Opinions? PC tech mystery

daniel1212 | 12-21-2011 | daniel1212

[daniel1212]

But most importantly, make sure you are "online" with the Lord Jesus, and get "virus" disinfection and a heavenly OS from Him to "boot" from daily:)

[daniel1212]

Thanks for your prayers.

[Keith in Iowa]

Find another computer with similar - better specs that needs a HD, and stick the HD in it, and take the old thing to a recycle bin, and toss it in.

[Wayne07]

SInce you are familiar with linux, why dont you try booting a linux distro like knoppix from USB (http://www.pendrivelinux.com/). If you can get it up an running, you can run a hard drive check. Most likely reasons for failure are usually power supply, or hard drive. Usually power supply is a complete failure, though. If you can boot linux, also run their memory checker.

[Dr. Sivana]

It could be that moving the mobo reseated the memory. You might just have a funky DIMM in there.

[Doc Savage]

No mystery here. Junk it and buy a Mac.

[daniel1212]

Well, this is rather fast, being 2.8ghz and tweaked. The main advantage is that 64 bit can take more ram, as i use of most 3gb even in XP.

I did see these as offering the best buys. What do you think:

http://www.computerlx.com/view_cart.aspx

http://www.pricewatch.com/gallery/computer_systems_with_os/phenom_555

http://www.pricewatch.com/computer_systems_with_os/

http://www.pricewatch.com/gallery/computer_systems_with_os/athlon_ii_x4_640

[waynesa98]

you may have bought some time but with the capacitor going its only a matter of time. Go to the MFG website find the service guide, it will tell you how to do the rip down, replace the capacitors, clean it up then back it up. BTW get the hard drive diagnostic program from the HD MFG and make sure its fine. Lastly check the ram with a memory checker program.

Dell has a dos level hardware diagnostic suite, you should see if there is one for your system.

[smokingfrog]

Could have been some bad memory or mobo shorting on the case.

Use memtest86 to see if the memory is okay.

If your motherboard has swollen capacitors, I think I would plan on rebuilding that computer real soon.

[daniel1212]

No, even when i booted into Linus it was inconsistent, and now it runs fine. I did not touch the memory after swapping them out to no avail.

[Keith in Iowa]

Get the best specs you can afford... slap your HD in, and go...

[daniel1212]

Can Windows users go to Heaven?

[daniel1212]

No, they are not close, and had swapped them, running with only one and then trying another. And while this is the 1st day back it running without a noticeable hitch (event manager also good).

[Wayne07]

I was assuming your linux was on a partition on the same drive as your windows install (or a second drive, but same ide controller ).

By booting linux from a usb stick, you can avoid any problem that your drive might be having, and safely run diagnostics on it.

[celtic gal]

Ditto..buy a MAC.There are a lot to choose from too to meet your needs.

[steveo]

Did you check the MB battery? I had an issue once similar and replacing the battery was the fix.

In my younger days, I wanted to use one of the new fangled VGA cards, but the bios chip wouldn't support it. I had to de-solder the bios chip and solder the new on in. That's they way we did it back then and we liked it!

[daniel1212]

Yes, it is only one, but that can be all it takes.

[daniel1212]

Will check. Thanks!

[mamelukesabre]

It’s not a mystery. Obama and Eric Holder are spying on you using your own computer.

[daniel1212]

I hear you. Will try to make best use of the funds that be, as needed.