Grrr! I hate compters

N Gauge Bob · January 13, 2014, 07:50:04 PM

Packard Bell running on XP with Virgin Internet.
Computer suddenly started playing up...picture and sound out of sync and running very stuttery and then slow and fast, etc.
I have a main motherboard with 1 card slotted in...
Not sure what to do so been advised to replace Motherboard and card (whatever it is)
If I do this, does it have to be the same board and if so how to I retain my XP which I assume is somewhere on the board...I have codes but no discs.

Any help appreciated...last help was a resounding success.

Cheers
Bob

shandy · January 13, 2014, 08:10:22 PM

Hi Bob

the Operating system - XP is installed on the Hard Drive not the motherboard so swapping the Motherboard won't affect the XP installation.

However, when XP is first installed it will have "tuned" itself the for the hardware it went on, theoretically you it might not perform optimally, you'd probably not notice it though. The main niggle with changing the hardware might be that you have some missing hardware drivers for the new stuff but the windows update may sort that out.

Best idea is a re-installation from DVD, I might have an XP disc floating about that you can have if you want to do a re-install.

Have you ruled out all other causes before changing the board? - virus??? dodgy program running in background?

Have you tried it without being connected to t'internet?

Any idea what the card is - graphics? network? sound?

Steve

DCCDave · January 13, 2014, 08:15:52 PM

Before you spend any money, try removing the case and vacuuming any dust away. This sounds like an overheating problem.

Cheers
Dave

Alex · January 13, 2014, 08:19:48 PM

I agree with Dave, try a good vacuum. I laughed at out IT guy when he said that to me, thought he was pulling my leg. But it worked.

Alex

EtchedPixels · January 13, 2014, 08:28:14 PM

Quote from: N Gauge Bob on January 13, 2014, 07:50:04 PM
Packard Bell running on XP with Virgin Internet.
Computer suddenly started playing up...picture and sound out of sync and running very stuttery and then slow and fast, etc.
I have a main motherboard with 1 card slotted in...
Not sure what to do so been advised to replace Motherboard and card (whatever it is)
If I do this, does it have to be the same board and if so how to I retain my XP which I assume is somewhere on the board...I have codes but no discs.

Any help appreciated...last help was a resounding success.

Cheers
Bob

I wouldn't replace just the board, or indeed any other specific bits in an XP era computer. You'll probably get better value just buying a new PC, especially the state of the market right now.

Be aware that Windows XP basically *ends* soon, there will be no security updates even, and you can bet some of the bad guys are waiting for that date with some of their concoctions.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/end-support-help

Clean out the crud and make sure the fans are running properly, run a full virus check and generally threaten it with a screwdriver. The threat is often quite sufficient.

Alan

shandy · January 13, 2014, 08:29:24 PM

Agree with the other guys, try cleaning it first

Last thing I'd swap would be the motherboard if it's still coming to life….

lionwing · January 13, 2014, 09:32:40 PM

Once the physical maintenance is done it might be worth running a few checks on on your PC.

I virus scan is well recommended, I use Microsoft Security Essentials for virus protection, then via the Start menu go to "My Computer". Right click on your hard disk icon, look for a tab titled "Tools". You should then have a couple of options including "De-fragmentation" and "Error checking."

A defrag will reorganise the files on the hard drive. Think of it like a filing cabinet where up to this point you have just chucked files in randomly. A defrag will reorganise those files all neat and tidy.

A Error Check...well it need the PC to be restarted and may take a little while but will check the hard disk for errors and in most cases fix them.

Hope that helps..

Sprintex · January 13, 2014, 09:47:02 PM

I have an XP-era laptop that is struggling to cope with internet now - videos are almost impossible to watch with same symptoms as above. It's a 2.2GHz processor but single core, RAM has been upgraded to the maximum available but that's only 512MB, Have done everything possible regarding background programs and virus/malware cleanups but it just cannot cope any more. Think the volume of data now with large images, animations and videos is just too much for it. New laptop time I think!

Paul

Jack · January 13, 2014, 10:50:31 PM

After a physical clean there is a free program that is well worth using. Its called CCleaner, just google and install. Let it run on its defaults and it will find loads of stuff that you no longer need. Open CCleaner and run the the Cleaner a few times until it finds no more junk files. It will clean out all the various cache and temporary folders along with other files you wouldn't believe existed. All of which will slow your PC down by wasting time as it searches through everything which in turn slows up memory.

Once you've used the Cleaner then go on to use the Registry Cleaner within CCleaner. Let it do its thing. Once again run it a few times or until it finds no more problems. The program will offer you to backup any changes, don't worry about doing so, in the many years that I've been using this software it has never once caused any problems.

Once you've cleaned out all the junk, along with all the broken registry links using CCleaner software then use a defragger.

When ever someone, friends and family, mentioned a problem PC to me running slow I've done the same and in most, if not all, cases the PC has greatly improved in its running.

In the early days of using CCleaner (then it used to be called Crap Cleaner) I used to backup stuff as I went, I haven't bothered since I used XP. I've used it on Vista and I've used it since Win7 first came out and I've never had any problems with it. It does exactly what its name says without any problems. You don't gave to be a computer geek to use it, it's very user friendly.

If after a good clean and you are still getting the same problems, then as EP says, its probably time to get a new one. Unless you fit the exact same motherboard as a replacement you will need to reinstall XP along with all your programs. A different motherboard means different drivers hence the need to reinstall XP.

Malc · January 13, 2014, 10:52:02 PM

As Alan says, with the price of new computers being so low, it is not worth messing about replacing boards. It is worth defragging the hard drive as Lionwing suggests and also virus check the drive. Use something like spy bot as well to get rid of any nasties. Have a look at Morgan computers, they often have pre-used or end of line bargains.

Oldun · January 13, 2014, 10:58:00 PM

I'm running Windows 8 at the moment but, I always at the end of each session run 'Disc Cleanup' and
once a week 'Disc Defragment'. My friends ask me how I get my computer programs running so fast.

May you should try it, you never know

Kipper · January 13, 2014, 11:59:34 PM

One cold and frosty morning, a woman emailed her husband - "Windows frozen"

He emailed back - "Pour warm water over it"

Five minutes later she emailed back - "Computer won't work at all, now".

I'll get me coat.

N Gauge Bob · January 14, 2014, 08:53:43 AM

Thanks to all. A huge selection of things to try.
I should have pointed out that I defrag the computer once a week and I use C Cleaner after every session.
I think a virus is unlikely as I use AVG and have never had one to date.
I have a 500gig hard drive and have free space of 478gig!!!! so computer not overloaded with rubbish.

Regarding having an unwanted programme running in then background...how and where would I find this?

I'll try the hoover later today. I haven't done a physical clean for 6 months so it may well be a little dusty.

I'll report back, but again, thanks for all the excellent ideas and suggestions.

Cheers
Bob

Caz · January 14, 2014, 09:00:21 AM

Be aware that AVG had a severe problem about 2 years ago and let a rather virulent virus through, can't remember what it was called but I know of a 2 people it effected and well screwed up their machines. I use the free Microsoft Security Essentials and never had a problem with it.

Brooksy · January 14, 2014, 09:10:49 AM

Quote from: N Gauge Bob on January 14, 2014, 08:53:43 AM
Regarding having an unwanted programme running in then background...how and where would I find this?

One way is using CCleaner: in the Tools button on left hand side, one of the options is "Startup" - make sure that only the processes you want are starting up. This may not be able to pick out anything malicious though.