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Posted on 24/06/13 5:59:04 PM |
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josephine harvatt
Gag Gadgeteer Posts: 2603 Reply  |
PC problem
Not technically a PS problem but I would be grateful for any advice ... My computer has started to shut itself down and restarts without warning at random intervals - often when I am out of the room!- a serious error message comes up when it restarts. I have AVG protection and PC tune up. It is not too much of a problem at the moment as I am conscientious about saving but is this likely to get worse and what might be causing it? _________________ I'm not really bad - I just draw that way |
Posted on 24/06/13 7:28:56 PM |
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Jota120
Ingenious Inventor Posts: 2615 Reply  |
Re: PC problem
Josephine, after a few years and hard travel with laptop, the disk really gave up. As I guess you know its a mechanical device. I know someone else now seems to have HW problems, but not sure how much I can help. I'd backup all your files asap. You can run a diagnostic on the disk to find and recover bad sectors, but I still recommend backup files asap. Its really slow. I had to get a new disk installed, poor little laptop. Nothing left apart from many files I'd backups on other remote disks. Got the OS XP running. Then bought a Mac laptop, as Dell could not give me anything strong again. Still running Windows 7 on Desktop. I guess not much help, but do make sure your files backed up. |
Posted on 24/06/13 7:37:42 PM |
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Jota120
Ingenious Inventor Posts: 2615 Reply |
Re: PC problem
You can see this from Help Menu. "Check a drive for errors You can solve some computer problems by checking a drive or drives for errors. For example, you can check your computer's primary hard disk to fix some performance issues, or you can check an external hard drive if it's not working properly. Click to open Computer. Right-click the drive that you want to check, and then click Properties. Click the Tools tab, and then, under Error-checking, click Check now. Administrator permission required If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. To automatically repair problems with files and folders that the scan detects, select Automatically fix file system errors. Otherwise, the disk check will report problems but not fix them. To perform a thorough check, select Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors. This scan attempts to find and repair physical errors on the drive itself, and it can take much longer to complete. To check for both file errors and physical errors, select both Automatically fix file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors. Click Start. Depending on the size of your drive, this might take several minutes. For best results, don't use your computer for any other tasks while it is checking for errors. Note If you select Automatically fix file system errors for a drive that's in use (for example, the partition that contains Windows), you'll be prompted to reschedule the check for the next time you restart your computer. " |
Posted on 24/06/13 7:49:37 PM |
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Jota120
Ingenious Inventor Posts: 2615 Reply |
Re: PC problem
As much as it helps, when I was in Salisbury, he replaced the disk and got my original OS licence reworking again. Legal. I had no original OS disks, but the laptop license (MAC) knows them(?)! |
Posted on 24/06/13 9:59:44 PM |
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BigVern
Q Quipper Posts: 674 Reply  |
Re: PC problem
Hi Josephine, have you checked around all of the air vents to make sure they are clear and that the fans inside the case are running? I had a problem with my last pc which after a couple of years had got a bit clogged up with dust and stray dog hairs and was overheating. When it overheats the system was shutting itself down and then restarting and sometimes crashing to Blue Screen of Death. Once I had turned off the power, cleared out the vents, vacuumed the inside, air checked the fans it all ran nicely until I decided to upgrade my PC. This might not have anything to do with your problem but it is worth checking. _________________ "The true story of a real fake" Catch Me If You Can |
Posted on 25/06/13 02:29:25 AM |
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Artwel
Satire Supremo Posts: 607 Reply  |
Re: PC problem
Hi Josephine I don't know if an SSD drive would help? I know they a very fast compared to a traditional HDD. Maybe worth finding out about them http://www.techradar.com/news/storage/computing-components/ssd-vs-hdd-which-is-best-936111 I heard that some Samsung SSD drives can boot up a laptop in 7 seconds! and open and save large files quickly. Not tried them myself but they sound ideal for Photoshoppers. My computer used to shut down for no reason too, sometimes when trying to read a disc or if I was overloading the USB ports. A clogged up fan is usually the main cause of issues.. or worst case is your motherboard is on it's last legs!.. 
BACKUP, BACKUP ! |
Posted on 26/06/13 06:12:28 AM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 3123 Reply  |
Re: PC problem
Josephine, until I retired three years ago I repaired PC's professionally for over 30 years. It sounds to me like you have a motherboard or a connection problem. Make sure all your work is regularly backed up, including your presets, and be prepared for the problem to get worse. If you are using a laptop, wait until the problem becomes unbearable and then buy a new one. Laptops are very tricky to take apart, and even trickier to re-assemble. Otherwise, carefully re-seat all (internal and external) connectors and cross your fingers. Motherboard replacement is fairly cheap, but requires some knowledge, which you will find on-line. |
Posted on 26/06/13 09:06:43 AM |
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Sjef
Flying Dutchman Posts: 571 Reply  |
Re: PC problem
Maybe try this (after you vacuum cleaned the air vents). Unfortunately the screendump is in Dutch, but likely it's clear enough. Uncheck the 'Restart computer automaticly'. After that restart your pc to be shure the Windows Register gets reloaded.  |
Posted on 26/06/13 12:24:32 PM |
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josephine harvatt
Gag Gadgeteer Posts: 2603 Reply |
Re: PC problem
Many thanks to all for their kind advice - I will begin by giving it a going over with the vacuum and take it from there  _________________ I'm not really bad - I just draw that way |
Posted on 27/06/13 07:59:08 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7047 Reply  |
Re: PC problem
Be really, really careful with that vacuum. If any metal parts touch the inside of the laptop you could well fry it. |
Posted on 29/06/13 05:39:17 AM |
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Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply  |
Re: PC problem
Hi Josephine I had the same issue as Vern about two years ago. The fan had given up and was not cooling the processor. The system protects itself from over heating by shutting down. I take mine to a local shop and the guys open the casing and use an airline to blow all the dust out. We have a tiled floor in the dining room where the computer is, yet the amount of dust which accumulates is incredible. That method prevents damage to the parts and the risk that Steve refers to. Nick |
Posted on 10/07/13 3:15:34 PM |
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josephine harvatt
Gag Gadgeteer Posts: 2603 Reply |
Re: PC problem
Huzzah! Many thanks to all again - in the end I chickened out and sent to to the repairers - as predicted it was chock full of dust and muck. It is now back home all spruced up and with an extra 2 gig of RAM  _________________ I'm not really bad - I just draw that way |
Posted on 10/07/13 9:09:27 PM |
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Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply |
Re: PC problem
Ah, a happy ending Josephine - good news. Nick |
Posted on 11/07/13 00:50:04 AM |
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BigVern
Q Quipper Posts: 674 Reply |
Re: PC problem
Good to hear all now sorted. _________________ "Why so serious?" The Dark Knight |