dvdWarrior Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 A little over a week ago, it seems my computer danced its last dance. I've been offline for a little while, so a friend of mine downloaded the TEW demo and put it onto a disk for me, same thing I did for the 2005 version, when I was also offline for a while. I'd only gotten the chance to look through the new CornellVerse a few times when my computer froze up on me, and then it basically just shut down on me. I was able to get it back up the first few times it did this, (this was the first time it's ever done anything like this in the many years I've had it - I ha a little virus trouble way back in 2003 or 2004, but I was able to get that taken care of that time), but since this last time, it's been throwing up a "Boot Failure, System Halted" message whenever I turn it on. Several months ago, it started randomly shutting down for the record, but in each of those instances, it was easy enough to bring it back up. Every time I did though, it'd give me a "Windows Has Recovered From A Serious Error" message, and then it'd function pretty much normally. I guess I just took it for granted that it would continue to come back up like that until this last thing happened. I figured it was getting close to time for me to be getting a new computer anyway, but I can't hep but wonder.... Is my old computer toast? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Wolf Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Depending on what's wrong with it you could probably butcher it for parts. Hell if it's just the Hard Drive you could just replace that instead of getting a new machine. If it's just windows you might want to consider wiping the drive and seeing if a reinstall works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvdWarrior Posted June 17, 2008 Author Share Posted June 17, 2008 I've had a feeling it's probably the Hard Drive that's the problem here. It has been overworked for several years, (I've used the computer a lot, :o), so maybe it was due to wear out on me. Re-installing Windows sounds like a good idea also, I'll look into both options for sure. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulztnrv1 Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 mmm.....toast... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistaken Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 [QUOTE=dvdWarrior;444832]I've had a feeling it's probably the Hard Drive that's the problem here. It has been overworked for several years, (I've used the computer a lot, :o), so maybe it was due to wear out on me. Re-installing Windows sounds like a good idea also, I'll look into both options for sure. :)[/QUOTE] hey if the rest of the specs aren't that bad a hard drive failure does not mean toast, it means a good afternoons worth of work. & 40 - 100 out of your pocket. now you said you've had the computer since 2003, this may mean that if you have the cash flow it's time to invest in a new computer. I mean a low end system can be had for $400 or less, the down side windows vista in all it's shame. now if you talking laptop that's a little more, but they have come light years in the last 5 years even compared to desktops. So if you've got the cash, see this as an opportunity to spend it. If not see it as an opportunity to learn, if not for about 80 bucks you can move to a 500 gig hard drive. Either way sorry to hear about your computer troubles. (based on they symptoms sounds like hard drive failure) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loves2spooge Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 same thing happened to mine about 2 months ago i got it fixed they said it was a program conflict but 1 month later it happened again so i just went and got a new one so in sumation its farked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjdgoldeneye Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 My computer is pretty good spec wise, and (including a good keyboard, mouse, speakers, and 19" flat screen monitor I bought myself) it cost $400. eBay, people! BTW, my specs are: XP Service Pack 2 AMD Athlon Processor 2.19 GHz 1.5 GB RAM ATI Radeon X1550 Video Card Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djthefunkchris Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 A work-around for your issue (if it's fix-able). I've had the same type of things happen before. This is how I fixed them. I took a "New" Hardrive, and I applied my original applications from my disc to it. You can use window's operating systems, or your disc (if you have one) to re-install to factory state *[B]ON THE NEW HARD DRIVE, DISSABLE YOUR OLD ONE[/B]. If you don't have a disc, chance's are you can order one. After you get the New hardrive up, connect the old one back to it. Do a complete disc check for error's from your new disc to your old disc. Reconnect your Old disc after your done, and "Presto", You should be able to reboot up with the old disc just fine. Lots of stuff can make something like that happen. Most people erase their disc, and think it's a virus and unfixable. However, it's worked for me once, and I've got my son's disc straightened back up several times for him as well. You don't need an expensive hard drive to do it or anything, so it shouldn't hurt the pocket book that much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvdWarrior Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share