Need some advice on new computer
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Leeky
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No worries.
It might ask you what type of recovery you wish to perform. One is destructive, one is more like recovery. Once your satisfied all data you need has been removed, then do the destructive recovery option. This option will format you hard drive, and then create a completely fresh installation of the operating system - bringing it back to the day it left the production line.
Here we go again...
Hey to all...
In April and May I had a problem with my computer...replaced the video card and all was right with the world...By then, I had already replaced my pc...so the old computer was my back up...but I decided to set it up in my family room...got a wireless adaptor and presto! I had internet in the family room, as well as in my office...I was happy (my husband not so much...he hates computers!!) so...within about one week, my computer started doing the same things that it had done before...monitor blacks out, tower beeps continuously...
Initially, I reseated the video card, and turned it back on...worked OK, until my 5 year old grandson jumped on the floor right near the tower...and, the same thing happened...so I figured that I must not have really tightened the video card...so I reseated it again,and made sure that everything was tight....It worked for about 4-6 days...then back to screwing up...
I unplugged it, and let it sit for about 2 weeks, because I was tired of it...then, today, I reseated the video card and the ram...and things started fine...
I ran some updates to my Nortons, and sometime during (or after..not sure), it froze!!! Couldn't get it to work, so I hit the power button, waited about 10 minutes and turned it back on....got the beeps immediately, so shut it down...
I am at a loss...why would it work sometimes, and not others?
Please give my your expert advice!!!
Because I have this new desktop, I am not as concerned as I was before (when all I had as backup was an old laptop)..but I would still like to get that old computer running, if I can...
When it is running, it works fine....
Thanks in advance for all the advice and suggestions!!
Hey to all...
In April and May I had a problem with my computer...replaced the video card and all was right with the world...By then, I had already replaced my pc...so the old computer was my back up...but I decided to set it up in my family room...got a wireless adaptor and presto! I had internet in the family room, as well as in my office...I was happy (my husband not so much...he hates computers!!) so...within about one week, my computer started doing the same things that it had done before...monitor blacks out, tower beeps continuously...
Initially, I reseated the video card, and turned it back on...worked OK, until my 5 year old grandson jumped on the floor right near the tower...and, the same thing happened...so I figured that I must not have really tightened the video card...so I reseated it again,and made sure that everything was tight....It worked for about 4-6 days...then back to screwing up...
I unplugged it, and let it sit for about 2 weeks, because I was tired of it...then, today, I reseated the video card and the ram...and things started fine...
I ran some updates to my Nortons, and sometime during (or after..not sure), it froze!!! Couldn't get it to work, so I hit the power button, waited about 10 minutes and turned it back on....got the beeps immediately, so shut it down...
I am at a loss...why would it work sometimes, and not others?
Please give my your expert advice!!!
Because I have this new desktop, I am not as concerned as I was before (when all I had as backup was an old laptop)..but I would still like to get that old computer running, if I can...
When it is running, it works fine....
Thanks in advance for all the advice and suggestions!!
It is a HP Pavilion, model 7350n. It has Norton's 360 installed...and Family Tree maker, Kodak easyshare software....I think that is all...the rest was factory installed. Actually, the Kodak and Family Tree maker may not be on it, because I formatted the hard drive when I was going to give it to my daughter...
FYI, 2 years ago, the hard drive was replaced (by HP) for similiar problems.
The make and model of my psu is:
Bestec model ATX-300-12Z Rev. CDR
Input 100-127V-7A, 20-240V-4A 50/60Hz
BST ATX-300-12Z CDR
The computer was bought in early '06.
Thanks for any assistance!
FYI, 2 years ago, the hard drive was replaced (by HP) for similiar problems.
The make and model of my psu is:
Bestec model ATX-300-12Z Rev. CDR
Input 100-127V-7A, 20-240V-4A 50/60Hz
BST ATX-300-12Z CDR
The computer was bought in early '06.
Thanks for any assistance!
It is very, very difficult to make a guess diagnosis that would be helpful.
Be sure you have cleaned out all the dust, lint, and hair with a can of Dust Off or other canned air that is treated to prevent static electricity.
