[Jenni]

Hi there >.<; I was directed to this site by a peer, and was hoping someone could help me out. Here is my problem (Hoping this is detailed enough).

I have an Acer Aspire Vista Home Premium desktop computer; and it is less than a year old. From about a month after I purchased it, it started randomly freezing. When it freezes there isn't a way to unfreeze it rather than restarting it. Two days ago I reformatted my PC; and it had one freeze, however, when I tested Safe Mode- it didn't freeze. Last night, I had uninstalled default games that came with the PC; and it said that a restart was required to remove all components. I decided to wait to restart; however while waiting, the PC froze. I held down the shut off button , but wasn't paying attention. I glanced back and saw a screen; but the PC shut off before I could read it. When turning the PC back on, it said that I needed the CD to fix the problem, but it also listed the normal options that it does on start up. I tested all of the options, but none of them loaded or worked. I reformatted again with alt+f10. However, today, I had to restart my PC again, and I did it with the startmenu > restart. The updates screen appeared again and reached 28 out of 48 updates, then paused. I left it alone for about an hour or more and it still hasn't unfrozen. There is no options on the screen to opt out of the updates; etc, and it is full screen. I have tried commands on the keyboard to get out of it, but none have worked. It says to not shut off the PC, or cut the power. I currently cannot find where my CD is, and have been looking since I moved into my new house.
What should I do?

Thank you very much,
Jenni.

[madmatt2006]

Hi Jenni did you install the drivers for the PC after reloading windows? have you tried running memtest http://www.memtest86.com/ over the PC freezing is cause a lot of the time by faulty memory. Do you know how many RAM sticks are in the PC? also the PC's got fans in it are they all spinning?

[noop]

Welcome to the site Jenni

When you use your laptop, do you leave it on your bed/carpet/blanket/pillow/something soft? If so, this may be why your computer freezes up and then you start to get a bunch of weird errors. With laptops, they are known to turn into mini heaters, so they need as much air as possible to cool them down. If you put them on a hard, flat, surface, this will help keep the laptop cool and prevent it from overheating.

Looking forward to your reply
-noop

[Jenni]

Matt, on 31 August 2009 - 12:17 AM, said:

Hi Jenni did you install the drivers for the PC after reloading windows?

When I was on my PC, the updates it requested (they started once I logged on) only reached 28/48. I tried running Windows Update, and that reached 28/48. If that's what you mean, ):. I'm not exactly smart with computers, but I asked a friend and that's all he told me to do.
Edit: I haven't run a memtest on it, but should I shut off my PC considering its frozen on 28 out of 48 for the updates? When I had shut it off last night, I had to reformat it in order to log on.. I'm not sure about RAM sticks, etc. But I can tell you the information about my PC that I do know.

Edit:

@Noop.
:\ My Vista is a desktop, and it is currently situated on a desk, it has never been placed up against a wall; but it has been placed on a carpet until I bought a new desk (when I first moved in). Thank you for the welcome, by the way (:.

[madmatt2006]

Jenni windows updates are different to drivers we will do updates last. You need to install the drivers first; has the Acer Aspire got a model number on it?. I will find the drivers for you. or run Belarc http://www.belarc.co...e_download.html and it will show what hardware is in the PC please post back results. it should also say in results what RAM and slots are used post this to

[noop]

Jenni, on 31 August 2009 - 12:21 AM, said:

@Noop.
:\ My Vista is a desktop, and it is currently situated on a desk, it has never been placed up against a wall; but it has been placed on a carpet until I bought a new desk (when I first moved in). Thank you for the welcome, by the way (:.

Haha, I need to learn to read better

I will leave Matt with this one to help you since he was here first. I'll check back frequently to make sure this gets solved though

Thanks for joining PCHHQ! If you have any other questions, feel free to let us know
-noop

[Jenni]

Matt, on 31 August 2009 - 12:30 AM, said:

Jenni windows updates are different to drivers we will do updates last. You need to install the drivers first; has the Acer Aspire got a model number on it?. I will find the drivers for you. or run Belarc http://www.belarc.co...e_download.html and it will show what hardware is in the PC please post back results. it should also say in results what RAM and slots are used post this to

Hopefully this information is what you're looking for ):. If it's not, I can reformat the computer, then run Belarc once I am logged on.


Aspire x1200,
4050e, 3GB.
2000B.
ID : Ax1200-b1501A.


Sorry I'm not very computer literate. I mostly use it for leisure activities.

Edit:

Thank you Noop. You guys are very helpful.

[madmatt2006]

So this PC froze during install and keeps freezing right? Are you familiar with inside the PC we need to see if it has 2 ram sticks in it. It will look like the ones in bottom of this picture http://www.novopc.co...2008/10/ram.jpg I suspect one of them is faulty what we need to do is remove one of them and see if the PC stops freezing. If it still freezes after taking one out swap them over so still just one and try boot up and see if it freezes. Unplug power before doing this.

here is a video showing how to remove ram sitcks

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B9ff9ei7hk"]http://www.youtube.c...h?v=3B9ff9ei7hk[/url]

This post has been edited by noop: 31 August 2009 - 12:58 AM
Reason for edit: Jenni, I don't think you really care about half the stuff in this video. I watched it myself and it seems pretty boring. Just skip to the part where they remove the ram and install the ram and you should be good to to. :^)

[Jenni]

Matt, on 31 August 2009 - 12:51 AM, said:

So this PC froze during install and keeps freezing right? Are you familiar with inside the PC we need to see if it has 2 ram sticks in it. It will look like the ones in bottom of this picture http://www.novopc.co...2008/10/ram.jpg I suspect one of them is faulty what we need to do is remove one of them and see if the PC stops freezing. If it still freezes after taking one out swap them over so still just one and try boot up and see if it freezes. Unplug power before doing this.

