Computer help

**Nubbs** · 05-18-2006, 08:06 AM

I have a Dell Dim4600 and it is several years old. It has a Pentium4, 2.4ghz, and a cd/dvd burner. I am starting to have problems with it when it starts up and the cd/dvd burner doesn't always work. It is also makeing a noise whichs sounds like the fan, but I could be wrong. I don't want the hard drive to go up and lose everything. Should I take it somewhere to get it fixed or should I just but a new computer? I dont need a monitor or anything else. If I sould take it to get it fixed, any suggestion to where to take it to. If Ishould get a new one, any suggestions on where I should buy one. I would like to stay with Dell.

**foshizl** · 05-18-2006, 08:34 AM

Dells are really nice, if your not into building your own... first thing i would do, try and figure out your cd/dvd rom problem, your dell came with restore disks, id reccomend doing that, however you will want to back up whatever stuff you want.... as far as the noise, usually when a hard drive starts to go out, youll hear the "fan" type noise accompanied by a click click click click.........

**Aerialist** · 05-18-2006, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by Nubbs

I have a Dell Dim4600 and it is several years old. It has a Pentium4, 2.4ghz, and a cd/dvd burner. I am starting to have problems with it when it starts up and the cd/dvd burner doesn't always work. It is also makeing a noise whichs sounds like the fan, but I could be wrong. I don't want the hard drive to go up and lose everything. Should I take it somewhere to get it fixed or should I just but a new computer? I dont need a monitor or anything else. If I sould take it to get it fixed, any suggestion to where to take it to. If Ishould get a new one, any suggestions on where I should buy one. I would like to stay with Dell.

At startup the fan will spin fast for a couple of moments while in boot.

If you have a CPU monitor check for temp and rpm's etc.

You may go to performance management in XP and see the CPU's performance.

CD/CDRW/DVD/DVDRW are curious little fellers.
Sometimes they blaze and other times they seem to hesitiate or slowdown.
The most common problem is the ribbon/cable from the motherboard to device.
Changing this is the cheapest fix and or the easiest to troubleshoot and/or eliminate that as the error.

Suggest cable over ribbon, sata is even better.

Devices that are failing should not be a problem with XP but nonetheless they will slowdown the CPU.

Sometimes you may have to disconnect each device and see what happens to the CPU's performance.

First, do a disk check.
If using XP, open the C drive and click properties.
Under tools click both boxes.
You will need to reboot to start check.
Go have coffee as this takes awhile.

If you can get back at the moment scandisk is finished, hit pause and see what scandisk found.

After check disk is done see if this corrected bad sectors etc.
You should be getting a smoother faster performance.

If not get back to me and I'll see what else I can figure out.

**ss~zoso~ss** · 05-18-2006, 02:59 PM

sounds like Aerialist knows his shit when it comes to computers

GO AERIALIST!!

**Aerialist** · 05-18-2006, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by ss~zoso~ss

sounds like Aerialist knows his shit when it comes to computers

GO AERIALIST!!

**ss~zoso~ss** · 05-19-2006, 04:24 AM

lol

**Aerialist** · 05-19-2006, 11:47 AM

Let me know if you need to remove that nasty bubble (blue star) which is the Windows Genuine Advantage that you were tricked into downloading by Microsoft.

**Nubbs** · 05-19-2006, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by Aerialist

At startup the fan will spin fast for a couple of moments while in boot.

If you have a CPU monitor check for temp and rpm's etc.

You may go to performance management in XP and see the CPU's performance.

CD/CDRW/DVD/DVDRW are curious little fellers.
Sometimes they blaze and other times they seem to hesitiate or slowdown.
The most common problem is the ribbon/cable from the motherboard to device.
Changing this is the cheapest fix and or the easiest to troubleshoot and/or eliminate that as the error.

Suggest cable over ribbon, sata is even better.

Devices that are failing should not be a problem with XP but nonetheless they will slowdown the CPU.

Sometimes you may have to disconnect each device and see what happens to the CPU's performance.

First, do a disk check.
If using XP, open the C drive and click properties.
Under tools click both boxes.
You will need to reboot to start check.
Go have coffee as this takes awhile.

If you can get back at the moment scandisk is finished, hit pause and see what scandisk found.

After check disk is done see if this corrected bad sectors etc.
You should be getting a smoother faster performance.

If not get back to me and I'll see what else I can figure out.

