My computer keeps locking up.

[dkf]

When I try to restart it, it often gets stuck and can't reboot. I have CA virus protection, and no weird pop ups like I did the last time I had a virus.

Is my computer a goner?

I bought it in '03 and since I have a DVR its been running almost 24/7.

[Maraya1969]

1. I dunno. But I took mine in to a discount place and when it turned

on it immediately went into disk check which it always did because I could not shut it down properly. Anyway the jackass behind the counter thinks I'm a dumb red head and says by hard drive is failing and I need a new computer.

Well I got a new computer but not because of that. I secondly took it to a friend of a friend and decided to get a new one.

Sorry I turned your question into a story about my life. I really don't know the answer.

[backscatter712]

2. Could be one component's bad...

Try running some diagnostics on it - Memtest86+ (will find problems with the memory), chkdsk to do a quick check for problems with the hard disk, a CPU-intensive game or similar to see if putting a load on the CPU or graphics card causes it to flake. etc.

A little detective work, and you might be able to identify the bad component and replace it.

[dkf]

7. I do have some bad components...like my floppy disk.

Ironic that I can't do the memory test without a floppy.

And the last time I looked inside the chassis, I saw some rust, so that can't be good.

We are near the ocean, so I think we get some salt in the air or something.

Thanks for your suggestions!

[ghostsofgiants]

3. Could be overheating or something.

Some processors just won't boot up if they're too hot.

Running it 24/7 will probably result in a lot of dust buildup in the heatsink and such, making it run hotter than it should and that's a lot of stress on the processor.

[dkf]

15. Thanks.

I bought a dust blower to clean it out. I did notice a lot of dust caught in the back and cleaned that out when I first started having this problem.

I think I'll take a looky see tomorrow when I have more light.

[Monk06]

21. Primate is probably right. The fan over your motherboard is either clogged with dust

or hooped. Replace fan $12.00.

Don't replace fan, cooked Motherboard
and drive plus all data go by by.

[ghostsofgiants]

23. Not just the fan. The fins of the heatsink can get filled up too.

[dkf]

27. $12 is worth trying.

I always hear my fan go off though. Doesn't that mean it works?

[Monk06]

32. I've replaced fans three times on my present machine. Sometimes the fan

appears to work fine. It starts up and you can
hear it working but it is not spinning enough
to cool the board.

I cleaned one fan three times before I noticed
it was spinning very slow due to wear. Luckily
my MB had a heat sensor that shut down the power
supply before the whole box cooked.

Even at that my power supply got overheated once
too often and it eventually failed too.

[redqueen]

4. Why have it on 24/7?

[dkf]

5. dvr tapes stuff all the time.

[redqueen]

9. Ohhh... like a Tivo...

I see.

Good luck fixing it...

[Deja Q]

6. Failing power supply?

Given it's age, I'd just get a new one, but freeze-ups are often due to voltage -- if not a failing component outright.

[dkf]

8. Argh. I replaced that a couple of years ago, after our

earthquake inspired blackout. I still have a claim with the electric company over that.

Yeah, I guess this old computer wants to retire soon. I was hoping I could skip Vista. Oh well.

[Hawkeye-X]

11. Dell should have a XP computer

If you hurry...

[Mojambo]

10. Have you done any clean installs since 2003?

I usually do one at least every two years.

[dkf]

13. I don't have any disks.

Can I still do a clean install?

[Mojambo]

18. Well, you need your Windows CD.

All of the other stuff, drivers etc, you would need to download and burn to a disk before you did it.

5+ years without a clean install is almost certainly the reason why your computer is becoming unstable.

[deucemagnet]

12. Wow. 12 posts and nobody's told you to get a mac yet.

That's got to be some kind of record!

[dkf]

14. I wish I could.

But my remote computer access for my job doesn't work on a Mac.

Otherwise I would.

[deucemagnet]

19. I'm the type to go for the inexpensive PC computing power, myself.

I bought one of these a few months ago. I had two minor and one major problem with it, but now the problems are resolved, the system is rock-solid and I frickin' lo-o-o-o-o-v-e it!

[dkf]

20. A quad core for under $600...what a deal!

That looks like an excellent buy.

[deucemagnet]

22. Like I said, there were a few problems, but it rocks now.

The OEM install of the OS was screwed up, so I had to reinstall it. There was also a problem with USB devices not working after the machine came out of hibernation, but there was a hotfix for that. Worst of all, there were periods when the cooling fan would whirr and it would spontaneously restart every hour or so, but updating to the most current BIOS cured that. It's been solid as a rock since I updated the BIOS. My only complaint about the machine right now is that only 32-bit drivers are available, so I won't be able to upgrade to a 64-bit OS until the new drivers are made available.

[dkf]

24. You sound quite a bit more advanced than I am.

I don't think I could have figured those things out.

[deucemagnet]

30. Don't be too impressed.

I solved most of those problems by googling around message boards for people experiencing similar problems. When it comes to computers, I know just enough to fix some minor problems or create some major ones. :P

[Q3JR4]

25. I'm still running my 750mhz computer

with the spiffy 128MB of shared RAM from way back in the day. That machine looks so good to me.

Only thing is...can I get it without Vista?

Q3JR4.

[deucemagnet]

31. It comes with vista home premium installed,

but nothing is stopping you from installing any OS you like. I'm not quite as anti-vista as I used to be. The fact that this machine has plenty of power to run vista helps, to.

[TrogL]

16. What does hooking a computer to a DVR accomplish?

[dkf]

17. The DVR is in the computer, so you can record TV on your computer

for free.

It downloads the TV guide through the Microsoft media center and works through the TV tuner.

Otherwise if you have to get a DVR from your cable company it costs a monthly fee.

Or you can Tivo and pay that fee every month.

[Q3JR4]

26. That's mighty nice...

I want one.

Course, then I'd have to pay for cable tv.

Q3JR4....

[dkf]

28. I think it works through antenna too.

But I'm not sure.

I also don't know how the digital TV thing will affect it.

[Arnold Judas Rimmer]

29. I hate it when they do that !

Damn you Holly!

[Angleae]

33. When exactly does it lock up?

Is it when you're shutting down or is it after shut down and trying to boot up. I doubt it's overheating just because it locks up at a specific time (rebooting), overheats tend to be rather random.