(OT) Techy help required please.

1 May 2006

Hi folks

I have been having this problem for some time now, and just wondered if anyone may have had the same and found a cure.
When I start up my machine, it gets as far as the blue â€œIntel insideâ€ bit, which I assume is the mem check stage dunno

It has taken to sitting there for up to 20 minutes, :shock: at first I was hitting the off button over and over thinking the fecking thing had locked up, then one day I just walked away from it, and sure enough after about 15 / 20 minutes, windoze suddenly fired up and all was running smoothly.
It has now taken to doing this every time I reboot and it really is starting to wind me up, I have to reboot quite often you see due to the fact I have another little problem, my machine hangs at least 2 to 4 times a day rolleyes

Anyway, to save time, hereâ€™s what Iâ€™ve tried so far:
I initially thought the HDD might be dying on me, so swapped out the C: drive with a spare. Same problem.
Swapped out the memory sticks, same problem :roll:
Cleaned the contacts in the IDE slots, used an eraser on the memory stick and male IDE slots, same problem :fuckinghell:
Bought a reasonably expensive Registry Cleaner (which in fact turned out to be really good) which sorted out over 2000 registry problems and my machine is now running about 60% faster, but still, same problem :taz:
Did the whole virus, Trojan, spy ware scan thing, nothing.
I am now at a loss, I even logged into PC Pitstop which gave my machine the thumbs up and a very high benchmark score, but still the same problem :doh: :fuckinghell: duel

:jagsatwork: :kissmyarse: :taz:

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
any ideas? ...........pleeeeaaaase sad

1 May 2006

im sorry mate this is a swinging site.. try pc world...

1 May 2006

Couple of tips here, these came from Tony
Have you got a mapped network drive that is no longer valid ? this can hang your computer when booting up while it hunts for the mapped network drive that is no longer there.
also
if you have a lot of shortcuts that are still there but the programs they point to have been removed can also slow down boot up.
also
when you remove programs, do you remove them properly as just deleting a folder can remove the program only to leave entries in your registry thus your registry looking for these programs that should be installed and again slowing your pc down on boot up.
also
do a drive clean up and defrag if you haven't already.
If your pc is booting up slow its normally 9 times out of 10 because its looking for something that is no longer there or to much booting up at startup, so just check in...
your registry start up
your msconfig start up
and your start menu start up and see if something is there that shouldn't be..
Hope this might be of some help at least
Shaz x

1 May 2006

Quote by DAVEANDDEBBIE69
im sorry mate this is a swinging site.. try pc world...

How little you know about our membership!!!!!!!!
In fact, point proved with Shaz 'n' Tonys post
You just would not beleive how many IT techies we have.
But joking aside - this communityhas FAR more to it than just the swinging side!
Hope you get sorted soon Pete!

1 May 2006

Hi Pete !
I'm in IT support and I must admit as I read your post the first thing I thought was bad memory but you got that covered. Next thing I'd try is the video card ( it's possible it's built in to the motherboard too, but if it is you can still get an aftermarket one )
It sounds like your error is occurring at the bios check ( non tech - hardware thingy checks to see whats plugged in ) are you getting any beeps from the speaker ? If you are check your motherboard manual for an explanation.
Other than that it may well be motherboard or chip. it's easier to swap out a chip to test. I'm afraid it sounds to me like you're gonna have to spend some money. I get most of my kit from Ebuyer.
Hope i've been of some help, but I suspect I'm just telling you what you already suspect.

1 May 2006

Even I know about a PC not POSTING...
redface

ops: :oops:
Read it somewhere or something - apparently the beeps are important... or something.
confused

:?

1 May 2006

Quote by motorcyclerob
Hi Pete !
I'm in IT support and I must admit as I read your post the first thing I thought was bad memory but you got that covered. Next thing I'd try is the video card ( it's possible it's built in to the motherboard too, but if it is you can still get an aftermarket one )
It sounds like your error is occurring at the bios check ( non tech - hardware thingy checks to see whats plugged in ) are you getting any beeps from the speaker ? If you are check your motherboard manual for an explanation.
Other than that it may well be motherboard or chip. it's easier to swap out a chip to test. I'm afraid it sounds to me like you're gonna have to spend some money. I get most of my kit from Ebuyer.
Hope i've been of some help, but I suspect I'm just telling you what you already suspect.

You in IT, don't you think its best to advise to check software first before stating it is his hardware?
Shaz x

1 May 2006

Pete - you haven't got eTrust have you???
If so did the problems occur after the clocks went forward?
Again - if so - open task manager after you have booted and see if is there taking around 50% of cpu.
Its a known error to do with automatically scheduled eTrust updates.
End the task, and go to the site to get the fix.
If it's not that - just ignore me!
Hugs,
Alex x

1 May 2006

Quote by Jags
Read it somewhere or something - apparently the beeps are important... or something.
:?

Only if liberally interpersed with clicks and whirrs, Jags - everyone knows that ! rolleyes

1 May 2006

when you boot up, most computers when they get an error they can beep a number of times, different number of times meen a different error...
like 3 beeps is when there is a memory error in the first 64 KB of system memory
Shaz x

1 May 2006

Quote by Alexandra
Read it somewhere or something - apparently the beeps are important... or something.
:?

