Friggen computers!!!!

My parent's comp starting screwing up a couple weeks ago. It would just randomly shut itself off. My dad had a guy take a look at it and was told the hard drive was bad. Personally, I wouldn't expect it to be the hard drive, but fine, I'll take the guys word for it since he's an electronics tech. However, to save my parents a bit of cash, I tell them I'll replace the drive for them. Well, I got the drive and installed it tonight, but the friggen comp freezes up part way through installing Windows XP. It just simply freezes. I tried about 5 times and finally gave up. :cursin: Guess it's something other than the drive, since this one is brand new. Sometimes, I really hate computers.

My parent's comp starting screwing up a couple weeks ago. It would just randomly shut itself off. My dad had a guy take a look at it and was told the hard drive was bad. Personally, I wouldn't expect it to be the hard drive, but fine, I'll take the guys word for it since he's an electronics tech. However, to save my parents a bit of cash, I tell them I'll replace the drive for them. Well, I got the drive and installed it tonight, but the friggen comp freezes up part way through installing Windows XP. It just simply freezes. I tried about 5 times and finally gave up. :cursin: Guess it's something other than the drive, since this one is brand new. Sometimes, I really hate computers. :cursin: http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o302/saverok69/smashing.gif

i hate PCs. they are the devil's spawn...

i hate PCs. they are the devil's spawn... So is Bill Gates the devil? Or Steve Jobs? Or is it Al Gore, since he invented the internet? :lol:

What exactly was it doing before the HD replacement? What are the specs of the machine? Brand, model, internals, etc...

What exactly was it doing before the HD replacement? What are the specs of the machine? Brand, model, internals, etc... It would randomly shut off. Not sure on all the specs. It was ordered from DealsDepot.com a couple of years ago. Since it's not mine, I don't have any idea right now. It won't even boot, now. It just says, "unknown hard error". :cursin:

So is Bill Gates the devil? Or Steve Jobs? Or is it Al Gore, since he invented the internet? :lol: D) all of the above. :dthumb: get a mac, they're user-friendly...

So is Bill Gates the devil? Or Steve Jobs? Or is it Al Gore, since he invented the internet? :lol: D) all of the above. :dthumb: get a mac, they're user-friendly... there all in it together

D) all of the above. :dthumb: get a mac, they're user-friendly... But from what I hear, they're not exactly web friendly and a lot of programs don't work on them right. :idk: And even if they are user friendly right now, they won't be if they start to get popular.

But from what I hear, they're not exactly web friendly and a lot of programs don't work on them right. :idk: And even if they are user friendly right now, they won't be if they start to get popular. the thing about macs is that i've never had a problem with them that i couldn't fix myself. PCs were designed to keep computer technicians in 6 figures. it's impossible for the computer illiterate to troubleshoot. they scare the heck outta me.

It would randomly shut off. Not sure on all the specs. It was ordered from DealsDepot.com a couple of years ago. Since it's not mine, I don't have any idea right now. It won't even boot, now. It just says, "unknown hard error". :cursin: I am thinking motherboard, but CPU could be at fault as well... First instinct would be power supply, but with the new drive it crashes during software install which is surely not because of a power supply issue... Unknown hardware errors point towards the motherboard and/or CPU many times... What are the specs of this machine? It may not even be worth repairing...

the thing about macs is that i've never had a problem with them that i couldn't fix myself. PCs were designed to keep computer technicians in 6 figures. they scare the heck outta me. Maybe I'll look into one next time I buy a comp. But then I'll have to learn all new software, etc. :lol:

the thing about macs is that i've never had a problem with them that i couldn't fix myself. PCs were designed to keep computer technicians in 6 figures. it's impossible for the computer illiterate to troubleshoot. they scare the heck outta me. I wish there was actual money in PC tech positions... Average around here is probably $10/hr...

Maybe I'll look into one next time I buy a comp. But then I'll have to learn all new software, etc. :lol: i am a bit biased. i cut my teeth on a mac and fell in love with them. they were/are industry standard for graphic design (what i went to school for). they are just easy to use. double click everything and it is right there. there are no secrets. it was a big adjustment for me to go from mac to dell. everything is so different.

I wish there was actual money in PC tech positions... Average around here is probably $10/hr... well, the market is saturated now. hafta do your own in home repairs. then you can charge $70 an hour.

well, the market is saturated now. hafta do your own in home repairs. then you can charge $70 an hour. There's a guy on Craigslist around here that does $20/hr... That's a waste of time for me honestly... In all actuality PC's are extremely simple to repair... 9/10 times it's just pulling out on part and putting in a replacement... Mainboards are mostly jumperless so they can automatically detect anything and operating systems have such extensive driver databases that most repairs take just a matter of moments...

There's a guy on Craigslist around here that does $20/hr... That's a waste of time for me honestly... In all actuality PC's are extremely simple to repair... 9/10 times it's just pulling out on part and putting in a replacement... Mainboards are mostly jumperless so they can automatically detect anything and operating systems have such extensive driver databases that most repairs take just a matter of moments... oh yeah, replacing parts would be simple. it's when i hafta install drivers or do anything with software that just leaves me bewildered. like recently i had my external dvd-rw drive just disappear from my computer. no matter what i tried or where i looked i couldn't fix it. thankfully a friend of mine is a pc god and fixed it via remote for me. i asked if i ever woulda figured it out myself and he said he doubted i woulda. that's more what i am talking about. but then i am technologically challenged to start with.

