Computer issues... I am teh stumped!

Drazzil · 03-17-2010, 10:45 PM

I have a system that is around three years old, and I have had various problems with it from the start. All of these problems except for one minor one seem to come in clusters.

Here are my hardware specs

Motherboard: Asus P5B
CPU Intel Core 2 duo 6600 @2.4 gig stock cooling
Ram 4 MB GSkill PC2 6400
Video Card evga Nvidia GForce 8800GTS 640MB
Hard drive 400GB western Digital SATA 3GB/sec
PSU 700 Watt OCZ Game extreme (recently died replaced with a corsair TX650 Watt)
OS: Windows Vista 64 Bit pro

When I got the computer it was DOA. It would turn on but it wouldn't feed any video signal. Sent it back, and when I got it back it inexclipably worked. The PC builder was as stumped as I was. Fast forward six months to late 2007. I started getting periods where the system would freeze/crash along with a few scattered disk read/corrupt windows errors. I took it into the local shop where they said it was a motherboard problem, and replaced the motherboard. No more problems. Pretty much rock solid except for one small problem.

Fast forward two and a half years. Today the computer slows down and just about hard freezes, it wont restart. I click the power supply off and restart it. I get a brief blue screen error and a reboot. Then I get another error about a corrupt windows, and it needing the windows disk. I again restart it and it blue screen with a "disk read" error.

I figure "Hey the hard drives dead" so I pull the hard drive and start the RMA process. I then replace the hard drive and it boots into windows with absolutely no issue. I do a scan disk. And the hard drive seems to scan perfectly. No issue. I am teh stumped! I am posting from the computer now and I have no issue.

One extra caveat that may or may not be relevant. For the three years I have owned the computer, through both motherboards it seems like maybe once every few days, I get no video when the rest of the computer boots. I have to turn the computer off/on at the power supply to get video working again. Its odd. But it doesen't really bother me.

So. Is this the motherboard, the hard drive or something completely else?

If I do have to replace the MB what do you guys recommend that would be compatable with my current hardware yet upgradable in the future as I plan to do?

bobarian · 03-17-2010, 11:04 PM

Bad bearing?

SvilleKid · 03-17-2010, 11:21 PM

Initially, it sounds like your hard drive is crapping out on you with bad sectors. However, if a surface scan shows no bad sectors?????? then possibly not the hard drive, though that would still seem to fit the symptoms. Is the RAM is one or two chips? if two, try removing one, then the other. I've had bad RAM do throw some funky problems, especially emulating a flaky HD. I'm assuming no funny noises coming from system while operating (like a bearing going out), else you'd have mentioned it.

Only other suggestion; maybe a software issue (hate to use the V word, but) in the form of a virus?

Good luck, it's frustrating!

RGD. · 03-17-2010, 11:31 PM

David,

Some of the first Asus P58 board's were shipped with the wrong Intel chipset which resulted in a ton of different problems. Seems you got one of them. Check with the Asus site and see if they have any updates for the board to include the bios.

That EVGA 8800 GTS should be a solid performer. The box I am using now has two of them installed. Make sure that the power plug is in fact using a 6 pin connector and not a 4 pin. Maybe remove and reset the board to make sure it is fully set.

Your memory requires a 1.9v which should be no problem as that board will run on 1.8v to 2.0v. Check though that it is set to at least 1.9v and your timing is either 5-5-5 or 6-6-6. You may also want to have your local shop test those chips. Alternately you can download this Microsoft program and test it yourself:

Memory Test

Check the fan on the CPU - faulty fan with overheating can do weird things.

Can't think of much else at the moment -

Ron

mosesbotbol · 03-18-2010, 06:08 AM

Could be power supply issue or current to the PC.

Needing the windows disk is usually an error loading a file into memory from either a bad DIMM or corrupt file.

How does the PC work when using a CD based OS?

nayslayer · 03-18-2010, 06:23 AM

Funky power supplies can sometimes cause wacky errors. Buy a decent one.

Knip23 · 03-18-2010, 06:25 AM

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...5&Sku=B69-4086 this is what i reccomend if you have to replace the MB there are others on this website but for the price and power you cant beat it. I have had this one in my PC for about 2 yrs and havent had any problems out of if. and as far as your hard drive problem if you have a External hard drive put an operating system on it and try booting your system useing external drive. if it works then i would either be your MB. If you need something shoot me a PM.

Volt · 03-18-2010, 08:28 AM

Well, at 3 years old, I'd replace it unless it's hopped up for gaming. The HD has 3 years of the mechanial running and as others noted it may have sectors starting to go bad. Any 1/2 way decent MOBO is $125 or better with the rest of the componets at 3 years use. If you have a bad stick of RAM cheap enough to replace if you can prove it's bad. If the OS load has never been reloaded it's way over due.

