Are you doing anything that might tax the graphic's card when you get the crashes?


You might want to check the temps of your motherboard using HWMonitor.  HWMonitor is a free program that will tell you the temperatures.  It may be an air flow problem.  Which at 4 years old might be the case.  Memory could also be your problem.  

 

 

If a factory desktop computer doesn't last like a decade or longer there is some incompetence going on somewhere.  Like I said, it's probably software problem.  But with my experience with HP, you never really know.

 

Not really.  I'd say a good lifespan for a computer is about 7 years.  Usually 5 years is the point where you'll want to upgrade, unless they've released a crappy version of Windows during that time.  

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I was wrong about Trent Baalke. 

Not really.  I'd say a good lifespan for a computer is about 7 years. Usually 5 years is the point where you'll want to upgrade, unless they've released a crappy version of Windows during that time.  

 

Someone at H.H. Gregg said old age for a computer is 4-7 years when I went there because it did not turn on.

 

Unfortunatley I have to wait a year for Windows 10 and this thing won't last that long if I have to get a new NVIDIA driver.

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JW, are you fishing for an excuse to buy a new computer?

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JW, are you fishing for an excuse to buy a new computer?

 

Nope. I have known for months I need a new computer, but want to put it off as long as possible because Windows 8 sucks. If I need a new NVIDIA driver, it would make no sense to buy that when I am due to get a new computer anyway.

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Nope. I have known for months I need a new computer, but want to put it off as long as possible because Windows 8 sucks. If I need a new NVIDIA driver, it would make no sense to buy that when I am due to get a new computer anyway.

 

A driver is just software that runs your device, these usually are of no cost.  What are the circumstances of it messing up?  Does it happen when you just start windows?  Does the computer have to be on for awhile?  Are you playing games or watching movies or does it do it when you're just surfing the internet.  My first thought is what Eleventh Doctor alluded to, and that is your graphics card is overheating, or maybe the card isn't fully seated.  

 

Make sure your air vents are free from dust, pop the lid open and run a vaccum hose around if you see a bit of it.  Sometimes dust can get drawn to the graphics card heat sink fan, and it cakes on causing the fan to not get enough rotations and or stop spinning which could lead to the overheating.  

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A driver is just software that runs your device, these usually are of no cost.  What are the circumstances of it messing up?  Does it happen when you just start windows?  Does the computer have to be on for awhile?  Are you playing games or watching movies or does it do it when you're just surfing the Internet.  My first thought is what Eleventh Doctor alluded to, and that is your graphics card is overheating, or maybe the card isn't fully seated.  

 

Make sure your air vents are free from dust, pop the lid open and run a vaccum hose around if you see a bit of it.  Sometimes dust can get drawn to the graphics card heat sink fan, and it cakes on causing the fan to not get enough rotations and or stop spinning which could lead to the overheating.  

 

I meant the video card - if that must be replaced, the whole computer goes out.

 

It happens when I am posting, reading, searching, whatever - but not when I am chatting on AOL or watching videos. The blackouts are random. When I type, characters and spaces often do not show up immediately and the cursor sometimes stops blinking. It is like there is a disconnect between the computer and keyboard, except this is also random.

 

Another symptom is for the first time ever, I can hear the fan running without my hearing aids in. The fan runs for a few seconds, then turns off, then starts again. This is a constant thing and does not require me to be using the computer. That is why I thought this is a hardware issue.

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Uh, AOL?

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It could be something as simple as an overheated graphics card. Do you clean inside your case on a regular basis? Dust can collect in the fans and case vents, restricting air flow, especially if your graphics card has its own fan. If the card gets too hot it will shut your video down.

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If something can corrupt you, you're corrupted already.
- Bob Marley


 

It could be something as simple as an overheated graphics card. Do you clean inside your case on a regular basis? Dust can collect in the fans and case vents, restricting air flow, especially if your graphics card has its own fan. If the card gets too hot it will shut your video down.

 

I don't even know how to open the case.

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 When I clicked on the Driver tab, then the Update Driver button, I got this message:

 

Doing that does nothing.  I don't know why Microsoft even has stuff like this.  You haven't updated the driver until you go to nVidia's web site,  find the latest driver for the model of video card you have, download the driver, then run the setup file you just downloaded.  

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I don't even know how to open the case.

There's typically two or three screws at the top of the case on one side. Remove those and the side panel should lift out and away.

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I meant the video card - if that must be replaced, the whole computer goes out.

 

It happens when I am posting, reading, searching, whatever - but not when I am chatting on AOL or watching videos. The blackouts are random. When I type, characters and spaces often do not show up immediately and the cursor sometimes stops blinking. It is like there is a disconnect between the computer and keyboard, except this is also random.

