Too much heat. Slow now. What part is gone?

[adelante]

Hello,

I had the flu last week, so turned on the heat in my room. Suddently, the computer started acting a bit slow. I realized that it was quite warm in the room (about 30C), and in a few seconds all windows and doors were open (and it was 10C outside).

Now days after the computer is still VERY slow half the time, and half the time it runs like usually, so it's just really unstable.

How can I tell wether it's the harddisk, the processor, ram, motherboard.... that is gone??

I have done several harddisk checks but it didn't find any errors. So it's a bit strange.

When the computer is really slow, I can sometimes hear the harddisk work alot.. any tricks? is my ram "turned off" and is only my vitual ram (the HD being used). Thats why I'm confused. it might be the ram...? or the processor, because the fan was quite dusty.

A few month ago I did an image of my C partition, I rolled that back on but it haven't helped.

I have twice before "burned" a harddisk because I psysically frooze and turned on the heat, and it helped buying a new harddisk, however this time it doesn't find any errors on it.

If it is the harddisk again-again... I think I will buy a fan for it. Which one should I choose?

Hope someone can help, I hadn't planned to buy a new harddisk.

Thanks alot!

 

[wahnula]

Adelante,

Sorry to hear about your problem(s). Hardware folks like to know specs: What make/model/age/CPU/mainboard/how much RAM/capacity/HDD make & model etc.

http://www.belarc.com

has a PC auditing program (free) that will provide the data we seek.

Your PC will not boot without RAM. If you have more than one stick try one stick at a time.

30C is not that bad. Warm but not hot. Is the PC directly on top of the heating outlet?

I have twice before "burned" a harddisk because I psysically frooze and turned on the heat,

Wow. Must be cold where you live. I have always lived in So . US and have never heard of that. This is a good cooler:

http://www.directron.com/a1283.html

Best of luck.

Tony

 

[BadBigBen]

The temp change may be more of a problem here...

I would:

1.) check the temp settings in the BIOS, adjust as needed...

2.) you mentioned dusty HS Fan, clean the whole PC...

3.) unplug all connectors and reseat them, including RAM, PCI Cards, CPU etc. (the temp changes could have caused corrosion to build up)...

4.) run CHKDSK /r, then SFC /Scannow (from the command prompt or run box) just to be safe that the drive is working ok, and that the install files are not corrupted...

and what Tony mentioned, about the system specs, yes do list them...


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[StumblingForward]

Specs would be nice.
Have you run any virus/spy ware programs? It may just be an odd coincidence that it happened when you turned up the heat.
Check your CPU fan, try taking it off reapplying some thermal grease and putting it back on, I had a computer in my shop once that wouldn’t turn on and all it turned out to be was the CPU fan was not all the way on.

When the computer is really slow, I can sometimes hear the harddisk work alot

Is the indexing service enabled on your system. This will make your HDD work to index itself.


Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish.
Albert Einstein

 

[BossaNova]

here's is what ya do.. First since your so worried it's your Harddisk Find the maunfacturer of your HDD on the Net.. Go to their downloads page and search for a Downloadable diagnostics program..& follow their posted instructions.. next go to Microsoft.com in the search box type -> "Windows Memory Diagnostics Program" Find it follow the instructions "very carefully" get it downloaded and make the boot disk-- Diagnose your System memory to make sure it is stable.. There now you have eliminated "HDD" - "RAM" what's next---> CPU now when it comes to your CPU I'm not quite sure how to check it's Health status I'm guessing in BIOS maybe in PC Health / Temperature System Speeds.. or maybe you can got to AMD or INTEL and get info I simply don't know because I've never had issues that involved me diagnosing my CPU... and of coarse do what the other guy said open up your case get some air and clean it out.. I would'nt reseat connections ..mainly cause the problem did'nt arrise from you playing with the inside of your system did it.. cleaning the Dust out of your PC is merely a 2-3 month maintence thing not a troubleshooting technique.. Anyways - Happy Hunting!!

 

[adelante]

Thanks everyone!!! )

I loaned a harddisk from a friends and installed Windows on it, and it ran without problems.

So, I guessed it was the harddisk. I bought a new one, actually the same model and size. I made the exact same partitions:
20 Gb for the system
130 Gb for storage

I installed windows, and connected the old harddisk as "slave" the new one is set to "master".

I booted and hoped that I would be able to see the old partitions, but there is just a G drive, and when I click on it, it asks if I want to format it. I cant do a CHKDSK when windows cant see the partitions.

I tried running GetDataBack. It can see the old partitions, but it also finds some errors, when it scans the harddisk.

So, is there a program to fix the errors?? I remember in windows 95, the whole disk could be scanned and the bad sectors or blocks would be marked with a red square, and the program would try to move the data to some good blocks.

Is there a program similar to this? I'm running NTFS

--------

I located the problem, do you still want the system specs?

 

[BadBigBen]

You could try this:

Unplug the NEW HDD, then Boot from the XP CD into the RECOVERY CONSOLE...

There type FIXMBR, this will try to rewrite the MASTER BOOT RECORD of the OLD Drive and hopefully repair the Partitions...

PS: from the description you gave, it sounds like the MBR got corrupted, possibly due to IMAGING and REPAIR trial and error... then you can try to reinstall the NEW HDD, and recover your DATA...




Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[adelante]

Thanks again. I will try that.

I'm not sure if I can recover anything of any value though, e.g. GetDataBack have earlier when my harddisks have crashed, been able to find a nice piece of data, but this time it cant even find small jpg files. Maybe 1 out of 10. I dont even want to think of big files like iso's.

I will give it a try though.

Thanks alot!!!!

 

[cdogg]

You've overlooked something here. You said:

"I loaned a harddisk from a friends and installed Windows on it"

OK, you didn't transfer the data using a cloning program which makes an exact copy of your old hard drive on the new one. Instead, you "installed" Windows doing a clean install and everything ran fine. That's no surprise since most problems with slowness are software-related issues. You gave yourself a new, fresh install of Windows which made all the difference. There is probably nothing wrong with your old drive.

Now what I would do is make sure you don't have a password set for logging into Windows on the new hard drive. Turn off the PC and switch the drives. Make the old one "master" and the new one "slave". Assuming that you didn't do anything to your old drive, Windows should still boot up and run slow like it did before.

However, you should be able to see your new hard drive assigned to a drive letter. I would copy the files you care to keep over to it. Save them anywhere on the new drive. Then format the old drive and install Windows on it. Pull over the files you backed up and give the drive back to your friend.


~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[wahnula]

I would'nt reseat connections ..mainly cause the problem did'nt arrise from you playing with the inside of your system did it.

I think re-seating was a good troubleshooting idea. High temperature differentials (freezing cold to 30 deg.C) can cause materials to expand and contract, both metal and plastic. It is possible for temperature differentials alone to work things apart all by itself. All it takes is a tiny gap...

 

[cdogg]

whanula,
I agree with the steps you suggested if throwing in a spare hard drive with a clean install of Windows fails. You have to eliminate the operating system or installed software first, no matter how much extra detail the user throws in there to make it seem like a hardware issue.

There are some symptoms that make you troubleshoot the hardware first, but slowness unfortunately is not one of them.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[adelante]

Thanks alot for all the attention.

Latest update:
I did the FIXMBR in the RECOVERY CONSOLE. I made the OLD drive work at some level:
Windows is still slow, but if I wait 10 minutes, then everything seems to be stable, like it should be - however 10 minutes, is a long time for booting!

And there is another problem:
I got Windows installed on both harddrives: the NEW and the OLD.

When I set the OLD to 'master' and the NEW to 'slave', and boot, then I can't see the NEW harddrives partitions in the pathfinder.

If I change and set the NEW harddrive to 'master', and the OLD to 'slave', then I got the same problem!? it can't see the OLD harddrives partitions.

However I managed to copy the most important files to my Mac! it was connected and I had shared some folder.


I hope someone know what to do so that I can access my old files if I boot from my new harddrive.

Thanks alot everyone!!

 

[BadBigBen]

Glad you got the most important data off...

now:

Try to set the NEW as Master on the PRIMARY IDE CONNECTOR (Blue) and the OLD as Master on the SECONDARY IDE CONNECTOR (Black), seperate cables and no CD-ROMs...

talking about cables, have you changed/replaced them yet, with new ones? Bad cables could also cause the symptoms you describe...


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[cdogg]

Do you have a password set to get into Windows? If so, disable it. Make sure the user account "Everyone" has access to your C: drive, subfolders/files, and all other partitions. You must boot into Windows on the old drive to make this change if you want to access it from the newer drive.

Also if it will fit, it might just be easier to throw your backed up data onto a blank CD or DVD.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[adelante]

Just an update:

Thanks to everyone!!! but I'm giving up now.

Everything is just messed up completely, I guess something somewhere it just really nuts, because I was pretty sure it was the harddrive, and I bought a new one, installed windows and everything seemed perfect for a few hours. Until I used folderredirector - I have used it before and it's a great program.

Anyway, I rebooted and now even this brandnew harddrive makes the computer not want to boot, like there is not harddrive connected - same reaction. Nothing at all happends. Not even the first dark screen where you can hit DEL to enter the BIOS.

Then for a moment I thought it was the because of the folderreditor program, because when I connected a 3rd harddrive (the test one, that I borrowed from a friend) then it would boot. However now that doesn't work either!!

I was connecting and disconnecting the harddrives quite a bit without unplugging the power, (just with the power off, but not unplugged) maybe that made things even worse. I dont know, because there haven't been any clear pattern!? Actually the originally harddrive worked perfect for a while, after I connected it hat way...

So, I'm giving up now, I will go spend my savings on a new computer tomorrow, I know a guy who knows alot about building computers, should I let him do it, or should I buy a Dell, that 10k other people got. I dont know haven't desided yet.

Thanks ALOT for you help.

 

[cdogg]

OK. Definitely sounds like a mess, and without knowing every little detail of what you've done, we probably wouldn't get very far trying to troubleshoot it at this point.

One possibility here, however, is that you have a failing power supply or motherboard. Both can cause the kind of erradic behavior you've been seeing.

If you do decide to take another hack at it, I recommend keeping everything at a basic level. Only leave one hard drive connected. Run Windows XP setup formatting a single partition on the hard drive (NTFS). After you get Windows installed, make sure you apply all Windows and hardware updates. Avoid isntalling any 3rd-party software and see how long the PC will run before it has problems again. That's the only way to be certain that you're not creating the problem yourself.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884