Random Computer Trouble/Slow Down

south_of_heaven 11 · 10-09-2012, 12:40 PM

So I noticed last night while playing a game that my load times were starting to suck, some keys were slow to respond, and I would get a quick freeze that would last a few seconds about every few minutes.

So I said whatever, shut my PC off, and went to sleep. This morning it was fine. Now in the afternoon, I started getting the same thing. So I restarted. It took it 3 minutes to boot up, when normal boot time is around a minute. Internet cuts in and out now too.

I thought the slow performance could mean my HDD was dying, so I ran a diagnostic test from Western Digital. Granted, I only ran a quick one, but it passed.

I'm running a virus scan on my desktop right now...but truth be told, I never browse the internet or download anything on my desktop. I use my laptop for that.

Any suggestions on what could be the cause?

suspect device · 10-09-2012, 01:28 PM

have a look in control panel under programs and check the date on the most recently installed software

also, check the logs to see what updates have been provided by software providers

finally, run panda cloud anti virus, costs a few bucks but it is by far the fastest respondent to new infections and should find and clean anything sinister

south_of_heaven 11 · 10-09-2012, 02:18 PM

Thanks for the response. This time when booting, I got an error message that said "A Disk Read Error Occurred".

Guess it was the HDD. Time for a new one.

suspect device · 10-09-2012, 02:34 PM

in built obsolescence maybe

how olds the box?

south_of_heaven 11 · 10-09-2012, 04:07 PM

everything is brand new, minus the PSU which is about 4 years old (750w).

bought the same HDD back in May of this year and it was failing on the first day. RMA'd it, and this new one has been working fine till now (although I have heard some clicking from it, which should've been another warning sign).

But yeah, motherboard, RAM, GPU, CPU, etc...all brand new.

fingers mccoy · 10-09-2012, 06:05 PM

create a small partition for your os to run from

makes ite asier to troubleshoot

HighandDriving · 10-09-2012, 06:34 PM

Buy a new computa.

***Det_Nosnip*** · 10-09-2012, 07:33 PM

Hmm. That's weird that your HD crashed, especially since WD are generally quality drives.

south_of_heaven 11 · 10-09-2012, 10:01 PM

Ya that's why I went with them this time around...strange that two of them have died/started to fail on within three months.

I know my PSU is old (4 years almost)...I don't know a lot about PSU's, could it be causing some kind of electrical damage to my HDD that I don't know about? In three months, I've had:

Two HDD's fail (or begin to fail)
Two GPU's fail (one just died, and the replacement one had a faulty heatsink, which caused it to hit almost 100 C under average loads).

***Det_Nosnip*** · 10-10-2012, 04:28 PM

That sounds to me like either:

A) A motherboard problem
B) Possibly a power supply issue
C) a Voltage/surge issue

Do you use a surge protector/battery backup?

note: I am not and do not pretend to be a computer hardware expert in any way, but I did build my current PC and have replaced just about every part over the years.

You might want to try putting the HDD into an inclosure and seeing if you can access it from another computer via USB...if so, your problem might be your mobo.

south_of_heaven 11 · 10-10-2012, 05:27 PM

Yes, I do use a surge protector on my PC.

However, I jumped the gun a little bit on my HDD. Instead of testing it like you all suggested, I requested an RMA and sent it back already. New one from WD is on the way. I also said "fuck it" and bought a new power supply anyway.

Worst case scenario: it was my motherboard all along. I seriously hope it's not my motherboard...

Best case: I just reinstall windows and my games. No big deal.

Stapler · 10-11-2012, 12:13 AM

I've had a few problems with WD harddrives, but for the amount I've used it's minimal. There is always a chance with any bit of tech that you may just get one that is bunk.
Also keep an eye on the motherboard problem though. It very well could be that, but hopefully isn't. What kind of MOBO is it?

south_of_heaven 11 · 10-12-2012, 01:02 PM

I have an ASRock motherboard.

My new power supply and replacement HDD came today. The one I had was a 1 TB, the one they sent me was a 2 TB...so I called them up and they said they didn't have 1 TB in stock at the time of my RMA, so they just gave me a 2 TB. Sweet.

Got everything installed, and so far, so good...computer is zipping around like it used to.

Stapler · 10-12-2012, 02:18 PM

Best fuck up ever!

south_of_heaven 11 · 10-12-2012, 03:43 PM

I know right? Awesome deal. But watch, I'll give it like a week and the same problems will happen again...and it'll be because of my motherboard all along >_<

jackkyjackson · 10-29-2012, 06:52 AM

hiiiiiiiii
thanks for the information it was very useful..
have a good day

10-09-2012, 12:40 PM	#1
south_of_heaven 11 HOLLAPATROL Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: In da 513. Posts: 3,504	Random Computer Trouble/Slow Down So I noticed last night while playing a game that my load times were starting to suck, some keys were slow to respond, and I would get a quick freeze that would last a few seconds about every few minutes. So I said whatever, shut my PC off, and went to sleep. This morning it was fine. Now in the afternoon, I started getting the same thing. So I restarted. It took it 3 minutes to boot up, when normal boot time is around a minute. Internet cuts in and out now too. I thought the slow performance could mean my HDD was dying, so I ran a diagnostic test from Western Digital. Granted, I only ran a quick one, but it passed. I'm running a virus scan on my desktop right now...but truth be told, I never browse the internet or download anything on my desktop. I use my laptop for that. Any suggestions on what could be the cause?

