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PCs for dummies


Strangelove
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So gentlemen, two weeks ago my computer stopped functioning normally. I won't take any pictures because there doesn't seem to be any damage, but all of a sudden one day my computer started returning "corrupt memory" whenever I try to install something (as in, the installer returns a "cannot finish, memory corrupted" error). As far as I see, everything SEEMS to run normally, particularly the Steam games, except after a while the graphics start fritzing out. I tried swapping out RAM, the problem still persisted. I'm almost certain it has something to do with my motherboard but I'm not quite sure. Opinions?

 

 

I'd say it's a motherboard issue. Though it's a kind of expensive guess to go on.

However if it's something wrong with installing software, it may be worth giving the OS a re-install. Might just be a tad broken.

 

Reformatted and installed my OS about three times now. I'm pretty positive it's the motherboard.

 

The baby's almost 10 years old, I think it's time for her to go. :(

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Well, I need some PC help. I have an M11X R1 (it has a C2D processor), and it can pretty easily run ME2 on max settings between 50 and 60fps. Yet, when I play Mass Effect 2, the framerate drops into the 10s, even as low as medium settings, and Mass Effect PC on Low is so ugly it's unplayable. So why is it that I can easily run ME2, but ME1 brings my computer to its knees?

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  • 2 months later...

So yesterday I got a new phone (Samsung Focus) I was so excited I left the house to show my friends and played around with it for hours. By the time I got back home I find out that the pillow I left my laptop (Acer Aspire 6930) on was drenched in cat piss, and my computer lying on top of it. The actual computer did not get piss on it, but the piss from the pillow seeped out on to my computer. The cat piss was all on the external plastic on the outside, but it wont recognize that the power cable is plugged in and when I hit the power button all the keyboard lights light up but then it just stops. I tried the "hold the power button down" after opening up the plastic to see if the innards got wet (everything was dry on the inside) but the same thing would happen. Occasionally I could get it to recognize the power cable plugged in, and occasionally the power button would activate the CD drive and the keyboard lights, but the actual computer wont turn on.

 

Is my laptop done for? I hope not cause I don't really have the money for a new one and my parents told me that I'm "Shit out of luck!" If anybody has any ideas as to how to fix this please let me know, I might be taking it in to a computer repair place, but that might mean best buy cause all the little shops keep closing down, and I would like to avoid that if necessary

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@Deanb, I don't have a radiator, but I did blow dry it for about 20 minutes, and made sure everything was all dried out. I haven't tried it yet this morning, cause I had to go to work, but hopefully its fixable. I am thinking that maybe, some how, my processor got the boot, or maybe my motherboard got fried. Either way, I hope not.

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  • 3 months later...
  • 5 months later...

Closest thread I found quickly for tech support, so here goes:

 

My old Core 2 Duo system died about 3 months ago. I turn it on and it whirs up and everything, all lights, sounds like drives are on, but no video out. 20 seconds later it shuts off.

 

So I replaced the 600W PSU with a spare 500W I had, figuring the old one may have burnt out. With the 500W, I do get video out, but the system dies about 30-40 seconds in during the Windows startup process. Any ideas? It's an old system so I'm thinking of just building a new one anyway, but if I can salvage it that'd be nice as well.

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If it's getting to Windows startup before shutting down, it sounds like a hard drive problem, possibly memory but I'd say the hard drive should be the first thing you look at. Often, when a hard drive starts to go, you'll get some more life out of it even while it corrupts further. If it is a hard drive problem, repairing windows could allow you that little bit extra to make any important backups.

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If I'm doing back-ups I tend to forgo Windows and just go with Linux LiveCD instead (it bypasses/ignores more basic windows encryption too).

 

As for the problem at hand: not a clue, though I think I've solved a similar issue back in uni days. Well I say solved, I think we ditched the HDD too. In fact if you can un-plug the HDD and run the PC fine with a LiveCD, then it's a HDD issue.

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  • 2 months later...

My laptop specs are as follows: Windows 7 64 bit, Second Gen intel i5, 6 gb Ram, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470. When I rate my computer I get the following ratings:

Processor: 6.8

Memory: 7.1

Graphics (desktop performance for Windows Aero): 2.3

Gaming Graphics (3D business and gaming graphics performance): 4.6

Primary Hard disk: 5.9

 

Originally the Graphics (2.3 rating) was at a 5.0 but recently, for some unexplained reason, dropped me down to a 2.3. Why is so low and why did it change? What do I have to do to fix it? The whole thing has me pissed off, there are a some issues with slow down that didn't exist before, especially when I open up windows media center. I can forgive this all, mostly because they are very minor, but the change in rating has me disturbed. Something isn't right and I can't figure it out.

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I haven't seen that before. The way the index score is done, it should never go down, only up when you upgrade hardware. it's probably a good idea to google and see if you can find anyone that had the same problem and solved it. Could be any number of things. Did you try rolling back to a previous driver to fix it?

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You're not on one of those laptops with a dual GPU are you?

 

 

I am, so I thought the rating system was due to my intel graphics card (which still should have higher ratings) but then I changed to my "high performance" card and the rating was the same. Its annoying.

 

I've also noticed that when I have some more intensive programs running, visual effects drop (scrolling through web pages, selecting an item in the windows menus all have screen tearing) This is the reason I reformatted my computer in the first place and now its all happening again.

 

I'm going to send my laptop in to HP because of these recent (and very irritating) performance changes, and my keyboard always had a really sensitive caps lock key, along with my mouse pad not working. I get the feeling I may have gotten a lemon... I want to get a smaller computer now, and build a desktop gaming rig.

 

EDIT: Well today, all my issues have been solved. All by themselves. WHY? I don't know. Still sending it in to get the keyboard/mousepad fixed, going to complain about performance, try to write an angry letter just to get a new version of the same computer (doubt that'll work), and see what that can get me.

Edited by madbassman39
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