Bit Torrent damages computer??

[hugohua]

I use BitComet and the computer is on almost all the time. Recently, after about 8 months of using this computer, it starts to have hardware problem. The problem is that it cannot not boot up. Even when it boots up and goes into Windows, it sometimes hard crashes and restarts.

I originally suspected that the BT program and the file transferring overworked the hard drive, and thus damaged it. But after I unplugged all the hard drives, and started the computer to go to BIOS settings, even then, the computer keeps on hard crashing and restarts.

Now I suspects the power supply and/or the motherboard is damaged. Or something is wrong with the CMOS setting?? I am pretty sure that the Bit Torrent program has something to do with this problem because 8 months ago I had exactly the same problem with the previous old computer.

Any suggestions?

 

[Brainonska511]

Maybe it's just because you always leave the computer on. Try cleaning out the dust from the heatsinks, fans, vents, and power supply.

 

[bob4432]

maybe with all of your downloading you downloaded a virus? the program didn't hurt your computer.

 

[acegazda]

P2P file sharing is practically begging for spyware and viruses. It is probably the psu, as I had a similar problem and fixed it by getting a better psu. Welcome to the forums, and I hope you get it back up and running!

PS. What's your pc's specs?

 

[Kromis]

Tsk tsk tsk...I should call the cops to bust a cap in your... (Kidding!)

I don't think its the program that is causing your computer to act strangely. I think its the fact that maybe you shouldn't open your ports or shouldn't leave your computer on. Now then, since that is the past, we'll ignore that.

Have you tried using another hard drive to see if the problem is Bit Torrent? I mean, computers get jacked up all the time. The computer I'm using now is currently jacked up after like 6 months since I reinstalled my Windows!

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

BitTorrent is software, which cannot damage hardware in any way.

 

[zest]

Probably got a virus or nasty trojan ....
Run sweeps in safe mode..
Ststem restore! pehaps
Other than that .your hadware is knackered

Yery unlikley that BT screwed your system.

 

[Lemon law]

Bit torrent--and for that matter---any software can't damage hardware. But your hardware will be damaged by hours of use---sooner or later electronics will fail---and all that sucked in dust does not help either.

Alternately p2p sharing is not exactly safe----and if you are doing p2p, bit torrent is probably the worse single program you can use in terms of picking up malware. Just downloading and installing the program guarantees you get a very healthy dose of malware.---and thats before you even use it.

I find the malware removal advice you got as somewhat skimy---go to somewhere like spywarewarriors forums or castle cops for better advice. Only after all the malware is removed can you absolve it as a cause of system unstability---and even then you may have to repair or reinstall various files damaged by malware.

But as I reread the original post---and this is doing this in the bios---and before it even loads from the hard drive---it has to be either hardware failure or incompatable cmos settings.

 

[0roo0roo]

dust.
overheating
psu going bad,
hell any part can go bad, its not unknown. it doesn't have anythinmg to do with p2p, p2p is less stressful than say gaming it doesnt spin up or spin down the harddrive constantly, harddrives just spin until they go into powersaving anyways. as for wear, harddrives should last years, and if they dont, well thats just the luck of the draw for consumer stuff. you can't blame p2p. if the harddrive is corrupt check SMART using some util from your harddrive manufacturers site or something like everest or speedfan. if you format c and reinstall windows and it goes awy its not your harddrive.

 

[0roo0roo]

and u forgot to mention what this computer is. did you build it? did u have adequate ventilation

 

[hugohua]

Thanks for the response
The PC is just basic one.

I clean out the dust, disconnected and reconnected all the cables, switched to a good hard drive.
The system is still unstable. Once in a while I can get the whole system up and running, but that is after many times of switching the power on. It seems that the power supply is weak and have hard time to power up the hard drive.

My guess is that the PSU and/or a component of the mobo is damaged/unstable. The BT software certainly did not damage the hard drive. But leaving the computer on for long periods of time in the warm weather of southern California without air con was certainly not good for the computer. But I would be surprised if the issue is really overheating because I dont overclock or gaming

Just strange.....

 

[Bill Brasky]

When using torrent software, only the hard disk can be "damaged" from being over worked causing high temps and regular wear and tear.

If you have access, you should try another psu. Your symptoms sound like a dying power supply to me.

bit torrent is probably the worse single program you can use in terms of picking up malware.

I found the exact opposite when using bit torrent, assuming you choose good torrents. I have never been infected from downloading a torrent. Needless to say, that was not the case when I used Kazaa back in my noob days.

 

[johndez]

Had same problem a while back. Definitly sounds like psu. Bittorrent will not harm hardware. Good free online scan trendmicro.com

 

[bob4432]

you peeps say it could possibly be the heat and all, but that is highly unlikely. think about what an atm machine is - just a computer with regular internals including hdds. they are out here in the az sun all summer long and most of them last quite some time. sure a couple die here and there but not much % when you figure in the entire amount of them.

i say it is either a psu or virus.

 

[RichUK]

You may have downloaded a virus that is maliciously eating away at the PCB on your motherboard.

 

[Nightmare225]

Originally posted by: Zaitsev

bit torrent is probably the worse single program you can use in terms of picking up malware.

I found the exact opposite when using bit torrent, assuming you choose good torrents. I have never been infected from downloading a torrent. Needless to say, that was not the case when I used Kazaa back in my noob days.

Exactly the same for me. Not once have I been infected, I think.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Originally posted by: RichUK
You may have downloaded a virus that is maliciously eating away at the PCB on your motherboard.

:laugh: Could I quote that?

 

[L00ker]

Originally posted by: Nightmare225

Originally posted by: Zaitsev

bit torrent is probably the worse single program you can use in terms of picking up malware.

I found the exact opposite when using bit torrent, assuming you choose good torrents. I have never been infected from downloading a torrent. Needless to say, that was not the case when I used Kazaa back in my noob days.

Exactly the same for me. Not once have I been infected, I think.

Same here, pretty much when you d/l p2p warez don't be dumb about it and you won't have a problem and even if you are supah 31337 and end up infucted it's not THAT hard to fix... as long as you have a decent virus scanner (real one not some shareware junk) and spyware removal tools it is pretty easy to prevent infections, I go to numerous sites a week that most people would end up with 10,000,000 infections with and generally get the info I am looking for and come out otherwise unscathed...

 

[moonsite]

You might also want to check your memory. Leaving the computer on for a long time can also affect the memory, especially with the heat and dust. Run memtest on it.