computer issues

[Bigfoot]

There was a reason that emachines were sold so cheap. They were built with the least expensive parts avaliable. They were basically a disposable pc.

[planedick]

Avast

Avast is free and highly recomended by my tech people.

[oldyam80sg]

Tried to do what was said earlier by clicking fix systems error box.Heard a click and computer shut off.When it started again big message appeared saying that problem with windows existed and tried to run it in safe mode-no good.Kept getting same big message.The guy at work that sold it to me -I'm convinced that he sold me his junk after he had problems with it.I took out the hard drive-Again if anyone wants to deal with this-send me the cost of shipping and i will send you this computer.

[oldyam80sg]

Went to work on Monday and told the guy that sold it to me about the problem.How long should a hard drive last?Never had a problem with my Compaq.

[oldyam80sg]

On my Compaq-when i checked out the event viewer,i found some errors but they mostly talk about timed out issues from Microsoft.Checked volume for errors and things are clean-should i worry?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Peter,

I sent you that spare little HD Monday, thought it might make it to you by Wednesday since it was Priority Mail, but with the last minute holiday rush it might have been delayed, you will probably see it on Friday!

With Windows XP, bring up my computer, click on the hard drive and click Properties, then tools, and check disk for errors, check both check boxes in the popup window, and then okay, it will then reboot the computer into DOS mode to perform the checkdisc function.

Hard drives can act funny/intermittent read/write errors depending on what part is breaking down. The problems occur when the read/write heads accidentally come in contact with the disc surfaces..they are supposed to float across them without touching them, but once they do, they scratch the magnetic surface, damaging it so that it won't store the info correctly. Some parts of the disc will not be damaged, so other programs and such may run, but can freeze when encounters read errors, etc.!!

Hard drives can last a few years or more, depending on whether the computer is left on all the time, or turned off, as well as if the power settings are set to spin down/idle the HD after so much inactivity, etc.! The old adage is not IF the HD will crash, but WHEN!! Hence the need for physical backups to CDR or DVDr type discs of any files that you create, download....ie. mp3's etc. Only the program files that you already have on your install discs do not need to be backed up since you have them to perform reinstalls with!!

IIRC, you can also check out Compaq/Hp's site, in the support section, you can find and D/L diagnostics programs they provide to check many other functions of the computer!
T.C.

[Jerry]

hard drive reliability

Hard drives are rated as hours MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) but there is serious doubt about the usefulness of that rating. A good article is at:
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Data-Storag...Flap-or-Farce/

[oldyam80sg]

I posted on several sites about event viewer in admin tools and did not get an answer.Apparently every computer i have checked has got warning messages and they are in red.Still computer runs fine as i have put another hard drive in(Thanks TC) and everything runs smooth.

[CatatonicBug]

I agree with Jerry. Hard Drives should last a few years at least, but there is never a guarantee. The moving parts and variable conditions that they are forced to live in (pet hair, cigarette smoke, dust bunnies, etc.) can really play with the life span. The thing to remember with HD's is that they WILL die. It's not a matter of if, it's just WHEN they will die. I have a HD in one of my PCs that has been running continuously for years (I don't turn off my computers) and has been re-formatted several times to make room for various projects, but I have also seen them die in less than 2 years.

Always be sure to back up your systems on a regular basis. Keep a CD of all your files, and always keep the original installation discs for all programs you have installed.

[TopCatGr58]

I agree with Jerry. Hard Drives should last a few years at least, but there is never a guarantee. The moving parts and variable conditions that they are forced to live in (pet hair, cigarette smoke, dust bunnies, etc.) can really play with the life span.

Hey Bug,

Surprisingly, the things you listed above actually don't have any affects on the HD's because they are hermetically sealed items at the factory, remember those scenes of clean rooms you see on TV, guys in those fancy white overalls with masks and such??

These contaminants CAN and DO affect the operation of floppy disc drives, and cooling fans and such, and can cause overheating of the CPU and other cards if not kept cleaned out, but the HD's are essentially impervious to these things. Vibration, shock, heat, and internal flaws are what causes the HD's to break down.
T.C.

[CatatonicBug]

Hey Bug,

Surprisingly, the things you listed above actually don't have any affects on the HD's because they are hermetically sealed items at the factory, remember those scenes of clean rooms you see on TV, guys in those fancy white overalls with masks and such??

These contaminants CAN and DO affect the operation of floppy disc drives, and cooling fans and such, and can cause overheating of the CPU and other cards if not kept cleaned out, but the HD's are essentially impervious to these things. Vibration, shock, heat, and internal flaws are what causes the HD's to break down.
T.C.

I agree, they don't affect the HD directly, but a PC is a system, and all the parts work together. If the fans/air ducts get clogged, heat rises, and it fries all the parts inside. I was actually just trying to emphasize the fact that there are many variables (some we can control, some we cannot) that can affect the life span of a HD.

[cywelchjr]

Hey Bug,

Surprisingly, the things you listed above actually don't have any affects on the HD's because they are hermetically sealed items at the factory, remember those scenes of clean rooms you see on TV, guys in those fancy white overalls with masks and such??

These contaminants CAN and DO affect the operation of floppy disc drives, and cooling fans and such, and can cause overheating of the CPU and other cards if not kept cleaned out, but the HD's are essentially impervious to these things. Vibration, shock, heat, and internal flaws are what causes the HD's to break down.
T.C.

And no matter how much you watch the other stuff, cat pee on the circuit board tends to turn them into paperweights.