Nil Bastardo Carborundum
Dud PC or what?
Until recently, I was using a brand new (well, 12 mths old) HP Pavilion Desktop PC. The number of problems I continued to encounter with it were amazing.
It dropped out from the Internet at least 6 to 7 times a day. The only way to reconnect was to reboot the PC - the Windows tools didn't do the job. (Vista Home Premium). I tried using Ethernet and wireless connection but it didn't make any difference. My son's laptop worked fine and never lost the internet connection, so I knew the PCw was at fault, not the modem. I reinstalled the internet software provided by my ISP, but it made no difference. It still dropped out constantly.
Sometimes, when I installed program discs, plug and play would fail to kick start and I had to use the keyboard to get the thing moving.
I could out-type the monitor by ten to twelve words, and had to continually stop typing to let the computer catch up. Scrolling with the scroll wheel on the mouse didn't work all the time, only some times. It was chronically slow accessing some programs and would lock up frequently, again requiring re-booting. In short, it was an absolute dog.
I haven't bothered having it seen to as I installed my laptop and use that instead. None of the above problems occur. I'm not sure of the technical specs of this thing, I only know it has a 320GB HD, 2 GB RAM.
Has anybody ever had similar experience with their computer, and do these problems tend to narrow down what is ailing this thing? It won't be going back into service - the laptop does the job perfectly, but it should really be sorted out. (I think the warranty would have expired by now but I don't think it's a hardware fault. It has been installed with Norton Anti Virus from new as it came pre-installed.)
Do you have any anti virus or anti spyware on the machine.
If not I would start with AVG and spybot and do a full scan with both (a search though the LAN section will bring up threads on slow pc's).
Next I would download the latest drivers for all your hardware (you should be able to get these from the hp website) and see where you go from there.
You could also look through the event viewer and see what errors your getting
50LTRv8
Diagnostician
If none of the above work that 50LTRv8 suggested i would suggest a format. Still having the same trouble it sounds like you may have a Faulty RAM stick happening. Take out 1 of the 1gig sticks and see if it makes any difference. Also try it with the other one.
Nil Bastardo Carborundum
Hi 50LTRv8Originally Posted by 50LTRv8
Yep, as per my last para, Norton Antivirus has been installed since day one. On another thread currently running, I gather that this software is not the best to use to prevent viruses etc, so your suggestions are good. I'll give them a go and give Norton the flick.
HP is constantly sending out messages re updates and I have been installing them as they arrive, so the latest drivers should be installed.
As for event viewer, my pc smarts end before getting there - how do I access it?
Nil Bastardo Carborundum
Hey Mumboman
Ok, thanks, I'll try those after trying the above suggestions.
on cruise-control
Open task manager when the computer is playing up and take a look at how much memory/cpu time each program is using, take note of the heavyweights, then end their processes one by one. Test the computer for responsiveness each time. When you've found your culprit, ask yourself if you can do without it, and remove the associated program. If you can't live without it, search for an updated version and install that to try.
Usually it's a dodgey side-bar gadget chewing up resources.
Hope this helps!
Edit: Feel free to PM me if you want some more info, this is what I've done as part of my job since I was a teenager.
If you right click my computer, go to manage and you should see event viewer listed.
Open it up and go through the application and system logs, look for the red ones and see what they say.
50LTRv8
uninstall vista.
Install xp
And norton antivirus is more like a virus, worst program ever.
uninstall it too.
Donating Member
vista is shit and so is norton lol seriously reinstall xp and get a new antivirus will be 10 times better mate
on cruise-control
Vista is fine, at first it was shit, but now it's fine, just dealing with a bad reputation. Norton on the other hand, IS shit. I'd recommend Avira's free AV over a paid-for copy of norton any day.
Nil Bastardo Carborundum
Mateuninstall vista.
Install xp
And norton antivirus is more like a virus, worst program ever.
uninstall it too.
Believe me when I tell you that I have been tempted on many occasions to delete both as you suggest. I was very familiar with XP and had it at work and on our former desktop. When the new one arrived (insurance replacement after house was zapped big time by lightning), I found it had bloody Vista. Would much prefer XP but have been told of difficulties deleting Vista completely to enable installation of XP. As my PC skils are somewhere below kindergarten level, I haven't gone there. Not only that, this laptop iI'm using has the same version of Vista and it seems to work fine, so I'll stick with it.
