The General "Computer Issues" Thread

[Tapout]

^ Have you downloaded all the recent updates for both your system and the game? Making sure everything is current can solve a lot of problems.

 

[En Sabah Nur]

I don't know where else to ask, so I thought I'd try here.

My Sims 2 game is having issues. About 2 or 5 minutes into the game, the screen will go black, it'll say it's going into "power saving mode," and I can still hear the game sound, I just can't do anything, so I have to restart the computer. I've restarted the computer several times, fiddled with the power setting in the control panel, ran my anti-virus programs, switched what drive I put the CD into and done a drive defragment. But it's still doing this! Even if power saving mode was on, it should only be activated if there's nothing being done onscreen!

Recently, I had to have my computer wiped, so I basically had to reinstall all the expansions, though I managed to save one of my neighborhoods. Before all of this, the game worked FINE. I just don't understand! I have Windows XP.

your game somehow conflicts with your video drivers, and when it happens, your monitor goes into sleep mode. Did you try to reinstall the game after uninstalling it?

 

[En Sabah Nur]

Wipe the entire hard drive and reformat, you mean? Thanks for your help. I must be driving you nuts .

Its very hard to diagnose something that you cant see oh hear. But yea, it its driving you nuts, format might be your salvation. I mean your PC had so many problems now that fixing them might not even worn or it might create more problems. Getting a fresh install could be a good idea.

 

[Elven Moon]

your game somehow conflicts with your video drivers, and when it happens, your monitor goes into sleep mode. Did you try to reinstall the game after uninstalling it?

Well, The Sims 2 was still there after the computer was wiped, it just wouldn't work/wouldn't acknowledge that it was there. So I basically just "reinstalled" the base game "over" it, then added the expansion packs. Are you saying I should uninstall EVERYTHING, then reinstall it all again? Would that fix it?

If not, how can I get a new video driver (I'm not quite sure I understand the concept, but I'm a little computer dumb).

 

[Tapout]

Well, The Sims 2 was still there after the computer was wiped, it just wouldn't work/wouldn't acknowledge that it was there. So I basically just "reinstalled" the base game "over" it, then added the expansion packs. Are you saying I should uninstall EVERYTHING, then reinstall it all again? Would that fix it?

If the computer was wiped, how was the Sims still there? What exactly did they do to the computer?

I haven't had much success with trying to reinstall games over non-working versions. You'll probably have more luck backing up any saves you wanna keep (usually as easy as moving the save files from their folder just onto the desktop temporarily), completely uninstalling the game, and restarting from scratch.

If not, how can I get a new video driver (I'm not quite sure I understand the concept, but I'm a little computer dumb).

Windows Update is usually pretty good. Instead of having to dig through all your computer's info to find the manufacturer you can probably just do it through that. There may be something available through Microsoft's website, but its easier to do it manually. Fastest way:

[Windows Key] + Pause will bring up the System Properties
Click the Hardware tab
Click Device Manager
Select Display Adapters
Select your video card
Click the Driver tab
Click Update Driver

There'll be a driver date in there and if its anything older than six months or so there's probably and update for it unless its an ancient card to begin with.

 

[Elven Moon]

If the computer was wiped, how was the Sims still there? What exactly did they do to the computer?

I haven't had much success with trying to reinstall games over non-working versions. You'll probably have more luck backing up any saves you wanna keep (usually as easy as moving the save files from their folder just onto the desktop temporarily), completely uninstalling the game, and restarting from scratch.

Windows Update is usually pretty good. Instead of having to dig through all your computer's info to find the manufacturer you can probably just do it through that. There may be something available through Microsoft's website, but its easier to do it manually. Fastest way:

[Windows Key] + Pause will bring up the System Properties
Click the Hardware tab
Click Device Manager
Select Display Adapters
Select your video card
Click the Driver tab
Click Update Driver

There'll be a driver date in there and if its anything older than six months or so there's probably and update for it unless its an ancient card to begin with.

1. It's really strange, the programs were all still there, they just "didn't exist" according to the computer. It's hard to explain, it was pretty much all wiped save for that. I had my dad do the wipe as I can't afford to take it to a shop.

2. I'm going to try this and see if it works. Here's hoping

 

[En Sabah Nur]

1. It's really strange, the programs were all still there, they just "didn't exist" according to the computer. It's hard to explain, it was pretty much all wiped save for that. I had my dad do the wipe as I can't afford to take it to a shop.

