Problems with my laptop-- suggestions
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From: MZB on 25 Apr 2010 21:59 Ben: I'm not sure how to do this. I went to http://www.hdat2.com/ I clicked d/l, but I don't know what to d/l. Mel "Ben Myers" <ben_myers(a)charter.net> wrote in message news:hr07pt$bcf$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > On 4/24/2010 12:47 PM, MZB wrote: >> Ben: >> >> My laptop has: >> toshiba mk4026gax, according to Belarc Advisor. It also lists SMART >> status >> as healthy. >> >> It appears there is not diagnostic specifically for this drive. >> >> My computer seems to be passing the Dell Diagnostics except for the CD >> drive >> (which I rarely use -- oddly that seems to be working fine). >> >> I will try and clean up any dust/dirt. Can that also cause problems on >> boot-up? >> >> After I do the forced air thing, if it doesn't work, should I do the XP >> REPAIR. I'm real hesitant to do that as I don't want to screw anything >> up, >> although my important data is backed up. >> >> Mel >> >> >> >> "Ben Myers"<ben_myers(a)charter.net> wrote in message >> news:hqv5sc$1hm$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... >>> On 4/24/2010 11:21 AM, Mel wrote: >>>> I'm having more problems. >>>> Computer now does not boot most of the time. It stalls after my initial >>>> screen. >>>> >>>> I ran Dell Diagnostics Express Test and everything passed.I'm now doing >>>> the >>>> custom tests. I'm doing the IDE disk test and it looks like it will >>>> pass. >>>> I'll then try the system memory, system board, and processor tests. >>>> >>>> Any other ideas? >>>> >>>> >>>> "Bob Villa"<pheeh.zero(a)gmail.com> wrote in message >>>> news:f6aaadf4-c972-42a0-87b3-47391beac763(a)s9g2000yqa.googlegroups.com... >>>> On Apr 24, 7:56 am, "MZB"<m...(a)noway.prudigy.net> wrote: >>>>> Howdy: >>>>> >>>>> I have had this Inspiron 2200 for about 6 years and I use it a lot. I >>>>> am >>>>> running XP HOME SP3. >>>>> >>>>> Lately, I am having the following problem: >>>>> >>>>> The computer suddenly slows down to a crawl. There can be a 3-minute >>>>> wait >>>>> for any response. Sometimes I'll just see an hourglass for awhile. >>>>> I thought it might be internet-related, but when this starts I can >>>>> completely close my browser and the problem continues. At times I'll >>>>> have >>>>> to >>>>> do a cold shutdown (ie: hold down the on/off switch to shut it down). >>>>> >>>>> I'm not sure how to troubleshoot this. I've run msconfig and reduced >>>>> the >>>>> startup stuff. I'm not sure if that helps. >>>>> >>>>> One other problem: I used to be able to go on standby. But when I do >>>>> now >>>>> I >>>>> get the BSOD when starting up from standby. When I request an error >>>>> report, >>>>> it suggests that I look at updating my device drivers. But it doesn't >>>>> specify any paerticular device/driver. This problem may not even be >>>>> related >>>>> to my other one. >>>>> >>>>> One other clue perhaps is that the fan is going every time this >>>>> happens. >>>>> It >>>>> only happens after I've been running the computer for awhile. Does >>>>> this >>>>> sound like an overheating problem? Last time it happened, I could not >>>>> get >>>>> it >>>>> to restart; it would freeze after the splash screen, so again I had to >>>>> do >>>>> a >>>>> cold shutdown. That was last night. Today it booted right up and is >>>>> running >>>>> nicely, no problems. >>>>> >>>>> I use Avira AV and keep it updated. Scans are clean. Ditto with >>>>> malwarebytes. I regularly clean out the cache and other temp files. >>>>> >>>>> Suggestions? >>>>> >>>>> Mel >>>> >>>> If JayB good suggestions gives you no results...try MalwareB in >>>> FafeMode (if you haven't) >>>> bob >>>> >>>> >>> >>> Determine the manufacturer of the hard drive. Download and run BOTH the >>> manufacturer's free disk diagnostics and HDAT2. The latter allows you >>> to >>> see the SMART data, including maximum/minimum temperature during the >>> life >>> of the drive, number of relocated sectors (IMHO, even ONE is a sign of a >>> failing drive), number of pending relocated sectors. >>> >>> You might remove the keyboard, an easy job, and give the heat sink and >>> fan >>> a good cleaning with a Q-tip, a soft-bristle brush and compressed air, >>> especially if the computer is used in a dirty environment or among furry >>> creatures. >>> >>> My rule of thumb has always been to make sure the hardware is A-OK >>> before >>> making changes to the software. Failure to do so can leave one with >>> thumbs in the wrong place and chasing a phantom software problem which >>> is >>> really hardware... Ben Myers >> >> > > Mel, > > Right! Toshiba is the ONLY hard drive manufacturer that does not provide > any diagnostic software to the general public. The dolts! > > Run HDAT2, to look at SMART status in more detail... Ben Myers
From: Bob Villa on 26 Apr 2010 07:37
