Failing computer help - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

oilyfan · 06-18-2012, 07:21 AM

My mother bought an all in one computer - a Gateway ZX4351 about a year.

She loves it but recently she told me that it was slowing down and freezing up. So I came over and took a look and sure enough tons of freezes. I suspected a virus but the anti virus was clean.

So the next suspect was the HDD, I thought this might be a good chance to upgrade it to an SSD and add more memory. So I bought a 128Gb SSD and 4Gb of ram. It was a pain to open the case but finally figured it out.

The issue I am now having is that despite repeated attempts I cannot get the SSD to be consistently recognized by the computer, I managed to load a fresh copy of Windows 7 on it and the next time I started up the computer it won't be recognized in the bios. I spent about 4 hours yesterday trying a different sata cable, moving ports, trying to reinstall windows, but no joy. I started suspecting the motherboard, which will be a pain to replace.

But then maybe the PSU, might a failing PSU cause the HDD not to be recognized consistently? I don't want to throw the computer away since my mother did spend good money she can I'll afford on it. But before spending another $70 on a PSU I wanted hear some opinions.

Rathji · 06-18-2012, 09:00 AM

PSU should have no bearing on a hard drive not being recognized.

oilyfan · 06-18-2012, 09:23 AM

Hmm that's too bad, I was hoping that it was, I guess the motherboard it is.

psyang · 06-18-2012, 09:31 AM

What kind of SSD did you get? I've had OCZs be flaky in my laptop (I can install OS, boots fine, then blue screen after 10 minutes). Intel SSDs have (so far) worked flawlessly for me, though.

oilyfan · 06-18-2012, 11:56 AM

It is an OCZ Agility 3. I wonder if it is the SSD, the original HD was a 1TB WD green drive, that was displaying the same symptoms.

psyang · 06-18-2012, 01:02 PM

Ah, if the original drive had the same symptoms as the SSD (ie. would not consistently be recognized by the motherboard), then it's probably the motherboard. If the original drive simply showed periods of freezing/hanging, it could just be that it was failing, and the SSD is not compatible with your motherboard.

Another thing you could try is to run some diagnostics on the original drive to see if it is failing or not. Here's a link to some WD diagnostic software. Get the version for DOS on CD. That way you can boot from CD and have it run on the computer itself. Good luck!

photon · 06-18-2012, 02:38 PM

The Agility 3 uses the Sandforce controller that had a problem where one of the symptoms was the drive disappearing out of the BIOS. I had a drive that did the exact same thing (not OCZ, but same chip).

Make sure and flash the drive with the most recent firmware just to make sure you aren't running into that issue.

Hack&Lube · 06-18-2012, 05:39 PM

This may be unrelated but some older chipsets just don't work with SSD drives because they use a PATA to SATA controller card and TRIM on SSDs throws them out of whack.

However, your mom bought this a year ago right? I think that should be new enough to avoid that issue. I would try another SSD, perhaps a non Sandforce one.

Rathji · 06-18-2012, 06:14 PM

I thought of that as well, but if it installed I would think that wouldn't be the case

oilyfan · 06-19-2012, 09:31 PM

I am going back to Edmonton this weekend to my mothers place, I will do some more investigating and see where I get, thanks for the ideas.

Sainters7 · 06-21-2012, 05:10 AM

Don't feel like starting a new thread so figured I'd piggyback on this one. So yesterday all of a sudden my laptop is running ads randomly...not like a ticker at the bottom of the screen, but actual audio ads. I'll be CP'ing or on TSN or something, and all of a sudden I hear Jeff Bridges' voice talking to me about Duracell batteries. It's a whole bunch of different ads too, each one only for a few seconds before it shuts off.

I have no idea where its coming from either, I've re-booted the computer, just comes right back again. I've noticed my virus protector has become blocked too so I can't run a scan. Obviously I need to take it in for fixing, but I don't have time until the weekend. Anything I can do to try to stop it in the meantime?

fundmark19 · 06-21-2012, 07:41 AM

malware bytes and avira virus scan if you can download them still will fix it and both free

Rathji · 06-21-2012, 08:58 AM

Without putting a lot of research into whatever it might be, assuming it is a virus:

Read the instructions and run rkill. You might need to boot into safe mode before you do this or any further steps, especially if something you clean 'magically' comes back.

Then scan with 2 or more of, Malware Bytes, SuperAntiSpyware and Hitman Pro.

Then uninstall your AV and install a different AV prorgram and scan with it. I would use MSSE. Whatever you install afterwards is up to you.

If none of those come up with anything, you are probably clean (90%) or completely screwed because the virus has so much control. Nuke and pave.

Sainters7 · 06-21-2012, 09:17 AM

Thanks for the help, guys. My laptop isn't letting me download any of those virus/malware blocker programs so it looks like its officially a scorched earf policy for me.

Rathji · 06-21-2012, 09:18 AM

Use another computer. Put on CD/USB.

edit: If you work downtown, or want to come down here, I can put them on a disc for you and give them to you.

Sainters7 · 06-21-2012, 09:39 AM

Unfortunately (in more ways than one) I live just north of Edmonton, but I appreciate all the help!

Vulcan · 06-21-2012, 02:41 PM

Can you do a 'system restore'? I'm not sure if it ever works but I always try it.
Did you try going into 'safe mode' and run your anti-virus?

Buff · 06-21-2012, 02:55 PM

oilyfan, did you change any settings in the bios? I recall some sort of problem, I don't remember specifics, when we were upgrading some PC hdds to SATA from IDE. Turns out it was a setting in the bios. Unfortunately it was 3 or 4 years ago and I wasn't the tech working on it so I can't tell you what settings to change. Do a google search it may help you out.

oilyfan · 06-21-2012, 11:10 PM

No I didn't change any settings, because initially the SSD was recognized, I was able to install Windows 7 on it and then after logging in and working for a bit it froze up. I suspect it could be a virus infection because some of the problems appeared after I tried to copy old files from the old hard drive. Can a virus transfer from an old hard rive just by copying files over? And would a virus make a HDD inoperable to the point that the bios cannot see it?

Sainters7 · 06-22-2012, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Can you do a 'system restore'? I'm not sure if it ever works but I always try it.
Did you try going into 'safe mode' and run your anti-virus?

No haven't done that yet, good point. I'm a complete dummy when it comes to computers, gonna have to read how you even put it in safe mode haha. Thanks