My comp is a HP 8655C. Recently, it has begun to crash -- like, several dozen times a day. This is the 4th time I've tried to post this message (it crashed the previous three times).
I've deleted lots of files and programs I don't use anymore -- nothing, it still crashes. Usually when I'm typing -- WP, AIM, here, whatever. If I'm typing, it'll crash.
The comp is two years old. I can't think of anything I've done recently to start it on this crashing cycle -- I haven't installed any new programs for several months. Is it time to start looking for a new PC? Is this some sort of hardware failure? Or can WinXP save me?
[ April 29, 2002, 18:05: Message edited by: Malnurtured Snayer ]
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Your hard drive could be failing, I suppose. It happened to me once. What sort of error messages are you getting?
Posted by Malnurtured Snayer (Member # 411) on :
None. I'll be typing, the screen will freeze, and I'll have to re-boot.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Jeff, if everytime your computer fails you look upon it as a sign to buy new hardware or a new OS, you are going to run out of money VERY quickly. You buy new hardware when software you want to use doesn't work on your current set-up, or when you want Quake to look prettier. You buy a new OS when software you want to run doesn't work on your new OS.
And as much as I loathe and detest falling back on the "virgins answer to all computer problems", have you tried reinstalling Windows?
Posted by Malnurtured Snayer (Member # 411) on :
First time it's failed like this, Liam. And it is two years old, so I wasn't sure if it was a sign that something was started to go bad.
Does re-installing Windows remove all the programs I currently have installed?
Posted by DeadCujo (Member # 13) on :
Reinstalling Windows won't remove your programs, it'll just refresh most of it's own files and settings. What version of Windows do you have? You could try doing a system restore in some versions if it's enabled. Or check the hard drive for bad areas. Or maybe it's too hot inside the computer. It could be a number of things. I had mysterious freezes when I put together my new computer and had Windows 98 on it. I came to the conclusion that either 98 didn't like my hardware or the drivers didn't like 98. So I installed XP and that problem was solved. :\
Posted by Mucus (Member # 24) on :
Depends on what Windows version you have, usually the programs will still be technically on your hard drive, but all the registry info, short-cuts, etc. will be missing.
Before you do something drastic like that.... Can you notice any sort of pattern?
Components overheating, maybe a trojan horse (if it only crashes while online), a virus...
Try keeping Task Manager open and see if any unfamiliar programs or services are running right before a crash.
Posted by Malnurtured Snayer (Member # 411) on :
The only kind of pattern is that it crashes when I'm typing. It's more likely to crash if I'm playing WinAmp.
I run Windows 98 ... ahh, there are my HP Pavilion Recovery disks.
What is task manager?
[ April 29, 2002, 20:08: Message edited by: Malnurtured Snayer ]
Posted by Dat (Member # 302) on :
Task Manager is a small little utility in your Windows subdirectory that lists all the programs running. Basically it does the same function as your taskbar.
Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :
Get that and use it. I bet you have a bad stick of memory.
Posted by Malnurtured Snayer (Member # 411) on :
Charles, if I do have a bad stick of memory, what would you reccomend?
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Getting new memory would be rather high on the list, I imagine. I suppose it could be under some sort of warranty.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
On a side note... If a piece of hardware is shite, it'll fail very early after installing it. Otherwise, it should last a while, assuming nothing drastic happens (dropping a hard drive, scuffling your stockinged feet on the carpet then touching the hardware inside your computer). Hardware doesn't usually just fail after working fine for two years.
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
Best way to reinstall Windows is to delete the entire C:\Windows directory, then reinstall from scratch (note: save Wallpapers, .wav files and fonts somewhere else first, and archive email).
Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :
quote:Hardware doesn't usually just fail after working fine for two years.
Tell that to two of my hard drives, two CPUs, a motherboard, and a bunch of other stuff that quit on me.
Memory can and does go bad - my work machine had a bad stick that just got progressively worse, until the symptoms matched the ones described above...
Posted by Malnurtured Snayer (Member # 411) on :
So, Charles, if it turns out a stick of memory is bad ... do I replace ALL of my memory?
Sorry, guys, but when it comes to a computer I'm fairly clueless in anything but the basics Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
If you replace all your memory... are you still you?
quote:"...I'm fairly clueless..."
OOH! I'm going to use this as an out-of-context quote for my next sig!
[ April 30, 2002, 13:40: Message edited by: First of Two ]
Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :
Which really is quite too long at the moment.
If one stick of memory is bad, you just need to replace that one stick. Of course, if you only HAVE one stick of memory... Posted by Malnurtured Snayer (Member # 411) on :
Hey, that's fine, I'll find some out of context quote you said and use it.
Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
I was getting tired of it anyway. I think I'll use this old quote from my gaming days.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Er, shouldn't he try reinstalling Windows ON TOP of his current version before he tries a blank reinstall?
Reinstalling it on top with keep all your shortcuts, registry thingies, and everything. It's also less likely to solve the problem, but you really haven't got anything to lose.
Oh, and if you are using "Recovery Disks", make sure they don't format the hard drive or do something crazy first.
Posted by DeadCujo (Member # 13) on :
quote:Oh, and if you are using "Recovery Disks", make sure they don't format the hard drive or do something crazy first.[/QB]
But formatting is FUN.
Posted by Malnurtured Snayer (Member # 411) on :
Ok, if I can't use my recovery disks, how would I re-install Windows?!
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
I've used the recovery disks for a Gateway, HP, and IBM. All of them have first loaded a menu that has the options of diagnostics, restore to factory settings, or reinstall software.
Restore to factory settings is a complete reformat and reinstallation of all software that was originally on the system when you purchased it. Reinstall software lets you select what software you want to reinstall without reformatting. This is the setting that you'd use for reinstalling Windows.
This, of course, assumes that the recovery disks you have don't have a simpler menu (one with an option that says reinstall Windows). But I've yet to use any recovery disks that automatically launched a reformat without prompting the user for confirmation of erasing everything on the disk first.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
If you have a Windows CD (ie, one that says Windows 98 on it), then you can reinstall over the top of your current installation by booting up with a boot disk, and then typing:
D:\ (or whatever your CD drive is) setup.exe
That should do it. I think. Oh, I've forgotten how to make a Windows 98 DOS boot disk. Anyone?
Posted by U//Magnus (Member # 239) on :
Start>Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs>Startup Disk Tab
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Can't you just go to the Run line and type "format a: /s"?
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Yes.
But you'd still need to manually copy Microsofts' generic CD-ROM drivers to the disk, AND modify the config.sys / autoexec.bat files yourself.
Unless, of course, you have a system that can boot from CD, in which case you don't have to bother with all this nonsense.
Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :
Assuming that the CD is bootable.
Posted by U//Magnus (Member # 239) on :
But they haven't not been since 1997. So, ludditism is not an excuse.
Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :
The Win95, 98, and 98SE disks in my posession aren't bootable...
[ May 01, 2002, 14:27: Message edited by: Charles Capps ]
Posted by U//Magnus (Member # 239) on :
Hmm.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
I told you I wasn't a computer person.
I pulled the cover off my CPU, and dusted it out. Running like a charm now (even got WinAmp going ...).
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Right. So, dust is your mortal enemy. Try and run that down instead of dear.
It's also possible your computer was overheating. If it happens again, try leaving the lid off of your case and see if that helps.
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