Computer Troubles

KingIsaacLinksr · April 15, 2011, 08:22:02 PM

Hey guys,

So today I've been fighting my computer every step of the way on an issue. Basically, when the computer gets all booted up and everything, certain programs refuse to start. Steam, Skype, Firefox and sometimes iTunes. To make the problem worse, music and video files in (and outside) iTunes will start the program but nothing will play, causing iTunes to go into a playing loop and VLC/Windows Media Player Classic to crash. However, restart the computer 4 times and everything suddenly works fine again, until you restart and then it goes to the original problem.

To me, it seems like something wrong with the input/output part, but only guessing.

Any idea?

Thanks in advance.

King

Rico · April 16, 2011, 05:39:57 AM

Hmm, could be several things. First, obviously scan the machine for viruses, adware, etc. Most of the programs you list access the net so it could have something to do with your network connection and/or hardware to do that. If it happens kind of randomly it could be hardware or software. When you reboot, make sure to do a full shutdown and then reboot. Don't do a restart or reset. It isn't the same thing. Check to make sure all connections are good. You could also try updating or reinstalling one of the trouble programs and see if that helps. Also, make sure Windows is updated too. Good luck.

billybob476 · April 16, 2011, 05:46:33 AM

You may also want to test the memory, a lot of the time a bad RAM stick can cause very unpredictable intermittent problems.

MemTest86 is a good free tool for this: http://www.memtest86.com/

Dangelus · April 16, 2011, 08:39:38 AM

Quote from: billybob476 on April 16, 2011, 05:46:33 AM
You may also want to test the memory, a lot of the time a bad RAM stick can cause very unpredictable intermittent problems.

MemTest86 is a good free tool for this: http://www.memtest86.com/

Tried to help Tim put last night and suggested it may be a RAM issue if not a virus. Didn't realise there was a free testing tool. Cool. :)

Rico · April 16, 2011, 02:39:40 PM

Any luck yet on it, Tim?

KingIsaacLinksr · April 16, 2011, 07:07:24 PM

Virus scan: nothing
Check disc scan: nothing (worthless IMO)
Shutting down completely: nothing.

Trying the memory test as soon as I can.

King

KingIsaacLinksr · April 16, 2011, 08:04:17 PM

Memory test: nothing.

Idk what to do at this point, it won't return to a stable point of usage anymore.

King

Dangelus · April 16, 2011, 11:47:26 PM

I think you will need to backup your data and do a clean install to rule out a software problem.

Then switch to Linux! ;)

Rico · April 17, 2011, 04:51:34 AM

Tim, you certainly do have your share of computer troubles. Before a full reinstall, try completely removing one of the problem programs first. Then reinstall it to a new location and see if that helps. Another thing to try is looking at what programs start up when you power up the system. If you know how to run msconfig at the run menu, check that out too.

P.S. Are you on Win XP, Win 7? Vista??

KingIsaacLinksr · April 17, 2011, 10:10:06 AM

Quote from: Rico on April 17, 2011, 04:51:34 AM
Tim, you certainly do have your share of computer troubles. Before a full reinstall, try completely removing one of the problem programs first. Then reinstall it to a new location and see if that helps. Another thing to try is looking at what programs start up when you power up the system. If you know how to run msconfig at the run menu, check that out too.

P.S. Are you on Win XP, Win 7? Vista??

Windows 7, and I've already looked at what programs start up when I power the system via msconfig. Nothing out of the ordinary. From what I can tell, it seems to be an accessing files/programs problem. Because when the "errors" are in place, no music or video files will play on any of the 5 media programs I have, but certain programs like Chrome will start up and act like nothing is wrong. It affects both hardrives because Steam is used on C: and iTunes is on B:. However, download any files and the program will freeze up and crash.

So its some sort of file management going wrong, maybe, I'm not sure. But crashing is the common-thread.

King

Rico · April 17, 2011, 10:19:56 AM

If it's issues with audio and video mainly it sounds like it might be a codec issue or conflict. Maybe find a good codec cleaner and then reinstall only what you need.

KingIsaacLinksr · April 17, 2011, 10:27:33 AM

Quote from: Rico on April 17, 2011, 10:19:56 AM
If it's issues with audio and video mainly it sounds like it might be a codec issue or conflict. Maybe find a good codec cleaner and then reinstall only what you need.

I have no idea where to find a codec cleaner.

King

Dangelus · April 17, 2011, 10:41:28 AM

Windows 7 is pretty decent when it comes to built in codec support so there isn't much need to have installed any codec packs unless you are playing back some obscure file formats.

You said you hadn't done anything apart from move your iTunes library before this happened so I'm not sure if it could be related to this.

You many find a clean reinstall may still be the easiest option.

Rico · April 17, 2011, 10:42:13 AM

Quote from: Kingisaaclinksr on April 17, 2011, 10:27:33 AM
Quote from: Rico on April 17, 2011, 10:19:56 AM
If it's issues with audio and video mainly it sounds like it might be a codec issue or conflict. Maybe find a good codec cleaner and then reinstall only what you need.

I have no idea where to find a codec cleaner.

King

Google is your friend. ;)

http://majorgeeks.com/Win7codecs_d5959.html

KingIsaacLinksr · April 17, 2011, 02:31:55 PM

Quote from: Dangelus on April 17, 2011, 10:41:28 AM
Windows 7 is pretty decent when it comes to built in codec support so there isn't much need to have installed any codec packs unless you are playing back some obscure file formats.

You said you hadn't done anything apart from move your iTunes library before this happened so I'm not sure if it could be related to this.

You many find a clean reinstall may still be the easiest option.

Thinking about it now, I just purged XVID from my computer. I can't believe I had that codec installed, I'm still unsure if its totally purged from my computer either, as I found a folder full of xVid stuff.

King