Only if liberally interpersed with clicks and whirrs, Jags - everyone knows that ! rolleyes

Clicks and whirrs??? OMG.. mine clunks and gurges instead. It's doomed.
:cry:

1 May 2006

just found the beep error list
1 beep Refresh failure
2 beeps Parity error
3 beeps Base 64K memory failure
4 beeps Timer not operational
5 beeps Processor error
6 beeps 8042 - gate A20 failure
7 beeps Processor exception interrupt error
8 beeps Display memory read/write failure
9 beeps ROM checksum error
10 beeps CMOS shutdown register read/write error
11 beeps Cache memory bad
got it from here

Shaz x

1 May 2006

Quote by Shaz_n_Tony
just found the beep error list
1 beep Refresh failure
2 beeps Parity error
3 beeps Base 64K memory failure
4 beeps Timer not operational
5 beeps Processor error
6 beeps 8042 - gate A20 failure
7 beeps Processor exception interrupt error
8 beeps Display memory read/write failure
9 beeps ROM checksum error
10 beeps CMOS shutdown register read/write error
11 beeps Cache memory bad
got it from here

Shaz x

OMG - You have to count the beeps!!!!!! JAGS - Help!!!!!!!!!

1 May 2006

ok sorry i was mistaken... any electrical problems let me know..

1 May 2006

Quote by Shaz_n_Tony
Hi Pete !
I'm in IT support and I must admit as I read your post the first thing I thought was bad memory but you got that covered. Next thing I'd try is the video card ( it's possible it's built in to the motherboard too, but if it is you can still get an aftermarket one )
It sounds like your error is occurring at the bios check ( non tech - hardware thingy checks to see whats plugged in ) are you getting any beeps from the speaker ? If you are check your motherboard manual for an explanation.
Other than that it may well be motherboard or chip. it's easier to swap out a chip to test. I'm afraid it sounds to me like you're gonna have to spend some money. I get most of my kit from Ebuyer.
Hope i've been of some help, but I suspect I'm just telling you what you already suspect.

You in IT, don't you think its best to advise to check software first before stating it is his hardware?
Shaz x
You have a point ! lol. I made the assumption that the PC was taking a long time to boot before windows rather than when loading windows. The original post doesn't state.
If that's the case then it's probably a corrupt device driver. The hard bit is finding out which one. sometimes you get a text line that states it can't find a file. If you're running XP you might want to try the system restore feature and roll back to an earlier date. It doesn't work everytime but it's worth a shot.
It would help if we knew what the OS was and when the slowdown appears though.
and just so you know I don't work for PC world ! lol

1 May 2006

Quote by Alexandra
just found the beep error list
1 beep Refresh failure
2 beeps Parity error
3 beeps Base 64K memory failure
4 beeps Timer not operational
5 beeps Processor error
6 beeps 8042 - gate A20 failure
7 beeps Processor exception interrupt error
8 beeps Display memory read/write failure
9 beeps ROM checksum error
10 beeps CMOS shutdown register read/write error
11 beeps Cache memory bad
got it from here

Shaz x

OMG - You have to count the beeps!!!!!! JAGS - Help!!!!!!!!!
hehehe there is even more beeps than that, beeps like no keyboard detected or no monitor plugged in but i don't think any of them would be Pete_sw's problem unless he don't have a monitor or proper keyboard and uses a to log in to SH with lol

:lol:
Shaz x

1 May 2006

Quote by Alexandra
just found the beep error list
1 beep Refresh failure
2 beeps Parity error
3 beeps Base 64K memory failure
4 beeps Timer not operational
5 beeps Processor error
6 beeps 8042 - gate A20 failure
7 beeps Processor exception interrupt error
8 beeps Display memory read/write failure
9 beeps ROM checksum error
10 beeps CMOS shutdown register read/write error
11 beeps Cache memory bad
got it from here

Shaz x

OMG - You have to count the beeps!!!!!! JAGS - Help!!!!!!!!!
Now you're being coy Alexandra... you are a IT wizard and know a lot more than you're letting on! Me - I'm still scared of the techno-shite!
:P

1 May 2006

Hijack warning
Sorry pete wink

but i am a bit desparate
sad

clever me.....so i dont lose my work (assignments for uni) I email latest version to myself.....today open email .....download latest version & work for hours......dave comes round......need a break so ....hit save button.......go shopping....come home....switch on puter to do more work......oh what's all that stuff in that 'download box' dont need that .....hit clean up button banghead

(bad move!!) now open work....start work....strange where are the 1000 words i did earlier???? mad

:x shit poo bum.......now realise i deleted it when i hit that clear downloads !!!
Im pretty certain there is no hope .....................but in the vain hope that someone knows of a way i am hijacking pete's thread
worship

:worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: to the person who can help!!
Use & firefox
in desparation Waterbabe x x x

1 May 2006

Quote by motorcyclerob
Hi Pete !
I'm in IT support and I must admit as I read your post the first thing I thought was bad memory but you got that covered. Next thing I'd try is the video card ( it's possible it's built in to the motherboard too, but if it is you can still get an aftermarket one )
It sounds like your error is occurring at the bios check ( non tech - hardware thingy checks to see whats plugged in ) are you getting any beeps from the speaker ? If you are check your motherboard manual for an explanation.
Other than that it may well be motherboard or chip. it's easier to swap out a chip to test. I'm afraid it sounds to me like you're gonna have to spend some money. I get most of my kit from Ebuyer.
Hope i've been of some help, but I suspect I'm just telling you what you already suspect.