Elsewhere on TechSpot, one of our volunteers has posted all or nearly all of the know beep codes. You might look for that posting on TechSpot, and see if the beep codes are relevant to your problem.
I would replace the power supply as a first test, as those Bestecs fail often as they age. I would replace it with an FSP Group, Sparkle, Antec, Corsair, etc., that is at least 350 to 500 watts.
If you still have the disk install set that came with the original repairs, I would put in another hard drive to test, and run a full install of the HP disks.
Remove the memory modules, then try running the computer with one memory module at a time...
IN that series of HP desktop, the beep codes can be any failed part... memory, CPU fan or other device.
You might also see if it will run long enough to got to Start->Control Panel->System->Hardware->Device Manager to see if there are any red, gray, or black flags by anything on that device list... by clicking on them, if necessary. Any flagged device could have failed, or it could just need a driver reinstall.
If you get it working long enough, go to the HP site and look for that model, then install any updates to components that are out of date.
You might see if you can find a computer whiz in your neighborhood who is skilled enough to look it over
Be sure you have cleaned out all the dust, lint, and hair with a can of Dust Off or other canned air that is treated to prevent static electricity.
Elsewhere on TechSpot, one of our volunteers has posted all or nearly all of the know beep codes. You might look for that posting on TechSpot, and see if the beep codes are relevant to your problem.
I would replace the power supply as a first test, as those Bestecs fail often as they age. I would replace it with an FSP Group, Sparkle, Antec, Corsair, etc., that is at least 350 to 500 watts.
If you still have the disk install set that came with the original repairs, I would put in another hard drive to test, and run a full install of the HP disks.
Remove the memory modules, then try running the computer with one memory module at a time...
IN that series of HP desktop, the beep codes can be any failed part... memory, CPU fan or other device.
You might also see if it will run long enough to got to Start->Control Panel->System->Hardware->Device Manager to see if there are any red, gray, or black flags by anything on that device list... by clicking on them, if necessary. Any flagged device could have failed, or it could just need a driver reinstall.
If you get it working long enough, go to the HP site and look for that model, then install any updates to components that are out of date.
You might see if you can find a computer whiz in your neighborhood who is skilled enough to look it over
raybay,
I know that it is difficult to figure out what is wrong from a distance, and when you can't see (and hear), for yourself, what is happening with a computer...
During this posting, I may repeat things from previous posts, so bear with me...I don't want to forget something, so I will probably tell you a lot of what you already have heard...
In the spring, when I was having the trouble, I did replace the psu...but I still had the same problem, so I returned that to Staples...Actually, the day that I got the psu, I had intended to get a video card, and they talked me out of that...and into the psu...so, when the psu didn't work, I gave up for a while...bought a new computer...it was after I had the new computer for a couple of weeks when I was able to talk to a guy who knows computers, and he suggested the video card again...so I replaced that and all was perfect!! I kept the old computer near my new one, set up but not connected to the internet...I would connect it when I needed to get something off of it..I would send it my hotmail account, then connect the new one (obviously I didn't have the wireless adaptor at that time..stupid of me!!) Anyway, that went on until mid September, when I finally bought a wireless adaptor and moved the old pc into my family room...I didn't use it a lot after I moved it, but I did turn it on almost every day for a week, when the monitor went black, went to sleep and the tower did a continuous beeping, until I turned it off with the power button. The computer had been on for about 10 min, and online for about 2 when this happened.
At that point, I unplugged it, hit the power button..let it sit for a day. I reseated the video card and turned the computer on. Seemed ok for a few minutes (not sure how long) when I got a blue screen and a message (researching that, I found out it is the "dreaded" blue screen...I had never gotten it before. Anyway, the tech info was "***STOP: 0x0000008E (0xC0000005, 0x805017D7,0xA44717C0, 0x00000000)"
The message advised me that a problem was detected and it shut down the pc to prevent damage. Gave instructions if it was the first time that I had seen, or second. If you need me to give you what they said, let me know...
Anyway, at that point, I wrote down the message, shut it down with the power button, unplugged it, hit the power button, plugged it in, powered it up and immediately got the "no input signal" for the monitor and a loud fan noise from the tower, but no beeping. I shut it down and let it sit for about 2 days.
