In addition, if any program mis-behaves just a tad, and steps on the video driver, it'll freeze up. The drive clicking makes me wonder if it's having seek errors, attempting to re-read, and about to fail.

PS: You're not running Norton are you?

 

[all thumbs]

Re: advice on computer

Use to run norton but changed to trend and webroot.

 

[all thumbs]

Re: advice on computer

I guess its time to get the book for dummies out. I have never formated period . As far as putting programs on it the only one I can think of was a digital camera one, but that was when it was new. Nothing lately.

 

[Drrockter]

Re: advice on computer

I personally think a reformat is extreme. I've had the same harddrive in two home built machines and have not had to reformat. I would suggest defragging it and check into the overheating issue first. I've had the same harddrive for about 5 years and have not had one problem with it other than it doesn't have a whole lot of storage space left.

 

[xtraham]

Re: advice on computer

i am no computer expert, and I surely dont know squat about them so this is just a question to those that are in the know, how about ctrl/alt/delete and look @ prosesses and see if something is using to much cpu usage% ?

 

[all thumbs]

Re: advice on computer

Did the ctrl/alt/delete when it would freeze up nothing happened. Mouse would freeze too so that was useless. Even shut down button on the tower wouldnt work. Had to shut off power supply to get rid of screen. After that I could start from scratch and it would work. Who knows:% Well I cleaned everything I could fan wise ,access through the side compartment blew it all out with air also checked all connenctions .Thinking this could be heat and dust related. I live in an old farm house with no air conditioning. Thanks everyone for your help. Any more ideas are welcomed

 

[Plainsman]

Re: advice on computer

What brand name computer is it? If it's a Dell, when the computer is first booting up use ctrl-alt-d (that's the letter d). That will do a HDD diagnostics on the drive.

You can also boot to Safe mode, F8 just before the windows screen appears, Coose the option Safe Mode with Command prompt.
At the command prompt, type chkdsk /p. This will check you file system for you.

How much hard drive space do you have available?

 

[briannh1234]

Re: advice on computer

Clicking is a normal sound for a hard drive.

Did the problem go away after cleaning the fan and checking the cables?

If you never reformatted and re-installed - While this is an extreme approach it will restore the performance of the computer to the day you bought it.

Have you done any windows updates? Go to www.microsoft.com and click on wihdows updates.

- Brian

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: advice on computer

Did you actually verify that both the power supply fan, the CPU fan, and the video card fan (if present) are actually turning when you power up the computer with the side off? 5 year old fan = dead fan.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: advice on computer

"Clicking is a normal sound"

I disagree with that. You should't hear anything from a computer, except maybe the fan kicking on. Clicking indicates the drive is going bad.

 

[Drrockter]

Re: advice on computer

Yeah, clicking is bad. Especially with hard drives nowadays. I can't even hear mine, and I have no side cover to disperse heat.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: advice on computer

and I have no side cover to disperse heat.

Even though this seems like a good practice, it doesn't let the air circulate as the computer was designed to, to remove heat. It also allows dust to settle on the components, which causes heat to build up on them and cause them to fail.

 

[all thumbs]

Re: advice on computer

I check windows updates every week and load the priority ones. So far computer is doing ok, some of it had to be a heat issue. I now feel the top of the unit and it dosen't get as warm. Didn't check to see if all fans work but I can hear at least one. the model is a hp, and I do still hear clicking more so when I do virus and spy sweeps.