Warning Signs?

[Claytens]

Just wondering if anyone can tell me if there are warning signs of ones computer about to take a crap?

I wonder if its my cpu, my video files will not play anymore with out being choppy or just hardly running at all.
The sound works somtimes and not other times, and all around preformace seems crappier than normal this could be the sound card.

I have ran spyware apps, spybot, adaware, and I have run virus checks everything is good.
My PC is pushing 5 years.

650mhz
40 gig hd
384 ram

Any help or suggestions are apprieciated.

 

[Claytens]

anyone?

 

[DerwenArtos12]

could be any number of things, i don't thinkg anyone could give you a really difinative answer unless it was just good guess based on your discription. Seeing as to the speed I woudl just suggest you back-up your files, build a new machine and throw this one off of a very high building.

 

[farscape]

Sounds like...

Someone's hankerin' for a new PC and looking for an (the) excuse to get something new.

It all depends on what you use the system for - email, web surfing, Word, IMing - I see no problem with what you have. But...

If you are a gamer, don't like getting a cup of coffee or two ( or three) as your system boots, defrags, rips a few music tracks, etc., well then it might be the time for something more up to date.

When a system cannot DO what you need it to do anymore, or will not run what you need to run, it's time for an upgrade.

If you are trying to convince your parents/wife/significant other - don't use gaming as a "need" unless they are gamers also.

Video editing - yes.
Photo editing - yes.
College - YESYES, YES.

Give me a few more minutes and I will think of a few more ideas

 

[Claytens]

Yes I am in need of a new system and this comp going screwy is a good excuse to bad it had to be this way, I will miss this system it has been with be throught the good and the bad. Oh and I just noticed the cpu seems to run at 100% running adaware and clean up programs, huh

 

[wisdomtooth]

Originally posted by: Claytens
Just wondering if anyone can tell me if there are warning signs of ones computer about to take a crap?

I wonder if its my cpu, my video files will not play anymore with out being choppy or just hardly running at all.
The sound works somtimes and not other times, and all around preformace seems crappier than normal this could be the sound card.

I have ran spyware apps, spybot, adaware, and I have run virus checks everything is good.
My PC is pushing 5 years.

650mhz
40 gig hd
384 ram

Any help or suggestions are apprieciated.

When was the last time you did a clean reinstall of your OS?

If it's been more than a year, you might consider doing that. Sometimes the difference that makes in performance is night and day.

 

[flamingspinach]

Originally posted by: wisdomtooth
When was the last time you did a clean reinstall of your OS?

If it's been more than a year, you might consider doing that. Sometimes the difference that makes in performance is night and day.

Ditto. I had a computer for three years (2000-2003), during which I did not reinstall the OS once - ouchies. I was too emotionally attached to my Windows profile, I guess.

Hey, it's about time to reformat this comp too... hmm...

-fs

 

[drpootums]

ya, an OS reinstall might do the trick

 

[InlineFive]

It just might be that you have an older, slower system. But, cheapest fix first. I would try an OS reinstall and if that doesn't work, perhaps build a new comp.

 

[mdbusa]

I agree with the other posters that reinstalling will probably make a huge difference. Also I would take it all apart and do a good cleaning, contacts etc..

If it works but too slow for your uses then just buy another pc and keep it as a backup. Ca network the 2 together more more possibilities.

Another possibility would be to upgrade the cpu-see what your MB supports and if you can find a cheap used cpu that fits the bill.

 

[Claytens]

It has been about a year since I did a clean install, I did it when I got xp home ed. for christmas. When I have time I will have to give it a try. And as for a new processor the max is like an 850mhz, I dont think it would make much differance, or were to find such an old piece.

I have been waiting for after the new year to hopefully build me a PC.

 

[Bozo Galora]

check with a magnifying glass to see if your capacitors are leaking (brown crud) or bulging on top. These are the taller colored "cans" of various heights. Most mobo have about 20 of three sizes.. The big ones around the cpu should have only flat "x"'s on top - no doming at all.

 

[Claytens]

I just checked and 800mhz P3 is the highest I can go and its like $32 but still dont know if its worth the hassle.

 

[wisdomtooth]

You might want to check several things:

1) if your P3-650 is a Coppermine (i.e. if it has 256K L2 Cache).

2) if your motherboard supports a 133mHz bus.

3) if you got PC133 SDRAM.

4) if your AGP vid card can tolerate 90mHz AGP bus.

If your answers to all of the above is yes, you can overclock your P3-650 to 866mHz.


Anyway, the P3 is still a decent platform that will do everything except play the latest and greatest games. Hell, my brother-in-law still uses a 6-year-old Celeron 300A and it's a trusty workhorse (after I upgraded his RAM to 512MB and reinstalled his OS of course).

 

[Claytens]

ah well just tried to turn the darn thing off and it just restarted, I tried it twice! If its not one thing its the other. I have ran a full virus scan and adware scan its all clean. I had this problem once but I did somthing to fix it, cant remember what.

Just curious If a reinstall Xp I will have to register it agian right? Is there a limit to how many times you can do this? I have done it twice, Once I installed over 98 yeah I know big mistake. I learned the hard way. Then I did a clean install a year ago. I just dont want them to like lock out my XP OS.

 

[wisdomtooth]

Yes, if you reinstall XP it will go through that product activation crap. You should not get locked out though because no one else is using your copy and already activated it on a different machine. At least I hope that's your case.

Speaking of which... Since my university had a volume license, the free (and legal!) copy of Windows XP I got through my school is the corporate edition and did not require activation. If you are a college student, you might want to see if your school has a similar offer.

 

[NarcoticHobo]

go to run, type msconfig, go to startup processes and disable any and all of those that you don't need.

 

[tiap]

I wonder if its my cpu, my video files will not play anymore with out being choppy or just hardly running at all.

It obviously isn't working as well as it once used to. Your system specs are just at the lower limit of doing seamless video. So you must try to remember if the SAME video was once good or not.
With the problems you mention, it sounds more like maleware, spyware, virus etc or just too many conflicting drivers or system bloat etc.
The EASIEST fix is to return to your original state. Do a fdisk, format and fresh install of xp, and update all drivers etc. After doing that, decide if the box meets you minimum needs.
And yes, as long as you have a legal copy your can reinstall an unlimited amount of times on the same machine.

wonder if its my cpu,

99% of the time it either works totally or doesn't. Yours was a decent cool running cpu, but if you have intermittant problems , check that your cpu fan is still working and blow the dust out of the system.

I just replaced a ps in one very similar to your specs, they are thrilled with it. They use it for kareoke cd burning etc. and they said they don't forsee replacing it ever, as long as it works. Not everyone is on the 'latest and greatest' kick.
Believe it or not, I still have customers using Pentium 200mmx boxes for specific needs and they are very happy with them.
It's all about getting the job done.