Major problems with my computer

[sash1]

You can see the see the setup in my rig, but so you don't have to look (so you can spend more time helping me):

Athlon-C 1GHz (not overclocked anymore like it says in my rig, its been un-overclocked for a month+)
ECS SiS 735
Hercules Kyro II
Samsung 128Mb DDR PC2100 RAM *
Western Digital 200BB - 20Gb *

* = components I think that have problems.

Okay, first off, does Samsung make good RAM? The stick was only $10 at the time, so it seemed like a perfect buy since I was on a budget. And I know WD makes awesome hard drives are a cheap price.

So here is the problem: whenever my computer has been being used for any amount of time (around 4 hours), it'll just start to act sluggish and slow. SO I restart my computer. Now, instead of fixing this problem, it makes it even WORSE! Now my computer takes forever to respond. Say I click on the Internet Explorer shortcut, it'll take 5 seconds (I counted - real mississippi seconds) to even start accessing the hard drive or doing something. This will continue forever (I get impatient after about 10 minutes of this happening). So I have to restart again, and sometimes a second time if it doesn't work. So whats the problem?

Also, since I first got my computer, my hard drive has been developing bad sectors every two weeks. And I mean, EVERY TWO WEEKS. And it takes forever to fix. I haven't installed anything for the past month, yet this persists. WTF?! The hell is wrong with my computer? I know a lot about parts, but when it comes to this stuff, I am just clueless. So what is up?

Thanks,

~Aunix

(I am at school right now-ins tudy hall, so this is a bit rushed since the period is almost over. I'll explain more when I get home at 2:15. But any help will be greatly appreciated.)

 

[DN]

Baring any problems with your IDE controller (which I doubt), my guess is that your hard drive is the problem.. The ONLY way you'll know is to either run it in a different PC or better yet, run a new one in YOUR PC.. That's as much as I can say for the moment..

 

[dunkster]

I agree with DM. Symptoms are classic for failing HD. I agree that WD makes good hard drives - but the only HD that failed on me was a WD drive. Stuff happens.

Immediately backup any critical data from that HD. If the problem is your HD, the bad sector problems will worsen rapidly and failure to even boot can be expected soon.

Hope this helps!

 

[sash1]

Hmm, so you doubt its a RAM problem?

Of course, replacing either will cost the same now that RAM costs $70 for a stick of 256Mb; such BS.

I have no spare hard drive. But I have nothing on this computer that I couldn't just reinstall, except MP3s, but I can just make a copy of them all onto a CD then put them back on.

I haven't checked HDD prices, anyone want to give me a heads up? I prefer to buy off newegg, so give me prices off their. I hear Maxtor makes some good drives, any opinions?

Thanks a lot,

~Aunix

 

[WhoDeeny]

Have you checked your CPU temp?

 

[sash1]

<< Have you checked your CPU temp? >>

Yeah.

It runs at 38C, idle to 41C full load. Although I have seen it reach 42C once in a blue moon.

~Aunix

 

[sash1]

Oh yeah, sometimes it says my CMOS battery is low and my CMOS settings are wrong. This happens sporadically, but has happened I think three times since I bought this compuiter (off newegg) and put it together last September. Any clue as to why this'd happen? And what the hell is a CMOS battery?

~Aunix

 

[sash1]

Bump!

How do i replace a CMOS battery? What is up with that?

----I am RMAing the Hard Drive, I'll just have to use my laptop as my desktop for a bit whilst I wait for them to give me a new hard drive.

Thanks,

~Aunix

 

[Zlash]

Uh your CMOS battery is the battery on the mobo, looks like a watch battery that holds the cmos settings for bios. Replace that and see if your problems go away.

 

[sash1]

<< Uh your CMOS battery is the battery on the mobo, looks like a watch battery that holds the cmos settings for bios. Replace that and see if your problems go away. >>

Ahh, so thats what that thing is. Been wondering, guess I should have checked the manual. But then, who needs it when your as smart as me? lol

Thanks,

~Aunix