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Solve : SICK COMPUTER OR FUTURE BOAT ANCHOR?? |
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Answer» Hello everyone!! Which begs the Question, is this a sick computer or future boat anchor??All current computers are future boat anchors But, yours is sick; doesn't seem catastrophic, though. Do you receive any error messages? Multiple, random errors could indicate that the PSU is failing; can you swap it out for another one? Interesting about the fragmentation - with 84% Free Space on C:, there ought not be a problem defragging unless there is some sort of file corruption or bad sector issue. I would download and run the hard drive diagnostic utility from the hard drive manufacturer's site. I agree with Broni's suggestion for a clean (not repair) install of XP. But, give some consideration to the PSU, especially if it is a proprietary machine; OEM's don't "give away" many extra watts, PSU's efficiency declines with age, and you have added several power consuming components. Quote from: RayDude on August 27, 2008, 10:13:16 AM Go into the bios and choose "Load Default Settings", save and then exit. First off, I wish to thank everyone for all your help. I REALLY DO appreciate your help.*respectful bow* Even tho I live for the computer, my knowledge of computers is somewhere between novice & intermediate. I forgot to mention, that this computer of mine has 1024 of RAM. sorry. I was thinking too about replacing the "C:" drive(the original HDD). I do not have either; no key & no CD.... So from what Y'all have said, I think that maybe replacing the HDD may be the only option besides buying a new unit. Quote from: MJ on August 27, 2008, 12:19:27 PM So from what Y'all have said, I think that maybe replacing the HDD may be the only option besides buying a new unit. [/size][/font]Interesting, I don't think that a new hard drive was the consensus strategy; a) test your current hard drive, 2) format and re-install Windows - if that means buying a Windows CD, so be it. Where did the OS that is presently on the computer come from? Good luck.Quote from: drmsucks on August 27, 2008, 03:55:25 PM Quote from: MJ on August 27, 2008, 12:19:27 PMSo from what Y'all have said, I think that maybe replacing the HDD may be the only option besides buying a new unit. [/size][/font]Interesting, I don't think that a new hard drive was the consensus strategy; a) test your current hard drive, 2) format and re-install Windows - if that means buying a Windows CD, so be it. Where did the OS that is presently on the computer come from? #1) How do I test the Hard drive? #2) When you say buy a CD, do you MEAN buy a new OS CD?? #3) This computer was built by the guy that gave it to me. where he got the OS from is anybody's guess. He gave me a Windows XP Pro CD, but the computer wouldn't load it/reload it cuz what is on the computer is newer than what was on the disc....plus I didn't have the key/code for it. So tell me straight out if you can, did I misunderstand you about buying a new hard drive?? If I did buy a new hard drive, could that possible fix the problems??Quote from: MJ #1) How do I test the Hard drive? There are many tests you can download but if you can't boot, they are useless. The easiest way I know to test it is to pull it out and stick it in as a secondary drive on another system and see if it can read it. If it can, there's hope its good enough to use. Then you can run chkdisk on it and see if it can be repaired. If it has errors (enable SMART in the BIOS to find out) then you can use the other computer to copy your important files on to. There are other things you can do. You could download Knoppix or Ubuntu linux or I believe there is even a linux rescue CD you can download for free and burn to CD and it can do some diagnostics for you on your windows Drive. However, that takes a bit of learning as its linux based. If you get a Windows CD and boot it, it can do some diagnostics as well and may be able to repair files that got erased through some viral or antiviral activity. Quote from: MJ #2) When you say buy a CD, do you mean buy a new OS CD??Yes. But you have to get Windows XP. My advice is to not touch Vista with a ten foot pole. Its a lot better than 18 months ago, but its still really not quite done cooking yet. Quote from: MJ #3) This computer was built by the guy that gave it to me. where he got the OS from is anybody's guess.Perhaps then he should offer some support for you. Or perhaps you should ask him where to get a cheap legal copy. Or perhaps you should leave him out of it because he meant well but made it so you can't get updates or boot a windows CD, etc etc etc. Quote from: MJ So tell me straight out if you can, did I misunderstand you about buying a new hard drive?? I suggested a new drive for increased performance. I spoke a bit ahead of myself. Quote from: MJ If I did buy a new hard drive, could that possible fix the problems?? Perhaps, but until you know if the hard drive is bad you can't know if a new hard drive will fix it. Please note: if you do choose to buy a hard drive will be a good time to buy a new OS because you can buy the cheaper OEM version of windows with a new hard drive. Quote from: MJ on August 27, 2008, 08:32:44 PM Quote from: drmsucks on August 27, 2008, 03:55:25 PM1) Test the hard drive as suggested in Reply #3.Quote from: MJ on August 27, 2008, 12:19:27 PMSo from what Y'all have said, I think that maybe replacing the HDD may be the only option besides buying a new unit. [/size][/font]Interesting, I don't think that a new hard drive was the consensus strategy; a) test your current hard drive, 2) format and re-install Windows - if that means buying a Windows CD, so be it. Where did the OS that is presently on the computer come from? 2) I said, "Buy a Windows CD," if necessary, so, yes, a new "OS CD." 3) The question was, "Where did the OS that is presently on the computer come from?" Apparently, the answer is from the CD that was supplied with the system. It is easy to fix the version problem, it is not easy to fix the lack of an authorized key unless you can contact the person who built the system. Relative to the new hard drive, you certainly didn't read my reply; I said to test the hard drive. In fact the salient advice given to you was: re-install the OS x3; test the hard drive x1; try different PSU x1; and replace the hard drive x1, with the latter suggestion given under some gratuitous theory of "improving performance." You had questions concerning my post. I answered them here. Disregard the "answers" posted by RayDude concerning my post.Quote from: RayDude on August 27, 2008, 08:45:13 PM Quote from: MJHe/she can boot; and most, if not all, drive MANUFACTURERS' diagnostic utilities have their own boot disk and don't require an OS.#1) How do I test the Hard drive? RayDude - You answered two questions that were posed to me. In the future, refrain from answering questions posed to other respondents or questions that are generated from their responses; it is potentially confusing for the original poster and it is impolite. |
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