Thanks for the help. Did everything you said and I didn't find any errors. I also checked the hard drive for errors and didn't find anything. I am going to pull the cover off the tower and clean it out (after I unplug everything). Hopefully it's just the fan making a noise.

**Aerialist** · 05-20-2006, 05:35 AM

TIP OF THE DAY

For some faster internet always unplug your power cable from the DSL/Cable box for a few moments from time to time.
This clears out the cache and resets.
This is important in case your ISP has increased its speed.

**Nubbs** · 05-20-2006, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Aerialist

TIP OF THE DAY

For some faster internet always unplug your power cable from the DSL/Cable box for a few moments from time to time.
This clears out the cache and resets.
This is important in case your ISP has increased its speed.

Thanks. I'll try that. I was told that the speed was increased, so I will have to try it.

**Aerialist** · 05-21-2006, 10:47 AM

TIP OF THE DAY

When making changes to your system, XP considers most changes as a *catastrophic event* so always reflash your bios with the latest update after changes.
This also allows the MB to *see* what you've done and enhances the stability.

**Aerialist** · 05-22-2006, 03:32 PM

TIP OF THE DAY

To enhance the performance of your XP based Pentium ...
Go to My Computer and right click.
Go to properties and click.
Click advanced.
Click settings in performance.
Click the advanced tab.
Click change in virtual memory.
Enter the maximum value in initial size and maximum size.

click ok to all and reboot.

Your Dimms (memory) are now being fully utilized.

You are now blazing.

**Trouble maker** · 05-23-2006, 03:30 PM

More tips,More tips I need more...I need more Damnit!!Sorry I get carried away!!

**Aerialist** · 05-23-2006, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Trouble maker

More tips,More tips I need more...I need more Damnit!!Sorry I get carried away!!

You got it.

Lets master some msconfig.

Go to START and open RUN
Type msconfig
Hit ok

Click the startup tab.

You see all those little boxes with check marks?
This means XP has your CPU running all these program which completely slows down your CPU.

There's a lot of trash in there you don't need to be running unless you want to run them typically when you open an icon your desktop.
By the way, XP hates icons on your desktop and this slows it down.

Uncheck anything you don't recognize.
Like Adobe Gamma Loader and anything adobe.
Other programs you can uncheck because you can open them when you want to such as printer software.
Do not uncheck any of your Virus software like Symantec or Java.

Click ok
restart

A screen will come up when you come back to desktop and leave it open for a few times until you get the hang of it.

Or close and don't remind.

You can always start over begining with the beginning.

Next time we will go into a little more of msconfig.

**Aerialist** · 05-24-2006, 05:46 AM

Tech Update

This is theeeeeeeee baddest CPU currently available.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

**Aerialist** · 05-24-2006, 03:22 PM

TIP OF THE DAY

Today is Routine Maintenance day.
Open all of your programs .. I mean everyone and check for updates.
Sometimes you have update programs running in the background and this could be a likely cause for slowdown.

For Word:
Open word
Click Help at the top.
Click Office on the Web.
To the right is Check for Updates .. click
Now perform Office Update.
I'll bet you have a gazillion updates you havent even bothered to check like OFFICE SP-3
Download and install now reboot.

First update the Anti-Virus software

Second, go to the top of your browser and open Tools
Click Internet Options
Click Advanced.
In addition to the checks in the boxes already there, put a check in the following boxes:

1. Automatically check for Internet Explorer updates
2. Empty Temporary Internet files folder when Browser is closed.
This is important because it does what Diskclean does in the next step. (Ever notice how your CPU heats up when performing the Diskclean function because it takes so long because of all the crap it wants to clean?)
This also gives you a snappy Browser.

Third, go to DiskCleanup
Put checks only in:

Temporary Internet Files
Recycle Bin
Temporary Files
Now perform the clean.

Third, Disk Defragment

Now I highly recommend the program Lavasoft Adware SE.
The Internet is a viscious place for all sorts of crap that ends up in your registry causing slowdown.

download here and install
http://www.download.com/3405-8022-51...bj=dl&tag=top5

Once installed it performs a system scan.
When finished it tells you that have critical objects and neglible objects.
You click both tabs and *select all*

Then continue.

Keep the scan on Smart Scan to perform this routine daily.
Always check for updates to this program called *build*

If you think you're CPU is acting slowly then check this update as it wants to update.

Perform these routines once a day or more.

Once again, you're blazing.