I've had that happen on a couple of old computers, my first instinct with random reboots is always the motherboard, then it goes to power supply, and if the computer is really old the third is dust. Of course viruses and spyware can also wreak havoc on computers. I'm typing this from my MacBook Pro which is by far more user friendly than any PC I have ever used. The only problem I had with it was a faulty battery which is a known problem with these things. I actively try and recruit anyone who isnt an avid gamer to the mac side anytime I can, so I say tell em to get an iMac!

Well, I'm thinking there must be something wrong with the processor because it's simply freezing up. I got up this morning and tried to reload the hard drive using it's installation disc. It says it will erase the hard drive, which is fine since it's new and nothing is on it, but it's even freezing up during that process.

If it is turning off.. Power Supply or motherboard.. If it is restarting/Freezing Then I would think its memory, If they have 2 sticks try the install with each of the sticks by themselves.. If you have a spare power supply try that too.. lotta ifs Also - Processors almost never go bad.. same goes for motherboards.. One thing to check especially if its dell is for bloaded or leaking capacitors.. Replaced waay too many of those already..

This is why I got ou of that field. I like them when they work but when they don't I hate hate hate them!!! Like... http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l311/cjclark69/Posting/tongue.gif

many a time i've fixxed my moms computer... multiple times it has been after a "computer tech guy" has checked it out and told her she needed a new something or other. please.

I'm thinking I'm going to replace the memory stick to see if that's the problem. I cleaned all the dust out of it so there isn't much left to try. It's either going to be memory or processor. We'll find out.

I've repaired HUNDREDS of PC's....this is what I check with freeze and shutdown issues, in THIS ORDER: A. Is the Power supply fan spinning? 50% of these issues are due to clogged fans and dried up bearings...the power supply overheats, voltages drop, and the board shuts off. CLEAN the power supply w compressed air and make sure the fan is spinning when you hit the power button. If its been out for a while, you may have cooked a condenser or two....replace the power supply (a 10 minute, 20 dollar job). B. Is the CPU fan spinning? These little cheapazzed buggers cause 45% of freezupshutdown issues...most modern CPUs have a built in heat overload shutdown...if the cpu fan isn't spinning, or is spinning slow, as soon as the cpu starts heavy processing (like loading an new operating system or formatting a drive) the processor overheats and freezes, shuts down, or reboots. As soon as you push the power button, this fan should spin up to max rpm...if its buzzing (dry bearings) or doing the wha-wha (unbalanced due to dust/fuzz buildup) or not turning at all,replace the fan, and make certain you use new silver paste (justa DAB, now). A 19 dollar, five minute job. C. Bad video or mainboard....less than 5% of the time. D. Bad HD...less than .01% of the time. Normally, HD issues show up as errors during boot or heavy swapping during processing, usually as errors (see BSD...the feared Blue Screen of Death)...not as shutdowns. Check your bios during bootup (hit f1, f4, f8 or del during boot,depending on version and Mfr) and see if your HD is being recognized. You can do this.

Thanks. I'll follow your approach when I go back to my parent's house next week.

I've repaired HUNDREDS of PC's....this is what I check with freeze and shutdown issues, in THIS ORDER: A. Is the Power supply fan spinning? 50% of these issues are due to clogged fans and dried up bearings...the power supply overheats, voltages drop, and the board shuts off. CLEAN the power supply w compressed air and make sure the fan is spinning when you hit the power button. If its been out for a while, you may have cooked a condenser or two....replace the power supply (a 10 minute, 20 dollar job). B. Is the CPU fan spinning? These little cheapazzed buggers cause 45% of freezupshutdown issues...most modern CPUs have a built in heat overload shutdown...if the cpu fan isn't spinning, or is spinning slow, as soon as the cpu starts heavy processing (like loading an new operating system or formatting a drive) the processor overheats and freezes, shuts down, or reboots. As soon as you push the power button, this fan should spin up to max rpm...if its buzzing (dry bearings) or doing the wha-wha (unbalanced due to dust/fuzz buildup) or not turning at all,replace the fan, and make certain you use new silver paste (justa DAB, now). A 19 dollar, five minute job. C. Bad video or mainboard....less than 5% of the time. D. Bad HD...less than .01% of the time. Normally, HD issues show up as errors during boot or heavy swapping during processing, usually as errors (see BSD...the feared Blue Screen of Death)...not as shutdowns. Check your bios during bootup (hit f1, f4, f8 or del during boot,depending on version and Mfr) and see if your HD is being recognized. You can do this. Been awhile since working on this because of not having time when visiting, but I'm back at it again. Well, all of the fans are spinning just fine and none are making any noise. Power supply looks like it has a lot of dust in it and I JUST now noticed the smell of burned electronics (transformer smell) after turning the machine on and checking for fans spinning. Gonna try to replace the power supply and see if that will fix it. Comp isn't exactly a dinosaur; it's got a 2Gig processor, DDR 333 512M memory. Sure, it's not a gaming machine, but my parents pretty much just use it for e-mail, photo uploading, etc. If the power supply doesn't fix the problem, I'll see if my memory sticks in my old desktop are compatible and maybe swap them out to see if that will work.

I had a problem with the motherboard a while ago in my old custom built pc i made. Just had to replace the entire board.

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