posted
My computer, at apparently random times, gets jammed into a mode where it thinks that, for example, if I press the "r" key, no matter what I'm doing when I press it, it opens the "Run" dialogue in the "Start" menu. "E", similarly, pulls up Explorer. The only way out of this mode is to reboot. What's wrong with my computer? I've been in the middle of typing something when this happens, and ended up with a dozen Explorer windows open.
My other problem may be related. My computer spontaneously reboots. It usually does it while I'm dialing to connect to the internet, no matter what software I'm using or what number I'm dialing. If it does it while dialing, it always does it at the exact same point in the dialing process. However, it's been known to do it for no reason while I've been simply online viewing a web page. I've lost quite some typing time because of this bug, and I'd like to get it squashed. It's to be noted that it only does this during modem-related operations, and seems to happen at random times. HELP!
-------------------- "This is why you people think I'm so unknowable. You don't listen!" - God, "God, the Devil and Bob"
posted
Sounds like a 'little bastard' type annoying but harmless virus. Perhaps someone took a little too much offense at one of your posts...
Where's JeffK?
No, I'm just kidding. That's entirely made up. I'm sure nobody here would stoop low enough to mess with somebody else's box just because they disagreed with them.
I don't know what's the matter with your computer. It's probably just evil.
-------------------- "The best defense is not a good offense. The best defense is a terrifyingly accurate and devastatingly powerful offense, with multiply-overlapping kill zones and time-on-target artillery strikes." -- Laurence, Archangel of the Sword
Saltah'na
Chinese Canadian, or 75% Commie Bastard.
Member # 33
posted
RE- Your First problem: Try pressing either the Alt, Esc, or those Microsoft menu buttons that are on your computer. I've had similar problems before.
RE- Sudden Shutdown problem: Maybe it didn't like the fact that you were posting Pro-Republican, Anti-Democrat stuff, so it decided to stop you from posting it.
Okay, I'm only kidding. But it appears that you need to reinstall Windows. Don't format your HD, just reinstall whichever version of Windows you have. This may be related to an ACPM problem. May I ask, does your computer automatically shut off when you quit Windows?
-------------------- "And slowly, you come to realize, it's all as it should be, you can only do so much. If you're game enough, you could place your trust in me. For the love of life, there's a tradeoff, we could lose it all but we'll go down fighting...." - David Sylvian FreeSpace 2, the greatest space sim of all time, now remastered!
-------------------- "This is why you people think I'm so unknowable. You don't listen!" - God, "God, the Devil and Bob"
Registered: Mar 1999
| IP: Logged
Saltah'na
Chinese Canadian, or 75% Commie Bastard.
Member # 33
posted
The Drivers for APM may be somehow screwed. You can try to remove the driver in the System Resources tree in the Device Manager (right click on My Computer, Properties, Device Manager). Then shut down your computer and try again.
If that does not work, then you should reinstall Windows.
If THAT does not work, then your computer has a real beef against you for being a Republican. okay, kidding.
-------------------- "And slowly, you come to realize, it's all as it should be, you can only do so much. If you're game enough, you could place your trust in me. For the love of life, there's a tradeoff, we could lose it all but we'll go down fighting...." - David Sylvian FreeSpace 2, the greatest space sim of all time, now remastered!
posted
Before you go crazy, just a couple of things.
Regarding the keyboard problme. Plug in another keyboard. If the problem remains, it's a driver problem. If it goes away, then most likely your previous keyboard needs a good clean.
Regarding the rebooting. You're computer couldn't be overheating, could it? Have you been having hot weather lately?
-------------------- Yes, you're despicable, and... and picable... and... and you're definitely, definitely despicable. How a person can get so despicable in one lifetime is beyond me. It isn't as though I haven't met a lot of people. Goodness knows it isn't that. It isn't just that... it isn't... it's... it's despicable.
Saltah'na
Chinese Canadian, or 75% Commie Bastard.
Member # 33
posted
forgot:
Your CPU may be overclocked. Some computers have an option in their BIOS to shut down the computer once it reaches a certain temperature, usually 60 degrees C. Like Liam said, you may be suffering a very hot heat wave, overclocking, or your fan isn't working properly.
-------------------- "And slowly, you come to realize, it's all as it should be, you can only do so much. If you're game enough, you could place your trust in me. For the love of life, there's a tradeoff, we could lose it all but we'll go down fighting...." - David Sylvian FreeSpace 2, the greatest space sim of all time, now remastered!
posted
Well, I thought of that, but if that was the case, wouldn't the computer simply shut down, instead of rebooting?
