troubleshooting dying desktop

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arcon

413 posts

Ultimate Geek

#147326 16-Jun-2014 12:30

got a problem with my folks desktop PC, its about 6 yrs old.

occasionally i'll get cmos checksum error - i originally thought maybe just cmos battery, but sometimes it will go further & BSOD when loading windows "pc has encountered a problem and will be shut down to prevent damage". other times it will just freeze when loading windows, mouse & kb unresponsive.

it fails 100% of the time lol, never actually makes it into windows 7, whether in safe mode or not. last full hdd scan was maybe 6 months back, no bad sectors.

dead mobo?

Dynamic

3574 posts

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#1066583 16-Jun-2014 12:44

I don't have a specific resolution for you.

You could try a BIOS update if there is one available. Depending on the tools the manufacturer makes available you might have to be in Windows to install this.

Does the BSoD say anything useful or googlable?

Does the BIOS have anything SMART related to check the hard drive health? The CMOS errors and the failure to start may not be related. Some manufacturers (Dell in particular springs to mind - they deserve a kicking for this) have the SMART hard drive fault reporting disabled. The drive manufacturer may have some offline tools that can be started from a CD.

If you can borrow a hard drive and have the skills to install Windows and download/install drivers you could disconnect the existing drive and try a fresh installation temporarily (don't Activate windows for this temporary installation). If the fresh installation fails you can be pretty sure the mobo/cpu is on its last legs. If you need a drive and advise your location, someone may have an old one spare/cheap.

It couldn't hurt to do a memory test. The Windows 7 installation DVDs I think have this as a part of their repair tools or you can use memtest86 or similar burnt to a CD.

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CYaBro

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#1066593 16-Jun-2014 12:53

Just because you did full HDD scan 6 months ago doesn't mean there isn't a problem with the hard drive now.
I'd suspect a RAM issue first though, you could try download Memtest and give that a run for a few hours.

arcon

413 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1066594 16-Jun-2014 12:54

memtest cd is a good idea will try that.

i can install windows/drivers etc but don't have a spare drive. i have another pc which i can plug the folks hdd into to do a surface scan i suppose, but i'm fairly confident its not the hdd.

will report back after tests.

arcon

413 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1066831 16-Jun-2014 17:25

faulty ram. lol, memtest chucked a mental on the first pass. replaced the 2GB A-data dimm with some G-skill and its all good.

Ramjet007

311 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1067230 17-Jun-2014 05:54

CPU fan? You getting any beeping?

1101

3083 posts

Uber Geek

#1067341 17-Jun-2014 11:27

arcon: faulty ram. lol, memtest chucked a mental on the first pass. replaced the 2GB A-data dimm .....

Ive come across more faulty Adata RAM than all other brands combined. In clients & in my own PC's
Ive even had brand new ADATA fail, then the warranty replacement ADATA was faulty , ( 2nd replacement worked )
It really is rubbish.

Strange as the Adata USB memory sticks are good .