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[TheKingsCrown]

So I bought the computer I am currently using 4 years ago approximately, and yes it is becoming ancient. However, there is a problem it has that I can't reconcile and it is probably going to make me need to get another hard drive but I figured I would turn my problem over to the gurus of this forum.

Sometimes, completely at random, it will HARD freeze so that nothing moves and the only way to fix it is to reset. During this freeze, through the speakers or headphones, I can hear a loud clicking that is fairly fast paced. The computer is a windows machine, and I am thinking the hard drive is corrupted. Any ideas though?

 

[Widfara]

Hmm, Watson and I have come to this conclusion: your computer is gay.

 

[Zensetsu]

Backup....MAKE SURE YOU BACKUP.

 

[Burger]

Id say it was your motherboard or powersupply.

Open up the PC and have a look at the capacitors on the motherboard. They are those large cylinder type things. See if any are leaking, or look like they have blown their tops. That will really screw your computer, usually with dodgy random crashes.

If had exactly the same symptoms occur with a bad PS, check the connector to the motherboard, make sure it's not singed or anything, but most likley you wont be able to diagnose the problem visually.

 

[Lhadatt]

Your Windows install might be corrupted. Is it WinME?

Other possibilities:

- Motherboard/CPU/some other component going out. It's possible there are cracks in whatever it is that only affect things when the computer starts to heat up. When it's cold - i.e. you have not used it for a while - the cracks don't affect anything. When it warms up, thermal expansion kicks in, and the cracks go further apart, which disconnects electrical paths on the boards/chips/etc. Only solution here is to replace whatever it is that's making the problem.
- CPU or some other component may be overheating. Check fans inside the computer. See lots of dust on them or their heatsinks? Clean them. Are any (and I do mean ANY) fans inside not moving at all? Replace them, or your components may be permafried if the problem continues.
- Bad drivers. Try updating them for your devices.
- Windows 98/ME/95 suck. Upgrade to XP SP2.

In reality, your computer is OLD. It's starting to break down, just like a car older than 5 years. These things don't last forever.

You're looking at possibly $350-$500 to replace it, given what options you want. I recommend a Mac Mini - you can get a refurbished one for $400, new from $500. If you want Windows (gack) or Windows games, buy a cheap (but not too cheap) PC. Do not buy HP, Compaq, Gateway, eMachines. Toshiba, Fujitsu, IBM/Lenovo are good. Dell is just OK - 60% of Dells (my estimate) have some sort of problem at some point, be it crappy default installation, defective components, failure before it should fail, etc.

 

[TheKingsCrown]

Thank you all for these posts. I forgot that I had posted this thread for several days and I just now dredged it up from the search function. Hmm. I thought that my hard drive was really what might be corrupt...I am surprised to hear all these other things. I know my computer is decaying, but I didn't think other things could contribute to such a weird-ass problem.

 

[Tamanon]

I'd also check your power supply, at least the fans. The computer is most likely overheating due to one of the fans being at half speed or not running. I'd try replacing it first, cheapest part anyways

 

[TheKingsCrown]

I think it might be an overheating problem, since it hasn't froze in a while and it has been cooler, and this summer I had an AC and it never froze. So I think I might air-spray it and remove dust etc.