Even a basic Dell is only $450 (many were cheaper than this one) for the basic office/school and internet surfing. And oh by the way at least 1 year warranty. I would think hard about dumping $$$ in a 3 year old box without knowing the exact problem. Reuse your monitor to save $$$.

PS - Not pushing Dell, just the easist to pull up numbers for.

Inspiron 580s
Powerful Desktop with a Stylish Look in a Slim Design
Intel® Pentium® G6950 processor(3MB Cache, 2.80GHz)
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
320GB2 - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
No Monitor
Microsoft® Works 9 (Does not include Microsoft Word)

Intel® Pentium® G6950 processor(3MB Cache, 2.80GHz)
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
320GB2 - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
No Monitor
Microsoft® Works 9 (Does not include Microsoft Word)

nayslayer · 03-18-2010, 09:28 AM

Volt has a great point, backup your stuff, and get a new one, let the tech have your box for his time.

357 · 03-19-2010, 12:19 PM

I haven't read all the other advice, but based on the first post I would buy a second hard drive, & temporarily remove the original one. Next, run a fresh install of Windows on the new drive. Plug in the old drive as a secondary, and move your data over.

If your MB and/or previous HDD were bad it could have cause corruption in some core Windows files. This is the cheapest and quickest way to get it back to a working state without losing your data.

Mike

Drazzil · 03-21-2010, 02:17 PM

I havent had an issue with the computer since I posted this. I had this problem before and it was the MB. I want to get a fresh copy of Windows 7 to go with the new hard drive, then upgrade the MB then the processor and the video card.

03-17-2010, 10:45 PM	#1
Drazzil Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: David Location: Boozetown Posts: 355 Trading: (31)	Computer issues... I am teh stumped! I have a system that is around three years old, and I have had various problems with it from the start. All of these problems except for one minor one seem to come in clusters. Here are my hardware specs Motherboard: Asus P5B CPU Intel Core 2 duo 6600 @2.4 gig stock cooling Ram 4 MB GSkill PC2 6400 Video Card evga Nvidia GForce 8800GTS 640MB Hard drive 400GB western Digital SATA 3GB/sec PSU 700 Watt OCZ Game extreme (recently died replaced with a corsair TX650 Watt) OS: Windows Vista 64 Bit pro When I got the computer it was DOA. It would turn on but it wouldn't feed any video signal. Sent it back, and when I got it back it inexclipably worked. The PC builder was as stumped as I was. Fast forward six months to late 2007. I started getting periods where the system would freeze/crash along with a few scattered disk read/corrupt windows errors. I took it into the local shop where they said it was a motherboard problem, and replaced the motherboard. No more problems. Pretty much rock solid except for one small problem. Fast forward two and a half years. Today the computer slows down and just about hard freezes, it wont restart. I click the power supply off and restart it. I get a brief blue screen error and a reboot. Then I get another error about a corrupt windows, and it needing the windows disk. I again restart it and it blue screen with a "disk read" error. I figure "Hey the hard drives dead" so I pull the hard drive and start the RMA process. I then replace the hard drive and it boots into windows with absolutely no issue. I do a scan disk. And the hard drive seems to scan perfectly. No issue. I am teh stumped! I am posting from the computer now and I have no issue. One extra caveat that may or may not be relevant. For the three years I have owned the computer, through both motherboards it seems like maybe once every few days, I get no video when the rest of the computer boots. I have to turn the computer off/on at the power supply to get video working again. Its odd. But it doesen't really bother me. So. Is this the motherboard, the hard drive or something completely else? If I do have to replace the MB what do you guys recommend that would be compatable with my current hardware yet upgradable in the future as I plan to do?

03-17-2010, 11:04 PM	#2
bobarian Cranky Habanophile Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wine Country Posts: 8,869 Trading: (51)	Re: Computer issues... I am teh stumped! Bad bearing?

03-17-2010, 11:21 PM	#3
SvilleKid Yes I am a Pirate Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 33°46′08″N 86°28′16″W / 33.76895°N 86.471037°W Posts: 2,776 Trading: (52)	Re: Computer issues... I am teh stumped! Initially, it sounds like your hard drive is crapping out on you with bad sectors. However, if a surface scan shows no bad sectors?????? then possibly not the hard drive, though that would still seem to fit the symptoms. Is the RAM is one or two chips? if two, try removing one, then the other. I've had bad RAM do throw some funky problems, especially emulating a flaky HD. I'm assuming no funny noises coming from system while operating (like a bearing going out), else you'd have mentioned it. Only other suggestion; maybe a software issue (hate to use the V word, but) in the form of a virus? Good luck, it's frustrating! __________________ Ceilin' fan it stirs the air, Cigar smoke does swirl. The fragrance on the pillow case, and he thinks about the girl. Thanks, JB, 1975.

