Help! Computer = Teh Borked!

MantridMantrid Lockpick Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24109Members
in Off-Topic
My computer is dying. I can't even start it anymore. The setup is two harddrives, one used almost entirely for the OS (Windows 2000), and another that I install programs to and where downloads end up, et cetera. Obviously, the second drive can't be the culprit, since it carries no system-critical files. And, I already scanned it using Norton, and Housecall (I swapped out the system drive with a 2 GB harddrive with nothing but a clean install of Windows 2000 and Norton on it that we keep around just for this purpose). That drive is clean. I also managed to scan the system drive, after wrestling with various Master/slave configuration problems. That had four infections, which I cleaned.

Anyway, the problem is that the system is highly unstable. It crashes, freezes, and restarts itself randomly. It even does it when I try to repair Windows by booting from the dvd-rom drive.

What is it? Is it a hardware problem? This harddrive has been running almost continuously for almost six years, has it finally worn out? What do I need to do?
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Comments

  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    Sounds dead, get a new one.
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  • DragonMechDragonMech Join Date: 2003-09-19 Member: 21023Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    I'm with the 'bewse on this one - I'f you've had it for 6 years, get a new one.
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  • MantridMantrid Lockpick Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24109Members
    Thats not really an option. We're not the kind of people who can just throw money at problems. Besides, theres so much that can be saved. Do I just need a new hard drive (because we have a few lying around), or do you think I need a new CPU?

    And could it have anything to do with my hooking up a second monitor? My video card supports two, and I don't see how it would be a problem.
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  • SpoogeSpooge Thunderbolt missile in your cheerios Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 67Members
    Possibilities in order:

    1. RAM. Try 1 stick at a time in different slots and see if the problem repeats.
    2. Overheating.
    3. Power Supply.


    I was having a similar problem recently with my XP Pro machine. I decided to upgrade my PSU, CPU, Mobo, and RAM. During the repair install of XP, it went looking for some files for RADlinker from the Omega drivers I used to have. I thought I had uninstalled all of that stuff but apparently not. It was a major hassle because the files it wanted were no longer on my machine. So once I got into Windows, I ran <a href='http://www.drivercleaner.net/' target='_blank'>Driver Cleaner</a> and went through all my Windows updates. Haven't had a crash since (knock on wood).
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  • MantridMantrid Lockpick Join Date: 2003-12-07 Member: 24109Members
    Well, I know that Overheating isn't the problem, since, while I'm working on it, I have the case open, and the area around it/hardrives/case doesn't feel warm at all.
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    You could always try a low lwvel format with whatever utility the HD manufacturer provide. Maxtor is Powermax I beleive.
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  • BulletHeadBulletHead Join Date: 2004-07-22 Member: 30049Members
    defrag and run SpyBot

    *shrug*
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  • BaconTheoryBaconTheory Join Date: 2003-09-06 Member: 20615Members
    Well I would just go out and a get a new hard drive and be done with it. You can get a 80GB Seagate hard drive for about $45, which is fairly inexpensive. I would also say that its time to back up your crap on the second hard drive and reformat it.
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