I'm fixin' to throw this thing out the window.

Older Dell dimension computer. 2.53ghz P4 processor, 300gig HD, 786mb ram, 32bit Windows 7, bla bla

Problem started off as a random reboot in the middle of the night, resulting in the system clock reading the wrong time and day. I replaced the little battery on the motherboard and diddnt have any problems for a while.

Now, the random reboots are much more frequent, and sometimes the computer will only last 10 minutes before it freezes, and then a few minutes later gets a short blue screen of death and reboots. Sometimes it will last a few hours. Problem is, it doesnt recognize the HD after the reboot. Says primary drive not found. I have to power on and off a time or 2 until it recognizes the hard drive, and the cycle starts again. System time never changes like it did in the beginning.

When it was less frequent, I tried upgrading from XP to 7, but nothing changed.

I updated my bios (last update available was from 2003) but it was no help.


You think its my motherboard? Or the hard drive?

I guess I could try a new HD? Or do you think its the motherboard? I'd LOVE to have a new or even used computer, but the funds just arent available anytime soon.

Oh...and now after a reboot, I loose all my cookies, and I have to re-enter all my saved passwords on forums and everything else.

Random issues lean more toward disc errors that hardware.

You can eliminate the mother board by using a hair dryer and blow hot air on different sections of the mother board.

Electronic problems are linked to heat issues. Heat a component and it will begin to fail.

I would start with a good check or your RAM. Remember, the computer loads most of what it needs in RAM. If you are having random issues, your sequence of likely culprits should be RAM, hard disc and mother board (or disc controller).

Heat issues make me think of "fan," as well. If only it were that simple, huh?

John B.

Wait until you youngens start dealing with "hot flashes"!!! Fans are a valuable multi-purpose tool to keep handy!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Various, random, and seemingly unassociated, problems on a computer would make me lean more toward the power supply. When the power supply starts to go, it can and will effect anything on the system.

I recently replaced the power supply on my daughter's Dell Dimension E-510. It did all sorts of funky things, and finally refused to boot. With a little help from my friends at Sysopt.com I diagnosed the trouble as the power supply. Her system is now running well.

IF you replace the power supply, buy only a good one. There are many companies out there making very marginal power supplies, and only a few making really good ones.

For computer help I go to my favorite computer forum, Sysopt.com. They've never steered me wrong.

Here is a great diagnostic tool:

www.ultimatebootcd.com

Burn the ISO and boot the disk. I always start by scanning for bad RAM.

Don't be recommending Linux around here. You'll get spanked by the irrelevance police <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

Back every thing up, Boot into Safe Mode and let it run overnight to see if it crashes that will help isolate hardware vs software issues. Run Malwarebytes and AVG in safe mode. You might also have a boot sector virus, use the fix MBR command.

If it's hardware...could be anything. Note really worth the effort when a new motherboard CPU combo can be had on newegg for $114 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I previously suggested a failing power supply. That is still a very real possibility. That's on the hardware side.

On the software side, you may have been visited by a nasty. As has been suggested, Malwarebytes is an excellent program, a free program.

Malwarebytes

Another free program I would recommend is Superantispyware.

Superantispyware

A third is TrendMicro Housecall.

HouseCall

No single program will root out all the nasties. Using multiple programs is well worth the effort. These three are IN ADDITION to a regular, always active, antivirus.

Another possibility on the hardware side is capacitors. Your system might have capacitors going bad. My other daughter had this happen to her on a good quality Abit motherboard. Read about this problem.

BadCaps

That should keep you busy for a bit. Running any of these diagnostic programs depends on the system staying up long enough. Running them in Safe Mode is recommended, and your best bet.