As for Norton, I think some of my problems started about the time it was installed, after the free trial period expired. Good chance it will be getting the flick, very soon. Thanks to everybody for the antivirus suggestions, I'll just think about which one to go for, but Norton will be travelling in the general direction of the dustbin very shortly.
on cruise-control
Good man, stick with Vista, it's ok, and if you get used to the user interface, you'll be ready for Windows 7! (which isn't very far away)
If you don't have anything important on the PC I'd probably just format the bastard and start over. Failing that, back up the important stuff, then format it. Should only take a few hours, and you'll have a clean slate to set up Spybot etc. properly.
So Wet For You!
Your problem is its a HP.
Rather than replace mine, over a period of the warranty they replaced 2 hard drive, 3 mother boards, and on the last time, replaced EVERYthing inside the case. Still having the same problems! Has ran out fo warranty now. Just use it as a backup now!
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* * [] [VP CALAIS INTERNATIONAL] [EFI 304] [T56] [] * *
* * [] [VP BERLINA LX WAGON] [EFI 304] [T5] [] * *
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STEALTHY's Shed Clean Out! Buy my ****
Nil Bastardo Carborundum
Yeah, have to admit the fact that it's an HP had occurred to me. The previous PC was a Dell. We had some issues with that one over four years, but nothing like this thing. I haven't done anything with it yet, but took the advice of some members above and dumped Norton from my laptop and installed Avast. No issues to report so far.
One day when I have some free time, I'll get stuck into the desktop and back up, reformat and clean out unwanted programs like Norton, then replace with new antivirus etc.
Many thanks to all the guys who offered their advice.
So Wet For You!
If the problem is anything like what i had, nothing will solve it!
Fight as hard as you can for your money back, or a whole replacement computer!
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* * [] [VP CALAIS INTERNATIONAL] [EFI 304] [T56] [] * *
* * [] [VP BERLINA LX WAGON] [EFI 304] [T5] [] * *
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEALTHY's Shed Clean Out! Buy my ****
As far as your internet problem goes, go into Device Manager and check your network adapters driver. If it's an old driver try updating it.
Nil Bastardo Carborundum
I doubt that would be the problem but I'll have a look. We have been running two laptops off the same wireless modem without any probs. They both have the same version of Vista as the Desktop.
Donating Member
Backup the PC and reload windows. Most problems like that are caused by Faulty drivers, Unwanted software / settings. Viruses/Spyware. Could also be inproper configured antivirus/security software.
CHECK OUT MY RIDE
IF I WAS HELPFUL TOO YOU CLICK MY SCALES
"Girls are like domain names, all the good ones are taken."
So Wet For You!
Guys keep in mind its a HP.
Usually thats the problem!
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* * [] [VP CALAIS INTERNATIONAL] [EFI 304] [T56] [] * *
* * [] [VP BERLINA LX WAGON] [EFI 304] [T5] [] * *
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEALTHY's Shed Clean Out! Buy my ****
Donating Member
HP is only the branding. Inside is the same brands of parts like you would find in most computers. Hard Disks usually Maxtor / WD. Intel Processors. Intel or other brand motherboard, etc.
The only part that is actually HP's own is really the casing.
"Girls are like domain names, all the good ones are taken."
So hang on, does that mean the hp's that we have at work and are still going after 4 years with no real failures other than a couple of hard drives crappy too?
50LTRv8
So Wet For You!
Why was mine so shit with so many repairs (including a full rebuild leaving nothing of the old parts) which, to this day, still doesn't work properly.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * [] [VP CALAIS INTERNATIONAL] [EFI 304] [T56] [] * *
* * [] [VP BERLINA LX WAGON] [EFI 304] [T5] [] * *
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEALTHY's Shed Clean Out! Buy my ****
Donating Member
what was the problem with it, why did it need a rebuild??
What is still not working on it??
"Girls are like domain names, all the good ones are taken."
Yeh mate hp's can be very unreliable and faulty,
Me and my cousin both bought a hp laptop about half a year ago and mine has been working fine but my cousins has been screwing up ever since.. very weird
hp just produce duds every now n then,
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