Comp Question

[Lbelle]

A while ago (like 3 months ago now I think) I asked my friends to take a look at my computer cause it kept freezing in the middle of things. Whether it be a word document, a game, or just when I only have aim/internet open. So they took a gander, and not only did they SOMEHOW make the motherboard fry, but they got the power supply to start smoking, and ultimately it was out of comission for quite some time. I had to ship it back to Maryland and ugh it was just a big huge mess.

ANYWAY, I finally got it back today and was pretty excited, except when I turn it on, it's STILL FREEZING. So I figure, maybe if I reformat (ugh) I can fix the problem. So my question is this:

I'm on dorm internet, meaning there isn't wireless around here. I have no other way of backing up files on my PC than to somehow get them on my laptop since I don't have a flash drive thingy, but since there is no way to have both my laptop and desktop on the internet at the same time, is there any way I can send my files to myself? My friend said something like this "daniel is hustle: use the one cord
daniel is hustle: and plug it from one ethernet
daniel is hustle: to the laptops
daniel is hustle: like desktop is connected to the laptop
daniel is hustle: and then you have a LAN going on"

but I don't know what he's really talking about. Any help would be great. Thanks.

[Lawls]

Use a crossover cable. If you only have ethernet cables, you can always get a Crossover adapter for like, $2.

My last computer I had to backup shit on required me to use a crossover cable or adapter (kinda old), but computers now should be able to automatically switch to a crossover mode if needed by simply using a regular Ethernet cable.

[Popeh]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess your friend messed around in BIOS, probably attempting to tweak your PC for a faster performance, but being unexperienced made a balls up. Software wise in Windows it's pretty difficult (if possible) to damage the power supply and Motherboard.

As for your current problem your friend is referring to a (crossover)yellow ethernet cable. You can pick one of these up for £10 at most electrical stores assuming your PC and your laptop both have an ethernet port (most do - its the large square hole with three screens as a symbol).

Then you need to network them both together. Word of warning ... if they are not both Windows XP (i.e. one is Win98 and one is XP) don't even bother - it will kill you from insanity before you get it working!

Do a search on google on Networking 2 XP pc's and there's a number of guides there you should be able to use to setup the network if your infamiliar.

Another alternative is buy yourself a USB hard drive. They're good on storage and pretty cheap these days.

@-)

[Palin]

Coulda just AIMed me Leah.

Anyways the cable problem was told. As for your freezing problem, I'm gonna take a guess and say your Vid card is overheating since I had a similar problem a few months ago with a really poorly designed card. Even when not playing graphically intensive games or programs, the PC would just randomly freeze. Eventually the whole card just burned out and I upgraded and never had a problem since. Do you know what card you have in there by chance?

I remember you telling my you have no AC in your dorm, and I'm almost 100% sure that's whats making it freeze if its the Vid card. Things to try if you already haven't are taking off the side panels of your PC for more ventilation, getting a small portable fan and blowing it into the case, and/or rearranging the wires inside the case for more ventilation. All these things helped me in the past.

If you need more help just IM me.

[Lbelle]

I have a radeon 9800 pro, but yeah it does get REALLY REALLY hot before it freezes, so that could be the problem...I'm scared to buy a new vid card, those are really expensive!! But I think that may be it, since your comp seems to have the same symptons Eric...hmm

Anyway thanks for all the help you guys!

[Palin]

If money's tight seriously just get a small portable fan and blow it into the PC with a side case open, should keep it from freezing under most conditions. From the sound of it though you don't need to reformat, so if its a problem backing up your stuff I'd personally wait until its more convinient. Bring it down to Orlando and I can help. :wink:

[Epical]

I have a radeon 9800 pro, but yeah it does get REALLY REALLY hot before it freezes, so that could be the problem...I'm scared to buy a new vid card, those are really expensive!! But I think that may be it, since your comp seems to have the same symptons Eric...hmm

Anyway thanks for all the help you guys!

Hehe, ironic.

Back when those 9800 Pros first came out (and were $600+ each), I had bought the store warranty along with it just because the damn salesman had suckered me into it. Little did I know that it would eventually save me a LOT of money (never paid a penny) in that I would end up going through three 9800 Pros before I moved off the model. I'm convinced that ATI, at the time they manufactured the card, didn't build a large enough cooling fan/system for the card's power, and what happened (all three times) was that the glue that held the little sticker down on top of the fan would melt, drip down into the chassis, and harden, disabling the fan... a flawed design, if you will.

