posted on July 8, 2004 05:56:20 AM new
For a few months now I can't leave it on 24/7 like I used to - it will lock up in the morning (as soon as the screen saver kicks in) and I have to reboot. Well, now the last few days it makes a grinding sound when I'm booting up in the morning. Is it time to start shopping for a new one? I don't want to be stuck one morning without anything. We have a laptop as a back-up, but I don't have any printers attached to it - or Endicia so it would be hard to process packages from it (I would have to go back to doing everything by hand *gasp*)
Am I expieriencing the beginning of the end? If I am I have a really stupid question.....how to I back up my programs to get them on the new computer? I know how to do my files - word documents, etc. My problem is stuff I've downloaded from the internet and paid for, but don't have discs for - Cakewalk Pyro, Roxio, Norton, etc (my desktop is full of icons). I've tried to save those to a disc but the install file doesn't save so I can't put them on another computer....
posted on July 8, 2004 06:35:39 AM new
I leave my on 24/7 too, and mine made the grinding sound as well. It turned out to be dust caked on the fans. One of a computer's greatest enemies is dust. The heat buildup caused by the poorly working fans can result in performance problems. (possibly crashes?)I disconnect mine, open it and dust the fans out every few months.
It's the first thing I would check. Turn off the computer, disconnect all cables, ESPECIALLY the power cable. Open the case. Get help from someone if you can't figure out how to get it open.
Use canned air or mini-vac attachments to clean all the fans gently. Keep any vacuum motor well away from the computer case as you work. I've had to remove, clean and replace the fans on the motherboard at times they were so dirty. Be sure to use only dry methods to clean! In other words, DON'T take the fans out and Windex them.
To back up your programs, you may need more help than any of us can/will instruct in this forum. You can get the data on what to do from Kim Komando, a nationally known computer guru with an online site, newsletter, and syndicated radio show. Her site is at:
Most of all, you need to hook up with someone (family, friend you know you can trust to stick their fingers inside your computer) that is more computer savvy who can physically come over and show you a few tricks to get you on your way.
If that's not available, find a company in your area that does computer repairs. Get help from their tech dept. Tell them your concerns and problems. They will tell you the solutions and/or offer to provide it for you for a fee.
If you installed downloaded programs, usually they are located in your Temp file on the C drive. If you really don't have them, did you save the email that acknowledged your original online purchase? That works as proof of purchase with most online software sellers and they will allow you to download again.
Good maintenance and frequent backups are an absolute must!
posted on July 8, 2004 07:12:54 AM new
install a new fan! it is so cheap and easy to do.
that's what happened to my desktop too, an older HP. Once the fan quit working I also had to install a new power pack. Had both done at a computer repair place locally and as I'm a girl...I did the oh gee is this where it goes? and they put it all in for free. (I took the whole computer in after I'd taken it apart)
You just have to be careful to discharge any static electricity and take off your jewelry and such before you start tinkering in there. So far I've worked on my several times with no harm done...but just be careful.
Call around...different places have BIG differences in prices. HP and a few others have smaller power packs and they may say they have to "special order" them. The place I used had a generic power pack.
Seems like I had it all done for under $50.00 - a WHOLE lot cheaper than a new computer.
posted on July 8, 2004 08:25:22 AM new
Hula - is the grinding sound when you are booting up and if you are saving something to the hard drive etc? It could be that your hard drive is going. Even that is not that big of a deal these days. You can buy hard drives for dirt. Once you have one, which will probably be at least 3 times as large as the one you have right now, you can go to any computer repair shop (assuming you don't want to do it yourself) and have them copy the entire contents of your old drive on to the new one and the new one set up as your start-up drive. You won't lose a thing! the important thing is do take these steps BEFORE it crashes. Copying data is simple and easy. Recovering data is not.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on Jul 8, 2004 08:26 AM ]
posted on July 8, 2004 09:15:06 AM new
The grinding is just when I boot it up, the computer is about 3-1/2 years old. I'll try first to vacuum it out (we have 3 cats, so there probably is a lot of dust in there). There's a lot of stuff on the hard drive that I don't want anymore, and a lot that I do, so probably having someone do it for me before it crashes is the way to go.
posted on July 8, 2004 09:28:21 AM new
Make sure your computer is turned off when you vacuum it. The grinding could be from either the case's fan or the fan on the procssor / chip itself. Be Careful and don't touch the processor's fan. It could also be the hard drive. However, usually when you only hear the grinding noise on boot up, it's those fans.
