2 Major Problems!

[Wynssa]

I've been having two major problems for the past few months... I've been trying to deal with them as no one around my town seems to know how to fix them!

I bought my computer around Christmas to replace my Hewlet Packard that would randomly lose power at any time or lockup at any time. Two days after I got my brand new computer, it began losing power randomly too! So I've been living for three months with a computer that turns off on average... once a day. The funniest part of all of this is my old comptuer did this too. I've tried different power cords and am planning on trying another power outlet here in my room. But other than that no one seems to know what the problem is!

My computer was built at a computer shop in town. Has Windows XP... Service pack 1... I have my HP photosmart printer plugged in. It also has 128 MB of RAM (Which I was cheated on because I paid six hundred dollars for this computer) I have MSN, yahoo, ICQ, and AIM messengers on my computer (and I maybe use 2 at a time). I also have Norton Antivirus.. which hasn't detected ANY viruses at all and also Spy BOT which I've used to remove all the spyware but to no avail

My other problem is with my internet. (Computer Soap Opera... As the Kilobytes Turn) I was originally with AccessATC for basic dial up internet. It worked PERFECTLY. I then changed to CyberSouth... and then my internet would not connect and if it did it would be a whopping 9.6 KBPS! So I switched to Bellsouth ... signed up for the internet accelerator and my god I got a whole whopping 9.6 KBPS!!!! I've tried System Restores... i've tried messing with Port speeds.. I've done what every computer tech over the phone could tell me.. which wasn't a whole lot! But my Internet connects at either 9.6 KBPS or 21.6 KBPS.... I had a phone guy over at my house... his Pentium 1 laptop connected at 28KBPS and at the computer shop... it connected at 50KBPS (so they said)... so ... is my room haunted by computer poltergeists..... or something?

Any help or advice.. from REAL people.. who seem to know what they are doing... and who isn't getting my money (sorry but I would pay ya if I could!!!) would be SOOOO much appreciated.

[RufusHayes]

Have you tried having an exorcist come over? That might work . Maybe the Internet cable was installed wrong in your room? I had the stupid Comcast guy do that, and for a week i got like 40 KBPS from my HIGH SPPED internet. Then he blamed my buldings crappy maintanence for it. But he ahd just done it wrong. When he did it right i was zooming. So maybe check that?

[ANZAC_ELITE]

Originally Posted by Wynssa

......... My computer was built at a computer shop in town. Has Windows XP... Service pack 1... I have my HP photosmart printer plugged in. It also has 128 MB of RAM ..........

I'm guessing that this is part of your reboot problem, not enough ram, XP uses 128MB on its own to run, suggest more ram (256 minimum though 512 would be better)

[vidster]

If your old computer was doing the same thing i'd say the blame lies with your power supply in your room. It could be a slight surge that causes the problem, such as when the power company changes power settings.

Have you got a surge protector protecting all your computer equipment?.

[ars6091]

Originally Posted by vidster

If your old computer was doing the same thing i'd say the blame lies with your power supply in your room. It could be a slight surge that causes the problem, such as when the power company changes power settings.

Have you got a surge protector protecting all your computer equipment?.

Yeah, that sounds like a helluva long shot that both computers would have the SAME problem.....Try buying a Battery backup/surge protector, that way if it loses power the Battery backup will give you at least an hour of power.....in the meantime have someone check the electricity in your building.....on the other hand, it's JUST your computer that loses power?....the lights in the room don't dim or anything?......Ahhhhh....I don't know, sorry I couldn't be more help

[Wynssa]

Originally Posted by ars6091

Yeah, that sounds like a helluva long shot that both computers would have the SAME problem.....Try buying a Battery backup/surge protector, that way if it loses power the Battery backup will give you at least an hour of power.....in the meantime have someone check the electricity in your building.....on the other hand, it's JUST your computer that loses power?....the lights in the room don't dim or anything?......Ahhhhh....I don't know, sorry I couldn't be more help

I do have a surge protector!!! It's kind of old though... could it be that? and I really did think that like it would be the power b/c when I got the new one, the first time it lost power... right after it... my home lost electricity.

But it's continued doing it and my home doesn't lose power. And um, I live in a trailor which I hear.. the old models electricity is funky.. but I don't think there's anything I can do about that.

[Zxian]

Low quality surge protectors are just that, low quality.

Go out and invest in a name brand surge protector. APC is a good brand that I've always had good experiences with. With the storms that we get in the fall here in Vancouver, I know for a fact that my computers have been saved by these surge protectors. I've had one for 4 years now! Definately worth every penny.

Another possible cause could be a faulty power supply or an under powered system. Some companies try to cut corners on this, and they don't seem to remember that todays computers are drawing more and more power. Go back to the store that built it and ask them to check the power to the system while it's under load (basically while it's doing a lot of work).

As for RAM, 128 isn't ideal, but if it's what you have, then it'll work. That shouldn't be the cause of random reboots.

One last thing to check is temperatures. Some computers will turn themselves off if the temperatures inside the case rise too high. Download Hardware monitor and run it to have it check the temperatures of your CPU and hard drives. Link If the temperature of the CPU is over 45 C when you're not doing anything, it would be some cause for concern. If at any time you see it rise above 60 C, turn off your computer immediately and have the computer store check it out immediately.


I'm afraid I'm not too much help when it comes to your internet problems. Sorry.