On Apr 25, 8:59 pm, "MZB" <m...(a)noway.prudigy.net> wrote: > Ben: > > I'm not sure how to do this. > > I went tohttp://www.hdat2.com/ > I clicked d/l, but I don't know what to d/l. > > Mel"Ben Myers" <ben_my...(a)charter.net> wrote in message > > news:hr07pt$bcf$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > > > On 4/24/2010 12:47 PM, MZB wrote: > >> Ben: > > >> My laptop has: > >> toshiba mk4026gax, according to Belarc Advisor. It also lists SMART > >> status > >> as healthy. > > >> It appears there is not diagnostic specifically for this drive. > > >> My computer seems to be passing the Dell Diagnostics except for the CD > >> drive > >> (which I rarely use -- oddly that seems to be working fine). > > >> I will try and clean up any dust/dirt. Can that also cause problems on > >> boot-up? > > >> After I do the forced air thing, if it doesn't work, should I do the XP > >> REPAIR. I'm real hesitant to do that as I don't want to screw anything > >> up, > >> although my important data is backed up. > > >> Mel > > >> "Ben Myers"<ben_my...(a)charter.net> wrote in message > >>news:hqv5sc$1hm$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > >>> On 4/24/2010 11:21 AM, Mel wrote: > >>>> I'm having more problems. > >>>> Computer now does not boot most of the time. It stalls after my initial > >>>> screen. > > >>>> I ran Dell Diagnostics Express Test and everything passed.I'm now doing > >>>> the > >>>> custom tests. I'm doing the IDE disk test and it looks like it will > >>>> pass. > >>>> I'll then try the system memory, system board, and processor tests. > > >>>> Any other ideas? > > >>>> "Bob Villa"<pheeh.z...(a)gmail.com> wrote in message > >>>>news:f6aaadf4-c972-42a0-87b3-47391beac763(a)s9g2000yqa.googlegroups.com.... > >>>> On Apr 24, 7:56 am, "MZB"<m...(a)noway.prudigy.net> wrote: > >>>>> Howdy: > > >>>>> I have had this Inspiron 2200 for about 6 years and I use it a lot. I > >>>>> am > >>>>> running XP HOME SP3. > > >>>>> Lately, I am having the following problem: > > >>>>> The computer suddenly slows down to a crawl. There can be a 3-minute > >>>>> wait > >>>>> for any response. Sometimes I'll just see an hourglass for awhile. > >>>>> I thought it might be internet-related, but when this starts I can > >>>>> completely close my browser and the problem continues. At times I'll > >>>>> have > >>>>> to > >>>>> do a cold shutdown (ie: hold down the on/off switch to shut it down). > > >>>>> I'm not sure how to troubleshoot this. I've run msconfig and reduced > >>>>> the > >>>>> startup stuff. I'm not sure if that helps. > > >>>>> One other problem: I used to be able to go on standby. But when I do > >>>>> now > >>>>> I > >>>>> get the BSOD when starting up from standby. When I request an error > >>>>> report, > >>>>> it suggests that I look at updating my device drivers. But it doesn't > >>>>> specify any paerticular device/driver. This problem may not even be > >>>>> related > >>>>> to my other one. > > >>>>> One other clue perhaps is that the fan is going every time this > >>>>> happens. > >>>>> It > >>>>> only happens after I've been running the computer for awhile. Does > >>>>> this > >>>>> sound like an overheating problem? Last time it happened, I could not > >>>>> get > >>>>> it > >>>>> to restart; it would freeze after the splash screen, so again I had to > >>>>> do > >>>>> a > >>>>> cold shutdown. That was last night. Today it booted right up and is > >>>>> running > >>>>> nicely, no problems. > > >>>>> I use Avira AV and keep it updated. Scans are clean. Ditto with > >>>>> malwarebytes. I regularly clean out the cache and other temp files. > > >>>>> Suggestions? > > >>>>> Mel > > >>>> If JayB good suggestions gives you no results...try MalwareB in > >>>> FafeMode (if you haven't) > >>>> bob > > >>> Determine the manufacturer of the hard drive. Download and run BOTH the > >>> manufacturer's free disk diagnostics and HDAT2. The latter allows you > >>> to > >>> see the SMART data, including maximum/minimum temperature during the > >>> life > >>> of the drive, number of relocated sectors (IMHO, even ONE is a sign of a > >>> failing drive), number of pending relocated sectors. > > >>> You might remove the keyboard, an easy job, and give the heat sink and > >>> fan > >>> a good cleaning with a Q-tip, a soft-bristle brush and compressed air, > >>> especially if the computer is used in a dirty environment or among furry > >>> creatures. > > >>> My rule of thumb has always been to make sure the hardware is A-OK > >>> before > >>> making changes to the software. Failure to do so can leave one with > >>> thumbs in the wrong place and chasing a phantom software problem which > >>> is > >>> really hardware... Ben Myers > > > Mel, > > > Right! Toshiba is the ONLY hard drive manufacturer that does not provide > > any diagnostic software to the general public. The dolts! > > > Run HDAT2, to look at SMART status in more detail... Ben Myers I would go with the 1st one on the d/l page (ISO image and burn to bootable CD) 7-Zip for RAR and imgburn for ISO (if you're not sure what to use) bob |