The Most Stable Operating System On The Most Unstable Computer In The World!!!

[The NoOb]

Hi

One of my 4 CPU´s has a tiddley bit of a problem.

Well if you´re sitting comfortably then i´ll begin.

It all started a few years ago when i recieved a nasty computer destroying Virus whilst playing a well known online game. The Virus immediately killed the computer installation and many other users had the same joy. After re-installing the OS it eventually limped back to health but with an intermittant hic-up.

The only difference was that after a while the computer seems to loose information and slowly degrade itself into a messy pulp.

I´m looking at a hardware problem.

What part of the hardware would cause a largish downloaded file not to unpack properly? or an .exe or any other file to screw up over time? After about 2 or 3 months the whole thing becomes unusable.

I just changed the HD and re-installed XP for the 6th time and still seem to have the same problem.

I have tried many diagnostic programs for RAM, crash detection etc and nothing picks up any fault.

Is it the motherboard or the Brains? I have no idea.
I just want to fix this before i get onto installing linux in a relm i don´t yet understand.
If i cannee fix it by new year i`ll put a firework in it and live in peace.

By the way the computer is called Jeffrey!!

[kakariko81280]

Not directly relevant to your problem, but I've never heard of a virus capable of damaging hardware*. Do you know what it was called? It might be useful to help diagnose your problem.

Chris...

*OK, I have heard of viruses that can trash hardware but always in an urban legend context.

[netstrider]

Well as it sounds it could well be your BIOS that was/is screwed. However I can't see how a BIOS virus can make you lose data etc. Neither do I know if you even get BIOS viruses. However if you do...I'd say that could be it

Just a silly notion though, I might be totally off track

[d38dm8nw81k1ng]

dad? is that you? just kidding, but my dad has this exact problem. the first thing you should check is the RAM. secondly, the motherboard. by the by, i've replaced both of these and still get the odd crash (even on the recently installed ubuntu!). some computers are just jinxed, i think.

[The NoOb]

By the way, of course you can destroy hardware with viruses.

The first exaple is something that changes the refresh rate of a CRT monitor to over 70hz.

2 days it's a gonna.

The second is a mad writer virus that burns out a hard disk..

Anyway no i am not your dad.

Memory and motherboard is my first inkling too.


Changing the MB is a pain in the arse although i recon that would fix it.

but i can't be arsed to completely rebuild and install.

It was a Battlefield 1942 EA games virus, the name of which i do not know.

It could also be the huge amounts of MSI (cheap tat) hardware in the machine.

I have no idea.

If nobody else does i will leave you in peace and use my other 3 Windows based machines forever and scour the Windows boards for noObs to insult.

[xxqq]

> HW Problems

Ask the local distributor to flash new BIOS. Before flashing the bios, make sure that the DOS is clean from Virus (search FreeDOS/OpenDOS).

Change the RAM and power supply with good, reliable components. Use UPS/voltage stabilizer.
Install good cooling fans. Check/replace the cables.

Try to disable DMA, because some chipsets are buggy (ie VIA686 Southbridge).

> Software destroying HW.
Old version of Mandrake can overwrite/erase the ROM inside CD drive in certain laptops.