Replacing the hard drive isn't that difficult if you know what you're doing. You could add the extra drive to the computer and transfer the data over to the new hard drive internally. You must Fdisk it, install windows etc on it before you can do any of that though. I am sorry, I am probably giving you more info than you wanted or needed
Don't use a vaccuum. Get a can of air and use that! Also, don't spray anything other than air inside your computer. The noise you are hearing is most likely your fan. I took mine apart to replace the mother board and yikes, it was a dusty mess inside. I'm surprised the fan worked at all!
Edited to add: I never leave my computer on 24/7. That will aid in burning out your power supply - a costly replacement as I found out.
Cheryl
[ edited by cblev65252 on Jul 8, 2004 11:31 AM ]
posted on July 8, 2004 11:47:09 AM new
I do have a couple of cans of compressed air. I'll try that when I'm done doing all my FP listings for the day...Vendio seems to be slow...
Actually... the theories on the effect of running computers 24/7 in regards to power supplies are just about split 50/50. There are two main theories:
1) Running the computer 24/7 causes an added stress on the computer due to extended length of use.
2) Starting and Shutting down the computer frequently causes an increase in stress due to the higher demands on the mechanical portions of the computer (fans, platters, etc...) and the electrical surge to the power-supply during the start-up phase.
Just about all the studies I've reviewed have been split between these two theories. My personal opinion is that number 2 is more of a threat.... not to mention it saves me time not having to restart my computer. Of course, I'm running a Mac... and if you tried to keep a Windows computer running for more than a couple of weeks you'd have all sorts of problems due to temp files that have been cached... but that's another issue...
posted on July 8, 2004 11:59:19 AM new
Eauctionmgnt,
It is my understanding that the temp files in Windows were only a problem in Win 98 and before. I leave my Win 2000 system running for as long as months without rebooting, unless I install some new program or update that requires it. I used to have to reboot Win 98 at least once per day, as it would lock up.
Personally I'm a Windows user and will continue to be. I tried a Mac over 10 years ago for a few minutes. It was like trying to learn a new language. Didn't like it. I'm not knocking Mac. It just wasn't my thing.
posted on July 8, 2004 11:59:57 AM new
I'm not terribly computer savvy - maybe someone else will step in and explain this better . . . Your freezing up when it goes to screen saver problem happened to me on my work computer. The it person ran what I think she called a "defrag" and that cleared up that problem. Hopefully someone can tell you how to do that (if you don't already know).
posted on July 8, 2004 12:11:00 PM new
meadowlark,
Admitedly, Windows 2000 does a slightly better job with temp files than Win98 did.... but it still can run into problems. A good site explaining temp files and their removal can be found at:
(cherishedclutter, The above link also has a link at the bottom of the page to instructions on defragging.)
As for trying a Mac 10 years ago and not liking it... well... you really should give it another chance. Apple's changed a lot in 10 years. Not to mention that Windows has been trying to copy lots of those changes. Most actual programs work almost identically on both platforms. If you have the opportunity, give it another try.
gee a whole .99 cents to all the way up to $2.49....even if you buy it locally it might cost you a whole $5.00. That way you can get a better one than the put in your computer and not have to worry about it.
replace the fan.
And I tried to replace/add a hard drive to my computer. It made it run slower than ever. I yanked it out and took it back to the store and got my $99. back. It wasn't an easy thing to put in!
Thanks for the info, but no interest in Mac. I LIKE Microsoft products. I don't care if they have problems. I'm still gonna use them.
There's just no way I'm going to plunk down the money for Mac and new software, even though I could afford it. I've always assembled my own PC's after my first one or two. Next time (within a year) I'm gonna buy a Dell w/ flat screen online (great deals!)rather than working on putting everything together myself.
posted on July 8, 2004 04:53:40 PM new
ihula; I think you have 2 problems here that are unrelated. #1 Your fsan is dirty or shot, Thats an easy one to remedy. #2, I don't know what version of windows you are running, but if it is W/98 or ME, that could be your problem on freezeup. I had this same problem with W98. Put in W/2000 & no morer problems. Also what would happen if you deleted the Screen Saver? You can set you "sleep" mode to come on sooner & eliminate the need for S/S. My Gateway is 4+ yrs. old & runs great! Knock on wood.
[ edited by sanmar on Jul 8, 2004 04:55 PM ]
posted on July 8, 2004 05:00:00 PM new
Actually I should clarify (I couldn't remember what to call it). It freezes up when it goes into sleep mode (after 2 hours of non-use). I don't have a screen saver. I'm running Windows XP Home Edition.
posted on July 8, 2004 05:37:33 PM new
ihula ... ever since you posted this, this morning, my 'puter has started moaning and groaning too .... I'm sure it needs cleaned out ... I will try to do that one of these days when I have time.
posted on July 8, 2004 05:47:35 PM new
Go to Control Panel - Power Options and select Always On as your power scheme. That will keep it from going into sleep mode. Good luck!
