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Strange computer problems

ShinyRedKnightShinyRedKnight Registered User regular
Recently my computer has been having some annoying issues. All of these occurred while surfing the internet, or just other random stuff. It has NOT happened while gaming or even when running a 3D modeling program (sculptris).

One issue is just random freezing. I leave my computer on a random site (say this one), come back and its frozen.

Another issue that is much rarer but more annoying is that I leave my compute alone, it goes to sleep, but then won't respond at all. I can't do anything to wake it up. I even try to press the power button, but nothing happens. This entire time the power lights are still on and the fan is running. I then hit the power button on the PSU itself, let it rest, turn it back on, and I get to the windows log in screen which says 'locked' and I have to put in my password. I do that (as if I was normally unlocking it) and whatever was running is still there...

What is very weird about both these issues is that they have only happened when I left my computer on without using it for more than about 10 minutes.

Any advice is very much appreciated!

EDIT:

Sorry, forgot my computer specs;

ASUS Rampage Formula mobo

Intel e6850 core 2 duo cpu @ 3.0 ghz

geforce 9800 gtx 512 mb

g.skill 4 gb ram

Corsair 750 watt PSU

Windows 7 professional 32 bit.

Again, thanks.

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Posts

  • trentsteeltrentsteel Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    This sounds identical to something that happened to me once. I think my main hard drive was starting to fail.

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  • General_WinGeneral_Win Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    I agree with Trent. Have you checked your system logs?

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  • tardcoretardcore Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Any spike in temperatures?

    Also, how old is the hard drive/when did you buy your system?

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  • ShinyRedKnightShinyRedKnight Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    I have 250 gb Seagate Barracuda. I got it in the fall of 2008.

    What I have noticed is that it may be a little too full. When I open the computer window and look at my hard disk section, the bar that shows how full it is is red.

    It goes red whenever I have 20gb or less left of space.


    I'll try and check my system logs.

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  • tardcoretardcore Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    If at all possible, run a chkdsk and a fragmentation.

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  • ShinyRedKnightShinyRedKnight Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    I tried to run a chkdsk... but it won't let me while the hard drive in question is in use. However, I only have one hard drive. Sorry if I'm not doing it right, I am still new to some aspects of computer maintenance.

    I did defrag recently though; it was very quick and it said everything was properly taken care of.

    For checking system logs I went to the control panel, system and security, and then to event logs under administrative tools. I did find system logs but I really don't know what to make of it. Again, I'm new to some of this stuff. D:

    Thanks for the help heh


    EDIT:

    Also, I think that the amount of free space I have keeps changing noticably, like by a gig. A few days ago I had 21 gb free, and when the problem occurred I had 20 gb. However, this may be just an update for a game or something that I forgot about and it took up the space.

    I'll keep an eye on it to see if I lose free space when nothing at all is updated, downloaded, or installed. But I may be just paranoid...

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  • HydroSqueegeeHydroSqueegee ULTRACAT!!!™®© Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    boot off an OS disk to the command prompt and run check disk from there...

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  • GreenishGreenish Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Try disabling standby and hibernate and see if you still get the problem.

    Also wouldn't hurt to run a system file check. Hit the start button and type cmd. Right click the top result and run as administrator. Type sfc /scannow

    Greenish on
  • ShinyRedKnightShinyRedKnight Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    I did the system file check and it said it found no integrity violations. So I guess everything is okay there.

    Sadky, I won't be able to boot off an OS disk as I have the digital version of Windows 7 that was offered to college students. I never got the disk... which is freaking me out.

    In the mean time I have disabled standby and hibernate and no issues have come up so far.

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  • theclamtheclam Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    You don't have to boot off the OS disk to run a chkdsk. Just do what Greenish described but enter chkdsk c: /r instead of sfc /scannow. It will tell you it can't run while Windows is running and ask if you want to run it next time you reboot. Then, just reboot.

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  • QuantuxQuantux Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    Sounds like it's hanging when going into/out of suspend. Change your power settings to never suspend and see if the wackiness continues to ensue. If thats the case I would suspect driver crappiness. Completely remove (files folders, registry entries, etc) video, and chipset drivers, the reinstall in the reverse order (chipset, reboot, video, reboot). If it just hangs at random times no matter what, then start looking at hardware. Literally. Take the case off and get rid of the dust bunnies. Make sure all the fans spin. And yes the chkdisk and defrag are also recommended.

    As for the disc: Check your account on ultimate steal and see if you can still download the iso and burn it to a dvd. If it's not available there anymore, then head to the usual places and get an iso of home/pro (whichever you got) look for tags like "untouched" and "msdn". Also, your school may participate in msdnaa which can get you windows and stuff for free.

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  • ShinyRedKnightShinyRedKnight Registered User regular
    edited August 2010
    I did the chkdsk through cmd and it said everything was okay.

    And still, no problems yet with the sleep and hibernate modes turned off.

    If it is a problem with drivers, do you mean chipset drivers as in drivers for my motherboard or for something else?

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