Computer "Acting Up"

[Special Agent Sigvan]

Right, so my ($2000 mind you [AND I HAVE MONEY PROBLEMS])computer has started doing A LOT of weird things:

- Not shutting down when told too.

- Differently colored lines across the monitor.

- Applications not running or stopping mid use. This is normally either accompanied with a "Server Execution Failed" message or them simply not running. Or freezing mid use.

A few things I've tried:

- Factory reset for my old monitor.

- Attempting to run Google Chrome (This freezing and not loading application) in administrator mode and from the desktop.

Neither of these worked.

Yeah, I need some help, I cannot lose this computer.

[jmiki8]

I guess I'm not the first to tell this, but have you tried reinstalling the OS? If my computer acted like this, I wouldn't hesitate to do so.

[helaeon]

It could be hardware related my first thought from those symptoms is video card.

You may want to try doing a clean install of your video drivers. They're very complex and sometimes something doesn't get installed quite right

But, the hardware may be the problem:

You may also want to try a known good video card from the same manufacturer as yours, or try using the onboard video - if you have it - after removing your video card, and see if then it works as expected. If it does then there's something up with your video card. If it doesn't, then it's not the video card.

If pulling the card makes things work then you have two routes to go - it could be heat related. Your case may be dirty preventing good cooling. Cleaning it up might fix the problem also look for cables that may be preventing the fan on your video card (or even processor) from spinning. Heat is most likely the issue if you're also getting unexpected shut downs. (The applications stopping can be the video card going... "aaaand I'm to hot - nope!")

If you put the card back in after making sure the fans are spinning and it has adequate air-flow and it still behaves like you describe, and it still doesn't work after working with the known good video device, then the card is toast and you need a new one.

If it's hardware but not the video card- the next routes to go would be that you've got a bad RAM stick (some BIOS will test for you. You can also use memtest but, I've had that tell me my RAM is just fine and it wasn't. Typically you remove a pair at a time, or a stick at a time if you only have two. If the computer behaves when one of the sticks is out but not when it's in especially by itself, then that stick is bad and you will want a new pair to replace that stick and its friend), could also be that your power supply is going and sending irregular power to your CPU and video card - this one is a bit harder to diagnose without flat replacing it. The next one is that something is up with your motherboard or CPU, there are utilities that you can use to test those but I've found they are somewhat unreliable. But, it's also not super likely those are the problem unless it's getting way too hot and you're cooking something.

As jmiki8 said it could be a corrupted OS install as well. You would then want to back up your documents and do a format and clean install. Because it is possible if it's a corrupted OS a virus or other nasty piece of software is responsible. So you will want to do a scan from boot prior to the OS loading that will run through your memory to make sure that if you start over again with the software on your computer that it's actually clean and you won't be doing this again in a week.

It could be malware alone and you may be able to clean it off of there, but I wouldn't trust that I got it all and do a format and re-install anyway. If its bad hardware a clean OS install will not help. Some would go here first because it's free. I know there's nothing that is going to mess up my OS, so I'm going to test the hardware first because that's more likely and if I'm stumped (as in I'm not pretty sure) then do the OS, and if its still broke then I KNOW its hardware and start looking into exactly what part now is needing replacing.

All computers can be fixed. There is no reason to flat replace the whole box it unless all of the hardware is so woefully out of date that there is no point and the power supply and case you either hate, are under powered, or are proprietary.

Edited June 11, 2014 by helaeon

[Seret]

I agree with helaeon. Coloured lines could well be graphics card. Applications freezing up could also be memory, burn yourself a copy of memtest86 and let it run for a while.

[Special Agent Sigvan]

I agree with helaeon. Coloured lines could well be graphics card. Applications freezing up could also be memory, burn yourself a copy of memtest86 and let it run for a while.

Found the issue:

It's the monitor, after some extensive searching I've found that if the lines persist through certain menus on the monitor, it's the monitor and not the video card.

Backed up by the fact this is an old monitor.

Further backed up by the fact these issues have only recently occurred, if it was the card I should have had issues somewhat sooner, as it's the same monitor and computer.

I doubt a virus or malware program is the source either: All my passwords, documents and other information that any virus should either steal or wipe haven't been violated in any way, either it's a really badly coded virus, or not one at all.

Google Chrome's issues are likely memory related, I'm running the 32 Bit version (If there is a 64 Bit, I missed it) of chrome and according to my task manager, it's either close to capped, or capped.

I'm usually running many active tabs on my browser on the same window, so that may also be the source of the issue.

Thank you all for your help.