10-10-2012, 04:28 PM	#10
*Det_Nosnip* Mortals Watch the Day Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 18,848	That sounds to me like either: A) A motherboard problem B) Possibly a power supply issue C) a Voltage/surge issue Do you use a surge protector/battery backup? note: I am not and do not pretend to be a computer hardware expert in any way, but I did build my current PC and have replaced just about every part over the years. You might want to try putting the HDD into an inclosure and seeing if you can access it from another computer via USB...if so, your problem might be your mobo. Last edited by Det_Nosnip; 10-10-2012 at 04:30 PM.

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10-09-2012, 01:28 PM	#2
suspect device mk viii Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: from out of town; flew in for the convention Posts: 8,924	have a look in control panel under programs and check the date on the most recently installed software also, check the logs to see what updates have been provided by software providers finally, run panda cloud anti virus, costs a few bucks but it is by far the fastest respondent to new infections and should find and clean anything sinister

10-09-2012, 02:18 PM	#3
south_of_heaven 11 HOLLAPATROL Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: In da 513. Posts: 3,504	Thanks for the response. This time when booting, I got an error message that said "A Disk Read Error Occurred". Guess it was the HDD. Time for a new one.

10-09-2012, 02:34 PM	#4
suspect device mk viii Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: from out of town; flew in for the convention Posts: 8,924	in built obsolescence maybe how olds the box?

10-09-2012, 04:07 PM	#5
south_of_heaven 11 HOLLAPATROL Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: In da 513. Posts: 3,504	everything is brand new, minus the PSU which is about 4 years old (750w). bought the same HDD back in May of this year and it was failing on the first day. RMA'd it, and this new one has been working fine till now (although I have heard some clicking from it, which should've been another warning sign). But yeah, motherboard, RAM, GPU, CPU, etc...all brand new.

10-09-2012, 06:05 PM	#6
fingers mccoy string-y Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: it's a status cymbal at this point Posts: 19,999	create a small partition for your os to run from makes ite asier to troubleshoot

10-09-2012, 06:34 PM	#7
HighandDriving Fingas neva saw me coming Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: But Lisa did Posts: 12,617	Buy a new computa.

10-09-2012, 07:33 PM	#8
*Det_Nosnip* Mortals Watch the Day Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 18,848	Hmm. That's weird that your HD crashed, especially since WD are generally quality drives.

10-09-2012, 10:01 PM	#9
south_of_heaven 11 HOLLAPATROL Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: In da 513. Posts: 3,504	Ya that's why I went with them this time around...strange that two of them have died/started to fail on within three months. I know my PSU is old (4 years almost)...I don't know a lot about PSU's, could it be causing some kind of electrical damage to my HDD that I don't know about? In three months, I've had: Two HDD's fail (or begin to fail) Two GPU's fail (one just died, and the replacement one had a faulty heatsink, which caused it to hit almost 100 C under average loads).

10-10-2012, 05:27 PM	#11
south_of_heaven 11 HOLLAPATROL Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: In da 513. Posts: 3,504	Yes, I do use a surge protector on my PC. However, I jumped the gun a little bit on my HDD. Instead of testing it like you all suggested, I requested an RMA and sent it back already. New one from WD is on the way. I also said "fuck it" and bought a new power supply anyway. Worst case scenario: it was my motherboard all along. I seriously hope it's not my motherboard... Best case: I just reinstall windows and my games. No big deal.

10-11-2012, 12:13 AM	#12
Stapler drowning in pudding Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: the interwebs Posts: 625	I've had a few problems with WD harddrives, but for the amount I've used it's minimal. There is always a chance with any bit of tech that you may just get one that is bunk. Also keep an eye on the motherboard problem though. It very well could be that, but hopefully isn't. What kind of MOBO is it?

10-12-2012, 01:02 PM	#13
south_of_heaven 11 HOLLAPATROL Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: In da 513. Posts: 3,504	I have an ASRock motherboard. My new power supply and replacement HDD came today. The one I had was a 1 TB, the one they sent me was a 2 TB...so I called them up and they said they didn't have 1 TB in stock at the time of my RMA, so they just gave me a 2 TB. Sweet. Got everything installed, and so far, so good...computer is zipping around like it used to.

10-12-2012, 02:18 PM	#14
Stapler drowning in pudding Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: the interwebs Posts: 625	Best fuck up ever!

10-12-2012, 03:43 PM	#15
south_of_heaven 11 HOLLAPATROL Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: In da 513. Posts: 3,504	I know right? Awesome deal. But watch, I'll give it like a week and the same problems will happen again...and it'll be because of my motherboard all along >_<

10-29-2012, 06:52 AM	#16
jackkyjackson mx newbie Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 2	hiiiiiiiii thanks for the information it was very useful.. have a good day