PC Issues

[Madeline]

So, backstory: I've had this computer for about two years now built from the ground-up. Was browsing Youtube with Pale Moon with 3 tabs open, MSN, and 4 FFXI processes running. Now my computer isn't terrible, so it has always handled that fairly easily with plenty of resources to spare.

I opened an extra tab for different video, and everything suddenly went haywire and hasn't been right since. The browser immediately froze up and my computer began showing signs that something was wrong. Freezing of programs, frequent times where the mouse/etc will just stop responding, blue screens, extremely slow performance in general. Equivalent to that of a very old, worn machine. I've kept this thing clean. Dusted every other week using compressed air, dusting tools, etc. There is no built up dust or overheating.

At the time my browser simply wouldn't open after having been opened once before without going into task manager to close it out. I figured I had a virus. It had this same problem once before, which is why I'm now using Pale Moon instead of Firefox. It refused to open again after it had been opened and closed once without killing the process from the task manager. Went to boot into safe mode to run combofix and all that jazz, but it didn't fix the problem. After that, I had problems booting into safe mode as well. It would simply freeze after loading the files. So at this point, nothing left to do but a fresh install.

I reinstalled windows 7 ultimate x64 (same as it had before) from a USB flash drive, activated it using a loader, etc. Didn't do anything to remedy the issue outside of fixing my browser woes. The PC is still slow as hell. So I figure at this point, it has to be hardware. I made sure to avoid the update that everyone says is breaking their installs.

Took the time to reseat/reconnect everything to narrow it down a bit, same problems.

I've ran memtest86 only to have it pass without any errors, and am currently running a Western Digital diagnostics tool that I got from their website on my drive to check from there, but so far it's returning no errors from the extended test, mind you it is still running. Last night I noticed when powering on, there's a distinct clicking noise coming from around the hard drive, and I've heard that can (but not always does) mean that the drive is dead or will be dead very soon. The problems seem to happen namely when attempting to access files or when trying to install/uninstall something (e.g it took me 15 minutes to install MSN client, which to me, is absurd.)

But it would seem to me if it were a drive issue, I would've had problems reinstalling windows on it to begin with, much less should I be able to boot into it and use it temporarily before it freezes and I'm forced to restart.

Suggestions?

[Vincento]

Finish running your hdd tests, it sounds like that's your issue just from the second para.

But it would seem to me if it were a drive issue, I would've had problems reinstalling windows on it to begin with, much less should I be able to boot into it and use it temporarily before it freezes and I'm forced to restart.

No, it's still possible to reinstall windows on a drive that's going bad.

[Madeline]

The results come back with the drive passing, at this point I'm assuming these diagnostic tools are unreliable.

As of today, I've actually been able to run the computer just fine without much issue. Yesterday I wouldn't have been able to stay on long enough to even run that tool for the hours it required. I haven't installed anything today except for MSN client, which as I said took bloody forever when I know it's usually a minute or two at best download to fully installed.

..I'm running out of ideas here. Would a good start be replacing the drive and seeing if that remedies the issue? I can't seem to find any diagnostic tools that are well known for catching drive issues.

edit: It passed both tests from the WD diagnostic tool, quick and extended.

[hey]

Easy way to rule out hdd problems: run a live linux disk, and see if there are any problems.

[Sonomaa]

if the drive is clicking and its not a starting up or shutting down click, its going bad, no avoiding it. I didnt listen to my drive clicking once and lost all my data, dont make the same mistake I did, just replace the bitch and be done with it, you can always run a taser over the circuit board to fry it and RMA the drive

have you run a test on the video card, it seems you are pushing video pretty hard, it might be that

[Madeline]

Bit of a bump, but it was definitely the drive. Went ahead and picked up a nice SSD and my machine is as smooth if not smoother than the day I bought it.

Thanks everyone for the help & suggestions! I'll be back if I have another hardware failure I suppose, haha.