>.< Sorry if I confused you, but, no. It randomly freezes when logged on, it's completely random and has done this for a while. While restarting it earlier today, it switched to a screen to install updates and will not complete the installation. (The cursor still shows an active busy signal, and is not frozen).

I am far from familiar with the inside of the computer, and have very vague knowledge of much related to computers. I'm sorry.

Considering my explanation above, do you think the problem is still the ram?

Edit: I do care, ): it's just my knowledge is very vague. I will watch it to be informed.

[noop]

Jenni, on 31 August 2009 - 01:00 AM, said:

>.< Sorry if I confused you, but, no. It randomly freezes when logged on, it's completely random and has done this for a while. While restarting it earlier today, it switched to a screen to install updates and will not complete the installation. (The cursor still shows an active busy signal, and is not frozen).

I am far from familiar with the inside of the computer, and have very vague knowledge of much related to computers. I'm sorry.

Considering my explanation above, do you think the problem is still the ram?

Hey Jenni,

I am talking to Matt, we both think there may be something wrong with the RAM inside your machine. Before you have to open up the pc, we can run something to make sure it is the ram.

1st, click start in the bottom left (the windows icon) and in the search box type MdSched.exe
A screen should popup that looks like this:


Click Restart now and check for problems.

Your computer will restart and will get to a screen that has a blue background with some gray and yellow text. This is 100% normal! Wait for the test to complete, and it will tell you if the RAM is faulty or not. Tell us the message that it gives you when it is done and we will continue to help you

Also, please don't feel bad that you are computer illiterate! Everyone starts somewhere

Looking forward to your reply,
-noop

[Jenni]

noop, on 31 August 2009 - 01:08 AM, said:

Hey Jenni,

I am talking to Matt, we both think there may be something wrong with the RAM inside your machine. Before you have to open up the pc, we can run something to make sure it is the ram.

1st, click start in the bottom left (the windows icon) and in the search box type MdSched.exe
A screen should popup that looks like this:

Click Restart now and check for problems.

Your computer will restart and will get to a screen that has a blue background with some gray and yellow text. This is 100% normal! Wait for the test to complete, and it will tell you if the RAM is faulty or not. Tell us the message that it gives you when it is done and we will continue to help you

Also, please don't feel bad that you are computer illiterate! Everyone starts somewhere

Looking forward to your reply,
-noop

Alright, Noop. Thank you for the image. Made me feel more comfortable.
However, My mum wants me to take my dog for a quick walk, so I have to do that first. I will follow your instructions as soon as I come back, and post the results then. Thank you so much.


I guess I'm at the beginner's stage, considering I have a lotttt to learn..

[madmatt2006]

let us know the results Jenni noops and I have dogs too so we understand lol

This post has been edited by Matt: 31 August 2009 - 01:25 AM
Reason for edit: my bad spelling

[Jenni]

Matt, on 31 August 2009 - 01:17 AM, said:

let us know the results Jenni noops and I have dogs too so we understand lol

Uhm! So, I ran the test; and the PC restarted as it should, but when it got to the desktop, nothing popped up. Is it supposed to open a window to show me my results, or be in the task bar o-o; as an icon? Because, MSN automatically signed me on, ): and I think I saw something say Memory in the little icon bar; but it disappeared too quick for me to read it.


... Should I run the test again and watch o.o;?

[noop]

Yes please

[Jenni]

Okay, I ran the test again, and got the result.
"No memory errors were detected".

[noop]

Hmm... Well then it is not the RAM. Lets try this:

Click Start, Right click on Computer and click Manage

Click on the |> to the left of Event Viewer.

Click on the |> to the left of System

Now, you will see a lot of things in a list in the middle. Scroll down until you see something Red. When you see something that says Error or Critical, check what time the log was written and see if that sounds like the time the pc froze up. If it is, click on it, copy the info that it shows at the bottom, and paste them here. You may see a few at once, if they are different, try to write both of them down please.

[Jenni]

Uhm, well, earlier today I had reformatted my computer.. And it hasn't frozen up yet today (Considering I haven't been on it much at all).
but should I just wait and see when it does, then check that?

[noop]

You reformatted your computer just today? In that case, we should get you the latest drivers and see if that was the problem I will have Matt guide you with driver installation.

-noop

[madmatt2006]

Jenni we will install all the latest drivers for the PC and see if it becomes stable. Download and run / install all below

Drivers

1. Chipset here
2. Audio here
3. Modem here
4. Graphics here
5. Wireless Nic/Lan here

Now there seems to be 2 drivers for T.V tuners in it

1. Try this one first T.V tuner here

2. Driver T.V tuner 2 here

[Jenni]

Alright. I will install those right now .

Thank you two so very much