Before I started it up next time, I checked the card, etc...didn't reseat it, but thought everything seemed tight. PC powered up fine...While on the computer (for about 10-15 minutes) my grandson ran into the room and jumped down one step, landing right next to the tower...the monitor went to sleep immediately, and there was no beeping...I figured that the card must not have been tight, like I thought, so I reseated it again,and made sure that all screws, etc were tight...turned it on, and all was right with my computer world!! At least, for that day..the next day, while on it, it froze (twice) and wouldn't respond to anything.
At that point, I gave up and figured that I would get back onto this site. I let it sit for about 2-3 weeks before I put in my problems here...
Before I got back onto this site, I reseated the video card and two other cards (the ones under the video card)..turned it on, and it was working OK...I started my Norton's 360, updates, clearing cookies, etc., when it froze. I do not know if it actually finished all the updates, because I wasn't sitting at the computer while it was working. Since that time, I have reseated the video card a couple of times, and each time I turn the computer on, it beeps and no monitor...
I will again try to power it up and try the things that you suggested...I will let you know..
At this point, I don't have anyone to check it, without paying for it...and I am not saying I won't pay, but if I can fix it myself I would rather do that...the main reason I want to keep that computer is because it has all the stuff needed to convert home movies to dvd..I know that I can buy software for the new computer (at least I think that I can!) so that I can use this computer for that task, but it would be nice if I could use the older one....I don't like to trash things that are so expensive!!!
Thanks for everything...
Sorry that this is so long!
I know that it is difficult to figure out what is wrong from a distance, and when you can't see (and hear), for yourself, what is happening with a computer...
During this posting, I may repeat things from previous posts, so bear with me...I don't want to forget something, so I will probably tell you a lot of what you already have heard...
In the spring, when I was having the trouble, I did replace the psu...but I still had the same problem, so I returned that to Staples...Actually, the day that I got the psu, I had intended to get a video card, and they talked me out of that...and into the psu...so, when the psu didn't work, I gave up for a while...bought a new computer...it was after I had the new computer for a couple of weeks when I was able to talk to a guy who knows computers, and he suggested the video card again...so I replaced that and all was perfect!! I kept the old computer near my new one, set up but not connected to the internet...I would connect it when I needed to get something off of it..I would send it my hotmail account, then connect the new one (obviously I didn't have the wireless adaptor at that time..stupid of me!!) Anyway, that went on until mid September, when I finally bought a wireless adaptor and moved the old pc into my family room...I didn't use it a lot after I moved it, but I did turn it on almost every day for a week, when the monitor went black, went to sleep and the tower did a continuous beeping, until I turned it off with the power button. The computer had been on for about 10 min, and online for about 2 when this happened.
At that point, I unplugged it, hit the power button..let it sit for a day. I reseated the video card and turned the computer on. Seemed ok for a few minutes (not sure how long) when I got a blue screen and a message (researching that, I found out it is the "dreaded" blue screen...I had never gotten it before. Anyway, the tech info was "***STOP: 0x0000008E (0xC0000005, 0x805017D7,0xA44717C0, 0x00000000)"
The message advised me that a problem was detected and it shut down the pc to prevent damage. Gave instructions if it was the first time that I had seen, or second. If you need me to give you what they said, let me know...
Anyway, at that point, I wrote down the message, shut it down with the power button, unplugged it, hit the power button, plugged it in, powered it up and immediately got the "no input signal" for the monitor and a loud fan noise from the tower, but no beeping. I shut it down and let it sit for about 2 days.
Before I started it up next time, I checked the card, etc...didn't reseat it, but thought everything seemed tight. PC powered up fine...While on the computer (for about 10-15 minutes) my grandson ran into the room and jumped down one step, landing right next to the tower...the monitor went to sleep immediately, and there was no beeping...I figured that the card must not have been tight, like I thought, so I reseated it again,and made sure that all screws, etc were tight...turned it on, and all was right with my computer world!! At least, for that day..the next day, while on it, it froze (twice) and wouldn't respond to anything.
