Fantasies Attic

Programs and more Programs => Computers and such => Questions? Answers and such here! => Computer Help Section => Topic started by: DarkAngel on March 12, 2011, 12:17:16 PM

Title: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: DarkAngel on March 12, 2011, 12:17:16 PM
Many times when our  computer parts are going south we need to roust about the insides of the computer to see which component is going bad.... here are some helpful links on what and how to do this:

Diagnose and replace a failed PC pwer supply (http://www.wikihow.com/Diagnose-and-Replace-a-Failed-PC-Power-Supply)

How to tell if processor is going bad (http://www.ehow.com/how_5882333_tell-processor-going-bad.html)

How to empty a full hard drive to make it more manageable (http://www.ehow.com/how_7365965_drive-full_-can-empty-it_.html)

How to fix an invalid portion of the hard drive (http://www.ehow.com/how_7212440_fix-invalid-portion-hard-drive.html)

How to test hard drive for speed and errors (http://www.ehow.com/how_6920504_test-hard-drive-speed-errors.html)

 how to know if your motherboard has failed (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/322113/how_to_know_if_your_motherboard_has.html?cat=15) troubleshooting is on page 2 of this article.

How to dianose bad ram (http://www.technibble.com/how-to-diagnose-bad-ram/)

 Motherboard, CPU, RAM Diagnostics Flowchart   (http://www.fonerbooks.com/cpu_ram.htm)for diagnosing/troubleshooting.

Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on March 12, 2011, 01:08:32 PM
Well, now this ought to put the finger on the naughty bit in a timely manner ... oh my naughty bit we like .... oops ... wrong thread again
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: thelufias on March 12, 2011, 01:12:48 PM
I still say LL's best bet is to contact the folks she got this from...or in the least....the maker of the computer.  You know how it goes.....you screw around with it to much and then they tell you....Oh Well....YOU did it to the computer.....not us.....

But great tips for sure...and a keeper.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on March 12, 2011, 02:09:56 PM
RFT
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Skhilled on May 24, 2012, 07:37:02 AM
I know this is old but listening to the POST (power-on self-test) beeps will tell you a lot about what hardware problems you may have. when your PC boots up, it will beep. the number and length of beeps is its way of tell you if it is Ok or not Ok and what is wrong if not Ok.

Based on your motherboard's BIOS manufacturer (AMI, Phoenix, or Award) you'
ll hear different types and lengths of beeps:

http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: thelufias on May 24, 2012, 08:16:14 AM
Great tip....Thanks....
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on April 02, 2015, 05:44:23 AM
Well, we certainly have some of that nature going on and we needs some help

Symptoms

Blue screen of death when logging in

How it got there

Allowed the AVG anti virus to reboot to finish installing updates

What it does

Turn it on and it starts booting up get to the log on screen and get a pop up saying duplicate name on the network Never had that before ... it thinks for a second then bang blue screen of death.

Have tried to use F8 to get into safe mode ... nope, nada, doesn't work. I get a Bios message about auto detecting and so forth but no safe mode at all, it just cycles through again ... and again ... and again

Got desperate and decided to plug in my XP disc and have it run nope, .... nada the drive started up but it never read from there to try to get it to boot.

Went into the BIOS to set it to boot first from the CD and again still nothing.

So far not a damn thing I have done has worked

I am so in need of suggestions

Thank you.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: thelufias on April 02, 2015, 07:56:18 AM
I'm assuming you did all of this without being connected to the internet....correct?

I'm heading over to the AVG site to see if anyone else ran into this. 

You mentioned that you may just try and upgrade to Win 7 from here...Not sure if that will work if you're XP isn't operating properly.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Radkres on April 02, 2015, 09:08:56 AM
Pull the main hard drive replace with blank unformated one. load windows XP disc in Cd  format Blank Hard drive make it new Master slave old Drive to New Master see if you can repair the old Drive once you have a bootable system. if not fixable pull data off it and wipe and rebuild using old system back up if  you have one.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Aelin on April 02, 2015, 10:04:57 AM
Have you try to stop it with a brutal way ("snatch" to the wall jack)? Or its battery? I don't know the model you have so...
Other idea: have you hit it to bring back good ideas in its stupid memory?
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: DarkAngel on April 02, 2015, 11:00:40 AM
AVG is the culprit and they know it. This is an article that they put out ust about this and how to fix it:

http://www.geek.com/news/avg-update-causes-windows-bsod-1297969/ (http://www.geek.com/news/avg-update-causes-windows-bsod-1297969/)

That is an old article that might help since it has happened before.


more if you can get it booted:

gather memory dump for AVG to help:
http://forums.avg.com/ww-e/avg-forums?sec=thread&act=show&id=186397 (http://forums.avg.com/ww-e/avg-forums?sec=thread&act=show&id=186397)

from a few months ago:
In order to analyze it please provide us (http://support.avg.com/SupportArticleView?urlname=How-to-upload-a-file-to-our-FTP-server (http://support.avg.com/SupportArticleView?urlname=How-to-upload-a-file-to-our-FTP-server)) with Minidump from  folder.


