ScuzzBlog: Diaries March 2017
Entry 31st March 2017: Post: 1
Win 7 Collapse
Hi
So the Windows 7 machine collapsed. This is quite a reliable computer.
Never had any problems with the hardware. I kept the main C drive
relatively free from heavy work as I used external USB drives. I rarely
installed new software and looked after the machine with Norton full
internet security.
My main problems were the failure to update from around Christmas and
the issues with the Live Mail.
Fast forward to Monday. I had a flash of the problems to come first
thing checking my mail when the screen went black then came back on.
There was a Nvidia update in the tray waiting to be installed and there
was a notification that one of the MS services in respect of the hard
drives wasn't running. I did a Google and was convinced it had always
been that way.
The computer was not used all day but left on as I was mucking around on
the two Amiga 1200s I have in here. I was away playing around with a big
flat screen TV on the 1200 down stairs which was keeping me occupied.
Early evening I sat at the Win 7 machine and clicked the Firefox icon to
check the news. The computer locked up and then eventually rebooted.
never, like ever, done that before. I got to the login screen but no
mouse control. I do have an external usb hub on this machine and I
suspected the power supply. I made sure all was connected , plugged the
mouse back in and rebooted. The machine got to the login screen, locked
up and rebooted. It then kept going through a cycle of rebooting before
login. I suspected a virus and became troubled at the fact that I may
have been bombed and this was that kinda activity.
I logged into safe mode which worked and discovered Norton was not
functioning which troubled me, nor Malwarebytes, then realised I needed
Safe Mode with network. Rebooted, still not able to get to Norton but
was able to check and update Malwarebytes. Full scan and no issues.
Live Mail wasn't working so I kinda got troubled that if it was a trojan
or virus or hack I had left the machine all day and there may be
problems. I decided to contact my bank and credit card people and get
cards stopped and new issued. Over the top maybe but thats me.
I then tried a few more things but couldn't get past the login screen.
Wore me out and decided to go to bed. At least F8 worked and I could get
into safe mode.
Next morning I switched on and no difference. Except I could no longer
get into Safe Mode. I carried out the repair tool from MS but that just
flagged up that they couldn't help and I should contact them. I then
decided to check the hard drive... did a full scan and no problems.
Except, now when I tried to boot I kept being asked to do a scan and had
to hit the keyboard to stop it. I say hit it cus now the keyboard
appeared to be getting slower to respond.
I was running out of ideas. I opened the machine and reseated the
graphics card and the memory and checked for physical damage. First time
the computer has been opened in six years. I even changed the battery. I
could not boot into safe mode or normal so there was only one thing for
it and that was to do a full restore from the flash drive provided by HP
to take the computer back to factory settings.
All seemed OK until I hit the starting Windows for the first time please
wait a moment. Screen went black and the alert in the box on the screen
was in fleurescent red with bright green highlights. The machine
rebooted but this time the normal HP backdrop was a vortex of swirling
colours. Nothing was legible. I opened the machine and reseated what I
could, checked power connectors. And then sat broken hearted, like
watching my cat die as the machine fired up, powered the hard drive and
graphics with almost a surge, then kicked to a lower gear as it tried to
boot then got to the login stage and just cycled back out and started
all over. She was a gonner.
I am guessing PSU, Nvidia, Memory or motherboard. The call for extra
power to drive everything for normal could indicate power and the steady
depreciation over the evening prior could also suggest power. Trouble is
this isn't a loom in this machine... its more like the whole London
Underground network squished into a small computer. There is only the
one slot for the Nvidia which is in a large plastic holder with vent. i
am no specialist and would have to seriously consider how I approach the
problem.
The computer has been just so efficient. Its a real shame. As I watched
the little light go out on the PSU switch as I removed the plug I just
felt so low. But I had to move on and quickly. Previously I had had a
number of machines to hack and call on. I have only one Win7 machine...
or did have.
Thanks for reading. I never say never. I look on at my PCW9512 which
only took ten years to repair so haven't given up yet. It too six whole
years for the Win 7 machine to fall over... It took ten years for the
Win 98 machine to fall over... It took twenty years for the Win 95
machine to fall over and the Amiga 1200 from 1993 has been running all
day without fault. Computers are pretty reliable in truth if you look
after them.
scuzz
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