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Thread: System only stable for about 10mins

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    System only stable for about 10mins

    I was using my laptop all last night and it was working fine, no problems what so ever.

    This morning I switch it on, open Firefox and it stumbles almost straight away, so I wait, try to open task manager, or anything else, alas, nothing works.

    I have to physically switch off and on. On reboot I try just using windows for a bit - opening folders, using the start menu etc - again it stumbles.

    I restart (physically again), but this time in safe mode - everything seems to work for a bit longer so I reboot (normally this time!) and manage to open event viewer - there's some error about the C: drive and Vista suggests a checkdisk - so I schedule a checkdisk and one runs, great, takes ages but then reboots and works fine for about 20mins or so.

    Now I can't use the PC for more than about 10-20mins before it locks up and I have to physically restart it.

    I tried 'Last known good configuration' alas it doesn't seem to have helped.

    What else can I do?! - it takes longer for it to restart than I am able to use it for at present!

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    DILLIGAF GoNz0's Avatar
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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    could well be a blocked heatsink, there "should" be a cover you can remove to get to the heatsink, they dont normally have thermal paste, but a pad with a thin metal shield so you can remove the heatsink and clean the crap out.

    that or blow compressed air round the vents.

    can you feel airflow from the fan exit ?

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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    Hmm, would I be able to test that theory by leaving it in safe mode and seeing if it's stable? (Since it's a hardware problem you are suggesting)

    Also, is there anywhere to see the results of a checkdisk?

    Lastly, when scheduling the check disk you have two options:

    'Automatically fix file system errors'
    'Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors'

    By default just the first was ticked, should I rerun check disk with the second ticked?

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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    click start then run, type CMD and the command window will open

    in there type

    chkdsk c: /r

    do this in safe mode, go make a cuppa as it could take a while.


    you will see the results after.

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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    Several possibilities.

    If it has been dropped or knocked, you may have dislodged a heatsink and it is overheating, or damaged an area of the hard drive. The hardrive may have just developed a fault, or it may have develoiped a memory problem. You may have collected some fluff in an exhausrt port causing overheating.

    If you have a temperature monitor on the laptop (or can download one) that may give you a clue about overheating. Yopu can download and tin memtest 86+ to see if the4 memory has a problem, and if you know what the hard drive make is, you might be able to download the mfrs test program to check that out.
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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    I've just done a few full cycles with memtest86 and it passed that fine. When it rebooted it jumped into checkdisk anyway. I'll leave it doing this, then when in safe mode I'll do it again (from cmd prompt) so I can see results

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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    Oh, and I can feel airflow from the air vents on the side, it's fairly warm, but that's fairly usual with this laptop - it's a 17" widescreen and fairly heavy. A Dell Vostro.

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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    checkdisk with an r switch, been running for about 3hrs+ atm - seems to be stuck on step 5 @ 83% ?!

    Any ideas?!

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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    leave it, it can take a long time. also it often backsteps a few% when it finds problems

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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    That makes sense - I went out at 7 to get me a fish and chips supper ... and I swear it was on 85%... now it's 83 -at least you've confirmed I'm not going mad lol!

    Just glad I have access to other PCs - this isn't looking too good atm :/

    Before after a 'standard' checkdisk (short) I left it and it was on the Vista log on screen - after typing my pass it did nothing - had to reboot (physically) and into safe mode...

  11. #11
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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    yeh it can take ages, but most of the time it recovers the file system

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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    Hmm, well it has been stuck in 83% now for probably almost 3 hours! That's starting to sound a little odd no?

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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    is the hdd light on ?

    does the caps lock key light up when u press it, if not the pc has crashed

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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    Nope, no lights on the hdd icon and no caps lock response... i've restarted it - ill report back in the morning!

    Thanks for your help thus far everyone, especially GoNz0

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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    Maybe a system recovery would solve the problem?

  16. #16
    DILLIGAF GoNz0's Avatar
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      • Case:
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      • Internet:
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    Re: System only stable for about 10mins

    it wouldnt explain locking up in safe mode though, thats usually hardware related


    "usually"

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