2. I'm going to try this and see if it works. Here's hoping

You didn't format the drive, you just reinstalled windows over the old one. You would need to format the drive first, that could be the reason why your video drivers are failing. Your video card drivers are either ATI Radeon or the like or Nvidia GeForce or the like, or in a worse case scenario you have sucky Intel Accelerated Graphics which is onboard video.
So yea, I think you need to format the drive, as in "Format c:" in Dos from a boot floppy?boot usb drive, or from a Windows XP cd. In WinXP cd, simply boot from the cd, when it tells you you already have a previous windows installed on the partition, choose to delete that partition. Then you will end up with unallocated space, you will need to create a partition from this space (all very simple 1 button commands that winxp cd tells you to press). Once you create a fresh partition, it will read RAW, meaning its not formatted, then you will proceed to format the drive in NTFS, don't do a quick format, do the normal one. This may take some time depending on your HDD space. After that winXP cd will proceed to install a new copy of windows xp on your PC. Assuming you have all the drivers and all the cds handy that came with your PC (including your original winxp cd), you will need to reinstall the drivers for all the extra components in your PC, such as audio drivers, video drivers, network drivers, and so forth. Also update to the latest service pack (latest one is SP3) and do all the follow up updates that may appear.

 

[Rook]

Force shutdown would do it, faulty power supply connectors would do it, faulty power supply regulation would do it, static surge would to it, electrical surge would do it. Pick One.

I just recieved my replacement a few mins ago. Its a 9500 GT. I would imagine with looking at benchmarks the higher the number the better. I just hope it fits into my computer.

 

[wonderfly]

Okay, I know I'm overlooking something obvious here, but I can't figure it out...

I got to thinking it'd be good if I start saving my computer games to disk in case my computer ever crashed, so I bought a pack of Memorex CD-R disks. I stick the disk into my "F" drive, I click on the latest saved game, copy it, and then try to paste it into my "F" drive...only for the computer to say, "Please insert a disk into slot 'F'". Like it's not reading that the disk is there...

Is that now how you're supposed to save to disk? If not, HOW DO YOU SAVE TO DISK?!?

 

[defunctzombie]

Mine works when I do that... Do you have any cd burning programs installed, like Nero? They might be interfering.

 

[En Sabah Nur]

Okay, I know I'm overlooking something obvious here, but I can't figure it out...

I got to thinking it'd be good if I start saving my computer games to disk in case my computer ever crashed, so I bought a pack of Memorex CD-R disks. I stick the disk into my "F" drive, I click on the latest saved game, copy it, and then try to paste it into my "F" drive...only for the computer to say, "Please insert a disk into slot 'F'". Like it's not reading that the disk is there...

Is that now how you're supposed to save to disk? If not, HOW DO YOU SAVE TO DISK?!?

first you are sure you put in into a burner right?
Second, some cd/dvd burners cant burn from windows, they need software like Ahead Nero, NTI Dragon Burn, Sonic RecordNow, or Roxio. Try to right click the F drive and go to properties, go to Recording Tab and see if the burning is enabled on it.

 

[wonderfly]

first you are sure you put in into a burner right?
Second, some cd/dvd burners cant burn from windows, they need software like Ahead Nero, NTI Dragon Burn, Sonic RecordNow, or Roxio. Try to right click the F drive and go to properties, go to Recording Tab and see if the burning is enabled on it.

The box that says, "Enable CD recording on this drive" is checked, is that what you mean?

So you mean I have to have some sort of program just to save onto a CD?

 

[defunctzombie]

Try right clicking on the file and pick Send to -> CD drive (or dvd drive, it depends on what you have). After that, open the drive in windows explorer and click Write these files to CD on the left side.

 

[En Sabah Nur]

The box that says, "Enable CD recording on this drive" is checked, is that what you mean?

So you mean I have to have some sort of program just to save onto a CD?

yep, thats what I mean. Assuming there is nothing wrong with your CD-Rs and nothing is wrong with your burner, you will need to have a burning software to write files onto a CD. Windows does a pretty crappy job of it when it does work, and it works only half the time. Better luck in windows 7 on that one.

 

[Mynd Hed]

So here's what might be a silly question. The front audio jacks on my computer case have been dying for some time. It seems like they were kind of shoddy to begin with, and years of rough use (pets getting caught on cords and yanking them roughly out of the jack, stuff like that) has finally busted them almost completely.

Now, I use my mobo's onboard audio (I know, I know, but I'm not an audiophile so I don't really care), and the audio chip itself is still perfectly fine, it's just the physical jack that's messed up. I could route audio back to the rear jacks pretty easily, but I've gotten really used to having those front jacks so that I can easily swap between my speakers and headphone, plug and unplug different mics, etc.

I know there are sound cards that include a front panel that installs into a free DVD drive bay, but those are usually the really high-end $200+ models that have a bunch of features I don't need and would be really wasted on my frugal little 2.1ch speaker setup.