There are some things you can be doing to help this, though, but at this point sticking with your card is moot. First off, unless your tower is on carpet (which, if it is, should be taken off before you finish reading this post), completely take off the side door of your tower (that way the door isn't acting as a little mini-microwave). Your parts will have room the breathe and the overall temperature of the tower should go down about 10 degrees. While your door is off, invest in a $3 can of compressed air and spray your tower out (in short bursts, don't hold the trigger down). Wear one of those hospital masks or have a hose-vacuum pointing into the air just outside your PC so you can suck up all the shit that will come flying out.

But, like I said, your card is probably toast now, so buying a new card (which is mandatory if you plan on playing... anything) shouldn't be so scary. There are plenty of decent cards out there that you can find for under $100 (or just over if you want that extra little "oomph").

Before I go into Newegging you some cards, you should probably open up that side door, ground yourself, then (with your PC off) touch your video card and see if it's still steaming hot. Try to move the fan with your fingers, and if it's anything less than voluntary, it's shot.

Hope that helps a bit.

[cassiraa]

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=CA-CCB ... 7bf1b1286d

Found that gem doing a quick search for it, The 9800s are notoriously hot cards and if your warranty is gone anyways, might as well get a friend or someone to pop the fan off and replace it with something that might extend the life of the card.

[Lbelle]

I think since my card is like, 6 years old I might just upgrade it. My friend said this is a good one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814195028

It's only like 80$ on ebay, and if it will fix the problem I'll spend 80$ to do it. Until then I'm just going to stick with my laptop, since it has done me good the past couple months.

[Lawls]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 65&CatId=0

[zakhiel]

Eh... I'm gonna slip my own computer question into this thread instead of making a new topic, since I'm sure the solution is really simple. >_>

I'm having some issues w/ clicking/double-clicking. It seems that a lot of times here lately, when I'm clicking ONCE, the computer acts as if I've double-clicked. For instance, in Photoshop I go to the square selection tool, and try to select a part of a photograph. Once I release the mouse button to confirm the shape of the selection box, it immediately disappears - as if I released the button, then clicked again. THIS IS EXTREMELY ANNOYING. I'm trying to edit my photos for my Photo 1 class. When I try to zoom in/out, I'll click once, and it'll zoom in/out twice, sometimes even three times. I am not double-clicking, I've been using computers for like 8 years now, I know what double-clicking is, lol. Is there a setting or something I've accidentally turned on....??

[Lawls]

Eh... I'm gonna slip my own computer question into this thread instead of making a new topic, since I'm sure the solution is really simple. >_>

I'm having some issues w/ clicking/double-clicking. It seems that a lot of times here lately, when I'm clicking ONCE, the computer acts as if I've double-clicked. For instance, in Photoshop I go to the square selection tool, and try to select a part of a photograph. Once I release the mouse button to confirm the shape of the selection box, it immediately disappears - as if I released the button, then clicked again. THIS IS EXTREMELY ANNOYING. I'm trying to edit my photos for my Photo 1 class. When I try to zoom in/out, I'll click once, and it'll zoom in/out twice, sometimes even three times. I am not double-clicking, I've been using computers for like 8 years now, I know what double-clicking is, lol. Is there a setting or something I've accidentally turned on....??

Exact problem my cousin was having. He bought a new optical mouse and the problem went away, but I guess that's just taking the easy way out.

[zakhiel]

Eh... I'm gonna slip my own computer question into this thread instead of making a new topic, since I'm sure the solution is really simple. >_>

I'm having some issues w/ clicking/double-clicking. It seems that a lot of times here lately, when I'm clicking ONCE, the computer acts as if I've double-clicked. For instance, in Photoshop I go to the square selection tool, and try to select a part of a photograph. Once I release the mouse button to confirm the shape of the selection box, it immediately disappears - as if I released the button, then clicked again. THIS IS EXTREMELY ANNOYING. I'm trying to edit my photos for my Photo 1 class. When I try to zoom in/out, I'll click once, and it'll zoom in/out twice, sometimes even three times. I am not double-clicking, I've been using computers for like 8 years now, I know what double-clicking is, lol. Is there a setting or something I've accidentally turned on....??

Exact problem my cousin was having. He bought a new optical mouse and the problem went away, but I guess that's just taking the easy way out.

Hahaha yep that fixed it, switched mice. I'm a little tired, didn't think about it possibly being the mouse not the comp... -__-

[Epical]

I think since my card is like, 6 years old I might just upgrade it. My friend said this is a good one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814195028

It's only like 80$ on ebay, and if it will fix the problem I'll spend 80$ to do it. Until then I'm just going to stick with my laptop, since it has done me good the past couple months.

Erm, isn't that the same one you have now? Personally, you should probably start to stray from that model. =P

Assuming you have an AGP mobo, try this one. It'll get you out of that Radeon 9### series and into the newer line of cards, giving you better stability over the long term. If you want something a little cheaper, this or this (the better one being the latter) are also excellent cards for their price.