[The Destroyer]

Just because your passwords and documents are there dosen't mean a virus hasn't copied them, or it's a monitoring virus, bitcoin miner, PC-slower-down virus, etc.

[Special Agent Sigvan]

Just because your passwords and documents are there dosen't mean a virus hasn't copied them, or it's a monitoring virus, bitcoin miner, PC-slower-down virus, etc.

Except I haven't noticed any violations, nothing I haven't done personally isn't there.

So either they haven't been used yet (Which is stupid), or they haven't infected my computer with that kind of virus.

[Seret]

Found the issue:

It's the monitor

Ah good, that's easy fixed then.

[Special Agent Sigvan]

Ah good, that's easy fixed then.

Get 18 inch monitor, 14 inch monitors are a crime I'm guilty of.

[Nuke]

ive pulled bigger screens out of dumpsters.

[Special Agent Sigvan]

ive pulled bigger screens out of dumpsters.

Exactly.

Sadly I'm getting a replacement...

[Cmdr. Arn1e]

er... hate to be a pessimist, but how would the monitor messing up effect shut down/programs running on the PC?! I has no other function than to recieve the image and display it, it has no bearing on how programs run, or how an OS should behave...

Gotta say though, you been ripped off... you can build a perfectly fine gaming PC for under £/$1000 (please adjust for locality, currency conversion is not my strong point!) and include a decent monitor with it (22" plus... Hi-Def...)

I've got the feeling this thread isn't over, and if it is, that's the wierdest fix for those problems I ever heard... and I've been working as a self-employed computer and console repair tech for over 4 years now...

[Special Agent Sigvan]

er... hate to be a pessimist, but how would the monitor messing up effect shut down/programs running on the PC?! I has no other function than to recieve the image and display it, it has no bearing on how programs run, or how an OS should behave...

Gotta say though, you been ripped off... you can build a perfectly fine gaming PC for under £/$1000 (please adjust for locality, currency conversion is not my strong point!) and include a decent monitor with it (22" plus... Hi-Def...)

I've got the feeling this thread isn't over, and if it is, that's the wierdest fix for those problems I ever heard... and I've been working as a self-employed computer and console repair tech for over 4 years now...

Monitor was a different issue, the problem for Google Chrome shutting down is on Google Chrome's end.

And I doubt I was ripped off, the simple fact I don't have to worry about actually building my computer is worth an extra grand (Coupled with the fact I got a warranty for it).

And I think Google Chrome fixed itself, no issues running dozens of tabs for a while now.

[Kryten]

And I doubt I was ripped off, the simple fact I don't have to worry about actually building my computer is worth an extra grand.

This statement invalidates itself. Putting a computer together doesn't involve remotely a grands worth of labour, training or anything else-these days it's basically 'put tab A into slot B'.

[Special Agent Sigvan]

This statement invalidates itself. Putting a computer together doesn't involve remotely a grands worth of labour, training or anything else-these days it's basically 'put tab A into slot B'.

Well I'm just that lazy.

My only gripe is that I have to keep this or lose all my stuff (Like Documents, games, etc.[Or transfer my hard drives, but this might be simpler]).

I'll probably get parts upgraded (By that I mean do it myself) if I have to, hopefully, I won't have to for a while though.

[Nuke]

i dont think building a computer is a one grand job. ive built several and never got paid that much.

[Special Agent Sigvan]

i dont think building a computer is a one grand job. ive built several and never got paid that much.

For general costs, a grand isn't all that far off.

Far off, but not by that much.

[Nuke]

you said it cost $2000. i assume the other $1000 was parts. most of my builds are a few hundred below that. my i7 build cost a little under $800. i probibly put less than 4 hours work into design and build, and when i was building machines professionally back in 2002, i didnt get paid very much per hour. simple fact that you have much wider profit margins at the high end.

[Camacha]

For general costs, a grand isn't all that far off.

You keep saying that, but I (and I guess others) do not see it. I don't really understand why you would spend such an exorbitant amount of money on something that could probably be as good for half the money if you have money problems. Especially if it is not working properly afterwards.

[Special Agent Sigvan]

you said it cost $2000. i assume the other $1000 was parts. most of my builds are a few hundred below that. my i7 build cost a little under $800. i probibly put less than 4 hours work into design and build, and when i was building machines professionally back in 2002, i didnt get paid very much per hour. simple fact that you have much wider profit margins at the high end.

True, laziness got ahead of me.

Plus I don't trust myself (Nor do my parents) to build a computer, I understand it's relatively simple (and cheap...) but I still don't like taking chances (Ignore the fact that I'm the one who always throws caution [And logic] out the window relatively early in any incident).