Posted June 18, 2008 I got the computer in February of 2002 actually. I figured it was about time to get me a new computer though; a friend of mine, (the same one who put the TEW demo on a disk for me as a matter of fact), had a computer that was basically the same as mine, and it bit the dust on him a long, long time ago, so I'd been thinking mine was running on borrowed time for a while anyway. Finances are an issue for me, but I'm sure I could take on an odd job or two to take care of this. You'd be surprised how much free time I have on my hands now that playing TEW or OOTP isn't an option for me. Part of me's been itching to buy a new computer anyway, the Tim "The Toolman" Taylor during the big power tool sale at Sears" part, if you know what I mean. I'll be looking into my options either way, though, and many thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I 'ppreciate it. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvdWarrior Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share Posted June 18, 2008 [QUOTE=soulztnrv1;444872]mmm.....toast...[/QUOTE] With grape jelly on it. Before I forget, I do have the Windows cd that came with my computer, but that's from 2002. Is that still workable, or have there been too many updates since then? *not much of a computer expert* :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistaken Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 is it xp, please say it's xp, but yes either way its still workable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvdWarrior Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share Posted June 18, 2008 [QUOTE=mistaken;445577]is it xp, please say it's xp, but yes either way its still workable.[/QUOTE] Yeah, it's XP. I'd prefer to stick with XP too if I can. I haven't heard very many good things about Vista. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistaken Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 [QUOTE=dvdWarrior;445580]Yeah, it's XP. I'd prefer to stick with XP too if I can. I haven't heard very many good things about Vista.[/QUOTE] this friend of yours have him get a hold of xp service pack 3 and burn that to a cd before you start. that way you can do our xp install from the manufacturer's CD, then Load up all the XP updates, before you start reinstalling or messing. This has two upsides. A nice clean install upfront, that will save you from junking up the new hard drive with Individual install files that Microsoft sends out with each update. and secondly, your starting with the most secure system to work from incase there are any viruses or hard ware issues, that try to cross over when accessing your old drive. But if you can find a new PC in the budget, nows a great time to buy. Or better yet build your own. [url]www.newegg.com[/url] one the preassembled kits can be a great value, and great way to learn (an oem copy of an operatin system will run another 90 or so bucks) Plus you can add exactly what you want to your system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blasphemywebleed Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 Ebay is the way forward. My gaming computer cost me £450 which is roughly $900. Specs: 9.6ghz Quad Core Processor 4gb Ram. 1gb SLI Nvidia 9600GT graphics card 500gb hard drive. I usually buy a new laptop every year but at least with the above desktop I wont have to upgrade that for a good while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistaken Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 [QUOTE=Blasphemywebleed;445803]Ebay is the way forward. My gaming computer cost me £450 which is roughly $900. Specs: 9.6ghz Quad Core Processor 4gb Ram. 1gb SLI Nvidia 9600GT graphics card 500gb hard drive. I usually buy a new laptop every year but at least with the above desktop I wont have to upgrade that for a good while.[/QUOTE] would that be a 2.4 ghz quad core that you multiplied by 4 :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blasphemywebleed Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 [QUOTE=mistaken;445832]would that be a 2.4 ghz quad core that you multiplied by 4 :rolleyes:[/QUOTE] The common misconception with dual and quad core processors is that people multiply the clock speed with the amount of cores, which is false. If you have a 2ghz dual core processor that doesnt mean your clock speed is 4.0ghz. Essentially you have a 2.0ghz processor divided into two cores instea dof 2 sockets. With this note you should be wary of who you buy off of on ebay etc. However there are genuine people who will sell PC's with overclocked extreme quad core processors. One way of checking is ask them to send you the dxdiag print from the system you are going to buy. Also remember that overclocking can be undone to preserve system life. You can normally overclock a processor by about 5% to 20% of its power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvdWarrior Posted June 20, 2008 Author Share Posted June 20, 2008 Once again, thanks for all the replies, comments, and suggestions, I do appreciate it. Looks like I'll be getting a new computer after all, shouldn't take too long. I've looked at a few quotes, and I should be able to swing it. Looks like I'll probably have to switch over to Vista though. As long as TEW and OOTP work on Vista though, I should be all right. :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.