Computer need fixing or throw in the bin?

[Cheshire Cat]

Any computer repair people able to help/diagnose/fix my desktop acer computer?

What's happening is- starts up as normal, then after a couple of minutes the screen has 5cm wide multi-coloured stripes running horizontally across the screen! Also It has crashed a couple of times and is inoperable! I know it's not the monitor as have tried another monitor on the machine.

Please help!!!!!!

Many Thanks and beer or $ to the fixer!!!!

[thro]

Sounds like video card. How old is it? Either the card has broken or it is overheating due to fans not working properly....

[McGoo]

Sounds like video card. How old is it? Either the card has broken or it is overheating due to fans not working properly....

I agree. Take the side panel off the computer, get a desk fan and point it at the internals. If it doesn't crash or takes longer to crash, you probably have a dead fan somewhere.

[Cheshire Cat]

It's quite old, not sure exactly how old! best guess 7+ years???

[thro]

definitely sounds like a dead fan.

Take side cover off, vacuum/blow out all the dust you can and then see if the fans look like they spin properly when the machine is turned on (can leave the side off while the computer is on so you can see what its doing just fine).


If they don't spin properly (slow/make noises/etc) you're looking at new fans/new video card.

However if it is 7 yrs old, its probably about time for a new PC. Even a bottom of the range new machine will be a million times faster. Your old machine will likely not run Windows 7 either - XP goes out of extended support in the next few months so you won't be able to get security updates for it any more. Which means you're going to be running the gauntlet with viruses, spyware, etc next year.

My vote is to not waste too much time on it and if it turns out that you would need to buy any new components (vs just cleaning it out) then upgrade and bin it.



I'm sure there will be people who say "fix it and put linux on it" but linux isn't exactly light-weight these days any more either....


If all you need is a new PC (keep monitor, mouse, keyboard, etc) it shouldn't be too expensive.

[Cheshire Cat]

Tried the fan idea, made no difference to the "crash time"!!! I did hoover it all out earlier as well, me thinks thro is correct- New computer needed!

So next question, Which computer to get and where to get it from???

Thanks again

[SilentBob]

Depends on what you plan to use it for. Heavy gaming, flash gaming, the web, work, movies, etc.

[andy_b]

check austincomputers.net.au and have a lookat the desktops available... find one u roughly like, come into the osborne park store ask for me and ill help ya out

[Cheshire Cat]

check austincomputers.net.au and have a lookat the desktops available... find one u roughly like, come into the osborne park store ask for me and ill help ya out

Cheers for that, will check it out and come see you!

[Cam]

check austincomputers.net.au and have a lookat the desktops available... find one u roughly like, come into the osborne park store ask for me and ill help ya out

You've seen me a couple of times this last week then.

[andy_b]

im the tall dude with the with the mohawk type hair

[Cheshire Cat]

Might see you on the Hillary's to Freo Ride tomorrow?

[andy_b]

yup ill be black hyo with an obnoxious exhaust xD and black jackt

[Stavtech]

im telling you, 7+ years for a pc is wayyyyyyyyy too long.

dump it and save your self the money and heart/head aches.

steve

[elechad]

I have a spare graphics card (agp) if you're system is 7yo most likely agp slot gfx card. if you want it you can have it. That'll save you $$ for now. Don't bother upgrading that pc, it is too old and parts are more expensive. New systems are dirt cheap to build. It's up to you wether you want to spend the money to get a new PC.

[lee]

If you're not doing gaming (which you're not, judging from the 7 year old PC) get yourself a $500 laptop from catchoftheday in a decent brand. Assuming the warranty is good you'll have a heaps better machine, and it'll be portable.

[RY RY]

I have just upgraded, you can have my old one. It's about 2 years old, maybe less. No problems, just upgraded because I play games that require newer and faster computers

[Cheshire Cat]

I have a spare graphics card (agp) if you're system is 7yo most likely agp slot gfx card. if you want it you can have it. That'll save you $$ for now. Don't bother upgrading that pc, it is too old and parts are more expensive. New systems are dirt cheap to build. It's up to you wether you want to spend the money to get a new PC.

Cheers for the offer, got a new card and all is well for now!

[Cheshire Cat]

I have just upgraded, you can have my old one. It's about 2 years old, maybe less. No problems, just upgraded because I play games that require newer and faster computers

Seriously? how much you want you want for it?

[RY RY]

I doubt it's worth much, buy me a carton

Doesn't come with a monitor though as I'm keeping that, just the case/box. I'll have to format the hard drive, and you can have the windows vista disc.