PC Problems!!

I know it’s very difficult to advise but any steer would be helpful!

Last week (Tuesday?) my desktop stopped. Not with a black screen but a light coloured one, for what that’s worth.

After several restarts where it refused to load Windows (10), it eventually came back. In trying to resolve, I did get through at one stage to the safe mode but don’t think I did anything that made any changes for fear of doing more damage.

I wondered if it was a Windows update issue but I concluded not.

Anyway, the last week, it’s been reasonably Ok. Maybe 2 or 3 similar shutdowns but restarted satisfactorily. (Can’t recall if it took more than one go but no major drama).

It packed in again last night and now refuses to play ball today. Goes through the Dell “splash screen” but then nothing.

I tried restarting a few times to no avail. Somehow I came upon an option for System Restore. I did that back to the only date offered which was only last Wednesday. That seemed to work and I got through to my Windows sign on page. It took a while but got logged in and my desktop appeared with the message that the restore was successful.

As soon as I tried to open Explorer/file manager, it seized up again.

Just tried again now and similar- it seized as it was loading my desktop.

It’s maybe 5+ years old but was a top spec desktop from the Dell outlet. Bags of RAM (32Gb from
memory).

Any clues at all would be most helpful. Is it likely to be software or hardware? And which bit?!

Reasonably backed up data wise but I have no idea where all my software disks are so am terrified of having to start from scratch - a reinstall is, I suspect, one potential solution.

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

Could be over heating?
Open it up and blow it out if you can. Make sure all fans are working.

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Originally Posted by Kingstepper

Could be over heating?
Open it up and blow it out if you can. Make sure all fans are working.

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Thank you. I’ll give that a try.

The blue screen of death.

I'm not a computer expert, but. Do you know what CPU you have? Motherboard up to date? What about your video card?

When I got MS10. I updated all.

I5 CPU. New MB and just recently updated my video card. Ram is fine.

Just stabs in the dark here

DON

It could be your Hard disk on the way out. (assuming it hasn't got an SSD)

Thanks.

It’s a decent processor - an i7 from memory. I haven’t done anything on the PC requiring much in the way of processor power. These days mainly internet browsing and Word/Excel.

I specifically mentioned the screen colour because it was odd that it was neither the typical blue or black. Hoped that might give some expert a clue!!

Periodically, a Dell update/health check app has run and it hasn’t highlighted any issues.

Odd that Windows wouldn’t load but then eventually did load - and then the machine crashed/seized almost immediately!

Cheers!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DONGinsler

The blue screen of death.

I'm not a computer expert, but. Do you know what CPU you have? Motherboard up to date? What about your video card?

When I got MS10. I updated all.

I5 CPU. New MB and just recently updated my video card. Ram is fine.

Just stabs in the dark here

DON

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by blackal

It could be your Hard disk on the way out. (assuming it hasn't got an SSD)

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Thanks! It’s actually got both! Assume Windows is on the SSD.

Bad porn site :tongue-new:

Time for a check up

DON

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DONGinsler

Bad porn site :tongue-new:

Time for a check up

DON

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No such thing as a bad porn site - err, so I’m told!

😳

Dunno...I have System Mechanic on my PC, which offers a lot of tools for cleaning up PCs, including HD repair.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pacifichrono

Dunno...I have System Mechanic on my PC, which offers a lot of tools for cleaning up PCs, including HD repair.

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Thanks. I’ll have a look if/when I get access again.

Thinking about it, I maybe did run a Windows repair option. You’d think that there would be some way of the system
communicating issues - actual or impending.

I have had similar symptoms from overheating or bad memory. For the latter, you can try removing a memory stick at a time, and see if that makes it more stable. You can use memtest86 (https://www.memtest86.com/) to test your RAM. It will boot from a USB flash drive so you do not need Windows to boot.

Thanks! Sounds like a good idea - if a little scary for a novice like me!

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Originally Posted by Tatters

I have had similar symptoms from overheating or bad memory. For the latter, you can try removing a memory stick at a time, and see if that makes it more stable. You can use memtest86 (https://www.memtest86.com/) to test your RAM. It will boot from a USB flash drive so you do not need Windows to boot.

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If it's five years old open it up & give it a good clean out with a soft brush & careful use of a vacuum cleaner, paying attention to heatsinks. Mine started playing up & it was a iffy power supply but it's a bit difficult to diagnose these things remotely.

You say you have your data backed up but what about things like browser bookmarks & email? make sure you have those as well.

Try putting it into slep at night instead of a full turn off - it bought me some time as it seemed to be able to cope with that.

Here's how to reseat the RAM:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Wmse0TN9E

Update:

Coaxed it into loading Windows but everything is happening in slow motion!

Took the lid off. Some dust but not a lot and both fans are working.

Thanks.

Ironically, I was trying to back up my emails when it packed in last night.

