Unnerving Computer Errors - Signs of a Meltdown?

[Pendragon]

Over the past few days a few things have been happening with my computer that are unnerving me and any help you can offer would be excellent. (Bear in mind that I've updated drivers, Windows Update, etc.)

1) Perioidically I'll be working or browsing the web, etc when something odd happens. Here are the symptoms that I remember:

Start menu: the "Start" text disappears, all menu items disappear when moused over and don't come back. The same is true for all other dropdown/popup menus.
Links in web-browsers disppear and reappear intermittently.
Shortcuts on my desktop have their text either turn hazy and black or have it disappear.


2) My system has twice spontaneously rebooted, once while playing WoW, and once while writing.

3) My system is, as of now, making a relatively loud (though the volume fluctuates) rattling/humming sound (not from either optical drive).

I don't know what the problem is, and I can't figure out why it would suddenly happen, since I've had this computer for quite a while and all my drivers,etc, are up to date as far as I know.

[Shamrock]

Did you try a fresh reinstallation of Windows? What are your system specs?

[Pendragon]

Reinstalling Windows may not be possible and, having never done that, I would really love to avoid it. System specs:
(Dell Dimension 8200) P4 2.26 GHz, 512 RAM, GF4 Ti 4600, generic DVD and CD-RW drives...

(Dell tech support has never helped me at all, hence my not calling them if I can avoid it.)

[Dedatorv]

Do you use an LCD monitor?

At my school one of our computer labs got new LCDs and about 60% of em had problems where the desktop icons, program headers and certain text all became incredibly 'blurry'. It ended up being something wrong with the refresh rate.


The best thing to do would probably reinstall windows. Reinstalling windows is incredibly easy compared to reformating and putting a new copy of windows on. All you gotta do is pop in the windows CD and choose reinstallation/repair.

[Pendragon]

I seriously doubt it has to do with the LCD, since it's fine most of the time (e.g. now) and has been since I got it. As to reinstalling Windows, will it hurt anything I have installed now/will I need to update and all that?

[WaryWolf]

unfortunately, if you reinstall windows you will need to reinstall every program again (although some programs, like steam, just ask for your account details again and work perfectly).
and yes, you will need to update all the windows hotfixes (there are windows xp setup discs that come with the service packs pre-installed or "slipstreamed" though).

you can try an in-place upgrade though, where you install windows over the top of windows. this saves a lot of hassle and usually fixes all but the most annoying of problems.

to do an in-place upgrade, get a windows xp setup disc (doesn't have to be bootable) and run the setup in windows. then just go through and select "upgrade" instead of "reinstall", or something like that.

[Cole]

Well every company calls it diffrent if you have your book disks, most of them have an option for clearing everything and reinstalling windows files or keeping all your main files on and reinstalling all system files.

[PunisherUSA]

Back in the old days- with the blue screen of death- my computer would randomly crash, and I finally traced it too bad RAM. I just replaced the stick and it was all good. So try swapping RAM or testing it some other way.

If that's not the problem, follow other ppls suggestions.

[FictiousWill]

do a repair installation of windows. All you'll lose is your desktop resolution, which you'll have to reset (oh noes).

[Pendragon]

If you guys are sure, I guess I can try it, but it seems to me more like it'd be hardware related... but I'll trust your judgment.

[Combine Elite]

3) My system is, as of now, making a relatively loud (though the volume fluctuates) rattling/humming sound (not from either optical drive).

I don't know what the problem is, and I can't figure out why it would suddenly happen, since I've had this computer for quite a while and all my drivers,etc, are up to date as far as I know.

Not a Hardware problem ? Who said that ? Your Hard Drive and or (Drives if you are RAID), are out of alignment.

[Pendragon]

I didn't understand that post at all.

[Combine Elite]

I didn't understand that post at all.


OK the hard drive is really a series of discs within that casing they spin mostly at 7200-7300 rpm. Bumping , overheating, general small mishaps can knock them out of aligment. Rare yes, but it happens. They can be repaired, they usually make the most unGodly noises in this state. Unless you have a very minute set of diagnostic and repair tools you can not do this job. If you have a company called A-Tech near you , use them rates are good and the work is certified. Software on most occassions will not cause these noises. Software has no moving parts, elementary. Not that I know what I am talking about, but I have been involved with Hardware and Software issues for 13 years for a living.

[Pendragon]

No, I know about hard disks and all that, I didn't understand your phrasing and grammar.

[Combine Elite]

Must be the French thing in the Canadian. Sorry. But it was short and too the point.

[Pendragon]

Most definitely. :)