 

Another symptom is for the first time ever, I can hear the fan running without my hearing aids in. The fan runs for a few seconds, then turns off, then starts again. This is a constant thing and does not require me to be using the computer. That is why I thought this is a hardware issue.

 

Yea... there could be tons of things wrong including it could be overheating like rollerjag said.  I would update the video driver first.  If there's still problems, then I'd back up all my stuff and reinstall Windows.  If that doesn't work, then you know it's a hardware problem.  There could be a lot of dust build up inside.  You could try cleaning it and after that I guess look for a new computer.  But think twice before getting another HP though.  I still suggest a laptop, even if you say you hate them.

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Are you doing anything that might tax the graphic's card when you get the crashes?


You might want to check the temps of your motherboard using HWMonitor.  HWMonitor is a free program that will tell you the temperatures.  It may be an air flow problem.  Which at 4 years old might be the case.  Memory could also be your problem.  

 

 

 

Not really.  I'd say a good lifespan for a computer is about 7 years.  Usually 5 years is the point where you'll want to upgrade, unless they've released a crappy version of Windows during that time.  

 

Most people upgrade their computer before it goes bad.  So i guess I agree with you.  But there's very little moving parts as far as I know, so there's no real reason anything should break.  Just maybe harddrive, power supply, or fans I guess.  I guess it could depend on how much you use it too.  Anyway, I don't deal with desktops anymore.  

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I don't even know how to open the case.

 

What model of a PC do you have?  I know you said HP, but there should be a specific model name.

 

 

Most people upgrade their computer before it goes bad.  So i guess I agree with you.  But there's very little moving parts as far as I know, so there's no real reason anything should break.  Just maybe harddrive, power supply, or fans I guess.  I guess it could depend on how much you use it too.  Anyway, I don't deal with desktops anymore.  

 

Fans and heatsinks can get clogged up by dust pretty bad.  Especially without regular maintenance.  Some things can also loosen the memory, which could damage the computer badly.  Memory goes bad sometimes too.  

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I was wrong about Trent Baalke. 

What model of a PC do you have?  I know you said HP, but there should be a specific model name.

 

You mean the model number that is almost impossible to read?

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Cobra, there must be a desktop in the condo because often Mom is unable to print from her laptop and she prints stuff a lot. In fact the only reason she ever uses my computer is to print things.

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You mean the model number that is almost impossible to read?

 

Open up your start menu

Right click "Computer"

Then select properties.


This will give you your system information.  Including the model number.

 

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I was wrong about Trent Baalke. 

 

Another symptom is for the first time ever, I can hear the fan running without my hearing aids in. The fan runs for a few seconds, then turns off, then starts again. This is a constant thing and does not require me to be using the computer. That is why I thought this is a hardware issue.

 

The fans are meant to kick up the RPMs when the heat starts to build, so it may be louder or quieter at times, though most OEM fans are pretty loud regardless, so like I mentioned dust could be causing it to block its motion.  Since you said you dont know how to open it, thus you've obviously never cleaned the inside, I'm sure you have a build up of dust which is causing it to overheat.  This could be exasperated even more if you have pets or carpet. 

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The fans are meant to kick up the RPMs when the heat starts to build, so it may be louder or quieter at times, though most OEM fans are pretty loud regardless, so like I mentioned dust could be causing it to block its motion.  Since you said you dont know how to open it, thus you've obviously never cleaned the inside, I'm sure you have a build up of dust which is causing it to overheat.  This could be exasperated even more if you have pets or carpet. 

 

You mean dust can prevent the fan from working properly?

 

I learned fans can get louder temporarily when I got my hearing aids. When I told Mom about that, she said I am just not used to the noise and when she got her first pair, traffic sounded like a plane. So I never thought something could be wrong until yesterday when I could hear the fan without them.

 

Yes, I do have a pet and carpet, but Mom recently vacuumed my room and dusted everything.

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You mean dust can prevent the fan from working properly?

 

I learned fans can get louder temporarily when I got my hearing aids. When I told Mom about that, she said I am just not used to the noise and when she got her first pair, traffic sounded like a plane. So I never thought something could be wrong until yesterday when I could hear the fan without them.

 

Yes, I do have a pet and carpet, but Mom recently vacuumed my room and dusted everything.

 

If it is caked on then yes it can impede the movement, gpus usually have an idle temperature a little over 100 degrees, so this isn't like a soft dust ball, it's in a way cooked onto the heatsink.  Then again these are all assumptions, your computer could be spotless on the inside (though I highly doubt it, if it hasn't been opened and cleaned in 4 years).  

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