advice-my computer seems to have broke itself

kaptainmarc · 17 Sep 2014 at 10:07

don't know if this is the correct place for this but I am looking for some help,

the last 2 days my computer may as well be a paper weight.

I have not installed anything new, computer turns on fine get on to windows and then I cant do anything I can move the mouse, but nothing will open, ctrl alt dlt doesn't work.

I have booted in safe mode and ran Spybot and Avast hasn't seem to of done anything.

Any ideas as to what I can try I'm useless at problem solving so I'm relying on your expertise

Akagi · 17 Sep 2014 at 10:16

Do you have any overclocks at all? And if so have you tried re-setting them? Sometimes all of the services loading on start-up can be enough to crash a system with an unstable overclock. Less services will be loaded in safe mode, which might be why it boots fine into safe mode. Just my first thoughts.

kaptainmarc · 17 Sep 2014 at 10:19

no overclocks at all, everything is how it is.

the only thing I have done different is backed up some photos from my phone

Idleman · 17 Sep 2014 at 10:27

Have you tried doing a windows repair or system restore?

kaptainmarc · 17 Sep 2014 at 10:31

haven't tried windows repair

trying to avoid a restore as I don't want to loose my backed up photos, as the phone has been sold on

Akagi · 17 Sep 2014 at 10:38

As far as I know, a system restore will not affect any files on the system. Only program and system configuration changes. So any recently changed settings will be reverted, any recently installed applications or updates will be removed, and so on.

I'll wait for someone to confirm this, but I am pretty sure that in the past when I have done a system restore, it says something like "your personal files will not be affected".

Kelt · 17 Sep 2014 at 10:57

Acme said:
As far as I know, a system restore will not affect any files on the system. Only program and system configuration changes. So any recently changed settings will be reverted, any recently installed applications or updates will be removed, and so on.

I'll wait for someone to confirm this, but I am pretty sure that in the past when I have done a system restore, it says something like "your personal files will not be affected".

True.

implosiveturnip · 17 Sep 2014 at 11:03

I'd use a linux live usb/cd to boot up the machine and save all your important docs to external storage before doing it just to be safe!

Akagi · 17 Sep 2014 at 11:05

implosiveturnip said:
I'd use a linux live usb/cd to boot up the machine and save all your important docs to external storage before doing it just to be safe!

Sound advice, I forgot you could do this.

kaptainmarc · 17 Sep 2014 at 11:16

Acme said:
As far as I know, a system restore will not affect any files on the system. Only program and system configuration changes. So any recently changed settings will be reverted, any recently installed applications or updates will be removed, and so on.

I'll wait for someone to confirm this, but I am pretty sure that in the past when I have done a system restore, it says something like "your personal files will not be affected".

oo fantastic, I didn't know this. I will boot in safe mode when I get home and give it a try

never used Linux so I will have to read up on that one abit.

when I looked at my processes on startup it seems to be running around 90 is this normal?

Akagi · 17 Sep 2014 at 11:24

Sounds quite normal.

anthony566 · 17 Sep 2014 at 11:55

when you say nothing works can I ask if left does it shut down at any point ?

Have you had the case open and had a good clean out of all the fans and filters etc ( if this is old it could be over heating as heat sometimes causes a system to slow down .. make sure the CPU, GPU and PSU fans are operating ok.

kaptainmarc · 17 Sep 2014 at 12:30

anthony566 said:
when you say nothing works can I ask if left does it shut down at any point ?

Have you had the case open and had a good clean out of all the fans and filters etc ( if this is old it could be over heating as heat sometimes causes a system to slow down .. make sure the CPU, GPU and PSU fans are operating ok.

I left it for a few hours and it just stayed as is, I have left it on whilst at work. too see what happens

I will take then side off and check they are all running ok, il try putting a desk fan blowing onto it too see if this helps

anthony566 · 17 Sep 2014 at 12:33

Also if you have not done this yet try re setting the bios and if you have them try another keyboard and mouse.

Idleman · 17 Sep 2014 at 13:11

System restore is pretty safe and does'nt affect your files or folders. When you select a restore point, you are given an option whereby you can see what will be affected. Any software or updates installed after the selected restore point will be removed. So check before you select.

David Bisset · 17 Sep 2014 at 13:51

You say you'd jut backed up from your phone - did you plug your phone in for the first time? As it's entirely possible for the drivers that got installed for interacting with your phone have messed something up, or your phone has picked up some malware somewhere and passed it on to your computer when you connected.

kaptainmarc · 17 Sep 2014 at 14:16

anthony566 said:
Also if you have not done this yet try re setting the bios and if you have them try another keyboard and mouse.

I will have a look at bios, is it as simple as going in and resetting?
the keyboard and mouse work fine in safe mode

David Bisset said:
You say you'd jut backed up from your phone - did you plug your phone in for the first time? As it's entirely possible for the drivers that got installed for interacting with your phone have messed something up, or your phone has picked up some malware somewhere and passed it on to your computer when you connected.

This did cross my mind, it had been plugged in a few times before but hadn't been in a fair while. but my antivirus programs didn't pick anything up

Akagi · 17 Sep 2014 at 14:24

Yeah it is as simple as going in and pressing the button/clicking/hitting enter on the option which says something like "restore defaults".

Alternatively some motherboards have a clear CMOS/BIOS button to make things easier.

I don't think doing this will help though.

What antivirus software do you use?

kaptainmarc · 17 Sep 2014 at 14:53

Acme said:
Yeah it is as simple as going in and pressing the button/clicking/hitting enter on the option which says something like "restore defaults".

Alternatively some motherboards have a clear CMOS/BIOS button to make things easier.

I don't think doing this will help though.

What antivirus software do you use?

I have Spybot S&D and Avast free at the moment

Sasahara · 17 Sep 2014 at 18:51

Try making a new user and log into that to see if the problems persist.

If it's hardware related they should do, if not it would point to a software issue.