Are you using 2014 or the new 2015? I quit using them eons ago cause they got so bloated and took over the comp. Fortunately this never happened with me but seeing it has been happening---especially with 64 bit comps---you could do good to get rid of it once you get rebooted and try AVAST  or something else.

sorry I could not give much help on this
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: thelufias on April 02, 2015, 11:51:46 AM
I always say when it's FREE it's too good to be true and you get what you pay for.  Never liked AVG and never will.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: thelufias on April 02, 2015, 11:59:14 AM
I copied and pasted your reply on a E Mail and sent it to "J" Mary.  Not sure if he could see it otherwise.  I know he has the company laptop but he may busy.  His Smartphone gets E Mails....at least I think he has that figured out on the Smart Phone LOLOLOL.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: DarkAngel on April 02, 2015, 12:20:18 PM
see how "with it" I am today....it never occured to my ancient brain that he can not boot so he won't be able to see it...LOL

and I agree if he has an extra hard drive to remove the old one and install the new one then start fresh with system and get rid of avg.

he could probably get help retrieving his stuff off the other hard drive or get help removing avg totally from it.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on April 03, 2015, 05:56:32 AM
Yes we can see email on the phone using a clickable link is a bit dodgy some days. But as a side note yes we were busy and did not get the must do list done till 3:00

Read the email and did make a bootable USB stick as I saw an option  in the BIOS to use a generic USB to boot from,


:thud: got home and that option was no longer available no matter how many time i did :caveman: to it

This morning tried to get somewhere with it and still no joy until I stuck the USB stick in :pervy: and fired it up ... damn now it decided it wanted to go into safe mode :yippee:

So at this moment it is restoring to a much earlier date ... so crossing fingers till they hurt and ... oops it is restarting now ....


and .....still trying to restart ...........

:soapy: :soapy: :soapy: :soapy: :soapy: :soapy: :soapy: :soapy: :soapy:
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on April 03, 2015, 05:59:57 AM
Looks like I will have to make CD of the file next and then try to clear it using that option as I did see the mentioned files when it was going into safe mode.

I will move the Linux box over to the desk where my externals are tonight after work and get the winners of the March contest posted and take care of some of the other neglected tasks and then go and buy a bigger hammer.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Aelin on April 03, 2015, 07:27:05 AM
and then go and buy a bigger hammer.
:tearlaugh: i imagine the pc now (http://www.emoticones-gratuits.com/colere/106.gif) (http://www.smiley-lol.com/smiley/ordinateurs/panne/vil-ordicasse.gif)

And this is you in the past now (http://www.smiley-lol.com/smiley/ordinateurs/panne/virus01.gif) (http://www.smiley-lol.com/smiley/ordinateurs/int2.gif) a good thing if you can use the safe mode  :yippee:
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: thelufias on April 03, 2015, 09:25:16 AM
Good Luck "J".......
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: DarkAngel on April 03, 2015, 09:50:49 AM
Hope you get it working without to much more trouble.

Have you a bootable external that you can install your system onto and use it to reboot, then remove avg.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: thelufias on April 03, 2015, 09:53:13 AM
That's the key...Removing AVG......From what I've read so far, once it's locked in it's a bugger to clean out.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: DarkAngel on April 03, 2015, 01:52:58 PM
I think avg also has a removal program ---just like nortons does since uninstalling does not always remove everything but the removal programs remove every instance.

I also go to regedit and take a peek at those files it brings up getting rid of any and all instances that say avg...or whatever program i need gotten rid of totally
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: thelufias on April 03, 2015, 02:22:31 PM
I also check regedit when deleting programs.  Even cleaning programs don't pick it all up.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on April 03, 2015, 05:01:30 PM
Real question is if I get back into safe mode again can one delete programs?

It would be so nice if that idea will work, and intend to try if not then back to square three and make a CD to remove that nonsense then uninstall that nonsense.

