Woe is me!

lindsmuse

Oi woe is me. This week my inbox disappeared and every now and then as I randomly browse - no pattern - my screen goes black and computer restarts. Seeing as it happens only as I browse I presume its some software conflict and not hardware.

Any other members experiencing this? It happened coming in here as well ...

Gearhead

lindsmuse wrote Any other members experiencing this?

Windows user eh? Usually though, Win does the blue screen thing first if it's software issue.

Alex-B-Broadway

This is why I hate computers. ???

Heath

although not enough information , my first thought would point to a HDD failure or corruption and or a possible PSU problem

lindsmuse

Tailon. wrote although not enough information , my first thought would point to a HDD failure or corruption and or a possible PSU problem

Sounds suspiciously like hardware?

Anyway I've sent my query to the automated Microsoft tech site - am awaiting reply. Tried their fixes and some of the stuff they tell you to do don't even appear in dialogue boxes. I think things are just becoming more and more complicated so you can't just fix things yourself. Good news for computer technicians ... who I guess also have to keep up with everything

I also hate computers

psyx

When your pc restarts, check the system temperature in the bios by (usually) pressing delete on the 'post' screen. This may be an overheating cpu. Ive seen it on alot of older systems. The cpu thermal paste dries out and stops dissipating heat off the cpu to the heatsink.

Jayhell

psyx wrote When your pc restarts, check the system temperature in the bios by (usually) pressing delete on the 'post' screen. This may be an overheating cpu. Ive seen it on alot of older systems. The cpu thermal paste dries out and stops dissipating heat off the cpu to the heatsink.

+1 ?

lindsmuse

Thanks will try that

psyx

If its in the order of 60 degrees or higher then thats the problem...

lindsmuse

Thanks Psyx - bingo - 70 degrees. Here we go again .... ☹

G-Man

If you are comfortable with openning your PC up, then also make sure that the cooling block and fan hasn't been clogged up with gunk and dust (While the PC is powered down). I normally take a small sized paint brush and clean mine out every couple of months. The dirt closes up the cooling fins so the air no longer cools cooling block, and in extreme cases, sometimes the fan can stop spinning as well. (But you would get a BIOS error while booting if that was the case)

/2c

lindsmuse

I will check it out thanks for that. we used a compressor once or twice a few years back on another computer - seemed to also work. It's nice it blows that dust really viciously. I live by the coast so that adds to the problem. Thanks for that.

Wizard

Cape Town air = dusty.
Attacked my computer with woodwork vacuum a few times.
Useful outcome.

psyx

I recommend visiting the local pc store and buying a small tube of thermal grease or paste. Usually it costs between R30 and R50. Then just loosen the heatsink from the cpu and pull it off. Clean off the existing thermal paste using some tissues. It should be tough to remove due to the fact that its become hard over time. Polish the surface of the cpu and the bottom of the heatsink with tissues and replace the thermal paste. Reassemble and there you go! Just work gently when returning the heatsink assembly. Dont force it too hard onto the motherboard, since it may damage it.

Good luck man!

psyx

It seems intel used a bad batch of thermal paste on their celeron cpu's a few years ago. Ive seen this same thing on 4 celeron's over the past 2 years. So what cpu do you use? ?

lindsmuse

When I open it I might have to give you a shout thanks for all the info. The CPU info as follows: X86 Family6 Model 23 Stepping 10 Genuine Intel - don't know if that is Celeron or not. Bought it at a biggish reputable store on West Coast so should be kosher (one hopes)

psyx

Well then it seems to be a core 2 duo... But its not the vendor's fault, these things happen over time I guess!

lindsmuse

Thanks to all for all the advice. ? We cleaned out my computer with some soft brushes and a few quick blasts with a hairdryer. It was really really dusty - I have no idea how it could run like that. Anyway it has gone from 70 degrees down to 24 degrees! And it is completely silent - good as new! Thanks again

psyx

Awesome man!! I hope all your woes are at an end!