Browser bookmarks is a good shout! Hadn’t thought of that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr Pointy

If it's five years old open it up & give it a good clean out with a soft brush & careful use of a vacuum cleaner, paying attention to heatsinks. Mine started playing up & it was a iffy power supply but it's a bit difficult to diagnose these things remotely.

You say you have your data backed up but what about things like browser bookmarks & email? make sure you have those as well.

Try putting it into slep at night instead of a full turn off - it bought me some time as it seemed to be able to cope with that.

Here's how to reseat the RAM:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Wmse0TN9E

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Left the machine running when I went to get dinner. It is now operating at, what appears to be, normal speed.

I’m very nervous so desperately trying to think if there’s anything else I need to back up or copy!

I’ve downloaded System mechanic although haven’t spotted a disc checker yet.

Also downloaded Memtest86 but that needs to run after a shutdown which I am nervous to do!

Thanks again for all suggestions. Please keep them coming.

Update (from my phone!!)

Ran Memtest86 which looks very thorough and took about 5 hours doing all sorts. As far as I could determine (!), all the tests were satisfactory.

I ran Windows “chkdsk” on the SSD and hard drive and, again, no faults found.

I ran the Dell systems maintenance app which claims to do various tests and update drivers. Again, everything good.

Machine had been behaving itself the last few days but last night suddenly again went to a blank screen (white, for what it’s worth, has previously done yellowish).

Done several restarts and ended up in Recovery mode - again.

It’s a very long shot but wondered if it might be a video card fault causing the problem?

Thanks again for any assistance.

Can you try onboard video w/o graphics card?

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Originally Posted by Kingstepper

Can you try onboard video w/o graphics card?

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Thanks, I’ll have a Google about that.

Just trying a System Restore. Can’t get into Windows at all at the moment. Odd/frustrating that it’s not obvious what’s happening/happened!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by David_D

Update (from my phone!!)

Ran Memtest86 which looks very thorough and took about 5 hours doing all sorts. As far as I could determine (!), all the tests were satisfactory.

I ran Windows “chkdsk” on the SSD and hard drive and, again, no faults found.

I ran the Dell systems maintenance app which claims to do various tests and update drivers. Again, everything good.

Machine had been behaving itself the last few days but last night suddenly again went to a blank screen (white, for what it’s worth, has previously done yellowish).

Done several restarts and ended up in Recovery mode - again.

It’s a very long shot but wondered if it might be a video card fault causing the problem?

Thanks again for any assistance.

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Sounds like your graphics card to me.

However go to your windows Command screen thats start button enter CMD - then type win WINVER if your build is 1909 it is coming up to end of life.
Check you windows update history and see if it has tried to foirce in the 20H2 update - if it is in you could remove that. The 20H2 update is a biggie and I have heard a few folks having issues with individual devices that manufacturers haven't yet tested.

Good luck.

For random shutdowns and other odd behaviours I'd be testing or swapping over the PSU. I have a desktop power supply tester. Let me know what model of computer or PSU you have and if it looks like its compatible, I'm happy to send you the tester (as long as it makes it way back to me).

Sent through the ether by diddling with radio waves

Also I might have a spare graphics card you can borrow too. You can PM me the Dell system service tag if you wish.

Sent through the ether by diddling with radio waves

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Originally Posted by sish101

Also I might have a spare graphics card you can borrow too. You can PM me the Dell system service tag if you wish.

Sent through the ether by diddling with radio waves

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Sorry, been “offline” for obvious reasons! Forum isn’t great on a small phone screen.

That’s a kind offer. Given the below, I’m wondering whether to admit defeat and take it in somewhere. There is a reinstall and retain data but I think my data back up is OK, it’s more trying to remember what software I had and where the disks/ installation keys are!

I spent some considerable time trying various recovery things but then others like “sfc” just refuse to run. I got chkdsk to run and it seemed to return zero faults. I tried to run Windows repair from a USB but, having given the option, it wouldn’t do it.

Can’t remember if I said but the sound had stopped working before the failure so, again, whether that’s a cause or symptoms, I don’t know.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sish101

For random shutdowns and other odd behaviours I'd be testing or swapping over the PSU. I have a desktop power supply tester. Let me know what model of computer or PSU you have and if it looks like its compatible, I'm happy to send you the tester (as long as it makes it way back to me).

Sent through the ether by diddling with radio waves

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Thank you again! I don’t know whether my symptoms (as described just now in more detail) are consistent with power issues. It’s all very odd/frustrating!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brian

Sounds like your graphics card to me.

However go to your windows Command screen thats start button enter CMD - then type win WINVER if your build is 1909 it is coming up to end of life.
Check you windows update history and see if it has tried to foirce in the 20H2 update - if it is in you could remove that. The 20H2 update is a biggie and I have heard a few folks having issues with individual devices that manufacturers haven't yet tested.

Good luck.

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Thank you! That’s another route for me to try this weekend.

Really appreciate everyone’s contributions.