Now time to write the monthly winners post as I now have it on the laptop

Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: thelufias on April 03, 2015, 05:04:05 PM
With safemode you can modify a ton of stuff.  Some programs don't work is the only thing.  You can also do a Windows diagnostic and repair while in Safe Mode.  Had to do that a time or two with the Dell XP after they stopped updating XP.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on April 03, 2015, 05:05:43 PM
Good then if that works then there is no need for a roll back on the system


Time to cross the fingers till they hurt or break
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on April 04, 2015, 12:44:59 PM
Oh my looking promising now

Got back to safe mode by forcing it ... plugging in the USB stick while booting up.

Went to Control panel and uninstalled AVG then restarted.

Did try to put my RAID back together as I had selected the load default settings and now the RAID is gone. I have two drives .... duplicated mind you but still not what it was before.

Oh well ... any thoughts on how to join them back together without losing anything?

The good news is no more BSOD (blue screen of death)

and things are "working:" as intended ... at least as far as I can tell ... and the tests continue .... updates later.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on April 04, 2015, 12:54:17 PM
The scary part was having to allow it to find new hardware

Dual PCI controller

Primary IDE controller

Secondary IDE controller

The real scary was Microsoft saying the software was not "certified" by them or something to that effect ....

Well, allowed it to install anyway and after two installs per piece ... which in retrospect makes sense since it now sees two drives instead of a single RAID device

:sigh:

At least I can say the good news is I am back ....................


                          and so is Kianna .......... :heeheehee:
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: thelufias on April 04, 2015, 12:59:49 PM
Sounds great my friend.....  Take a bit that you spend on Books and put it aside for a Computer that is not XP.  I still say upgrading to Win 7 on a old system is not a good thing and will cause many more headaches....but that's just me LOLOL.

Glad the Raids are working also.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: thelufias on April 04, 2015, 01:01:56 PM
PS....Next step is for you to make some Boot Disc and System restore disc.  Go to the windows help section and it gets you started.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: DarkAngel on April 04, 2015, 01:03:33 PM
yay you,

glad you are functioning again and hope you can get things totally going. did you lose any programs/files due to avg?
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on April 04, 2015, 01:04:47 PM
Nope sorry my RAID is not working as intended regrettably

  But things are getting back to normal.

Have been looking at those re-certified systems at Tiger Direct and NewEgg and have seen some not to bad deals  systems and at a reasonable price.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on April 04, 2015, 01:05:13 PM
yay you,

glad you are functioning again and hope you can get things totally going. did you lose any programs/files due to avg?

Still checking
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on April 04, 2015, 01:05:36 PM
PS....Next step is for you to make some Boot Disc and System restore disc.  Go to the windows help section and it gets you started.

Too right
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Radkres on April 04, 2015, 01:16:32 PM
Have You been here?
http://www.freeraidrecovery.com/library/raid-rebuild.aspx (http://www.freeraidrecovery.com/library/raid-rebuild.aspx)
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: DarkAngel on April 04, 2015, 01:16:55 PM
Sounds great my friend.....  Take a bit that you spend on Books and put it aside for a Computer that is not XP.  I still say upgrading to Win 7 on a old system is not a good thing and will cause many more headaches....but that's just me LOLOL.

Glad the Raids are working also.


Yes I agree, when we were going to upgrade Dawn's (before it fried and took MOBO with it) we were looking into upgrades and it would have totalled more than a refurb then when the incident happended we saw that would be like a brand new comp.

She had an Optiplex 740 XP and was great for gaming but now we has to find another one and that is not getting purchased for at least 6 months or more so we share...LOL

Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on April 04, 2015, 01:22:27 PM
Have You been here?
http://www.freeraidrecovery.com/library/raid-rebuild.aspx (http://www.freeraidrecovery.com/library/raid-rebuild.aspx)

No I haven't, so thank you for the link will be reading up on it and see if my feeble skills can make it work.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on April 04, 2015, 01:28:16 PM
Good news so far I see I haven't lost any of my  Poser files.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: thelufias on April 04, 2015, 01:44:54 PM
Excellent.....  :thumb_up:
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on April 04, 2015, 05:13:54 PM
Definitely a nasty four and a half days to say the least.

Most assuredly need to set time aside to get things backed up properly and organized to mitigate a scenario like this in the future.

Thank you to each and all of you that had suggestions on resolving this dilemma of mine as in the end it worked.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: thelufias on April 04, 2015, 05:31:01 PM
Been there a time or two myself my friend so I know the frustration.  I found that it may cost a little money at times to keep my system protected....but it's well worth it in the long run.  I can spend money left and right on comics but they sit in a storage box after bagging them but I make sure I spend on protecting my system before the comics.  I use my computer all the time.
Title: Re: Diagnosing computer failures:
Post by: Jherrith on April 04, 2015, 06:44:42 PM
Me three ... probably not to the fullest extant but ....   nonetheless