Annoying computer problem

KillerCars

KillerCars

KillerCars

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Joined
16 Jul 2005
Posts
83
Hi.

I'm having the most irritating issue with my PC... the reason it's most irritating is because i'm not actually with it to sort it out, my girlfriend has it and she isn't exactly computer literate.

The computer keeps freezing. It started freezing more and more and over the last couple of days it's got worse. Every time she tries to play a game it freezes, and now it won't even start up properly. She says it isn't loading things once it loads windows (ATi catalyst and norton anti-virus won't load) and when she clicks start it shows the hour glass symbol for like a minute before it finally pops up.

Before it completely broke I looked on several posts with the similar problem and tried some solutions, Cleaning registries using regcure.. using "ccleaner", checking temps (which all seem normal). I'm not sure if it's a hardware problem or not. The strange thing is the computer she had before this one suffered the same symptoms before breaking. Is there something that could be plugged into the pc that is breaking it? Maybe the power going to the pc is slowly breaking it somehow? I'm quite convinced it must be something plugged into it since the exact same thing happened to her completely separate old PC.

Any help would be appreciated, sorry it was a bit long.. I like to explain things fully :p
 
norton internet security.. i don't really trust that program, just don't know what else to use. You could be right though since the PC is attached by the same cable as her old one.. i believe it connects to a router.. they have some kind of network thing anyway, and they have about 4 other pcs on the network all with a million viruses. I thought having norton on this pc would prevent it from being infected but maybe i was wrong.

Is there anyway I can find out?
 
I told her to update the virus definitions and scan whilst it was still working and it didn't find anything. Now it's broken how will I be able to download and install zonealarm? Will safe mode help?
 
Good point!

I've no idea if you can do the same in SafeMode. Does it boot up in SafeMode okay then?

However, if you can't even boot, you need to think about reinstalling the OS. Is there any important data on the PC?

Michael
 
she can start in safe mode however she said the screen is squished horizontally and stretched vertically. She can't use the internet in safe mode though it seems. I told her to do a system restore to a week ago.. dunno if that'll help. Any suggestions since it's in safe mode now?

thnx


edit: she system restored and it works... to some extent... it froze when she tried to turn her webcam on.. it couldn't be the usb camera breaking it, could it? USB can do some weird things it seems. Either way, I'll probably go to bed now. Any advice anyone can give would be helpful. I'll have a look here later after some good sleep :P
 
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Safe mode won't let you do quite a few things, like run with more than 256 colours or connect to the internet. It's part of the 'Safe' aspect.

Could be a PSU issue. Or a opportune moment for a reinstall of windows.
 
I agree with Melbourne, it sounds like it's time to reinstall Windows. If you haven't done this before, you need to start by getting any important data off the PC. Next, you need to find your recovery CD's and the Windows license key.

If you need more info' on what to do next, get back in touch and I'll find a link for you.

The advantages of reinstalling is that you can determine whether the problem is related to software or not. You also will have an 'as new' software setup, no virus or registry problems.

Michael
 
Surely if it's Networked, there's a Firewall in the router? My mum's PC had the same problem a long time ago, I downloaded a program called HAXFIX, removed the worm, and another little ******* file that was crashing IE, then I ran Registry Mechanic, and shut the pc down, unplugged all the router wires, replugged them, set UPnP, installed Norton Corporate virus scanner, and did a full scan, same for Ad-Aware Professional.

it could be anything from a virus, or, it could be she simply chose to delete a recognised virus instead of dumping it in a quaratine folder. But, tbh, if Regcure/registry mechanic, adaware, and a good AV can't fix it, I strongly suggest a reinstallation of windows, and if possible, clean the inside with some compressed air, then when you start it all up again, get Zone Alarm, as the guy above me advised, and try to find a Corporate versionf of Norton, renamed Symantec AV. if not, AVG worked fine, for a long time for me, before I got Symantec.

one other thing, might be worth considering, if your using a SATA 2 hard drive, and one of the bog standard sata 2 cables, it could be slipping out, they're not very sturdy, but thats only if it's using a SATA 2 HDD, the clip in cables u can get off OC will do the trick.
 
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Regardless of the screen being all distorted in safe mode does the PC respond as it should?...

If the answer is Yes, then you more then likely are looking at a software issue, rather then a hardwar fault.

If its still naff in Safe Mode it might be time to look at testing the hardware.

First rule of problem solving, never assume anything....
 
KillerCars said:
they have about 4 other pcs on the network all with a million viruses
Click to expand...

This sounds dodgy, if your firewall hadn't been set up correctly, the other PC's could make an attack. For example, enabling file sharing could compromise security when there are other infected PC's on the same LAN.

I strongly recommed a reinstallation! By doing this you will also know whether it is a hardware problem afflicting you. If it's not, and all goes well, your PC will run faster afterwards and you can be sure the PC is virus free!
 
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michael baxter said:
This sounds dodgy, if your firewall hadn't been set up correctly, the other PC's could make an attack. For example, enabling file sharing could compromise security when there are other infected PC's on the same LAN.

I strongly recommed a reinstallation! By doing this you will also know whether it is a hardware problem afflicting you. If it's not, and all goes well, your PC will run faster afterwards and you can be sure the PC is virus free!
Click to expand...

Unless it stays plugged into that network or he plugs it in again, then its back to square one.

Its important the other PC's are properly fixed to.
 
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