My computers developed a fault. Can anyone help?

[Harbidge]

I'm going to be seen here less frequently because something has gone weong with my computer.

It's become much frequent now, but has been going on for about a fortnight. At seemingly random moments (but recently it's been happening just after the computer has been booted up) the screen suddenly goes black (like it's just been turned off) and then the picture comes back but the graphics are slightly offset and it's frozen.

I'm thinking that my graphics card is the culprit. I'm hoping a long spell of non-use may help.

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[SleepyHead]

Sounds more like a memory problem. It still may be your graphics card causing it, but it really sounds like you need some more ram, or at least replace the ram you have...

Anyone else got any ideas?

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[Harbidge]

It's only a year old. When I looked into the back i saw that it's caked with dust. Could this be causing the problem?

If it isn't that, then it has to be the graphics card. It's the only thing I can think of that would cause this.

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Paul is Dead - The Conclusive Evidence (http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/paulisdead) - "The biggest and most informative website on the internet about the biggest rock 'n' roll conspiracy of the 20th century."
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Tahoma, Arial, Sans-Serif">Quote:</font><HR>Originally Posted By SleepyHead:
it really sounds like you need some more ram, or at least replace the ram you have...

Anyone else got any ideas?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

or a new computer?

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[Harbidge]

I've got it running at the moment with a different monitor and strangely nothing has happened :S I am currently running a virus check on it which has uncovered two trojans and the 'badtrans' virus. They'll be wiped as soon as the scan is over.

Could this have been causing the blanking screen and resulting freeze?

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Paul is Dead - The Conclusive Evidence (http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/paulisdead) - "The biggest and most informative website on the internet about the biggest rock 'n' roll conspiracy of the 20th century."
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TVGhosts (http://tvghosts.cjb.net) - Exploring the fantastic phenomena known as TVGhosts. Faces that appear in turned off televisions in photographs.

[HMVNipper]

Yes, Harb, those viruses could have done something to the computer for sure. Those worm viruses get into everything! If you still have the problem after you disinfect the computer, I would suggest what Sleepy said and trying to get some more RAM, and then I'd check the graphics card. Also, make sure that the viruses didn't infect your video drivers...

Good luck!

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[Harbidge]

It's still holding up.

Personally I think it was because it got overheated. Where it originally was there was no ventilation and the computer got incredibly hot. Now it's had a chance to coll down and work in a cool well aired area it's working fine.

Trouble is, is that if I do so much as to take the cover off the base unit, i void the warranty that's on it. THat's handy if I want to install a CD-RW. It means I'd have to take it to Comet and get them to do it!!! Jeez!

But I think the computer isn't as bad as it seems. Phew!

------------------
Paul is Dead - The Conclusive Evidence (http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/paulisdead) - "The biggest and most informative website on the internet about the biggest rock 'n' roll conspiracy of the 20th century."
The Definitive Introducing the Beatles Authentification Guide (http://introducing.cjb.net) - "Fantastic site. One of a kind in this subject and a site that all collectors can refer too."
TVGhosts (http://tvghosts.cjb.net) - Exploring the fantastic phenomena known as TVGhosts. Faces that appear in turned off televisions in photographs.

[SleepyHead]

If your computer is hot or warm, you need to check your fans. Definitely dust it off, but if taking off the cover voids the warranty, your best bet would be to take it in and have Comet check the fans one by one and replace the one that's going out. Ideally, you should have a fan for the cpu, one for each of your physical drives, and plenty of ventilation. Our warranty doesn't restrict us from performing such minor repairs/upgrades, so we remove the cover when we need to clean the dust out of the components (which builds up alarmingly fast.)

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[Harbidge]

Well, nothing went wrong with it's trial run today, which leads to the conclusion that it just got overheated.

------------------
Paul is Dead - The Conclusive Evidence (http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/paulisdead) - "The biggest and most informative website on the internet about the biggest rock 'n' roll conspiracy of the 20th century."
The Definitive Introducing the Beatles Authentification Guide (http://introducing.cjb.net) - "Fantastic site. One of a kind in this subject and a site that all collectors can refer too."
TVGhosts (http://tvghosts.cjb.net) - Exploring the fantastic phenomena known as TVGhosts. Faces that appear in turned off televisions in photographs.

[SleepyHead]

The fact that it got overheated to start with is of grave concern, Harb. Get it checked out before you lose your harddrive...

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Our Lady's Psalter (http://ourladyspsalter.50megs.com)
Bearkat77's Beatlemaniac Page (http://bearkat77.www9.50megs.com)
Bearkat77's Tribute to John Lennon (http://bearkatjl.50megs.com)
Bearkat77's Tribute to Ringo Starr (http://bearkatrs.50megs.com)