Computer Prob can U Help?

[buck2003]

Hi, I have been having probs with this pc for a while now, and was wondering if someone may know what I can do to fix it? other than throwing it through the window!
A while back I turned it off, something I dont normally do! When I re started it the computer powered up fine, the neons etc and the fans, but the monitor didn't come on? In the end I had to kill the power and try again. Eventually I heard that beep sound just after it started and the monitor came on, and all was well. Except that now while I'm surfing or just using my pc it freezes! I mean its completly froze and nothing I do will make it go! I have tried ctrl-alt & delete, that wont work, nothing will so I have to again kill the power by holding the power button. Then I have to go through the whole prob again of will the monitor come on or not? Somethimes it works first time, other times I'm here trying repeatedly with no joy?
Sometimes the pc's fine for a week or more with no probs, then it all starts again. The last time was today, and it took me about 5 or 6 goes of turning the power on and having to turn it off before the monitor came on. nOw when I try to scroll down a web page it seems all jerky, kinda of ripples down in stead of just moving the page properly. I have tried other monitors and its the same, my antivirus is up to date, and I've ran several adware programs etc. If you know whats wrong with it and can help I'd be eternally greatfull!!
I took it to the computer store and it didn't do this once!! so he couldnt help, I got it back and it soon started freezing again! Thanks Buck

[chrispaine]

that sucks, sounds like a graphics card, or maybe even motherboard.... but i dont know what im talking about ... good luck

[lisagordier]

Well, not much of a computer guru type. But I will forward this to my brother who is.

My opinion is that even though your virus software is up-to-date you may still have a bug.

Also, (because mine sometimes freezes) it may be a RAM problem. If you have a lot of software running in the background it takes up RAM space. Too much stuff running and your system freezes. So, you may want to take out any extra stuff you don't need. OR, like I'll need to do, upgrade your RAM. I'm looking at needing at least 1-2 Gig of RAM but that's cause hubby likes VERY good PC games.

Also, double-check the spyware stuff. You might have something running that you didn't know about.

As I said, I'll forward your question on to my brother. He may have something new to add.

[lisagordier]

Also, what ChrisPaine said is true too.

[buck2003]

I've thought perhaps graphics card too, but it was just a guess, this rippling started when I re tightend the monitor socket to the graphics card. I have only got 384mb ram, but I dont play games etc. I've tried taking out 128mb strips and restarting pc to see if perhaps one of those were at fault but no joy. I do need a better pc but at the mo this is all I have and I cant afford an upgrade. Mainly cause my Mother board cant take a bigger cpu, and if I change the MB My memory would be no good as its the old sd ram all new mb's these days are ddr. So I'm stuck, its either all or nothing and I cant afford it. Hopefully your brother may know what the prob is. I maybe able to try a better graphics card tho! Thanks Buck

[tigerkity]

Thanks for forwarding this to me sis, everything you said is true. For the spyware stuff lookup spybot - search & destroy, this is the best one I have seen. Getst about 98% of them. Run adware with it and you get 99.9%. I have never seen anything that gets 100% and stay clean. Your problem with the graphics does seem like a graphics card problem, but then there is still no guarentee. It still could be something else. A good test would be to run a graphics extensive program or game for awhile a see what happens. All I can say as keep experimenting to narrow it down, good for diving in a learning about computers anyway.

[tigerkity]

Since you tighten the screw there may be a bad ground some how on the graphics card, or possible the card is not quite install straight in the mother board.

[buck2003]

Thanks for that, I have spybot search and destroy, also have adaware se professional, I also have Microsoft antispy, and btyahoo antispy. I've ran the lot they all say I'm clean, all they found initialy were a few tracking cookies. I can watch movies ok, the fault seems intermittant. I've also wondered if it could be my power supply fluctuating or even the supply in the house? I'll try another graphics card tomorrow and hope for the best! Thanks

[tigerkity]

Glad I could help some.

[telefrag]

spyware has nothing to do with this problem.

Its most likely hardware, either heat, cpu or as mentioned a graphics problem.

[buck2003]

Well I just took out my graphics card and dusted it off, I also gave the agp slot a few flicks lol Hoping I could disslodge any dust that may of gotten in there and the rippling effect has gone thankfully. I can now scoll a page!! It was driving me mad! I'll have to wait and see what happens with pc now? Thanks everyone!

[pathfinder36]

I'd unplug the power cord. Take out all of your ram cards and your graphics card. Give a good dust down with a can of compressed air to the whole mother board and the cards you removed. Replace everything and give it a try.

[buck2003]

Yeah I'm gonna give that a go tomorrow Chris!, I was just reading another thread and wham computer froze! As i said before when it freezes it dont matter what buttons I push I cant do a thing! I cant even move the cursor/ mouse pointer thingie. This time I pressed the reset button as I felt it was less damaging to the pc than killing the power. This is so annoying for me cause I cant pin point the problem! Worse still this pc is my life line and I cant afford another! Gutted

[chrispaine]

could be heat... if their are other cards around your graphics card, like a modem or tvcard.... they might be makein real hott, try to take the cover off the tower and see if geting more air in there helps...