The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Computer no longer running games(selectively)
Shadowfire
Vermont, in the middle of nowhereRegistered User regular
Vermont, in the middle of nowhereRegistered User regular
I was grouped up with a friend in WoW tonight, and all of a sudden the game crashed on me. Hard lock, buh bye.
No big deal, I figured I'd restart the computer, and get it going again. Except it didn't work. When loading WoW, it tries to load, then says the program isn't responding, with the End Now button highlighted. The hard drive makes repeated noises (4 quick what sound like data reads in a second's time, then that sound repeats). The game shutting itself down makes the computer unusable for a couple of minutes.
Now, the LotRO beta is doing the same thing, as well as EQ2, and Heroes V. Heroes III works fine, as does the Sam & Max demo. Programs thus far are working fine... no issues with quicktime, firefox, IE, or WMP.
I'm running a scandisk now, but I don't really know what else I should be doing. That certain programs are not running, but others are, has me very confused, especially since everything was running fine an hour ago.
No big deal, I figured I'd restart the computer, and get it going again. Except it didn't work. When loading WoW, it tries to load, then says the program isn't responding, with the End Now button highlighted. The hard drive makes repeated noises (4 quick what sound like data reads in a second's time, then that sound repeats). The game shutting itself down makes the computer unusable for a couple of minutes.
Now, the LotRO beta is doing the same thing, as well as EQ2, and Heroes V. Heroes III works fine, as does the Sam & Max demo. Programs thus far are working fine... no issues with quicktime, firefox, IE, or WMP.
I'm running a scandisk now, but I don't really know what else I should be doing. That certain programs are not running, but others are, has me very confused, especially since everything was running fine an hour ago.
PSN: Bradcopter | Steam: Shadowfire
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197970666737/
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197970666737/
Shadowfire on
0
Posts
If it still crashes after you've done that try pointing a large house fan at the open side of the computer to see if improving cooling will help
*do not use vacuum cleaners or those electrostatic dusting wands on the components, as they might zap them with static electricity. Compressed air is often recommended, but it will most likely create a storm of dust. I just wipe the heatsinks with a crumpled paper tissue. Sometimes the heatsink is covered on the video card though so make sure that there's no dust clogging it up.
At night, the ice weasels come."
I'm at a loss. If the above fails, should I move on to a windows reinstall attempt?
Edit: I'm copying some stuff to a second drive (in case I had to reinstall, so I don't lose anything), and I'm starting to get some CRC errors. They're MP3s, and they play with Winamp just fine, but won't copy. (Data error (Cyclic Redundancy Check)).
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197970666737/
Yea... I backed up what I could... when I formatted the hard drive to try and reinstall windows, it hung several times. 55% for a couple minutes, and 79% for about 15 minutes.
Sad... time for a new drive I suppose. I remember reading about the IBM Deskstars having issues a while ago. I suppose it's time for mine to die.
Off to staples!
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197970666737/
I think the easiest way to get MemTest is by downloading the Ultimate Boot CD Basic, which contains it and other useful diagnostic tools, and burning it to a bootable CD.
Still, it probably is the HDD, and more space is usually useful even if it isn't it...
At night, the ice weasels come."
Quick clicking + CRC errors + IBM Deathstar = Toast.
When purchasing your new hard drive, I'd put a recommend in for Seagate.
They are louder than Seagate/Samsung/new WD drives though.
I can barely hear the drive when reading data off the Barracuda, while the Maxtors are definitely noticeable with normal usage and pretty scary-sounding if you're trying to do two operations on the same disk at once (eg. if a file is downloaded from you through LAN and you try to copy stuff at the same time).
Seagate also has a 5y warranty on all OEM drives IIRC, and WD has it for the slightly more expensive "RE" series desktop drives (again - OEM). Retail drives from WD (the ones in a shiny box and stuff) have a 1y warranty. I'm not sure what the warranty on retail Seagate drives is, but I believe it is also shorter than on the OEM ones.
At night, the ice weasels come."
Samsung drives are built with Maxtor parts. Maxtor is now owned by Seagate. IBM drives are Toshibas, and are known for faultiness hence the loving term "Deathstar". Western Digital has always been known for producing drives that perform decently. They aren't outstanding or superb in any respect; they just get the job done.