NationStates Jolt Archive

A "My Computer" window stopped responding, so I closed it and then the start bar disappeared... and this is after the computer crashing about three times after I tried to restart it (because it had bluescreened simply from me leaving it alone for five minutes). *Sigh* --- Ooh, the start bar just reappeared.

Damn it! "My computer" keeps freezing just because I tried to right-click the CD Icon.

OK, it was because the CD was messed up somehow (don't know what was wrong with it). Windows could have just TOLD me that though.

What's the blue-screen message? (Turn off autoreboot in the BIOS if you haven't.)

(Oh, and what OS?)

My first *non-professional* thought would be either virii or memory fault.

Dead Start bar? There's still a chance!
*whips out defibrilator*

What's the blue-screen message? (Turn off autoreboot in the BIOS if you haven't.)

(Oh, and what OS?)

My first *non-professional* thought would be either virii or memory fault.

The bluescreen message is different every time. It's nice like that. Windows XP. Explain the memory fault thing - I think it mentioned memory and page faults (and I have an antivirus program).

When my start bar disappears, I just open a folder or something.

Works every time.

When my start bar disappears, I just open a folder or something.

Works every time.

? How do you open a folder with no start bar?

The bluescreen message is different every time. It's nice like that. Windows XP. Explain the memory fault thing - I think it mentioned memory and page faults (and I have an antivirus program).

Sounds like memory. First off, what kind of memory are you running?

(And on AV Program: what kind, and is it current? Do you run Spybot/Adaware? I'd like to hope that it's this, before we jump to video/audio/random-access memory.)

your explorer.exe could be curropt, reinstall it! Then hack it and make it the END bar(thats whay I did) then format your hdd and install linux... Mandrake is alright for begginers, it does sound like a memory error what SP you running? if its >sp2
you could have a program with a serous memory leak...................

Sounds like memory. First off, what kind of memory are you running?

(And on AV Program: what kind, and is it current? Do you run Spybot/Adaware? I'd like to hope that it's this, before we jump to video/audio/random-access memory.)

I don't know. The kind that came with the computer. Why is it that it's always up to the user to do quality control? You don't hear about car manufacturers putting out cars with nitroglycerine where the brake fluid is supposed to be.

your explorer.exe could be curropt, reinstall it! Then hack it and make it the END bar(thats whay I did) then format your hdd and install linux... Mandrake is alright for begginers, it does sound like a memory error what SP you running? if its >sp2
you could have a program with a serous memory leak...................
I saw Best Buy SELLING Linux the other day. If you buy Linux, you shouldn't be using it.

I saw Best Buy SELLING Linux the other day. If you buy Linux, you shouldn't be using it.

When you buy "Linux" you're not just buying Linux, you're buying a set of CDs containing a whole load of open source software and user guides. You'd only have to pay in Internet bills to download it all anyway.

I don't know. The kind that came with the computer. Why is it that it's always up to the user to do quality control? You don't hear about car manufacturers putting out cars with nitroglycerine where the brake fluid is supposed to be.

Okay, how old is the memory? It could very well be going bad. Is it dusty in your case? (Also, tell me if there's any reference to video or audio memory, if you have a video or audio card.)

Okay, how old is the memory? It could very well be going bad. Is it dusty in your case? (Also, tell me if there's any reference to video or audio memory, if you have a video or audio card.)

It's about two years old. It might be dusty... I've only attempted to clean it once.

edit: looks clean (from the outside - looking at the back)

Okay, step one: Buy some canned air, open the case, and blow it clean. This should be about $5. It may stop a short, and it will prevent a future failure due to shorting.

Do you run Adaware (www.lavasoft.com) or Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html)? Get both, and run them.

Update your Antivirus Software, run it.

If you don't stabilize, check for a video or audio memory failure. If it's just memory, take your memory sticks in to be tested. Most places will do this cheap, or free.

OK. Also, it's quite hot today. That might be part of the reason for its bad behaviour.

OK. Also, it's quite hot today. That might be part of the reason for its bad behaviour.

Thanks, that data is important! (Air-Dusting will reduce heat issues, btw.)

Make sure it has plenty of fans. (Slap 'em in there, as many as possible!) If your computer is still running hot, try a better processor cooling unit, and slap some heat units onto your memory sticks.

However, of all heat issues, the most important is probably to give your tower room to breath. Make sure it's sidefan (if it has one) is pointing into the open room, and that the back has several inches before the wall. If it's really hot in your room, you might want to invest in a window fan or better, AC unit.

Oh, and to everyone, an UPS is always a good idea. (Uninteruptible Power Supply)

Thanks, that data is important! (Air-Dusting will reduce heat issues, btw.)

Make sure it has plenty of fans. (Slap 'em in there, as many as possible!) If your computer is still running hot, try a better processor cooling unit, and slap some heat units onto your memory sticks.

However, of all heat issues, the most important is probably to give your tower room to breath. Make sure it's sidefan (if it has one) is pointing into the open room, and that the back has several inches before the wall. If it's really hot in your room, you might want to invest in a window fan or better, AC unit.

Oh, and to everyone, an UPS is always a good idea. (Uninteruptible Power Supply)

I live in England, so I don't really need to worry about heat too much. But it's hot now, and I have my windows open, and it's night time...