Tekforums

Chat => Entertainment & Technology => Topic started by: Eagle on April 22, 2011, 09:14:21 AM

Title: Problematica Technicalis
Post by: Eagle on April 22, 2011, 09:14:21 AM
 :panic: 'elp!

Having major dramas with PC.

Setup is Vista64 Ultimate, 4GB RAM.  4 year-old installation with zero prior issues. Have recently updated to SP2. 

Last night I started Company of Heroes and just as a level loaded the screen went mental (corrupt, multicolours) and it froze.  After a forced reboot, the system now runs CHKDSK every time and after bootup everything is extremely slow to start.  Each time I click on a new process/program it seems to hang for about a minute (everything locks up) before eventually working.

COMODO Internet Security refuses to start, stating: 'a bug has been found'.

Is the hard disk hosed?  A RAM problem? (RAM reports as 4Gb).

Any help appreciated.
Title: Re: Probematica Technicalis
Post by: Eggtastico on April 22, 2011, 10:23:55 AM
usually when chkdsk runs on every bootup, its a knackered hdd - at least it used to be on older versions of windows
Title: Re: Probematica Technicalis
Post by: Eagle on April 22, 2011, 10:43:01 AM
Hmm, well if it's that, at least it's not a major drama as I still have access to everything (backing up files now!).

Things is, everything runs fine and fast once it's actually booted and processes started for the first time...
Title: Re: Probematica Technicalis
Post by: DEViANCE on April 22, 2011, 10:49:22 AM
a quick google about chkdsk running everytime most suggest doing this:
type cmd in run box
type:
fsutil dirty query C:

(C being your boot disk)

if it comes back that C is dirty then it is somthing to do with it having outstanding changes that wheren't done due to an unexpected shut down or somthing.

not sure what you can do to fix it but I'll keep searching
Title: Re: Probematica Technicalis
Post by: Eagle on April 22, 2011, 10:55:54 AM
Sez: "C: is NOT Dirty"

My gut instinct is that the drive isn't knackered just, as you say, some "correction/fix" needing doing.  I've done a fair few hard resets in my time and none have ever caused problems like this.

Concurrently: Any recs for decent hard drives these days?  Running twin WD Caviars at the mo' 250/500Gb.
Title: Re: Probematica Technicalis
Post by: bear on April 22, 2011, 10:56:49 AM
Every time update with sp2 on my wifes vista comes up, it fails, seems like she is lucky though if the update messes discs up :)
Title: Re: Probematica Technicalis
Post by: Eagle on April 22, 2011, 11:00:34 AM
Yeah, I probably broke the golden rule: 'ain't broke - don't fix'... :(
Title: Re: Problematica Technicalis
Post by: Eagle on April 22, 2011, 11:46:42 AM
Would a format/reinstall reveal any errors with the disk?
Title: Re: Problematica Technicalis
Post by: bear on April 22, 2011, 12:26:00 PM
Maybe try something like this first
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/Disk_Analysis_Utilities/Emsa_DiskCheck.html
Title: Re: Problematica Technicalis
Post by: soopahfly on April 22, 2011, 12:51:34 PM
MHDD is the daddy at saying if the drive is duff.
Spinrite can then kinda fix it.
Title: Re: Problematica Technicalis
Post by: Eagle on April 22, 2011, 13:03:38 PM
Righty...

HD got slower and slower on reboot and now the system can't detect it. So... Im assuming it has actually died.  :gag:

What worries me is could be be a motherboard and/ or SATA/IDE issue?

CD drive isn't working now...

S'pose I'll have to throw money at this to find out...

:(
Title: Re: Problematica Technicalis
Post by: Eagle on April 22, 2011, 15:47:17 PM
Had to get a Spinpoint at PC Welt.

And now my car won't start...
FFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Title: Re: Problematica Technicalis
Post by: Eagle on April 22, 2011, 16:28:21 PM
WTF I

Wait an hour for the guy to come out and the SOB starts...  ::)  :o

WTFII

I get home and the hard drive is recognised and starts without issue.

Did I just stagger through a temporal disturbance today or something?  I mean, seriously...

So, what do you think was wrong?  A temperature issue (PC was off for a while)?  Should I still replace the drive?

:disappointed:

Title: Re: Problematica Technicalis
Post by: soopahfly on April 22, 2011, 16:37:55 PM
PEBKAC  :yarr:


I'd still run MHDD (as it takes about 40 mins to scan) and see what it says.
Title: Re: Problematica Technicalis
Post by: Eggtastico on April 22, 2011, 16:40:16 PM
BLAME IT ON EARTH DAY
Title: Re: Problematica Technicalis
Post by: Eagle on April 22, 2011, 16:49:20 PM
Quote from: soopahfly on April 22, 2011, 16:37:55 PM
PEBKAC  :yarr:


I'd still run MHDD (as it takes about 40 mins to scan) and see what it says.
What's an .iso?

Seriously, I have no idea how to run one.
Title: Re: Problematica Technicalis
Post by: Eagle on April 22, 2011, 17:15:16 PM
Sod it.  Still getting issues... Windows unable to do quick formats or delete operations so I'm going in...
Title: Re: Problematica Technicalis
Post by: soopahfly on April 22, 2011, 18:17:23 PM
Would be a good time to abandon the horse-sh*t that is Vista.
Title: Re: Problematica Technicalis
Post by: Eagle on April 22, 2011, 21:22:02 PM
Inevitable I guess.  Vista has been 100% flawless up until now (if this is an OS issue).  Four years up time is pretty outstanding, IMO.
Title: Re: Problematica Technicalis
Post by: Eagle on April 27, 2011, 08:19:34 AM
Need to read the old hard drive (still 'kinda' works).  I know I can re-attach it via SATA but is there any electronic whizz-bang gadget thing I can use to plug it in on and adhoc basis?

:)