I don't mind spending a little bit of money, but not up in the $100+ range. And I don't really want to bother taking my whole machine in to a repair shop just to get the wiring on those two little front jacks fixed.

Does anyone know of a reasonably priced sound card that comes with a front bay, or can anyone think of any other frugal way to get my front jacks back? Or should I just suck it up and route sound to the rear?

Edit: I guess some of those internal front-bay multi-memory-card-reader dealies have audio ports too, anyone have any experience with those?

 

[En Sabah Nur]

So here's what might be a silly question. The front audio jacks on my computer case have been dying for some time. It seems like they were kind of shoddy to begin with, and years of rough use (pets getting caught on cords and yanking them roughly out of the jack, stuff like that) has finally busted them almost completely.

Now, I use my mobo's onboard audio (I know, I know, but I'm not an audiophile so I don't really care), and the audio chip itself is still perfectly fine, it's just the physical jack that's messed up. I could route audio back to the rear jacks pretty easily, but I've gotten really used to having those front jacks so that I can easily swap between my speakers and headphone, plug and unplug different mics, etc.

I know there are sound cards that include a front panel that installs into a free DVD drive bay, but those are usually the really high-end $200+ models that have a bunch of features I don't need and would be really wasted on my frugal little 2.1ch speaker setup.

I don't mind spending a little bit of money, but not up in the $100+ range. And I don't really want to bother taking my whole machine in to a repair shop just to get the wiring on those two little front jacks fixed.

Does anyone know of a reasonably priced sound card that comes with a front bay, or can anyone think of any other frugal way to get my front jacks back? Or should I just suck it up and route sound to the rear?

Edit: I guess some of those internal front-bay multi-memory-card-reader dealies have audio ports too, anyone have any experience with those?

do a simple fix, run an 3.5mm extension cords from the back of your pc (both mic and audio) to your pc table, that way you will have easy access to switch between devises easily and the ports wil be easily accessible. You can get those extensions in any electronic store, radio shack, pc store. And they are usually under $10. If you want to order them online, chose between these: (these are 6ft, but longer are available)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882021050
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882123078
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882339036

 

[PowerZord]

My Desktop(HP) Is been acting weird.. I turn it on but the monitor stays with NO INPUT SIGNAL and the keyboard doesn't turn on. It happens randomly.. sometimes it logs on fine and other times is acting up like this. Any solution to this?

 

[defunctzombie]

I have an older Intel Celeron pc with Windows XP. The heatsink is held down onto the board by a metal clamp. The thing is, I broke the little peg that held the clamp down.

[xspoiler=big picture]

[/xspoiler]
Can it be fixed or do I have to find a new motherboard?

(That is not the pc I am using right now, but it does run).

 

[En Sabah Nur]

My Desktop(HP) Is been acting weird.. I turn it on but the monitor stays with NO INPUT SIGNAL and the keyboard doesn't turn on. It happens randomly.. sometimes it logs on fine and other times is acting up like this. Any solution to this?

Most likely the its the power issue. the times it happens, do you usually head the normal windows sounds when it starts up? Does your keyboard lights blink when you pressthe power button? It cant be he monitor because your keyboard does the same thing, it cant be the video card because your keyboard would not be afected. It could be your HDD (unlikely) and it could be your power supply (very likely and an easy fix). Power suppy might be giving out and not sending enough juice to all the pc components needed to POST correctly. By cycling power (turning the pc on and off) it might push enough power to start it. How many watt is your Power Suppy?Before getting a new one, there are power suppy testers out there (usually under $30) that can diagnose the problem if its the power suppy.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899705003

 

[En Sabah Nur]

I have an older Intel Celeron pc with Windows XP. The heatsink is held down onto the board by a metal clamp. The thing is, I broke the little peg that held the clamp down.

[xspoiler=big picture]

[/xspoiler]
Can it be fixed or do I have to find a new motherboard?

(That is not the pc I am using right now, but it does run).

That looks alike a CPU clamp not a heat sink clamp. If its a heat sink clamp, you could try getting a 3rd party heat sink w/ fan and replacing the old heat sink bracket, by taking out your mobo (and removing the damaged heat sink that came with it), and putting a back plate on the other side of your mobo that will come with the new heat sink (all intel mobos will need a back plate for a 3rd party heatsink).
But I think its your CPU clamp instead. Therefore you need a new mobo, but if your system is a few years old, getting a new computer might be wiser and cheaper. getting a new mobo is like getting a new computer anyways. You then you would have to format your HDD anyways, I dont know where you would even find celeron mobos now anyways, they might be too expensive as antiques because nobody makes them anymore. If you put this pc together, get a new Mobo, a new CPU and new RAM, put everything together and format your HDD. If you didnt build it, and you don't know how, get a new pc. Your options are limited.