You in IT, don't you think its best to advise to check software first before stating it is his hardware?
Shaz x
You have a point ! lol. I made the assumption that the PC was taking a long time to boot before windows rather than when loading windows. The original post doesn't state.
If that's the case then it's probably a corrupt device driver. The hard bit is finding out which one. sometimes you get a text line that states it can't find a file. If you're running XP you might want to try the system restore feature and roll back to an earlier date. It doesn't work everytime but it's worth a shot.
It would help if we knew what the OS was and when the slowdown appears though.
and just so you know I don't work for PC world ! lol
hehe thats better
Before you go doing a system restore though Pete_sw
Just remember, you can lose files doing this, maybe images or video's or any other naughty things you might have on your pc lol
and also, if you do a system restore and it don't work and you decide to reverse it, you don't always get all files back that you had before lol
Shaz x

1 May 2006

Quote by Waterbabe
Hijack warning
Sorry pete but i am a bit desparate

clever me.....so i dont lose my work (assignments for uni) I email latest version to myself.....today open email .....download latest version & work for hours......dave comes round......need a break so ....hit save button.......go shopping....come home....switch on puter to do more work......oh what's all that stuff in that 'download box' dont need that .....hit clean up button (bad move!!) now open work....start work....strange where are the 1000 words i did earlier???? :x shit poo bum.......now realise i deleted it when i hit that clear downloads !!!
Im pretty certain there is no hope .....................but in the vain hope that someone knows of a way i am hijacking pete's thread
:worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: to the person who can help!!
Use & firefox
in desparation Waterbabe x x x

Its quite easy to restore something thats been deleted.
Go to and look for a program for restoring deleted file, i use "Handy Recovery 1.0"
it takes about 2 mins to scan your drives, you just read through the list it finds then click a button then hey presto its back
Shaz x

1 May 2006

Thanks trying it now!!

1 May 2006

Quote by Waterbabe
Thanks trying it now!!

good luck hun
If that don't work let me know and i can tell you the name of another program i use, its better than that 1 but a lot more complicated
Shaz x

1 May 2006

bugger me blue with a rubber cucumber!!! when mine did that i defragged it, worked for a while...... then i bought a new one... worked out more cost effective than arsing about with it!
how female is that??? it breaks... buy another! redface

1 May 2006

Quote by Shaz_n_Tony
Thanks trying it now!!

good luch hun
If that don't work let me know and i can tell you the name of another program i use, its better than that 1 but a lot more complicated
Shaz x
didn't work.....found deleted files in temp folder....but my doc wasn't there!!

1 May 2006

Quote by Waterbabe
Thanks trying it now!!

good luch hun
If that don't work let me know and i can tell you the name of another program i use, its better than that 1 but a lot more complicated
Shaz x
didn't work.....found deleted files in temp folder....but my doc wasn't there!!
if you have the program i said, and you have scanned your drives, look at the list on the left, open each folder, the folder you want will be in the windows folder, hunt about it will be there
If not then try this one, just a little more complicated.

it is only a free trial but fine for undeleting small deleted files
Shaz x

1 May 2006

think you missed something out Tony & Shaz?????????????
www was there........but no address

1 May 2006

Quote by Waterbabe
think you missed something out Tony & Shaz?????????????
www was there........but no address

I know lol
Edited it now
Here it is again

Shaz x

1 May 2006

Thanks for your help guys......but think it's a lost cause......as i said before not much of a techy..............but think the prob is that the latest version was not saved to the computer as such.............was saved to downloads which i cleaned up grrrrr
early start tomorrow to retype the flipping thing again
but thanks again x x x

1 May 2006

Quote by Waterbabe
Thanks for your help guys......but think it's a lost cause......as i said before not much of a techy..............but think the prob is that the latest version was not saved to the computer as such.............was saved to downloads which i cleaned up grrrrr
early start tomorrow to retype the flipping thing again
but thanks again x x x

No problem babe, shame you couldn't see it
Shaz x

2 May 2006

before u do anything ...how fast does your machine start in SAFE mode ??? this is usually a good test as safe mode does NOT start with any drivers or startup programs from the registry. If it boot in a reasonable time then you know its a software startup issue, if its still slow and sluggish then you do need to look elsewhere.
if it is a software issue, clean the registry startup keys..and also check what services are being loaded on startup too, a registry cleaner only removes redundant data from the the registry, but will not removes keys that are still valid. So in your run key of the registry u may have somthing loading that is causing the issue. Same with your services.
BUT as i said do a safe mode start up first and this will give u an idea to your next step.
<<< email me if u require any assistance.......