At that point, I gave up and figured that I would get back onto this site. I let it sit for about 2-3 weeks before I put in my problems here...
Before I got back onto this site, I reseated the video card and two other cards (the ones under the video card)..turned it on, and it was working OK...I started my Norton's 360, updates, clearing cookies, etc., when it froze. I do not know if it actually finished all the updates, because I wasn't sitting at the computer while it was working. Since that time, I have reseated the video card a couple of times, and each time I turn the computer on, it beeps and no monitor...
I will again try to power it up and try the things that you suggested...I will let you know..
At this point, I don't have anyone to check it, without paying for it...and I am not saying I won't pay, but if I can fix it myself I would rather do that...the main reason I want to keep that computer is because it has all the stuff needed to convert home movies to dvd..I know that I can buy software for the new computer (at least I think that I can!) so that I can use this computer for that task, but it would be nice if I could use the older one....I don't like to trash things that are so expensive!!!
Thanks for everything...
Sorry that this is so long!
I suspect you have a number of problems, making it difficult to fix any of them.
But I have forgotten what is the brand, and model of computer or motherboardk and the full configuration...
I suspect you have something that is affected by vibration or heat...
Some things to try:
Buy a small unit of Thermal paste. Remove your CPU, use denatured alcohol to carefully clean off the old paste from the CPU and socket. Then apply a very thin coating of new paste.
Check very carefully to assure that your CPU Cooler hold down clamps are not broken or loose. Some that clamp onto a plastic fram for the CPU do break easily but you cannot easily see the break. They just don't hold the CPU cooler tight enough.
CPU coolers are usually very inexpensive. I would replace the cooler as a unit... which with careful shopping can be done for $12.
I would replace the power supply with another... even a used one, for a couple of days... It may be worth it to replace your existing power supply with a good one made by FSP group... or Sparkle... or other in the 400 watt plus range...
You cannot accurately test a power supply, but they can give you a lot of intermittent troubles... Anything over 400 watts should be fine for doing the analysis for a couple of days.
I would remove Norton 360... It is old, and never was much good when it was new. Then install Microsoft Security Essentials (free), Avast (free) or Avira Antivir (free), MalwareBytes (free version), and SuperAntiSpyware (free version) You can find them all at www.filehippo.com and many other sites.
Toss Norton and continue to use the above four and update them daily... they will help you determine whether you are getting an infestation.
Next is memory. If you do not have at least 1 GB or memory, upgrade it to that level... If you can afford an upgrade to 2 GB, that is preferable.
Next, tell us about your hard drive... how old, what brand,
Tell us, also, about the video graphics card brand and model, as well as age.
You should NEVER have to reseat your video card more than once. Why were you doing that. Handling that card, and performing reseating operations can damage the socket, the motherboard, and the video graphics card.
Then I would reformat your hard drive and do a complete clean install... slowly, while keep notes of what you are doing.
The problem has to be in the CPU (usually not) CPU cooler (much more often), Video Card (there are huge numbers of bad ones out there... that give intermittent problems one day and are fine the next, Hard Drive. Software installed to the hard drive, or Power Supply. Rarely, very rarely, it is the motherboard. And ti can be memory or a damaged memory socket... or one of the adapters to which you connect.
But we may have other comments after we know the components by brand, age, and specs.
We will find the problem....
But I have forgotten what is the brand, and model of computer or motherboardk and the full configuration...
I suspect you have something that is affected by vibration or heat...
Some things to try:
Buy a small unit of Thermal paste. Remove your CPU, use denatured alcohol to carefully clean off the old paste from the CPU and socket. Then apply a very thin coating of new paste.
Check very carefully to assure that your CPU Cooler hold down clamps are not broken or loose. Some that clamp onto a plastic fram for the CPU do break easily but you cannot easily see the break. They just don't hold the CPU cooler tight enough.
CPU coolers are usually very inexpensive. I would replace the cooler as a unit... which with careful shopping can be done for $12.
I would replace the power supply with another... even a used one, for a couple of days... It may be worth it to replace your existing power supply with a good one made by FSP group... or Sparkle... or other in the 400 watt plus range...