Compaq got back to me today and told me that I was low on system resources, or that I had a conflict or something. I removed everything except the firewall and a few essentials from my startup list, and no trouble yet, but as I say, it's random. Guess I won't know if it worked until it doesn't do it again.
But if it does, I'll try your suggestions. Thanks.
-------------------- "This is why you people think I'm so unknowable. You don't listen!" - God, "God, the Devil and Bob"
posted
60 degrees C? I thought they'd have shut down long before that...
As Tahna said, if it's one of those fancy heat management boards, then yes, the computer probably would shut down if it's been told to do that. However, if not, it might just be intermittantly failing due to the heat, which could cause occasionaly crashes. Have you got a program to tell you what the internal temp is? See what it says.
Compaq's advice isn't bad from a general POV though. What "few" essentials have you got in your startup folder, as I've yet to see anything put in there that could be considered essential.
Of course, nowadays programs don't even use the Startup menu, and just plonk themselves in your taskbar without even asking. And without doing anything useful either. Realplayer Startcenter did not improve my live in any way.
-------------------- Yes, you're despicable, and... and picable... and... and you're definitely, definitely despicable. How a person can get so despicable in one lifetime is beyond me. It isn't as though I haven't met a lot of people. Goodness knows it isn't that. It isn't just that... it isn't... it's... it's despicable.
posted
I've had the problem w/ 'r' opening the "Run..." dialogue and such, too. It seems to go away if I hit the "Alt" key.
Also, my computer used to spontaneously reboot, but then it stopped, for no reason that I know of. I thought it was the heat causing it, but now I don't know. It's been really hot here recently, but that hasn't caused the problem to start up again. *shrug*
Saltah'na
Chinese Canadian, or 75% Commie Bastard.
Member # 33
posted
Present day CPUs have a threshold of 80 degrees C before they burn out. My CPU runs at 40 degrees C under normal circumstances.
-------------------- "And slowly, you come to realize, it's all as it should be, you can only do so much. If you're game enough, you could place your trust in me. For the love of life, there's a tradeoff, we could lose it all but we'll go down fighting...." - David Sylvian FreeSpace 2, the greatest space sim of all time, now remastered!
Registered: Mar 1999
| IP: Logged
posted
Ah ha! Someone else has had the same problem that I had just the other day.
I have to say though that your talk about reinstalling Windows scares me. I've reformatted and/or reinstalled everything so many times that I'm getting sick. So far I've rebooted my computer (just the once) and everything's been fine. Although I should note that everything was fine until I had and extra 256MB of SDRAM and a CD-RW drive installed - could they have had any effect? (other than a conflict of drivers).
Also, this talk of 'clocking'. How the hell do you do this?, as I am a complete novice when it comes to computer technical stuff.
-------------------- If you cant convince them, confuse them.
posted
"I've reformatted and/or reinstalled everything so many times that I'm getting sick."
If that's true, then don't overclock. It'll be more hassle that it's worth.
You added an EXTRA 256mb? How many did you have originally? And what the hell do you use your computer for?
-------------------- Yes, you're despicable, and... and picable... and... and you're definitely, definitely despicable. How a person can get so despicable in one lifetime is beyond me. It isn't as though I haven't met a lot of people. Goodness knows it isn't that. It isn't just that... it isn't... it's... it's despicable.
Saltah'na
Chinese Canadian, or 75% Commie Bastard.
Member # 33
posted
Overclocking is when you force the processor to go faster than its own specifications. For example, one can overclock a 600 MHz to run like a 750 MHz. However, if this is not done properly, and if the board is not of good quality, you run the risk of frying your processor chip AND the motherboard. I don't know exactly how to overclock the settings, but I believe it is in the BIOS settings. Another note: some boards allow overclocking, whereas others do not. Still others don't even notice that their processors are being put through the stress test.
Reinstalling Windows should not be a problem. I have had no problems with it whatsoever as I recently did so after some of my OS files went haywire.
-------------------- "And slowly, you come to realize, it's all as it should be, you can only do so much. If you're game enough, you could place your trust in me. For the love of life, there's a tradeoff, we could lose it all but we'll go down fighting...." - David Sylvian FreeSpace 2, the greatest space sim of all time, now remastered!
okay, kidding. 
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