PC problem.

MCMLXXXVIII · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 11:52 am **Post subject:** PC problem.

My computer's a few years old now, and recently I've been getting onscreen blackouts of about a second or so, more recently it does this a few times and freezes completely so only a hard reboot will get it back again.

Sometimes when I boot up all is fine, and it will run fine until power off, it seems that it's random whether I'll get this problem or not.

I'm new to PC diagnostics, so where to start looking for the problem? I've checked the connections already, and they seem fine, so where next?

I'm running XP (not SP2) on a Medion. Thanks for any help.

Geezus · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:09 pm **Post subject:** Re: PC problem.

MCMLXXXVIII wrote:

My computer's a few years old now, and recently I've been getting onscreen blackouts of about a second or so, more recently it does this a few times and freezes completely so only a hard reboot will get it back again.

Sometimes when I boot up all is fine, and it will run fine until power off, it seems that it's random whether I'll get this problem or not.

I'm new to PC diagnostics, so where to start looking for the problem? I've checked the connections already, and they seem fine, so where next?

I'm running XP (not SP2) on a Medion. Thanks for any help.

Hmm...Medion..... :wacky:

budget brand....

I smell a cost-corner-cutting-walking-on-its-last-legs power supply ....
Trouble is the only way to be sure of that is to open up the hood and replace it with a spare , more powerfull power supply....

MCMLXXXVIII · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:21 pm **Post subject:** Re: PC problem.

Geezus wrote:

Hmm...Medion..... :wacky:

budget brand....

I smell a cost-corner-cutting-walking-on-its-last-legs power supply ....
Trouble is the only way to be sure of that is to open up the hood and replace it with a spare , more powerfull power supply....

Yep, I got it from Aldi. :oops:

It was cheap for the spec at the time and to be honest it's given me no problems for a long time with A LOT of use until now.

Thanks for the power supply tip, I'll look into that. Is there a way to tell for sure that that's what it is?

PC_Arcade · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:21 pm **Post subject:**

Check your voltages in the BIOS specifically the power being supplied on the 3.3v, 5v and 12v rails.

Although I'd be more inclined to point my finger at the gfx card, the PSU is probably, as Geezus rightly says, likely to be a cheap and crappy PSU.

Swap out the Gfx card, see if it cures the problem, do you have a spare Gfx card?

MCMLXXXVIII · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:25 pm **Post subject:**

PC_Arcade wrote:

Check your voltages in the BIOS specifically the power being supplied on the 3.3v, 5v and 12v rails.

Thanks for the tip, can you go into more detail on how to check this?

PC_Arcade wrote:

Although I'd be more inclined to point my finger at the gfx card, the PSU is probably, as Geezus rightly says, likely to be a cheap and crappy PSU.

Swap out the Gfx card, see if it cures the problem, do you have a spare Gfx card?

I don't really have access to any spare parts, is there any other way to check the condition of the power supply and graphics card? Diagnostic software eg.?

PC_Arcade · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:27 pm **Post subject:**

The PSU is easy to check, go into the BIOS and look at the voltages being supplied, leave the machine on (as long as it will stay on) and see if they fluctuate.

They should be within 10% of the stated voltage, if not the PSU is knackered

MCMLXXXVIII · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:49 pm **Post subject:**

PC_Arcade wrote:

The PSU is easy to check, go into the BIOS and look at the voltages being supplied, leave the machine on (as long as it will stay on) and see if they fluctuate.

They should be within 10% of the stated voltage, if not the PSU is knackered

How do I get to the BIOS, is this done during startup?

PC_Arcade · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:53 pm **Post subject:**

Yeah, it's usually done by pressing the "delete" key as soon as the machine starts up, before you start booting windows

MCMLXXXVIII · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:35 pm **Post subject:**

Thanks PCA, I'll try it tonight when I get home from work.

TaKYoN · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 4:45 pm **Post subject:**

I agree with PCA on this one, the things you have to check are real easy and a sensible, low cost, way to eliminate or identify issues.

I have had a few machines to fix with issues like this, and 80% of the time it is either GFX card or the divers for it.

I would definitely check the voltages too, an easy and quick test. BTW, I often just keep tapping the delete key until the BIOS pops up, I have had a few machines that you had to either time the key press right or just keep whacking the bitch.

MCMLXXXVIII · **Posted:** Fri Dec 09, 2005 7:02 pm **Post subject:**

I can't see anything about voltages in BIOS.

DropDeadFred · **Posted:** Fri Dec 09, 2005 9:22 pm **Post subject:**

You can use a free program called speedfan to check voltages while in windows.
It will also report temperatures and fan speed (assuming your motherboard is supported)

Homepage http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

PC_Arcade · **Posted:** Fri Dec 09, 2005 9:42 pm **Post subject:**

MCMLXXXVIII wrote:

I can't see anything about voltages in BIOS.

If you have an Award BIOS, it's under PC Health

PC_Arcade · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:05 am **Post subject:**

MCMLXXXVIII, any luck?

MCMLXXXVIII · **Posted:** Mon Dec 19, 2005 5:30 pm **Post subject:**

Well, the PC has stopped freezing for the time being, but on some boots it makes a terrible noise (sounds like a faulty fan somewhere). :roll:

TaKYoN · **Posted:** Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:14 pm **Post subject:**

Fan eh? I once worked on a system where a faulty PSU was making the fans, they were speed controllable btw, do some really weird stuff, spinning right up then right down, none at all or just a couple, he had 4.

PC problem.

Who is online