You cannot accurately test a power supply, but they can give you a lot of intermittent troubles... Anything over 400 watts should be fine for doing the analysis for a couple of days.
I would remove Norton 360... It is old, and never was much good when it was new. Then install Microsoft Security Essentials (free), Avast (free) or Avira Antivir (free), MalwareBytes (free version), and SuperAntiSpyware (free version) You can find them all at www.filehippo.com and many other sites.
Toss Norton and continue to use the above four and update them daily... they will help you determine whether you are getting an infestation.
Next is memory. If you do not have at least 1 GB or memory, upgrade it to that level... If you can afford an upgrade to 2 GB, that is preferable.
Next, tell us about your hard drive... how old, what brand,
Tell us, also, about the video graphics card brand and model, as well as age.
You should NEVER have to reseat your video card more than once. Why were you doing that. Handling that card, and performing reseating operations can damage the socket, the motherboard, and the video graphics card.
Then I would reformat your hard drive and do a complete clean install... slowly, while keep notes of what you are doing.
The problem has to be in the CPU (usually not) CPU cooler (much more often), Video Card (there are huge numbers of bad ones out there... that give intermittent problems one day and are fine the next, Hard Drive. Software installed to the hard drive, or Power Supply. Rarely, very rarely, it is the motherboard. And ti can be memory or a damaged memory socket... or one of the adapters to which you connect.
But we may have other comments after we know the components by brand, age, and specs.
We will find the problem....
raybay,
Wow...you have given me a lot of great suggestions...I will have to print them out and do "my homework!" Thanks for all of this...
Now, as to the questions that you asked..
The computer is HP Pavilion Media Center m7350n. I purchased in early 2006, and in summer of 2008, the hard drive was replaced by HP (for very similar problems as I have been experiencing recently, too)
For the past two days, I have been able to get on that computer...so I pulled up the device manager and got this info:
It has a Samsung HD250HJ hard drive
Dual processors: Pentium D CPU 2.80 Ghz, with 2.0 GB RAM
The video card is a NVIDIA GeForce 9400GT. I put this into the computer in May of this year.
I believe that the original hard drive was a maxtor6L25050 ( I found my original paperwork for the computer)
I am very humbled by your knowledge of computers, compared to mine...the reason that I reseated the card a few times is that I figured that I might not have had in correctly...my bad...
As I said, I have been able to get onto the computer yesterday and today...but I did not get online...kinda afraid that doing that would instigate a problem...and I was trying to download a video that I had taken of my granddaughter's first steps...
By the way, what would I need to transfer video from my digital camcorder to my new computer, which doesn't have any included software in it...the old one has a TV tuner and software that I use to do it...but, if I cannot fix that old computer, I still need to be able to get my home videos into DVD format...
Thank you, again for everything!!!
I will keep you posted about my progress with my "homework!"
Wow...you have given me a lot of great suggestions...I will have to print them out and do "my homework!" Thanks for all of this...
Now, as to the questions that you asked..
The computer is HP Pavilion Media Center m7350n. I purchased in early 2006, and in summer of 2008, the hard drive was replaced by HP (for very similar problems as I have been experiencing recently, too)
For the past two days, I have been able to get on that computer...so I pulled up the device manager and got this info:
It has a Samsung HD250HJ hard drive
Dual processors: Pentium D CPU 2.80 Ghz, with 2.0 GB RAM
The video card is a NVIDIA GeForce 9400GT. I put this into the computer in May of this year.
I believe that the original hard drive was a maxtor6L25050 ( I found my original paperwork for the computer)
I am very humbled by your knowledge of computers, compared to mine...the reason that I reseated the card a few times is that I figured that I might not have had in correctly...my bad...
As I said, I have been able to get onto the computer yesterday and today...but I did not get online...kinda afraid that doing that would instigate a problem...and I was trying to download a video that I had taken of my granddaughter's first steps...
By the way, what would I need to transfer video from my digital camcorder to my new computer, which doesn't have any included software in it...the old one has a TV tuner and software that I use to do it...but, if I cannot fix that old computer, I still need to be able to get my home videos into DVD format...
Thank you, again for everything!!!
I will keep you posted about my progress with my "homework!"
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