03-17-2010, 11:31 PM	#4
RGD. God Like Status Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ron Location: Alexandria, Virginia Posts: 971 Trading: (1)	Re: Computer issues... I am teh stumped! David, Some of the first Asus P58 board's were shipped with the wrong Intel chipset which resulted in a ton of different problems. Seems you got one of them. Check with the Asus site and see if they have any updates for the board to include the bios. That EVGA 8800 GTS should be a solid performer. The box I am using now has two of them installed. Make sure that the power plug is in fact using a 6 pin connector and not a 4 pin. Maybe remove and reset the board to make sure it is fully set. Your memory requires a 1.9v which should be no problem as that board will run on 1.8v to 2.0v. Check though that it is set to at least 1.9v and your timing is either 5-5-5 or 6-6-6. You may also want to have your local shop test those chips. Alternately you can download this Microsoft program and test it yourself: Memory Test Check the fan on the CPU - faulty fan with overheating can do weird things. Can't think of much else at the moment - Ron

03-18-2010, 06:08 AM	#5
mosesbotbol That's a Corgi Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moses Location: Boston Posts: 6,171 Trading: (6)	Re: Computer issues... I am teh stumped! Could be power supply issue or current to the PC. Needing the windows disk is usually an error loading a file into memory from either a bad DIMM or corrupt file. How does the PC work when using a CD based OS? __________________ Port Wine & Claret \| British Cars \| Welsh Corgi's

03-18-2010, 06:23 AM	#6
nayslayer Still Watching My Back Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Larry Location: Wallkill, NY Posts: 166 Trading: (0)	Re: Computer issues... I am teh stumped! Funky power supplies can sometimes cause wacky errors. Buy a decent one.

03-18-2010, 06:25 AM	#7
Knip23 Keep It Simple Join Date: Dec 2009 First Name: Destrey Location: Ft. Polk/ Leesville Posts: 545 Trading: (10)	Re: Computer issues... I am teh stumped! http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...5&Sku=B69-4086 this is what i reccomend if you have to replace the MB there are others on this website but for the price and power you cant beat it. I have had this one in my PC for about 2 yrs and havent had any problems out of if. and as far as your hard drive problem if you have a External hard drive put an operating system on it and try booting your system useing external drive. if it works then i would either be your MB. If you need something shoot me a PM. __________________ Leave No Cigar unsmoked!

03-18-2010, 08:28 AM	#8
Volt I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,799 Trading: (19)	Re: Computer issues... I am teh stumped! Well, at 3 years old, I'd replace it unless it's hopped up for gaming. The HD has 3 years of the mechanial running and as others noted it may have sectors starting to go bad. Any 1/2 way decent MOBO is $125 or better with the rest of the componets at 3 years use. If you have a bad stick of RAM cheap enough to replace if you can prove it's bad. If the OS load has never been reloaded it's way over due. Even a basic Dell is only $450 (many were cheaper than this one) for the basic office/school and internet surfing. And oh by the way at least 1 year warranty. I would think hard about dumping $$$ in a 3 year old box without knowing the exact problem. Reuse your monitor to save $$$. PS - Not pushing Dell, just the easist to pull up numbers for. Inspiron 580s Powerful Desktop with a Stylish Look in a Slim Design Intel® Pentium® G6950 processor(3MB Cache, 2.80GHz) Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English 320GB2 - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache No Monitor Microsoft® Works 9 (Does not include Microsoft Word) Intel® Pentium® G6950 processor(3MB Cache, 2.80GHz) Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English 320GB2 - 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache No Monitor Microsoft® Works 9 (Does not include Microsoft Word) __________________ Curing the infection... One bullet at a time.

03-18-2010, 09:28 AM	#9
nayslayer Still Watching My Back Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Larry Location: Wallkill, NY Posts: 166 Trading: (0)	Re: Computer issues... I am teh stumped! Volt has a great point, backup your stuff, and get a new one, let the tech have your box for his time.

03-19-2010, 12:19 PM	#10
357 Will herf for food Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mike Location: Home is where I park it Posts: 4,075 Trading: (9)	Re: Computer issues... I am teh stumped! I haven't read all the other advice, but based on the first post I would buy a second hard drive, & temporarily remove the original one. Next, run a fresh install of Windows on the new drive. Plug in the old drive as a secondary, and move your data over. If your MB and/or previous HDD were bad it could have cause corruption in some core Windows files. This is the cheapest and quickest way to get it back to a working state without losing your data. Mike __________________ “Eating and sleeping are the only activities that should be allowed to interrupt a man's enjoyment of his cigar;” Mark Twain

03-21-2010, 02:17 PM	#11
Drazzil Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: David Location: Boozetown Posts: 355 Trading: (31)	Re: Computer issues... I am teh stumped! I havent had an issue with the computer since I posted this. I had this problem before and it was the MB. I want to get a fresh copy of Windows 7 to go with the new hard drive, then upgrade the MB then the processor and the video card.